The New Toyota Rav4

The Toyota Rav4 has established its place as a standout among sports utility vehicles.  The vehicle comes in  various trim levels that have different advantages and features.

Like all Toyota’s, the LE (most basic level), comes equipped with a variety of standard features.  The Limited Trim (top level trim), is your best bet if top-of-the-line luxury features and safety technology are your priority.  The Toyota Rav4 is also available as a Hybrid.

There is a trim level that is for everyone.  Read below to see which one best fits your needs.

LE Trim

The unique features offered by of the LE include remote key-less entry, 17-inch steel wheels, back-up camera, and eight airbags.  Its interior features the basic Toyota Entune audio system and fabric seats.

The Toyota Rav4 LE is a fantastic choice if your main concern is reliability and price.  This elegant trim is available at a great starting price of $24,350 MSRP.

XLE Trim

The next step up from the LE trim is the XLE trim.  This trim includes all the features of the LE Trim. Some of the additional features it has are Sirius XM radio compatibility, the upgraded Entune Audio Plus system, and a 4.2-inch multimedia digital screen, dual zone automatic climate control, standard moon-roof and power liftgate (trunk).

The Rav4 XLE trim starts at an MSRP of $27,145.

XLE Trim Premium

SE trim which means “Sport Edition” is a step above the XLE trim.  The most obvious external upgrades include the LED projector beam headlights, special two-tone paint, and 18″ sport alloy wheels.  Some of the other great features include SofTex trim leather seats, smart-key entry system, unique sports suspension, and performance paddle-shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

It also comes with additional safety features.  The included Rear Cross-Traffic Alert system and Blind-Spot Monitoring system are added to make driving safe and comfortable in all situations and all locations.

The Rav4 XLE Premium trim starts at an MSRP of $29,850.

Limited Trim

This trim is the top of the line Rav4 trim.  It incorporates the features from the lower trim levels except for the suspension, paddle-shifters, and styling of the sports edition. The Limited Trim upgrades are front and rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels and Toyota Safety Sense P.  Toyota Safety Sense P includes dynamic radar cruise control, collision avoidance systems, lane-departure alerts, and auto high-beams.

The Rav4 XLE Premium trim starts at an MSRP of $31,510.

 Hybrid: XLE And Limited

The hybrid version of the Rav4 comes with EPA-estimates 31 mpg on the highway and 34 mpg in the city.  This is better than the traditional Rav4 EPA-estimate of 30 mpg highway driving and 23 city driving.

The pros and cons of purchasing a Hybrid Rav4 should be considered.  On the upside, you spend less on gas (better fuel efficiency).  On the downside, they have a higher MSRP (purchase price) than the regular Rav4 starting at $34,050.

The Rav4 VS. Competitors

The Rav4 has been ahead of all other small SUVs in its class since it was first introduced in 1994.  It does have some strong competition.

The Rav4’s main competitor is the Honda CR-V, which has several shortcomings when compared to the Toyota Rav4.  One shortcoming is that the CR-V has less interior space when it is compared to the Toyota Rav4.

This might seem to be insignificant, but it matters when you are packing up the family and camping gear.  Also, the Rav4 is cheaper than the CR-V.  The CR-V’s main advantage is that it has a slightly higher safety rating as prescribed by IIHS testing.

If you are still on the fence about the Rav 4 then you should visit a dealership.  You will be able to see the car in person and take it for a test drive.  This will help you determine if it is the right car for you.