2013 Toyota RAV4 Rendered
A look at Toyota's next bread-and-butter crossover.
What It Is: The next generation of Toyota’s RAV4 crossover. We’ve already spotted camouflaged prototypes during testing; this rendering incorporates many of the key changes expected for Toyota’s ubiquitous small SUV, including a more carlike look with smoother styling.
Why It Matters: The RAV4 still is a hot item in Toyota showrooms, despite the current model being long in the tooth. It’s also growing out of step with the crossover mainstream (it still offers an old-school-SUV-style tailgate-mounted spare tire, for example), so this latest iteration needs to fall in line with the rest of the segment. That means a less-truckish appearance, as well as improved fuel economy.
Platform: The next RAV4 should sit on a variation of the current model’s platform. But it will look like a new animal, thanks mostly to a smoother snout, a more steeply raked windshield, and the absence of an exterior-mounted spare tire. Our artist’s rendering applies Toyota’s latest design language to the shape of the prototype RAV4s we’ve seen. Basically, imagine a current-gen RAV4 mixed with the latest Camry sedan, and you’ve pretty much got it. Although this rendering speculates styling that’s something of a departure from that of the contemporary RAV4, it’s not too far off from what the European RAV4 has looked like for some time now.
Powertrain: Buyers should again be able to spec their RAV4s with either front- or all-wheel drive, as is customary throughout the small-crossover arena. We expect the outgoing RAV4’s four- and six-cylinder engines to largely carry over to this new one; however, Toyota likely will upgrade to six-speed automatic transmissions for both engines. (Currently, the four-cylinder RAV4 gets an ancient four-speed auto and the brawny V-6 model gets a five-cog slushbox.)
Competition: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5.
Estimated Arrival Time and Price: If this new RAV4 is to make the 2013-model-year cutoff, it’ll probably appear late this summer or in the fall; otherwise, it could debut sometime early next year as a 2014. Pricing shouldn’t budge much from the current RAV4’s base of $23,460. View Photo Gallery
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