An efficient compact SUV with a practical approach
Price From $27,740 – To $37,680
Source: www.toyota.com
by SUViews Editor | Jul 1, 2022
Overview
In this 2022 Toyota RAV4 Review, we are going to analyze and evaluate this latest small SUV in terms of engine, performance, interior, comfort, safety, market price, and other such parameters, to help you decide if it’s worth all the hype.
First introduced in 1994, the Toyota RAV4 was created with the aim to combine the practicality of small cars with the spacious and dynamic nature of sports utility vehicles. And almost three decades later, the RAV4 still continues to serve the purpose, but with a more refined and evolved image than ever.
One of the most popular SUVs in the world currently, RAV4 became the bestselling SUV in 2019 and sold more than 10 million units by 2020. Looking at these numbers, it’s easy to understand that this is a value-packed lineup, with ample features to keep the customer base happy. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 doesn’t incorporate any major changes from the previous iteration, but it has upgraded its outdoorsy appearance with newly added headlamps.
Performance, Engine, and Comfort
Engine & Performance
Engine
Under the hood of the RAV4 is a 2.5-liter inline-four engine. It generates an output of 203 hp, and 184 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm.
Transmission
The engine pairs up with an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission.
Suspension
As for suspension, Toyota offers front struts and rear multiline brakes.
Steering
The steering is smooth to handle. For the entry-level trim, it comes covered with plastic materials. The XLE Premium offers a steering fully covered in leather, with a luxurious look.
Safety & Reliability
Brakes
The lineup gets front and rear parking assist with automatic braking. This advanced system alerts you through visual and audible cues whenever it detects a vehicle approaching from the rear side. If any sort of contact is detected, the brakes get applied automatically, reducing the engine power.
Airbags
For maximum safety, there are 8 airbags located inside the SUV. There are seat-mount side airbags for the driver and front passenger, knee airbags for the driver, seat cushion airbags for the front passenger, and curtain airbags on the front and rear.
Electronics
Toyota has been generous enough in offering a host of standard electronic features, for driver assistance, safety, as well as entertainment. Front and rear parking assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist are some of the notable features.
Lights
A new addition to the 2022 RAV4 series are headlamps, complimenting the outdoorsy image of the SUV. From trim XLE Premium onwards LED fog lamps are offered as standard.
Traction control
The traction control is quite reliable. The MTS or Multi-Terrain System has four modes to choose from- Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow, and Normal. These modes provide optimized traction to make the driving experience seamless. The multi-link rear suspension also ensures good traction.
Fuel Economy
Engine size
RAV4 is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with an output of 205 hp. This engine is teamed up with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Gas per mileage consumption
Mileage is remarkably good. The 4-cylinder engine offers 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined.
Interior
Seats
Divided into two rows, the RAV4 has a total seating capacity of 5. The front seats have 39.5 inches of headroom, 54.3 inches of hip room, and 41 inches of legroom. You can have either a 4-way or 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and bucket front seats for additional comfort.
RAV4’s rear seats are spacious and comfortable, with 39.5 inches of headroom, 47.7 inches of hip room, and 37.8 inches of legroom. The rear seats can be equipped with a folding center armrest and rear ventilation ducts. The split-folding rear seats are very easy to stow, and they come in handy when you need to haul a large amount of luggage.
Design
Toyota’s design identity for the RAV4 remains almost similar to its previous year, with small alterations. Its robust and rugged design is now complemented by rugged-looking headlamps, available from trim XLE onwards.
Infotainment
To ensure maximum in-car entertainment, Toyota offers a 7-inch touchscreen display for the first few trims, and from XLE onwards, it gets upgraded to an 8-inch screen. Mobile hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are available for all trims. Optional items include a dedicated navigation system, JBL sound, and wireless charging. Even though there’s nothing remarkable here, this infotainment system does the job.
Overall height and space
The 2022 RAV4 is 67 inches in height and 180.9 inches in length. The estimated interior volume is 136.4 cu.ft. There is ample headroom and legroom in both the front and rear seats.
Trunk space
There is 37.5 cubic feet available as base cargo space behind the rear seats. When these seats are folded down, the trunk space expands up to 69.8 cubic feet. Compact SUVs generally have cramped cargo, but the 2022 RAV4 is an exception.
Price and Extras
Market Price
Among all 6, XLE Premium offers the perfect balance of affordability and features, as it comes with some premium additions like a leather-clad steering, dual-zone climate control, and 19-inch wheels. Ventilated seats are reserved for the top trims only, otherwise, they don’t have anything extra to offer.
| Trim Level | Base Price |
| LE | $27,740 |
| XLE | $29,210 |
| XLE Premium | $32,100 |
| Adventure | $33,995 |
| Limited | $36,240 |
| TRD Off-Road | $37,680 |
AWD/FWD
The standard configuration is front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive comes as optional based on the choice of trim level.
Warranty
The warranty front is impressive for the 2022 Toyota RAV4. It offers a limited warranty of 36,000 miles or three years, and a five-year or 60,000 miles of warranty for the powertrain. Toyota offers another special addition– in-house scheduled maintenance for the first 25,000 miles or 2 years.
Extras
Compact SUVs aren’t known for their towing capacity, but the new RAV4 doesn’t disappoint in this area. The Adventure trim, when equipped properly, can tow as much as 3500 pounds. The payload capacity is 1230 pounds.
Awards
The 2022 iteration of the Toyota RAV4 has earned accolades from both buyers and car experts. NHTSA gave the SUV a 5-Star rating, whereas Kelley Blue Book declared it the winner of the Best Buy Award. The vehicle has also made it to Car and Driver’s Editor’s Choice.
Verdict
Practicality should always be on top of your priority list as a rational buyer. In this aspect, Toyota has done a fabulous job with the RAV4– it’s remarkably fuel-efficient, starting price is affordable, offers a host of standard driver-assist features, and doesn’t compromise on safety. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that the RAV4 is one of the best options in the current compact SUV or small SUV segment.
