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The competitive compact SUV segment has more entrants than necessary, which is why everyone’s trying to get a leg up on their competitors. Toyota took a very pragmatic approach in their 2019 Toyota RAV4 offering by appealing to general quality instead of honing in on one or two key selling points. Their goal: make the RAV4 the compact SUV that can appeal to everyone.
Kelley Blue Book’s Micah Muzio may have done his best to keep his review fair and balanced, but at every turn his attempts to make the RAV4 seem ho-hum actually made it even more exciting for prospective buyers. Why? Because it’s hard to downplay the newfound mastery Toyota has put into design on the inside and outside, a problem for Toyota in the recent past they’ve been able to overcome lately.
Even as the reviewer points to design flaws, the visuals themselves are actually enticing.
It starts with the sharp exterior that has more eye-appeal than some of the RAV4’s competitors. It may not be the most visually stunning compact SUV, but it’s far from the ugliest. The contours on the front end are sleek without being too aggressive, while the side stance betrays a complexity of design that is only visible upon closer inspection.
“The exterior has a brawny yet inoffensive charm that should play well with the masses,” said Muzio. “Toyota has also given each of the various trims a distinct character. Like a boyband there’s the cute one, the fun one, a socially responsible one, and the bad boy.”
The interior is spartan is appearance even if its functionality makes it more comfortable than it first appears. The combination of buttons and touchscreen on the dash interface is high on the dashboard, and while it’s not on Android Auto, it’s on pretty much every other personal interface such as Apple CarPlay and Alexa.
But the real appeal to the interior is that it’s smart. Nobody would confuse it for luxurious but the attention to detail of every aspect of the interior gives it the quiet verve we’ve grown to love about Toyota vehicles.
One big takeaway from the review is that the hybrid is appealing to just about anyone, even those who aren’t fans of hybrids. It’s more powerful, comes in standard all-wheel drive, and, of course, has better fuel economy. At $800 more than the AWD all-gas version, it’s a worthwhile investment.
The biggest draw to any Toyota is their legendary longevity, and the 2019 RAV4 seems poised to keep this trend going. There aren’t many new innovations that could cause owners trouble that isn’t already out in the public. All in all, this seems like your standard Toyota vehicle that drives nicely, looks good, and has the potential to last a very long time with proper maintenance.
While the 2019 RAV4 is available already, it may behoove buyers to wait for the hybrid version due out later in the year. Given all the specs, this higher-powered hybrid seems like the real pick of the litter.
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