The Toyota RAV4 was completely redesigned for the 2019 model year. The fifth-generation RAV4, coded XA50, was unveiled at the March 2018 New York International Auto Show and went on sale later that year. The Limited sits at the top of the non-hybrid line-up and is also offered in hybrid form, making it the most comprehensively equipped version of Toyota’s compact crossover for 2019.
Fifth-Generation Overview
The 2019 RAV4 moved to Toyota’s TNGA-K (GA-K) platform, the same architecture used by the XV70-series Camry. Toyota said the new unibody chassis was 57 percent more rigid than the previous generation, and the SUV gained a multi-link rear suspension for better handling and ride comfort. The design was previewed by the FT-AC concept shown at the December 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the production car adopted a blockier, more truck-like look than the softer fourth-generation model.
Unusually for the class in some markets, the fifth generation dropped diesel entirely. Toyota offered only gasoline four-cylinder engines and gasoline-electric hybrids, with no oil-burner in the range. The RAV4 competes in the compact crossover segment against vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and Mazda CX-5.
Engine Specs
The standard engine in the 2019 RAV4 is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder from Toyota’s Dynamic Force family, coded A25A-FKS. It is naturally aspirated and paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In the 2019 RAV4 it produces 203 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm, an increase over the previous generation’s 2.5-liter engine.
| 2019 RAV4 (gas) | Specification |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5-liter A25A-FKS inline-4 |
| Power | 203 hp at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
Hybrid Powertrain
The RAV4 Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive electric system and a continuously variable transmission. Total system output is 219 horsepower, and all-wheel drive is standard on hybrid models through Toyota’s electric rear-axle system. Hybrid trims for 2019 were LE, XLE, XSE and Limited.
Fuel Economy
EPA ratings for the 2019 RAV4 are as follows:
| 2019 RAV4 | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, front-wheel drive | 26 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg |
| 2.5L, all-wheel drive | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg |
| 2.5L hybrid, all-wheel drive | 41 mpg | 38 mpg | 40 mpg |
Trim Lineup and Pricing
The 2019 RAV4 was offered in LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure and Limited trims, with hybrid versions of several. Representative starting prices were about $25,650 for the LE, $27,450 for the XLE, $29,650 for the XLE Premium, $33,050 for the Adventure and $33,650 for the Limited in front-wheel-drive form. The all-wheel-drive Limited was listed at roughly $35,050. Exact prices vary by region and options.
All-Wheel Drive and Design
The fifth-generation RAV4 introduced a new all-wheel-drive system that Toyota marketed as Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD. It can distribute torque independently to the left and right rear wheels, and it includes a disconnect mechanism, marketed as Rear Driveline Disconnect, that sends power only to the front wheels when all-wheel drive is not needed in order to save fuel. A simpler all-wheel-drive system without torque vectoring was also offered on gasoline models.
Design and Interior
The 2019 RAV4 adopted a more rugged exterior than the outgoing model, with a chunky front fascia and a chiseled side profile. Toyota lowered the side mirrors onto the doors and enlarged the rear quarter glass to improve visibility, and it lowered the belt line and instrument panel. Inside, the Limited trim included the most equipment in the range, and the hybrid Limited combined that equipment with the more efficient powertrain.
Release Date
The 2019 RAV4 went on sale toward the end of 2018, following its New York debut in March 2018. The hybrid version followed in early 2019. For buyers, the key point about the 2019 model year is that it is the first year of the fifth-generation RAV4, so it represents a full redesign rather than a facelift of the previous model.
Chassis, Safety Technology and Markets
Built on the GA-K platform, the 2019 RAV4 uses a unibody structure that Toyota said is 57 percent more rigid than the previous generation. A multi-link rear suspension replaced the older layout, which Toyota claimed would provide more consistent damping, less cabin noise and a more comfortable ride. Toyota also repositioned the side mirrors lower on the doors and enlarged the rear quarter glass to improve visibility, and it lowered the belt line and instrument panel.
Standard Safety Technology
Toyota made its second-generation Toyota Safety Sense package (TSS 2.0) standard on every 2019 RAV4, from the LE up to the Limited. The bundle includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, automatic high beams and full-speed-range dynamic radar cruise control. That breadth of standard driver-assistance equipment was one of the 2019 RAV4’s notable features relative to its rivals.
Markets and Availability
The fifth-generation RAV4 rolled out across global markets through 2019. It went on sale in Australia on 8 May 2019, where it was offered in GX, GXL, Cruiser and Edge trims; the GX was available with a 2.0-liter engine and either a six-speed manual or a CVT, while the Edge used the 2.5-liter engine and an eight-speed automatic. In China the model launched on 22 November 2019, built by FAW Toyota, with a companion version called the Wildlander sold by GAC Toyota. The U.S. and Canadian markets received the model toward the end of 2018 as a 2019 model-year vehicle.
