The Toyota RAV4 was completely redesigned for 2019, entering its fifth generation. Buyers searching for a 2019 RAV4 SE should know that no SE grade was offered that year. The SE was a sport-appearance trim of the previous, fourth-generation RAV4, sold in the United States from 2016 to 2018. When Toyota relaunched the RAV4 for 2019, the lineup was rebuilt without it.
The SE That Buyers Remember
The fourth-generation RAV4 (XA40) was sold from the 2013 model year. Toyota added the SE as a sport-styled grade for 2016, giving it a more aggressive front and rear treatment, larger alloy wheels and a sportier interior. It sat above the XLE and below the Limited. For 2019 the redesigned lineup in the United States consisted of LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure and Limited gas models, plus hybrid LE, XLE, XSE and Limited grades, so the SE name was discontinued. In Canada the 2019 gas models were sold as LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Trail and Limited.
The 2019 RAV4: What Was Actually New
The fifth-generation RAV4 (XA50) was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in March 2018 and went on sale late that year. It moved to Toyota’s TNGA-K (GA-K) platform, adopted a more rugged, truck-influenced design, gained about half an inch of ground clearance and rode on a wheelbase roughly 30 mm longer than before. Toyota added an Adventure grade with a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system and, later, a TRD Off-Road model for 2020.
Engine, Drivetrain and Fuel Economy
Gas-powered 2019 RAV4 models use a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder rated at 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, up from 176 horsepower the year before, matched to an eight-speed automatic. The RAV4 Hybrid combines a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors for 219 system horsepower and uses an electronically controlled CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard on lower gas trims, with all-wheel drive available.
| Specification | 2019 Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|
| Gas engine | 2.5-liter inline-four |
| Power / torque | 203 hp / 184 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Eight-speed automatic |
| Hybrid system | 2.5-liter four plus electric motors, 219 hp combined |
| Hybrid transmission | Electronically controlled CVT |
| EPA fuel economy (gas, FWD) | About 26 city / 35 highway / 30 combined mpg |
| EPA fuel economy (hybrid) | About 41 city / 38 highway / 40 combined mpg |
| Seating | 5 |
Interior and Dimensions
The 2019 RAV4 is a two-row compact crossover that seats five; no third row has ever been offered in this generation. The redesign enlarged the cabin and cargo area compared with the fourth-generation model and added a more upright dashboard. Higher trims add features such as a power moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and a larger touchscreen with Apple CarPlay.
Trims and Price
In the United States the 2019 RAV4 started at $25,650 for the front-wheel-drive LE and rose to roughly $35,050 for the Limited, according to Cars.com and CarWeek. In Canada, gas models started at $27,990 and reached $40,690 for the Limited AWD, while the hybrid range ran from $32,090 for the Hybrid LE to $38,390 for the Hybrid XSE, per Driving.ca. The 2019 Toyota Corolla S Price And Review page covers Toyota’s compact sedan of the same year.
Safety
The 2019 RAV4 came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard on every trim. The suite included pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams and full-speed adaptive cruise control. Upper trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
If You Want an SE
A buyer who specifically wants the SE badge should look at a 2016, 2017 or 2018 RAV4. For a new-for-2019 sportier RAV4, the closest equivalents were the XSE hybrid, which paired the hybrid powertrain with sportier styling, and the Adventure or Trail grades, which added all-wheel drive and off-road-oriented equipment. The XLE Premium remained the comfort-focused mid-grade choice.
Adventure, Trail and Off-Road Grades
Although the SE disappeared, the 2019 RAV4 added a more capable all-wheel-drive grade. In the United States it was called Adventure and in Canada Trail. It came with a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, higher ground clearance, unique styling and roof rails designed for outdoor equipment. For 2020 Toyota added a further off-road-focused TRD Off-Road model. These grades show how the fifth-generation RAV4 shifted its sporty emphasis from appearance packages toward all-wheel-drive capability.
How the Fifth-Generation RAV4 Was Positioned
The RAV4 ended 2017 as one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States and became Toyota’s best-selling model in Canada. The 2019 redesign was intended to defend that position against the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape by offering a more distinct, tougher-looking design, a more powerful and efficient engine and standard advanced safety features. The discontinued SE name was, in effect, a casualty of that reset rather than of customer demand.
The Full 2019 RAV4 Trim Walk
For clarity, the confirmed 2019 line-up was as follows.
- Gas models (United States): LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure and Limited.
- Hybrid models (United States): Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XSE and Hybrid Limited.
- Gas models (Canada): LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Trail and Limited.
- Hybrid models (Canada): Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XSE and Hybrid Limited.
The SE does not appear on any of those lists, which is the simplest way to confirm that there was no 2019 RAV4 SE.
