The 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE was the volume trim of the all-new fifth-generation RAV4, sitting one step above the base LE. It added the equipment most buyers wanted — alloy wheels, a moonroof, dual-zone climate control and blind-spot monitoring — while staying well below the price of the range-topping Limited. For 2019 the RAV4 moved to Toyota’s GA-K platform, gained a more powerful 2.5-liter engine and came with the full Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite as standard. The XLE was available with front- or all-wheel drive.
What the 2019 RAV4 XLE Is
Toyota organized the 2019 RAV4 gas range into five trims: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure and Limited, with a hybrid line of LE, XLE, XSE and Limited. The XLE was the second rung on the gas ladder and the first trim to feel genuinely well equipped. It was not offered with the more advanced all-wheel-drive system reserved for the Adventure, but it could be specified with a conventional AWD setup for $1,400 over the front-drive price.
XLE Equipment
Relative to the LE, the XLE added:
- 17-inch alloy wheels in place of the LE’s steel wheels with covers
- A power moonroof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat vents
- Keyless entry and push-button start
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
- Chrome headlight bezels and fog lamps
- Four additional USB ports
Inside, the XLE used cloth upholstery and a 7-inch touchscreen running Toyota’s Entune 3.0 system with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a six-speaker audio system. Available options included a blind-spot package on the LE and, higher in the range, a power liftgate and leatherette upholstery — but those arrived on the XLE Premium, not the XLE.
Powertrain and Performance
Every 2019 RAV4 XLE used the same drivetrain as the rest of the gas range: a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder rated at 203 hp at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional. Car and Driver tested a 2019 RAV4 with this engine and recorded an 8.0-second 0-60 mph time, a small improvement over the previous generation.
The XLE was not the quickest or the most powerful RAV4 — the hybrid’s 219-hp combined output and the off-road-focused Adventure’s higher towing rating sat above it — but it delivered the same core engine and the same standard safety technology as the more expensive trims.
Price
The 2019 RAV4 XLE started at an MSRP of $27,450 with front-wheel drive and $28,850 with all-wheel drive. That positioned it about $1,800 above the base LE and roughly $2,000 below the XLE Premium, which added larger wheels, a power liftgate and SofTex upholstery.
Interior, Cargo and Dimensions
The XLE’s cabin reflected the redesign’s improvements: a lower, wider dashboard, a tablet-style touchscreen and more soft-touch materials than the previous generation. Toyota quoted more supportive front seats and, from the XLE upward, rear-seat climate vents. Reviewers praised the RAV4’s generous rear legroom and its 37.6-cubic-foot trunk, although they also noted that the base engine could sound coarse under hard acceleration and that the eight-speed automatic occasionally hesitated on downshifts.
Toyota put the gas 2019 RAV4 on sale in the US in December 2018, with hybrid versions arriving in late March 2019. The RAV4 was Toyota’s best-selling vehicle and the best-selling non-pickup in the country, and the XLE was expected to be one of the most popular trims thanks to its balance of equipment and price. Contemporary reviews compared it with the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue, each of which offered a different mix of value, driving enjoyment and features.
The XLE shared the fifth-generation RAV4’s body and interior packaging, giving it the same generous cargo space and passenger room as the rest of the range.
| Specification | 2019 RAV4 XLE |
|---|---|
| Length | 180.9 in |
| Width | 73.0 in |
| Height | 67.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.4 in |
| Cargo volume (rear seats up) | 37.6 cu ft |
| Maximum cargo volume | 69.8 cu ft |
| Towing capacity | 1,500 lb |
Fuel Economy
EPA ratings for the XLE were 26 mpg city, 35 highway and 30 combined with front-wheel drive, and 25/33/28 with all-wheel drive. The LE AWD was rated slightly higher at 27/34/30. For buyers who prioritized economy over equipment, the RAV4 Hybrid, rated 41/38/40, offered a large advantage — the related 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Changes and Specs page covers that model.
Safety and Technology
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 came standard on the XLE and every other 2019 RAV4. It included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keep assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and road-sign assist. The XLE made blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert standard, an option on the LE.
How It Fits the Range
The XLE was the sensible middle of the 2019 RAV4 range: it brought the features most buyers wanted without the price jump to the XLE Premium or Limited. Buyers who wanted a sportier hybrid could look at the XSE, covered in the 2019 Toyota RAV4 SE Hybrid Review. For a full overview of the generation, see the Toyota Review hub.
