Faced with stiff competition within its own segment, the 2018 Toyota RAV4 soldiers on as a reliable, comfortable, and well-equipped alternative to entries from Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet. And with a a new set of safety equipment and a sporty trim for 2018, the RAV4 has two more arrows in its quiver.
The 2018 RAV4 gains an all-new Adventure trim, available with both front- and all-wheel drive models. Toyota’s suite of driver-assist safety features, called Toyota Safety Sense Plus (lane departure warning with a steering assistant, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection), is now standard across the RAV4 line.
Toyota offers the RAV4 in six grades: LE, XLE, Adventure, SE, Limited, and Platinum. Seating for five is standard with 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seat and 73.4 cubes with that seat folded.
All models come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, which works alongside with a six-speed automatic transmission (a hybrid is available and is listed separately). All-wheel drive is available across the RAV4 product line, adding $1,400 to the base price across the board.
Going with all-wheel drive isn't the most efficient option, of course. The front-drive RAV4 returns 23 miles per gallon in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. Adding all-wheel drive drops those figures to 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.
The standard 2018 Toyota RAV4 LE costs $25,405 (including a $995 destination fee). This model offers automatic halogen projector-beam headlights, halogen daytime running lights, 17-inch steel wheels, roof rails, and a rear spoiler. Standard interior equipment includes keyless entry, power windows and door locks, air conditioning, a tilt and telescopic steering column, cloth seats, and a rearview camera.
As we said, there are no optional extras on the base RAV4.
Priced from $26,495, the RAV4 XLE adds integrated fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, power heated side mirrors, and a power tilt and slide moonroof. Other equipment includes dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power driver’s seat.
Optional extras include an $800 Plus Package, which adds push-button start, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, an Entune infotainment system with app-powered navigation (rather than Toyota's stock system), and a rear-view camera. You can also spend $1,215 and get the Power Package with a power-operated liftgate in the Power Plus Package. A $1,740 Power Premium Package takes all the aforementioned goodies and adds a more potent audio system. Front and rear parking sensors can also be bundled with those features via another Power Premium Package, which costs $2,240. Finally, a third Power Premium Package adds heated front and rear seats, for a total price of $2,620.
Starting at $28,695, the all-new Adventure grade adds exterior styling and interior features designed to give a more rugged, sporty look. Large fender flares, 18-inch five-spoke black alloy wheels, and blacked-out trim dominate the RAV4 Adventure's exterior. Inside, this grade has a leather-wrapped shift knob, carbon-fiber-like trim panels, all-weather floor mats, and a 120-volt power outlet in the cargo compartment.
Option packages largely mirror the XLE, with the Plus Package contents available in two separate trims – a $1,065 version adds mud guards and a $2,090 Power Premium Package adds the mud guards and front and rear parking sensors.
With a starting price of $29,785, the SE adds LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and sport suspension tuning. Other added equipment includes imitation leather seats, heated front seats, and push-button start.
The SE's options break the mold somewhat. The Plus Package is now called the Power Package and costs $1,010, although it doesn't include Entune infotainment or push-button start, since both standard. An Entune Premium JBL Package adds navigation, an 11-speaker JBL audio system, and the Entune App Suite, which allows owners to download apps for their infotainment system. This $3,010 package already includes the Plus Package. Finally, $3,470 Advanced Technology Package adds a surround-view camera to the Entune/JBL pack.
Priced from $31,900, the RAV4 Limited brings in chrome touches to door handles and wheels. The side mirrors gain turn signal indicators. Driver seat memory, an automatic dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and additional leather and imitation leather touches are also apparent. Importantly, every feature from the Plus Package – push-button start, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, an Entune infotainment system with integrated navigation, and a rear-view camera – is standard on the Limited.
Because of the extra equipment, some packages carry a more affordable price. For example, the JBL audio setup that costs $3,010 on the SE is just $875 on the Limited. Likewise, the Advanced Technology Package is down from $3,470 to $2,025. There's also a version of the Advanced Technology Package that costs $2,235 and adds a foot-activated, power-operated liftgate.
Starting at $35,745, the top-of-the-line Platinum grade doesn't offer any option packages since everything is standard – the Platinum trim gets everything from a foot-activated power liftgate to a heated steering wheel to a surround-view camera. If there's an option that's been listed on the previous trim levels, it's standard equipment on the plush RAV4 Platinum.
The RAV4 SE is our pick, as it offers a sport-tuned suspension along with many of the amenities customers desire in a small SUV. We'd suggest adding all-wheel drive, naturally, and then grabbing the Entune Premium JBL Package. Out the door, you'd be looking at a handsomely equipped crossover SUV for $33,200.
