When Toyota invites you to visit the Pacific Northwest for four days of driving through winding roads, beautiful landscapes and miles of off-road terrain you don’t decline – and we didn’t! Yep, that’s right, last week yours truly spent several days behind the wheel testing the limits and capabilities of the 2015 Toyota RAV4. Our adventure took place near Mt. Hood and stretched to Portland, OR traversing some of the most scenic terrain you can find in the US. Handing me the keys, very few restrictions (and a legally binding loan agreement), Toyota allowed me to take the RAV4 to the limit and back.
Outfitted with AWD featuring dynamic torque control, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder power plant boasting 176 hp, 29 MPG on the highway, full navigation and push button start. What was once known as a grocery-getter or vehicle for soccer moms has been thoughtfully updated for a new generation drivers. A generation that doesn’t want to be constrained to the pavement. A generation that enjoys the outdoors to the fullest.
Key Features & Specs:
- 18″ wheels
- 104.7″ wheelbase
- 6.3″ ground clearance
- 73.3 cu. ft. of cargo space
- Max towing capacity of 1,500 lbs
- Curb Weight of 3,500 lbs
(For all the options, specs & features check out Toyota’s RAV4 brochure. )
Our RAV4 driving experience began on the Columbia River directly south of Washington state in Hood River, OR near iconic Mt. Hood where winding roads seem to stretch forever. This proved to be an ideal location to test the RAV4’s handling. For it’s hefty stature this SUV actually drives and handles really nice. Driving through hairpin turns and switchback roads the RAV4 feels much lighter than its 3,500 lbs curb weight might have you believe.
Our off-road experience was much the same story. The RAV4’s AWD performs nicely on gravel, dirt, mud and sand. While we weren’t climbing rocks or trying or crawl through a mud bog, I came away pretty impressed with what this SUV could do off-road. Let’s make no mistakes. This isn’t a 4Runner or Wrangler, and it doesn’t claim to be. The RAV4 proved to be a versatile SUV that will take you off-road when needed and back to the pavement when you’re ready. I see this SUV as an ideal choice for anyone who likes to get outdoors and explore. It has all the comforts of a traditional sedan, but also offers the AWD and features you need to make your own trails.
One upgrade we’d highly recommend for the RAV4 would be a nice set of all-season tires. I’d slap them on before leaving the dealership. While the stock tires are nice for pavement and hard packed trails you might want something a little more aggressive for winter driving and sloppy off-road conditions. A tire with more aggressive tread would also make the ride a softer. I believe you can also scale down the wheels to a 15″ rim if that’s your thing. More sidewall gives you a softer ride.
In the horsepower department there’s nothing major to write home about necessarily. The RAV4 was quite peppy, delivering 172 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM. Getting off the line won’t send you to the ER with whiplash, but it gets the job done. On the open road this SUV and has no trouble handling steep grades and advancing down the fast line. The 6-speed automatic transmission is smooth as butter. This SUV is perfect road tripping long distance, camping and my personal favorite… tailgating!
When it comes to looks and design, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And to each their own, right? That being said I happen to think the RAV4 is pretty handsome. The red paint job was my favorite of options I saw. The exterior is stylish and had some sporty lines. Equipped with fog lights, a split grill and 18″ rims this SUV won’t get you man-card revoked.
On the interior Toyota outfitted the RAV4 with very nice seating that is comfortable for the long haul. Power-everything is standard. The dash is very well laid out and the center nav-system / audio / AC / Heat cluster is easy to understand and operate while on the go. The steering wheel is equipped with many of the buttons you need to drive without distractions.
One of the highlights of the interior is the cargo space. The trunk / rear hatch area is large to begin with, but when you fold down the back seats you have all kinds of room for camping equipment, skiing gear or whatever else you need for you next adventure.
Priced to sell between $23,680 to $29,850 the RAV4 is an affordable option for adventure seeking men and women who don’t want to break the bank. This SUV was built for all conditions and off-road fun. For the money this is a great vehicle. No sticker shock and no buyers remorse. The RAV4 was built to do a little bit of everything and from my experience behind the wheel exploring the Pacific Northwest it is a truly fun vehicle to drive.
- Handles well both on and off-road
- Very comfy ride
- Excellent interior features
- Factory tires should be upgraded to something more agressive
- Peppy, but under powered engine
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