2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure: A Little Practicality for a Lotta Dollars
CARS.COM — Toyota’s best-selling RAV4 is one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market, and now the automaker is looking to further boost its appeal and catch the eye of outdoors enthusiasts with the RAV4 Adventure. When the model goes on sale, it’ll start at MSRP $28,695, including destination — several thousand dollars’ worth of hiking vacations more than the regular 2018 model’s $25,405 base price.
Related: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure Review: First Impressions and Photo Gallery
What type of adventures does the new model promise? Lower your expectations; those looking for a mini TRD Pro model should keep looking. The RAV4 Adventure keeps the same engine and transmission combination as the other RAV4 models, a 176-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 172 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic. It will be offered with front- or all-wheel drive.
The upgrades start and end with slightly more adventurous styling: The Adventure model wears a racing stripe, enlarged fender flares, black 18-inch alloy wheels, additional lower-body cladding and metallic-looking plastic plates on all four sides. Toyota says additional ride height and ground clearance add to its robustness, but ride height and ground clearance are up by less than half an inch each.
Inside, there’s trim-exclusive carbon-fiber-like trim panels, a leather-wrapped shift knob and more Adventure logos than you’d find in an REI store. Some additions make the SUV more practical, including a standard 120-volt outlet in the cargo area and heavy-duty, all-weather rubber mats in the passenger footwells and cargo area. A Tow Prep Package and roof rails also come standard, increasing capability to carry cargo outside of the RAV4.
The RAV4 Adventure goes on sale later in September.
