2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure Review: First Impressions and Photo Gallery
CARS.COM — Discussion about what the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure is starts with what it isn’t: It is not an extra capable version of the RAV4 or a baby TRD Pro. Those looking for a RAV4 to run off-road will likely be disappointed, but the RAV4 Adventure, debuting at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, will still fit just right for many folks.
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Toyota seems to be taking this adventure thing seriously, creating a brand-new logo and adding large “Adventure” badging in a few places both inside and out. Toyota says the RAV4 Adventure is made for folks who practice an “active lifestyle,” complete with Instagram accounts that show them on top of mountains watching sunsets or jumping off cliffs into the ocean.
The RAV4 Adventure certainly looks the part of a rugged off-roader, with an added racing stripe, enlarged fender flares, black 18-inch alloy wheels and extra lower-body cladding. There even appears to be metallic-looking plates on all four sides. But upon closer inspection, the lower body guards are actually plastic — high-impact plastic, I was assured by Toyota, though expecting them to protect the RAV4 Adventure from large rocks or other obstacles will just leave you with damaged bodywork and a large bill.
On the mechanical side, changes are very light. The suspension gets more ground clearance, but Toyota representatives indicated that the lift was only half an inch, which isn’t enough to really move the needle.
So if the RAV4 Adventure isn’t better off-road, what is it? The answer lies in its usability. The cosmetic changes are nice, and I think that the styling updates all work nicely together and make the RAV4 look better, but the larger factor is the added practicality. There is more symmetry between the words “adventure” and “practical” than you’d think: The more there is of the latter, the easier it becomes to do the former.
A Tow Prep Package and roof rails come standard, increasing capability to carry cargo outside of the RAV4. Inside, Toyota added a 110-volt outlet in the trunk and heavy-duty, all-weather rubber mats in the passenger footwells and an especially large one in the cargo area to protect the upholstery and make it easier to clean. This means owners don’t have to worry about throwing dirty equipment in the cargo area; the mats can just be hosed off when you get home.
Even though the 2018 RAV4 Adventure isn’t a baby version of the RAV4 TRD Pro that I’d hoped for, I wouldn’t call it at all disappointing. It looks better, and for any adventure that doesn’t happen off-road, the RAV4 Adventure answers the call.
