At debuted at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, Toyota is giving its RAV4 line a makeover. The auto company introduced the world to the RAV4 Adventure, which may or may not be what the public expected. Nevertheless, the company is delivering for a certain type of market by providing practicality and therefore the option of an adventure.
As Cars.Com noted, the 2018 RAV4 Adventure is not a beefed up version of the current RAV4, but cannot exactly be considered a baby version of the TRD pro either. The car is not made for off-road usage, but Toyota did add a few key features. Some of these changes are obvious by observing the car's aesthetic, but a closer look at the materials used might alter this perception.
Toyota is clearly taking its adventure branding seriously, as evidenced by the new logo and the new "Adventure" badging both inside and outside the vehicle. According to the company itself, the vehicle was made with an active lifestyle in mind. And in actuality, it does look like the RAV4 Adventure can tough it up in the most difficult terrains.
It sports an added racing strip, as well as enlarged fender flares. There is also an 18 inch allow wheels to drive the vehicle and extra lower body cladding. It even looks like it has metallic plates on all four sides. But again, the materials used are not what they seem. Closer inspection of the unit confirmed that the guards are actually made of plastic. Toyota assured attendees of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show that the material is high impact plastic. Nevertheless, interested buyers should be cautious of large rocks and other hard obstacles.
In terms of the actual mechanics of the car, the publication noted that very little changes were actually made. The suspension technically has more ground clearance, but it was confirmed by company representatives that the lift was actually about just a half inch. A half inch is likely not to do much in terms of legitimately moving the needle.
So the RAV4 Adventure is not actually for off-road adventures. Its real selling point, therefore, is its practicality and usability. The Tow Prep Package and the roof rails are standard, which increase the capability of carrying cargo outside of the vehicle. Toyota also added a 110-volt outlet in the trunk and rubber mats in the passenger footwells that are reportedly all-weather, as well as one on the cargo area to protect the vehicle.
The 2018 RAV4 Adventure is not a monster on the road - not the silent nor obnoxiously loud type. But it is a practical choice to make and it offers the ability to be less careful with a unit. In that sense, it is a very practical choice to make as there is some level of adventure to experience with the vehicle.
But as USA Today adds, the 2018 RAV4 Adventure was not the only car on display at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. The Sequoia TRD Sport has also been announced to be available on 4x4 and 4x2 models, each to be equipped with a 5.7 liter, 8 cylinder engine. The handling has also been enhanced with Bilstein shocks and anti-sway bars at the front and rear.
