2013 Toyota RAV4

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 comes in Base, Limited and Sport trims, which can be equipped with either a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engine and can be configured as front-wheel or all-wheel drive, offering a total of 12 trim choices. The 4-cylinder trims have a 2.5-liter DOHC powertrain that attains 179 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, while the V6 trims have a 3.5-liter DOHC powerplant that reaches 269 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque. Each runs on regular gas, is equipped with a 4- or 5-speed automatic transmission and is expected to attain 23 mpg city/31 highway.

Although the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is not expected to look radically different inside or out from preceding model years, there are rumors that it will get bolder exterior lines that will bring it closer in looks to the carmaker’s own FJ Cruiser.
More important, an electric RAV4, dubbed the RAV4 EV, is expected to debut by year’s end. This will the first electric version of the RAV4 since 2003, but Toyota is hoping for a better result with the new version. The RAV4 EV is expected to be powered by batteries from Tesla Motors and to run at least 100 miles on a single charge.
What It Is: The next generation of Toyota’s RAV4 crossover. We’ve already spotted camouflaged prototypes during testing; this rendering incorporates many of the key changes expected for Toyota’s ubiquitous small SUV, including a more carlike look with smoother styling.
Why It Matters: The RAV4 still is a hot item in Toyota showrooms, despite the current model being long in the tooth. It’s also growing out of step with the crossover mainstream (it still offers an old-school-SUV-style tailgate-mounted spare tire, for example), so this latest iteration needs to fall in line with the rest of the segment. That means a less-truckish appearance, as well as improved fuel economy.
Platform: The next RAV4 should sit on a variation of the current model’s platform. But it will look like a new animal, thanks mostly to a smoother snout, a more steeply raked windshield, and the absence of an exterior-mounted spare tire. Our artist’s rendering applies Toyota’s latest design language to the shape of the prototype RAV4s we’ve seen. Basically, imagine a current-gen RAV4 mixed with the latest Camry sedan, and you’ve pretty much got it. Although this rendering speculates styling that’s something of a departure from that of the contemporary RAV4, it’s not too far off from what the European RAV4 has looked like for some time now.
Powertrain: Buyers should again be able to spec their RAV4s with either front- or all-wheel drive, as is customary throughout the small-crossover arena. We expect the outgoing RAV4’s four- and six-cylinder engines to largely carry over to this new one; however, Toyota likely will upgrade to six-speed automatic transmissions for both engines. (Currently, the four-cylinder RAV4 gets an ancient four-speed auto and the brawny V-6 model gets a five-cog slushbox.)
Competition: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5.
Estimated Arrival Time and Price: If this new RAV4 is to make the 2013-model-year cutoff, it’ll probably appear late this summer or in the fall; otherwise, it could debut sometime early next year as a 2014. Pricing shouldn’t budge much from the current RAV4’s base of $23,460.
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