TACOMA VS RAV4? (Off road)

Toyota has never been known for being a short spanned developer. While they update their vehicles to remain competitive, they typically refine rather than initiate vehicle designs and features. Again, Toyota isn’t going to when their sales are fantastic. Toyota doesn’t care much about the GM twins or the ranger, because they’re basically nonfactors. The price to fully redevelop the Tacoma to whittle away remaining sales doesn’t offset the current sales rates and big money associated with it. No point from a business perspective to invest tons of money for marginal return, when they can keep assembly the same, continue to resource parts for cheaper, and refine production. In a perfect world, sure Toyota would update the Tacoma to stay current every time competition does, but that doesn’t make Toyota much money. In this case, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.

 

These are cool cars. I wish they would put the trail select & torque vectoring setup / software into the hybrid (or, soon, plugin hybrid).

We’ve got an AWD ‘19 hybrid in my family and it’s a great car. You still don’t have a bed, and the ground clearance isn’t measured to the pumpkin like a Taco, it’s 8.6” to dragging everything across the whole belly. And the front end approach angle offers additional limitations. But if I didn’t use my bed and occasionally need higher clearance, I’d be driving one.

 

I drove a RAV4 as a loaner the other day and was not impressed at all. It felt hollow and cheap. It drove nice enough but for north of $35k, no way.

 

What’s the question? Which is better Off-road???

I have a 2017 TRD OR we just picked up a 2019 Rav 4 Adventure for my wife.

First off it’s an awesome little car. Looks GREAT at least in our opinion with the new for 2019 front end. The standard gas engine gets 33 mpg, the Hybrid over 40 mpgs. We opted for the cold weather package with heated and cooled seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Rav was about 33k and has an absolutely stunning array of safety features and cameras that literally let it steer itself down the road. I think a ton of the cost of these is due to the safety stuff not the actual vehicle.

As far as taking it Offroad... there are lift kits and skids out there (we don’t have them) and it can be about as good as any SUBARU, which is ok.

obviously it’s not a truck but it’s a wonderful, safe, good looking car, and my wife absolutely loves it, and if she’s happy, I’m happy.

Oh also the Adventure model has a few different “modes” Rock, Snow, ext...

Oh and since there probably aren’t many pics of Ravs off-road here are a few for your enjoyment.


FWIW that GX is Badass off-road.

 

When we test drove the rav 4, my wife felt it to be " minivanish" . The salesman made no mention of a revamped style. They were clearing out the old stock. My bad for not doing my research lol. Kind of happy that my wife was disappointed with it, she loves her t4r. So much so that she wont let me drive it.

 

I don't off road, don't tow heavy and don't need 4wd.

I have a '14 Limited, 2wd. It's much more nimble than even my 5 lug, more comfy on the road and gets way better MPG.

I like having the alternative of a bed for many things, so as two primary vehicles the Tacoma and RAV make a great pair.

I'd wager most (over 50%) of 4wd Tacomas are bought for duty in snow on pavement or graded roads and occasional HD trips.

A 4wd RAV and a small utility trailer would be a great replacement in those cases.

 

Can anyone recommend a nice 6” lift for a RAV4 for me?

 

Sorry... just a 2.5". Buy a couple, maybe you can stack them.
https://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-leveling-lift-kit-73100.html

I offloaded in a 1977 Honda Civic once. If a Rav4 fits your needs then have at it. And happy trails. I like the 1st gen Rav4's look myself. Also they have manual transmissions.

 

Not the same generation but I test drove a 2018 (or maybe it was a 2019, which ever one was the last year of the last gen) RAV4 when I was shopping for a Tacoma and they were giving a 5k rebate on the RAV4 due to the redesigned models coming out.

It actually wasn't too bad. The size inside was pretty impressive. And the fact that I could get a XLE for under $25k was pretty appealing. I thought the view out the front window was kind of weird, where a good portion of the engine hood seemed to be in my view. And I'm on the taller side. Also it had features that I didn't want and I think the LE didn't have features that I wanted. I went in pretty much wanting a Tacoma anyways.

But then literally a couple of days later someone on clubfrontier posted their experience with their older RAV4 in Death Valley:

https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/death-valley-in-our-rav4.352801/

If I saw this thread a couple of days before shopping, there's a good chance I would've gotten the RAV4 instead.

 

Unless you dig DB lifts, that ('nice') doesn't even exist for a Tacoma.

However, poking around here might find what is available. https://www.rav4world.com/

In terms of a forum layout, it stinks. But there is some good info buried in there. The older your RAV, the more likely you are to find some.

 

lol I had a Renault LeCar I used to offroad, it was a blast, as long as I could clear it or slide over it I could go, not so good in the mud, made the 4x4 guys take a double look when I was climbing up ravines right with them.

 

I have a 97 rav4. Fun little car, plan on making it into a track car. My mom had a 16 rav4 then upgraded to a 19 rav4 adventure. Its a capable little cuv with the safety I wanted her to have. Only thing I hate about it is the engine. It has the same balancing shafts that were notorious on the 2ar causing engine failures.

 

So would the Ridgeline be a RAV4 and Tacoma combined? lol

 

Dealer told me the RAV4 is their best seller

 

Probably true. Crossovers are really popular for some reason now.

 

Easily, I'm a rav4 tech.

My family has 1 x 2013, 3 x 2017's lol.

 

What are you smoking Gen 1 was the tits I'd buy the crap out of a new 3 door soft top Rav4

 

I drove a new Rav4 recently and the rear view mirror digital!!! Blew my mind! There's a camera on the back window which transmits the view to the rear view mirror! Kind of want it for my Tacoma lol!

 

Cant compare an AWD vehicle to a 4X4!!!!! Especially without 4Lo

My CRV did great off-road with just the AWD, but could not climb a mountain like my Taco can!

 

Idk guys motortrend made a pretty capable Rav4 offroader