2019 Toyota RAV4 takes centre stage at 2018 New York Auto Show

ABU DHABI: The ongoing 2018 New York Auto Show is a hit amongst the crowd, the credit for which goes to the fantastic car display of automakers. One such carmaker winning hearts at the event is Toyota with its strong lineup of stunning vehicles. The 2019 Toyota RAV4, in particular, has grabbed eyes for its new aggressive and forward design language. And especially in the U.S. where it has been one of Toyota’s best-selling model, it’s a smart move to display the updated version for the first time at the New York-based event.

For the 2019 model year, Toyota has adopted serious measures both on the design and mechanical front to give the SUV a complete overhaul. To start with, the 2019 RAV4 sets on company’s new TNGA platform, i.e. the Toyota New Global Architecture. The said revolutionary platform also underpins Toyota’s latest offerings like - the all-new Camry, recently introduced Corolla hatchback, new C-HR, and 2018 Prius. As a result, the car’s spec sheet gets a slight dimension change, in the form of a marginal reduction in overall length and height. The wheelbase and width are extended by a few millimetres.

The all-new RAV4 now portrays an aggressive stance with design elements like bold character lines, new sharp LED headlights, clamshell hood, faux skid plate, and angular air intakes. From various angles, the SUV looks similar to Toyota’s FT-AC crossover concept, recently unveiled in Geneva. The all-new RAV4 will be offered in three different variants - Adventure, Limited, and XSE. All of which are displayed at the event, with the latter one accompanied by a slightly different and more aerodynamic driven design.

 

Grabbing the attention inside is the new 7-/8-inch floating infotainment system paired with Toyota’s latest Entune 3.0 music system, Amazon Alexa, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. A new premium upholstery now wraps the seats, making the cabin look plush. On the tech front, advancements come in the form of a wireless phone charger, high mounted rear camera, new rearview camera, and optional 800-watt JBL sound system.

Under the hood rests a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol beast, offered in both standard as well as a hybrid option. Under the standard option, the mill is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while a CVT option pairs with the Hybrid trim. Toyota is yet to announce new RAV4 power and price figures. However, what we know for sure is a standard front-wheel drive tuning with an all-wheel-drive coming as an option.

With the UAE being an SUV crazy market, we would love to see this one soon in the country.