2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Redesign

If you have ever wondered what RAV4 stands for, here is the answer. The meaning of this abbreviation is Recreational Active Vehicle with four-wheel drive. However, not every single RAV4 is an FWD vehicle since this driving system is not offered in every country. When it was released in 1994 it was the very first compact crossover SUV. It was made as a result of a customers’ demand for a vehicle that needed to be some kind of combination of an SUV and compact car. It had to have large cargo room and all-wheel drive on one hand and to be fuel efficient and easy to maneuver on the other. It’s has been manufactured for 22 consecutive years and we’re looking forward to seeing the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid on the streets.

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review

Toyota has several top-notch hybrids such as Prius, thus these vehicles usually share lots of features. New RAV4 will resemble Prius in many aspects, but it will also take after CH-R crossover. The crossover is expected to have new interior details. The cabin is going to look more futuristic comparing to the current model. Also, some exterior details are going to be changed giving the RAV4 new look. The 2018 model is still far from being released hence many details are unknown. One of the most speculative features is the engine.

Engine

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018 will have a 2.5-liter inline-4 under the hood. This variant is able to deliver 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy of the car is believed to be improved thanks to new engine and reduced weight. Unfortunately, we don’t have exact figures at this moment and you need to hold your horses for some time. The driving system will again depend on the country so we are going see the two-wheel drive RAV4 in certain parts of the world. On another hand, transmission system will not be optional and a 6-speed automatic gearbox will be the only available transmission.

Since this article is about the hybrid variant we must mention something about hybrid powertrain. The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will probably share a powertrain with the upcoming Prius. This means the Mazda Skyactiv-D 1.5-liter diesel accompanied with Hybrid Synergy Drive System will be used under the hood. However, there are more speculations about the engine. Some sources tell that the 2.5-liter will be combined with an electric engine. This combination is supposed to deliver 194 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque. However, we must be patient and see what really is going to be under the hood of the 2018 model.

Redesign

The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is going to be based on the same platform as the predecessor. This platform was introduced three years ago when this crossover got the biggest design in the last ten years. However, there are few things which will be modified. The shape of the headlights should be slightly changed as well as the bumper. On the other hand, the front grille and the rest of the front fascia will keep the same shape.

Luxury cabin is based on some design solutions developed by the other Toyota’s subsidiary, Lexus. The interior of the crossover is one of the advantages. High-quality materials are used all over the cabin and technology is always at its maximum. Generally, Toyota always uses top-notch technology in its vehicles. This means we can expect all systems are going to be updated. So far the Japanese automaker didn’t release any photo of the inner part, but we are expecting them to be released soon.

2018 RAV4 Hybrid Price and Release Date

There are different opinions on the price. Some believe that the base price of the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will be around $25,000. However, there are those who expect pricing will start at $30,000 thus we don’t know who to trust.