2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 stood out with its rugged exterior styling, designed to mimic a traditional SUV. It featured boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end that contrasted sharply with previous RAV4 generations and other compact crossovers. This aggressive look made it more distinctive and impactful as a family vehicle. Underneath its rugged exterior, the RAV4 remained a conventional vehicle, based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. Although the styling suggested a 4Runner, its mechanical foundations were more akin to a Camry. Toyota offered options to enhance the gasoline RAV4's appearance, such as the Adventure model with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, and the TRD Off-Road version with matte black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and red interior accents.

Inside, the 2021 RAV4 continued its rugged theme with functional touches like large rubberized knobs and door handles. While the material quality was good in lower trim levels, it didn't improve much in higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model featured SofTex upholstery, claimed to be lighter than leather and more durable, though genuine leather was unavailable, even in the top Limited trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 retained a sense of maturity and blended well with contemporary crossover designs. Initially unremarkable, close examination revealed angular flourishes in the wheel arches and crisp lines in the body-side bends. The expressive headlights, snub-nosed grille, and grinning lower fascia openings gave the RAV4 a Kabuki-like face that combined playfulness with aggressiveness. Toyota's traditional high-quality fit-and-finish elevated its overall exterior appeal.

The interior of the 2022 RAV4 was characterized by a layered dash with contrasting textures and colors. The design was anchored by an uncomplicated center stack and a well-positioned touchscreen interface. A geometric pattern, inspired by circuit boards, tied together various interior elements, including cloth seat inserts, sill plates, and dash pieces. The Adventure-trim test vehicle even had 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels featuring this pattern.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offered a single gasoline engine, the "Dynamic Force" 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which generated 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Despite its impressive output for a naturally aspirated engine and a claimed 40% thermal efficiency, the overall driving experience was hampered by a sluggish transmission and a lack of responsive steering. Although the RAV4 included a "Sport" driving mode, it only added weight to the steering without improving responsiveness. On the highway, however, the RAV4's cabin was impressively quiet, and its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road variants offered enhanced off-road capabilities with features like a torque-vectoring rear axle and all-terrain tires, along with increased ground clearance.

In 2022, the Toyota RAV4 provided three powertrain options. The gasoline model retained the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It also included an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD or AWD available. The RAV4 Hybrid combined the same 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor to produce 217 horsepower and featured an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid boasted the most power, with a combined 302 horsepower from its 2.5-liter engine and a larger battery pack, offering up to 42 miles of all-electric range.

Our test vehicle, the gasoline Adventure AWD model, demonstrated smooth and immediate power delivery, thanks to its naturally aspirated engine, devoid of turbo lag. The eight-speed transmission provided familiar and responsive shifting, enhancing the driving experience. The RAV4's car-like handling, supported by a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, contributed to a comfortable and stable ride. AWD models featured Multi-Terrain Select tuning and dynamic torque vectoring to improve handling and cornering performance.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4’s tall roof provided ample headroom for front and rear passengers, and its generous glass area ensured good visibility. However, legroom in both rows was somewhat less than that of several competitors. The front seats in the TRD Off-Road trim were noted for their comfort and form-fitting nature, while the rear seats were flat and hard, making long journeys unappealing. The cargo space behind the rear seats offered 37.6 cubic feet, which was above average but not class-leading. The cargo area had a wide opening for easy loading, though the lip of the cargo floor was slightly higher compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V. Inside, the 2021 RAV4 featured large, easy-to-use controls, though some storage spaces appeared limited by the design focus on larger shifting knobs and other controls.

The 2022 RAV4 improved interior space further, offering 37.5 cubic feet of cargo storage behind the second row and up to 69.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The maximum payload capacity ranged between 1,050 and 1,230 pounds, varying by configuration. Towing capacity differed by model, with Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds, and other trims up to 1,500 pounds. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime had towing capacities of 1,750 and 2,500 pounds, respectively. Inside, the 2022 RAV4 was spacious and comfortable, with ample room for front occupants and practical storage solutions throughout the cabin. The center console offered accessible storage spaces, and multiple cupholders and bottle holders were strategically placed.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came equipped with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio with a three-month trial. Most trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen interface, while the Limited trim had an 8-inch screen and the RAV4 Prime offered up to a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was an option. The infotainment system, while user-friendly and straightforward, lacked standout features and pizazz, though it was intuitive and easy to operate.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 built upon this foundation, offering a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, six-speaker audio, and compatibility with Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay. Safety Connect was included with a one-year trial, alongside Service Connect and Wi-Fi Connect trials. Upgraded XLE models featured an enhanced 9-inch touchscreen, while Premium Audio with an 11-speaker JBL system was available on higher trims. The RAV4 Prime stood out with additional tech features such as five USB ports, auxiliary power outlets, blue ambient illumination, and wireless smartphone charging.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 excelled in safety ratings, receiving a "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with top "Good" scores in crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. It missed the "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to some headlight scores. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist.

Similarly, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota's Star Safety System, featuring vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, and more. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard across all models, including features like a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2022 RAV4 achieved a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS, with the RAV4 Prime receiving a "Top Safety Pick+" due to better side-impact ratings. NHTSA also awarded it a five-star overall rating.