Used 2019 Toyota RAV4 Consumer Reviews
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Adventure trim grinds
Jared w , 04/24/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
258 of 268 people found this review helpful
Like many other people that have the adventure trim, my torque Vectoring AWD system is grinding and making a mooing sound every time the rest driveline disconnects. My dealer confirmed this and ordered a new transfer case but may not fix the problem. One dealer told me the put in the wrong fluid at the factory, another said the gears were tooled wrong and Toyota is aware of the problem and will re-tool the system and replace around July of this year. Very disappointed!!
Adventure Model Is GRINDING
Glenn Lowe, 03/05/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
426 of 444 people found this review helpful
My Adventure model has been GRINDING when the AWD Driveline Disconnect engages/disengages after driving the car for about 20-30 min (When gear oil has heated up). This popped up after driving the car for about 1,000 miles. 2 Dealers that know NOTHING about the technical workings of the driveline disconnect system have told me that "It sounds normal". WHY WOULD TOYOTA RELEASE A CAR THAT GRINDS AND CALL THAT "NORMAL"?!?!?! Especially their best selling car???? Extremely frustrated that I traded in a fun, perfectly functioning Focus ST for a brand new car that grinds all the time. Dealerships basically tell me "if it doesn't have a warning light and doesn't have a TSB or Recall, the car must be functioning normally" On top of that the Automatic transmission is a joke. Jolts if you come to a near-stop then accelerate again (READ ABOUT THE 2018 CAMRY!!! SAME MOTOR+TRANSMISSION!!! SAME PROBLEMS REPORTED!!!). All of these "features" (8 speed, early shifting trans, complicated driveline disconnect) are sacrificing reliability and ensuring headaches in the name of squeezing a couple more MPG out of a car. Until Toyota acknowledges the problem and repairs the car, I wouldn't DARE take this GRINDING, JERKY car on an ADVENTURE.
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2019 Toyota RAV4 for sale near you
3 of 132 listings
- LE 4dr SUVMSRP: $24,99823 mi away
- Adventure 4dr SUVMSRP: $23,99513 mi away
- XLE 4dr SUVMSRP: $19,690In-stock online
See all 132 listings
Buyers Remorse
Becky, 08/11/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
161 of 167 people found this review helpful
The good: Highway gas mileage is around 32 mpg. Transmission is jerky from a rolling stop. Engine noise is excessive under acceleration. Lots of rattles and road noise. If you drive around a bend in the road with the cruise control on, be prepared for the vehicle to automatically apply the brakes without any warning. This is due to the adapted cruise control reading false positives around almost any bend. The electronic parking brake has refused to release itself several times. We no longer use it anymore. The display on the touch screen is starting to fail. The gas gauge and DTE often won't update after a fill up. We bought the vehicle new and have around 3,200 miles on it. We regret this purchase and will likely be trading it in on something else for a loss.
2019 Limited RAV4
Leo, 02/25/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
399 of 417 people found this review helpful
I got my 2019 Limited RAV4 on 2/23/19. After purchasing the car and driving on the road 2 hours. The engine lights on and the PKSB lights on. At that time, I only drove 80 miles total. I was thinking just sensor failure. So I continue driving back from the dealership to my home. Today, when I drove on the road, 300 miles total, the engine overheated alarm on and tell me park immediately. So I parked the car on the side of the road and call the Toyota towing service. I want to see if someone has the same issue as me. I feel bad with the brand new car already start having issue.
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Wait for Used 2019 Model with 11k Miles
Tatjana, 03/18/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
376 of 396 people found this review helpful
As the title states, you should wait for a used 2019 model with at least 11k miles. I've had my 2019 Rav4 XLE PREMIUM for a little over 2 weeks now, and addition to the deceiving MPG, little things that normally don't bother me, i.e. "get up" from a dead stop, cabin noise, how much plastic the interior is made with, actually started to bother me specifically with this car. First, the engine in terms of "get up" and acceleration. The car I owned prior to this was a 4cyl Sonata, so clearly I don't care about being fast off the starting block nor how many seconds it takes to go from 0-60 mph. However, with THIS car, you WILL start to care due to how painfully slow it is if you apply the gas pedal too quickly from a pause at a stop sign, speed bump, or a dead stop. It might as well be a 2cyl engine, and that is in NORMAL & SPORT modes. ECO mode is more like 1cyl, if that's even a real thing. The best way to descibe it is that it almost feels like the engine is stuck in between NEUTRAL & DRIVE, and is having a hard time verifying if you really want to apply gas to make the car go forward itself. If the engine is cold, i.e. in the morning from sitting all night, it's even worse. This problem matches other reviews regarding this. The engine is noisy when accelerating at low speeds/from a complete stop on top of being dreadfully slow during initial acceleration. I find myself having to "pulse" the gas pedal to make the "get up" go faster/smoother. With that being said, once it reaches about 30 mph, the acceleration is great and smooth. As for the minor stuff, the cabin noise is very noticeable, especially on the highway, and there is a lot of plastic material in the interior for a trim that starts @ 32k MSRP. Regarding the EPA MPG, this was clearly done in full ECO mode to get those numbers, which means even more painfully slow than NORMAL OR SPORTY modes. This was my first non-practical nor essential, "I bought it 'cause I think it's cute" car as a reward to myself (since I'm not the type of person that normally would do that) which is literally the only reason why I'm keeping it for the forseeable future. If I knew what I know now back then, I would've waited for a year to buy a used one (same trim) with like 11k-20k miles on it, and $5k less the sticker price. Oh well, you live and you learn. Hope this helps someone who needs to make a more practical decision.
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Enjoyable CUV
Chad H., 02/04/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
280 of 295 people found this review helpful
Owned for 3 weeks, so can’t comment on reliability. Pros: Gas mileage: 34 mpg (calculated) in 50/50 city/highway Interior: Good small item storage. Simple controls. Roomy enough for family of four. Engine: Good power for 4 cylinders Exterior: Hard edges are more appealing to me than bulbous rivals like CRV Infotainment: standard Carplay Ride/handling: Decent balance between stability and comfort Cons: Engine: Noisy Transmission: Inconsistent low speed behavior, can be hard to have a smooth “street start” while rolling. Fine from standstill Infotainment. Entune is pretty useless (CarPlay negates most of this)
Transmission Slips
JR, 05/13/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
209 of 220 people found this review helpful
I have a 2019 RAV4 with only 2000 miles and when I accelerate the transmission slips. I almost got into an accident because I went to pass someone and the damn car didn't move!! When accelerating from a standstill the transmission bucks and makes noise when in traffic. The engine is also load. Very disappointed in the performance of the vehicle.
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Rav 4 Adventure big problem
R. Greenwood, 05/31/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
142 of 149 people found this review helpful
We purchased Rav Adventure 2 months ago. Drove nicely for 2 months. Now, car grinds when get up to speed of 25. When slow down also grinds. It is a scary noise. Not sure what is going on. We have brought back to Toyota two times. The tech went for drive with us. He heard noise. . They kept car for day. Told us there is no fix. To keep watching to see if fix comes out!! Why should we have to drive a car that makes this loud noise constantly and we paid so much for. We are very disappointed with Toyota. Will be seeing a lawyer.
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Not as good as I expected
RJ, 03/04/2019
updated 03/04/2020
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
240 of 253 people found this review helpful
Not as good as I expected. It's been one year since my purchase. The good: new exterior style (more rugged looking); interior is handsome looking with orange contrast stitching and orange accents; number of safety features is impressive including blind spot monitors, lane keeping assist, radar controlled cruise control, parking sensors, pre-collision warning, etc. Toyota Safety Sense does the job pretty well; sunroof; 19-inch wheels; rear view mirror becomes a screen for a rear camera mounted on the cargo area; mpg is great. The bad: the transmission does not know what to do and fails to be smooth. It is like driving a manual transmission vehicle as when shifting up and shifting down you feel the pull and sometimes is pretty noticeable; again with the transmission, mine makes a metal clank and rubber band sound twice when going lower than 25 mph; already I have a traction control warning light flickering that makes the engine hesitates; Entune, the poor version of Lexus Enform but as frustrating...what a poor orchestration of an infotainment system! It's apps (at the Google Play store has a very low score) are useless except for Alexa which works for certain things. Every time phone connects to Entune I have to tap OK on the screen to get rid of the "Entune message", I rather use google navigation on my phone"; NO Android Auto (still none retrofit available in 2020); it can get very expensive when adding the equipment that you want or need; not as spacious as my previous 2009 RAV4; the Adventure trim (the one I bought) should have more standard exterior equipment than cross bars to make it look "outdoorsy". Three times to the dealership for engine\transission noise already but nothing mechanics can help with.
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Disappointing Performance
SMN, 05/14/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
58 of 60 people found this review helpful
I leased a 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium model on 3/12/19. This is my fifth RAV4 and while I love the upgraded model as far as size and comfort, the drive is extremely disappointing. Accelerating from a stop, the transmission shifts gears between the lower gears as if someone is learning to drive a manual. It jerks and hesitates. This is very frustrating, but even worse is the fact that I don't always trust that it will accelerate quickly when I need it to while commuting in bumper to bumper traffic. I miss my previous RAV4s' comfortable and solid performance. I was told by the Service team to watch for a computer update and that possibly an update will help with the transmission issues. Sure am glad this 2019 model is a lease rather than a purchase.
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He who "hesitates".....
Flying Dutchman, 05/04/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
88 of 92 people found this review helpful
I have owned or leased a total of 6 Toyota vehicles since 1992. 4 of these were RAV4 AWD models. I can honestly say I have never had any outstanding mechanical issues with any of these vehicles-until now. The 2019 version of the RAV4 has demonstrated some unusual performance issues. While the car is noisy, that's not a major concern for me. After all, it is a "truck". I picked the RAV4 up at the dealership on April 26th and have only driven it about 200 miles thus far. My major concern involves the vehicle's tendency to buck and surge at stop signs, traffic lights and the like. It really affects the performance of the vehicle. I contacted the dealership and they advised I must be driving in the car with the automatic transmission in the "selective" mode. Wrong! They said they've never heard of the surging problem. I drove the car for two more days and, after a series of experiments, was able to drive the car smoothly AFTER I disabled the "Stop and Go" feature. Admittedly, I've only driven the car for a week. While I don't really expect anything major to happen with the car, I just wanted to get this "annoyance" out there.
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2019 RAV4 XLE Premium
Raj, 04/26/2019
updated 09/20/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
40 of 41 people found this review helpful
Updated after 9600 miles; Toyota had a fix for the transmission. It was a software fix. After it, the performance is improved when accelerating at the low speed 5-10 mph. When accelerating from 25-35 mph the engine still has to rev a bit for an upshift. More fixes are needed to fine tune it. The interior door handles are awkwardly placed when trying to shut the door. Noise and vibration: you notice a bit too much noise and there are squeaks and rattles. Original Review Pros - Fuel Economy, Quality, Ride, Handling. Biggest con is the transmission. At the lower gears, it hesitates, especially when accelerating from 20 mph. Engine revs before the shift kicks in.
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Worst. Transmission. Ever.
Jen E., 06/14/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
116 of 122 people found this review helpful
My beloved Toyota...what have you done? Having owned or leased 3 Corollas and 3 previous RAV4's, the ONLY negative I've ever had to say about a Toyota was my Corollas needed snow tires in the Northeast winters. That's it! I loved the RAV4's so much, I could've been a spokesperson. Now on my 4th RAV4, I was super excited for the new design. I leased the XLE and it has all the bells and whistles I wanted. I test drove it and noticed this shifting problem, but blamed it on myself. I thought "I'm being a bit of a leadfoot" and causing the car to shift all "jerky". I even joked with the salesman... "I really do know how to drive!" Had I realized then what I know now, I would have never finalized the lease. THIS. TRANSMISSION. SUCKS. What a disaster! First gear is not only useless, shifting at about 9 mph, but if you slow to about 4-5mph and try to speed up again, the car hesitates and bucks. Hello, whiplash! It's a SIGNIFICANT jerk motion and it happens every time. Once you do get going, forget trying to accelerate quickly to pass or enter traffic...you hit the gas and the car sits there and thinks about it for a while before it decides to lunge forward and join the other (better) cars on the road. I have never been so disappointed - this is hands down the worst car I have ever driven. And this is from a very loyal Toyota customer. My overall rating is one star because, for all the cool features and nice redesign, this transmission negates all of it. I dread driving this car.
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Toyota could have done a better job
Bill H., 05/17/2019
updated 11/17/2020
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
158 of 167 people found this review helpful
I have owned Toyota's since 1977. The 2019 Rav4 is a total disappointment. The engineering department at Toyota released the car before they should have. My dealer was terrific. They were on top of everything they could and did everything they could to get it working properly. The transmission (8 speed) can't make up it's mind on what it wants to do. It lurches and bucks. Hesitates around corners and the engine noise is horrible. Toyota needs to revisit what they've done on this SUV and make the corrections quick. I see now that they are offering $1250.00 cash back. Dealers are sitting with this SUV in spite of the hype the car got 6 months before it was released. I have traded the car with only 3300 miles on it. I have purchased a Subaru Outback. My first Subaru ever. Enjoying the car. Sorry, Toyota. I think you have lost me until you get your quality back to where it once was.
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First brand new car ever and I REGRET it!!!!
Kelley, 06/11/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
157 of 166 people found this review helpful
I thought i was being overly picky after buying the car and putting almost 9k miles on it since end of January ( I drive a lot). I was driving a 16 year old Acura Tl with 250k miles on it and i hate to say, i prefer it over the RAV 4, but I needed something new. The car is loud, the engine sounds like it will blow up when you have to accelerate and like others have said, the rattling noises, i can't pinpoint them and it drives me crazy!! Someone else in a review said they heard the "mooing" noise I started hearing last week, I'll be asking the dealer about this. I get good gas mileage but it's most likely due to my long commute that has more than stop and go traffic. If i could go back and stop myself from buying this car, I would. The only pros about the are gas mileage, it's cute, and the backseats lay flat. I must say, I will probably never buy a toyota again.
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Wanted to be overwhelmed by my new car
JEPP, 06/05/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
48 of 50 people found this review helpful
I have the Adventure top model in the Lunar Rock color. Pretty little car. My concerns are with the 4 cylinder engine, which is jerky and inconsistent when you first accelerate. I'm thinking that it might be me as I've been driving a 6 cylinder Highlander. But, after reading the reviews it sounds like others are experiencing similar issues. The interior is great. Gas mileage is 30-33mpg. Biggest concern is the unusual noise it makes when 22-25 mph. It sounds like a brief grinding sound. It started when accelerating and is now making the noise both accelerating and de-accelerating. People on the street turn and stare and it's not because it is a good looking car, it's because of the noise. The dealership reports it is a problem in the front transfer case and there isn't a fix yet. Feeling disappointed right now.
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2019 Rav4 Engine Stopped
TVO, 02/28/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
277 of 296 people found this review helpful
Lease to buy the brand new 2019 Rav4 and all was good until the 4th day after purchase. I leave for work at 7am and when turning on my car - it wouldnt start. A message on the dash saying "Engine Stopped - Shift To P". My car was still in park so I have no idea what else to do. After an hour of trying it finally starts. A week later it happened again and I was able to start the car after 90minutes. The next day, 12th day of having the car it happens again, finally call a tow guy to jump start my car and I finally decided to bring in the car. Thinking this would only take a few days.... boy was I wrong. As of right now, Thursday February 28th the dealership services still have my car 3weeks and wont be ready for another week which will be a total of 4 weeks. I contacted Toyota HQ and all they can do right now is waive one month of payment. I find that very insulting considering that they had the car for 3 weeks of the first month - that the one month waived should be a given. On top of all this, I get a call from Toyota Elmore, the dealership that I got this Rav4 from calls me seeing if I would like to purchase a car... at this very moment I knew Toyota was messing with me and testing out my patience. Also, the car says MPG 26 but from a full tank that I filled up twice with the range of 350miles - both times I have only gotten about 270miles.
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Would give zero stars if I could
Stephanie, 06/02/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
86 of 91 people found this review helpful
I just read through all of the reviews and am hear to report that Toyota has definitely lost me as a customer. Bought in January and started noticing the same ‘mooing’ sound that some others have complained about about 3 weeks later. Engine needs to be warmed up before you hear the noise but once it is it happens around 23MPH when accelerating or decelerating. Took it to the dealer. Left it for the day only for them to tell me that they could not replicate the sound. They told me to come back on a day that I was hearing it! Of course when I came back and took the tech out for a drive he heard it. Said he needed to research w Toyota. About 2 weeks later I called them since I never heard back from them. They told me that Toyota had identified it as an issue with the transfer case. And that they were going to order a new transfer case and they would need the car for a day or two. He told me he would call me back to schedule that. He never called back and when I called him he told me that Toyota had said that that would not fix the issue and that they were still researching. He told me that Toyota said I could drive in sports mode so as to not hear the noise. This is true, if I put it in sports mode I do not hear the noise. I have had the car for six months now and still no answer. I finally called Toyota customer service last week where the initial agent I spoke with was very sympathetic and thought it was quite ridiculous. He said he would escalate the case right away and I felt like maybe I was going to get somewhere. Unfortunately the person that he escalated the case two was very unhelpful and basically said my only option was to wait for them to figure something out. I told her that was completely unacceptable and that I wanted them to take this car and give me a new one. She said the only way that that could happen was for me to do some sort of buyback but that it all depends on my states lemon law. She said it would take 30 days for them to get back to me about this possible buyback. This is my third lease of a RAV4 and it will definitely be my last.
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What a mistake
D. Truelove, 03/21/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
99 of 105 people found this review helpful
Be very careful. I can live with the engine noise just fine. The 8 speed transmisson is already getting old because of the constant shifting when starting off. All that I can deal with but the constant rattling on less than perfect roads is driving us insane. Sounds like an bag of empty tin cans on bumps and can't find the source, as I have already installed carpet in the spare tire area to stop that noise we still have this one left. Just hoping it will hold together for maybe 3 years, I think the driver side mirror will fall off first. With all this said the gas mileage is great, even better than expected. Just to be fair we have only had this car for a month so take this for what it is worth. Nothing like my Tacoma at all.
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Read Reviews Before Buying!!!!
ColoradoAdventures, 06/20/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
69 of 73 people found this review helpful
Before you buy a 2019 RAV4 I would consider reading reviews and the complaints that are starting to pile up about them (Transmission Jerk, Traction Control not working properly, Loud Road Noise, Loud Engine Noise, etc.)
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2020 RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD
J. S. , 04/09/2019
updated 04/10/2020
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
180 of 193 people found this review helpful
Decided to try the RAV4 Limited Hybrid. So far, so good. This vehicle has all the safety features you could want or need in a car, plus many extras. The greatest things are the 40 mpg and Toyota’s ventilated front seats. In Florida, that’s a must!
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Transmission problem
Chicago Nick, 09/19/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
55 of 58 people found this review helpful
If you have the heavily mentioned transmission problem. Take your car to a Toyota dealer. A bulletin came out on August 15th that fixes the issue. It is a simple reprogramming of the computer. Takes about 1.5 hrs to complete with road test. I did mine and it’s all fixed.
Toyota does not care
L. Nieves, 03/07/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
259 of 279 people found this review helpful
Purchased 2019 rav 4 on feb 9th with 10miles on it. Last client to leave the dealership that evening. Drove home, car stood parked all day February 10th. Turned the car on February 10th with engine light on. Took back to dealership, and told the whole fuel tank had to be replaced. A week after servicing, car came to a complete stop, and shut off in the middle of the highway. Had to get towed back to dealership. Was told the fuel gauge was not accurately showing gas amount, and the car ran out of gas. Fixed again.... currently driving waiting for another problem to occur. DO NOT PURCHASE 2019 Rav 4. All stories about engine and problems are true. When contacted Toyota HQ they don’t care about customer service. They refer you to the state lemon law policy. And send you off wishing u luck. Thank god it’s a lease, and the crappy car will go back to them in 3 years. They lost my business along with everyone who hears my story.
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RAV 4 2019 DISAPPOINTING
Monique, 09/21/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I’ve been driving Toyota’s for 40 years and this new RAV 4 is so disappointing. Like many other reviews, my car jerks, mooing sound( grinding) and is loud. I bought it brand new in February of this year. The dealership says there is nothing wrong with it. Has anyone found a solution to these issues?
Highly deceiving mpg rating
Cc, 06/28/2019
updated 07/06/2022
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
29 of 30 people found this review helpful
This car has been a sad disappointment (coming from a Toyota family). Terrible gas mileage (6+ under the city rating), incredibly loud cabin, crappy speakers, cheap shortcuts taken (i.e. panoramic sunroof that opens all of 16 inches, vents in only two spots of ventilated seat), no hitch option, headrests are uncomfortable after any more than a short drive and aren't adjustable (other than height). Very disappointed in a brand with such a good reputation. Edit: Continue to be disappointed with the gas mileage. After significant highway use, highway mileage (in a very flat place) is about 8 miles under the advertised mileage.
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Want the RAV4 but the test drive left me undecided
John, 03/28/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
128 of 138 people found this review helpful
I'm looking for a RAV4 sized SUV and am also considering a Forester and Honda CRV. My bias is towards Toyota so I test drove it 1st. I like the exterior look and the presence of plastic both inside and out does not bother me. I have no use for a sun/moon roof so I chose a pretty basic LE trim line. The initial sore spot was that although toyota.com lists 'nutmeg' as an interior color option no such vehicle is in stock anywhere in my area. So I could have any interior color I wanted as long as it was black. Well OK. I'd prefer a light color and Honda and Subaru have them readily available but not Toyota. I can probably deal with that but the black cloth material available looks cheap & flimsy to me as well. The next issue I have is that the speedometer display area seems overly cluttered with information. Ordinarily too much information wouldn't be a problem but given the limited space available there some of the info is just too small to read easily or too cryptic to decipher without more thought. Maybe because it was my 1st time behind the wheel but I would have preferred a more basic set. I'm an older guy whose eyesight is basically OK but it has gotten to the point where switching between longer distance like out the window and close up stuff like the dash is problematic. Larger icons and lettering with more contrast would help. It's even worse with the lettering on the steering wheel controls and dash. Toyota has chosen to use a smaller lower contrast font and color for their lettering which makes it very hard to decipher especially in lower light situations. After months of use the controls will become second nature but initial learning of their location and function will be tough. (BTW Honda and Subaru labeling were MUCH easier on my eyes.) Next issue - or non-issue in my case - was that indeed the engine is noisy during acceleration. Not a big deal to me as I care much more about the much more frequent constant speed noise which in my estimation was minimal. Lastly and most distressing to me was the odd behavior of the transmission. I was OK with normal acceleration but when driving around the parking lot I slowed for a turn and then accelerated again the transmission would surge or pause as if it couldn't decide what to do. Having had vehicles before with transmission problems that grates on my nerves and causes me concern for its long term reliability. That behavior may not be a problem because I have noticed transmission anomalies in my Camry as well. My impression is that Toyota engineers are not wont to address the finer points of transmission behavior as long as the main line functionality is reliable. To sum up, I wasn't interested in test driving the competition before but with the issues I saw now I will. Each has a different strengths and I will need to do my due diligence.
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Younger sibling not a performer
John, 03/30/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
58 of 62 people found this review helpful
Leasing a 2016 Hybrid I was looking forward to the 2019, I drove the 2019 Limited with similar features. Although only 5’10 I smacked my head entering the shorter 2019. Visibility is good but the side mirrors take getting used to. The vehicle sits higher but the ceiling is lower and the driver sits higher even with seat adjustment. When pulling into traffic I thought the emergency brake was engaged, disappointing power, loud engine reving and persistent down shifting, all step downs from the 2016. The dash is a bit nicer, the safety sense a bit more engaging but I knew I could never be happy with this level of performance. The design if fine but it’s meant to be a tool not a piece of art to be admired in a driveway. So I will happily but out the lease with a low residual but when my next RAV4 lease is up Toyota may lose my business.
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Bring back the V6!
Bob Izer, 02/25/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
63 of 68 people found this review helpful
In the market to replace my 2005 Honda CR-V. My wife has the V-6 RAV 4 and acceleration is great. Test drove the 2019 version and way disappointed in lackluster acceleration and engine noise. It seems that nothing really happens until probably 3rd or 4th gear where you could feel some acceleration. Revving the engine for highway acceleration was really noisy. When the drive was over and I got back into my 13 year old CRV both acceleration and noise levels were vastly improved. Disappointed with Toyota on this one. I would re-consider if Toyota ever offers a V-6 option. Also test drove the Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0 turbo. A bit more expensive but to me much better performance.
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Awful Shifting!!!!
N.C, 08/12/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought a brand new 2019 and I"m not impressed. 1st gear is so rough it feels like you are driving a stick shift again. It's not smooth and whenever I have a passenger in the car they think I don't know how to press the gas pedal. Very dissapointing. I took it to the Toyota dealership and they said unfortunately that is the way the transmission was made and admitted it was a bit of a nuisance. The seatbelt feature is awful. If you don't buckle up it beeps so loud you have a migraine by the time it's gone. Also why no Google Play??? It has Apple but no Google, I can't understand why. The first 2 gears make the engine noise obnoxious however it drives very nicely after 30mph. My gas mileage is much better than I expected 32.4 mpg. I love the extra space and the fact the backseat folds down, there is ample room. Just can't understand how come Toyota has been making vehicles this long and can't refine some of these simple features.
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2019 TOYOTA RAV4 ADVENTURE
SanDiegoGuy, 10/07/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2019 Toyota Rav4 Adventure last Mach. Body style is nice. After 2000 miles I encounter groaning when running 20 to 40 miles on stop and go. I went back to the dealership and complaint about the groaning noise. The Toyota service duplicate the problem, its about the transfer case assembly. They told me that they will not touch the transmission because Toyota Corporation still trying to find a solution to fix the problem. I seek a Lemon Attorney to my area. He told me that I have a case so pursue a Lemon Case to Toyota. After 3 months Toyota buy back my 2019 Toyota Rav4 Adventure and my problem solve. So you guys have the problem with groaning or moaning noisy get a Lemon Attorney.
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Replaced by 1997 Rav4 with a 2019
Tori McQuinn, 01/11/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
86 of 94 people found this review helpful
I've been looking for a new car to replace my 1997 Rav4. I test drove the Hyundai Tuscon, the Hyundai Kona, and the Rav4 Adventure grade. Out of all three the Rav4 is definitely the best. After purchasing the car, i was a little disappointed that the marketing materials online made it seem like the Adventure grade would have some standard features, that were later revealed to be a part of a package (but that's what i get for getting one so early). So far, I've loved the car. I do have a few issues with it though. The head rests are a little strange, especially for someone with a ponytail. I've turned the headrest around for now and that's fixed the issue temporarily. The normal headlights are EXTREMELY bright, which is great for me, but other drivers seem to think I have my high beams on. Lastly, when the car enters "Eco" mode it seems like it has a more difficult time shifting gears then when its in normal or "sport" mode. Over all I love the vehicle so far, I would give it a 4.5 if i could . If I run into anything that would change my review i'll be sure to update it!
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Note: Tall guy review
Tall driver, 01/30/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
85 of 93 people found this review helpful
This review is mainly specific to tall drivers. I have been researching for a new SUV (small to midsized). My shopping/research had the 2019 RAV4 at the top of my want list with its great combination of value, tech, mileage, and power. When I took my first 2019 RAV test drive, it left me wondering if I could tolerate the driver interior space. I am 6'3" tall, and was somewhat cramped. Not sure if I would like long drives. Toyota actually reduced leg and headroom compared to the prior model, when everyone else seems to be gaining interior space with newer lighter versions. The center stack, while I like the appearance, storage and layout, is quite wide and infringes with my knee space. And while trying the front passenger seat with my wife driving, would only be acceptable for short drives. It sits much higher without seat adjustments to increase headroom (XLE with moon roof). I had to exaggerate the recline to obtain acceptable headroom. I have returned a week later for a second test drive, and now sadly think I must take the RAV off of my list. Now I am considering compromising power and acceleration for a more comfortable interior (Outback, Forester, and Santa Fe). Other than being too tall for the interior space, I think the 2019 RAV4 offers a great value and would be in line to purchase a hybrid version.
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Rough Shifting at Slow Speeds — Fixed!
The Virginian, 09/19/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
Love my 2019 Rav4 having put 33k miles on it since purchasing in January ‘19. My only complaint was with the rough shifting at slow speeds. Toyota has since resolved the issue with a warranty covered ECM update. Kudos to Toyota for the relatively quick responsiveness. T-SB-0107-19 August 15, 2019 Hesitation On Acceleration From a Slow Roll or Rolling Stop
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Consumer reports recommended? Not!
Triple M, 08/02/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
Rented one for day. Horrible. Where do I begin. Noisy engine, jerky transmission, slow, road noise, felt every bump. Top it off with a cheap looking interior, non-standard climate controls, an infotainment display that looks like a kids toy, radio buttons you cannot see, and a door where the handle is placed where you cannot grab it easily to close, and no other spot to take hold of. Drives like a truck. The only thing more surprising than Toyota's results with this vehicle is how Consumer Reports could rate this as "recommended" and higher than the new Equinox or even an aging Escape.
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Very Noisy Engine When Accelerating FROM 0 To 40
Bill, 08/25/2019
updated 03/08/2021
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2019 RAV4 XLE last April and regret that decision every day I have to drive it. When accelerating from - 0 - to 40 mph, the engine screams like a banshee. That would be fine if I was driving a Shelby Cobra, but not a RAV4. When turning corners, there is a hesitation when you press on the accelerator that feels like the engine is about to die. I try to counteract the screaming engine by listening to music with the volume level cranked up to 40 and/or taking about 20 seconds to get up to 30 from a dead stop. Although the latter method will usually result in other drivers honking or giving me the one finger salute. I have purchased 12 new cars/trucks in my lifetime (many used ones) and the 2019 RAV4 ranks second from the bottom. It’s edged out by a Hyundai Tiburon I purchased for my daughter about 15 years ago, which was a real lemon. I did test drive the RAV4, but the sales rep talking all the time distracted me somewhat from the engine noise issue. I did mention something about it, but grossly underestimated how much of a problem it would be in the long run. I wished I had shopped around more and test drove a few other models like the Honda CR-V and the Nissan Rogue. About the only positive thing I can say about the ‘19 RAV4 is that I like the way it looks, both inside and out. It also has some excellent safety features, including a warning signal when you are backing out if there are cars approaching you from any direction. If I had it to do over again, I definitely would not purchase this vehicle.
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Test Drove 2019 RAV4 LIMITED
WAM, 02/17/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
81 of 90 people found this review helpful
I own a 2016 RAV4 SE AWD and I wanted to see how the 2019 RAV4 compared (I test drove the Limited FWD). I was expecting to see improvements all the way around, but I didn't feel that way after taking it out for a test drive. I guess that's to be expected, but I was disappointed with the engine noise - it makes the car feel cheaper in my opinion. Perhaps the HYBRID will be something more appealing when it comes out in the summer... This quote from Motor Trend about the new RAV4 was exactly how I felt - Angus MacKenzie summed up for the panel: "Good in parts, but we should expect more than that from a company with the resources and engineering capability of Toyota."
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Disappointed
Alex, 05/26/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
27 of 29 people found this review helpful
Just had a test drive of 2019 RAV 4 limited and limited hibrid. Both cars are carap. Sorry Toyota, my and extended family drive a fleet of 23 Toyotas. Of different models and trims. This is worst veihle ever. My 19 year old Camry v4 Le perform better than any 2019 RAV4. Gas feel better than hybrid. UNDERPOWERED and NOISY! Forester midrange model is much better! Hands down!
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So sad!!! I want to trade it in
Reena, 04/15/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
49 of 54 people found this review helpful
Bad gas mileage for 4 cylinder. The 8 speed transmission feels like I'm driving a standard shift. The smoothness of the transmission is non existent. Road noise very loud. Really this suv was not worth me giving up my 2009 Corolla with 200,000 miles on it. I'm heartbroken
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Disappointment!
kevin starski, 02/24/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
75 of 84 people found this review helpful
Test drove the vehicle the other day and unfortunately I have to agree with most of what's been said or written about it. We all know about the reliability and I for one like the new design so I wanted to drive it. However, the engine and road noise were too intrusive and overall feeling was of a cheaper vehicle than the almost 30k price tag suggested. Transmission also behaved somewhat indecisively at lower speeds.I know a huge company like Toyota could do much better, but apparently they don't have to ( see the sales). Just listen to the chief of engineer what he has to say about new Tacoma, and its clear that they focus on design, and are out of touch even with what Tacoma owners are wishing for. Too bad...
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2019 RAV 4 Hybrid Completely Died
Pat, 05/26/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
32 of 35 people found this review helpful
2019 RAV 4 hybrid with 500 miles on it was running great. Went to start after about a 100 mile out of town trip and check engine light came on. This was followed by a warning saying hybrid system malfunctioned, followed by a message saying car was in two wheel drive only and a very loud humming noise from engine compartment. I could not find any information in the owners manual on these faults, Toyota dealer was 1 mile from my location. I was able to slowly drive it there on engine only power. After 2 days of evaluation, and calling in advice from national office, they believe it is a bad water pump. Apparently this car has two, and the one that cools the hybrid drive failed. Supposedly, but they will not know if this corrects all the problems until the faulty pump is replaced. That was over a week ago, I had to leave my car at the dealer 120 miles away. I am told it will take almost 3 weeks to get the pump, there are none available in the US. This is not a good sign. As a loyal Toyota and Lexus customer I am really disappointed to say the least.
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Toy engine
Chris, 02/04/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
62 of 70 people found this review helpful
I have driven multiple Toyota vehicles and I’ve never come across such a lackluster engine. When I went semi pedal to the metal, the engine freaked out and the transmission goofed. I drove a little while longer to see if it would happen again and it did. Also, another main reason I did not get this car is because the drivers seat physically would not go far back enough for me, I was stuck at the wheel and my knees were crampt. I am 6’1.
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2019 RAV4 Adventure —transfer case issues
Amber O, 05/25/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
23 of 25 people found this review helpful
I’ve had my RAV4 adventure for 3 months now. After the first 4 weeks, it started to make the strangest noise when I hit 22-25 mph. I wasnt quite sure what to call it or where it was coming from so we recorded it and took it in for service. The service dept called it a “farty cow noise.” Of course they couldn’t duplicate it the first two times I took it in. I requested a master technician ride with me and imagine that, it did it 7 times. They kept my vehicle and advised they were able to diagnose the issue as being a faulty transfer case. I was advised Toyota has to redesign the part (there’s no ETA), but they would order a new one as a temporary fix. I waited 3 more weeks and the part came in this last Monday. I dropped my RAV4 off for the scheduled repair yesterday, only to receive a call from service advising Toyota told them they’re not authorized to do the work, and the customer can just wait! Unacceptable. I contacted customer care who opened a claim. The case manager called today and was the most disrespectful rude woman that I've ever dealt with. She wouldn’t let me complete a sentence and kept stating “you’re making it a problem, it’s just a noise.” The vehicle also started jerking forward when trying to accelerate within the last two weeks. Toyota customer care advises it’s not a safety concern, but I highly disagree. The vehicle is 3 months old and has been in for service 4 times. She advised me they could process it as a buyback which could take 60 calendar days for a decision or I can work with them. I want to know who’s paying this car payment while I drive around a loaner base model corolla. Customer service is horrible, ill never buy another Toyota. I miss my jeep Cherokee I traded in!
Worst transmission ever.
ALPS, 08/13/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Bought this car April 29th 2019. Transmission jerks from 5-10 miles per hour, it’s rough enough you can hear it inside the vehicle. Front end of vehicle squeaks when pulling into my drive or over a speed bump. As well as water in my fog light and I’ve already had to have the drivers seat replaced because the motor had broke.
Noisy,Nosiy, Noisy
Mark, 06/09/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
The vehicle looks great inside and out. Has very comfortable front seats, although the cabin material is just average. What annoyed me more than anything is the loud intrusive noise from the engine and road noise. Don’t expect to carry on a normal conversation in this vehicle. Toyota with all their resources and know how, could have easily fixed these issues but decided not to. Every major car publication and consumer magazine has said the same thing. Congratulations Toyota, the RAV4 is now worst in class for NVH.
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Don't buy
Kim G., 08/07/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
I brought my RAV4 Adventure to a local Toyota dealer in June 2019. With 3700 miles, I was hearing a 'growling' noise at 20-25 MPH. If you do bring your car in, they will likely have you drive with a tech to verify the complaint. I was sure to drive my car for approximately 20 minutes prior and it growled for the tech as expected. The dealership indicated that Toyota is aware of the problem. They stated on the invoice: "I was informed that this is a known issue that is currently being investigated and that the noise occurs when the all wheel drive is coupled and uncoupled with the rear differential, and should not lead to any damage to the vehicle. Once a resolution is reached Toyota will notify the dealers". My concern is this has been an ongoing problem and Toyota is stalling on coming up with a solution. There is no way this was news to them. They had to have known about the problem prior to releasing this years RAV4, yet they chose to sell defective vehicles anyway. Shame on Toyota!! If I could figure out how to lemon out my car, I would in a heartbeat.
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This car will melt in the sun!
Kim S., 10/28/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
22 of 24 people found this review helpful
I bought my Rav4 in February 2019 and noticed right away the transmission that jerks in low gears. However, I was willing to try to adjust to that annoyance. After owning the car for approximately eight months, the back of the passenger mirror literally melted. It had bubbles from boiling and the seams were caving in towards each other. The car only had 8,800 miles on it so I took it to the dealership for warranty repairs on what I considered "defects in materials" and was shocked to be told my limited warranty, which is suppose to cover defective materials, would not cover the repairs since the damage was from parking my vehicle in the sun. That is completely insane and totally ridiculous, as I should be able to purchase a vehicle and expect to drive and park it in the sun WITHOUT IT MELTING. The service manager at the dealership said he had seen similar damage in the last few years because Toyota changed the type of plastic they were using. I called Corporate and they also refused to cover the repairs, only they claimed they had never of heard anything like that happening before. If you look online, there are tons of complaints about melting plastic so that was an obvious lie. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.
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Worst transmission ever.
ALPS, 08/13/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Bought this car April 29th 2019. Transmission jerks from 5-10 miles per hour, it’s rough enough you can hear it inside the vehicle. Front end of vehicle squeaks when pulling into my drive or over a speed bump. As well as water in my fog light and I’ve already had to have the drivers seat replaced because the motor had broke.
Disappointed/stressed
Alyna, 12/26/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2019 rav4 CPO with 9,300 on 11/28/19. On 12/3/2019 I felt a kind of slip or weird shifting when going between 4-6mph. On 12/13/2019 while pulling out of a parking lot and then putting the car in drive I felt a slip/jerk so big i was lunged forward so fast I was surprised and said woah. Instantly, I was bummed and made an appointment to have it checked at Toyota. On 12/16/2019 they drove it checked it and said nothing was wrong but if there is it will be fixed as long as still under warranty. Today 12/25/2019 it has been jerking/slipping/shifting weird while accelerating 4-6mph usually after a stop sign. It’s as if my car is confused whether it is going to stop or accelerate. I give this rav4 2 stars because of this problem. I’m fine with everything else but can’t enjoy or be at peace with my new Car because I’m always waiting to be tossed around in it or searching for the next problem. I decided to go with Toyota and specifically this car because we’ve had Toyota’s in our family for years and I didn’t want to deal with any problems of an older car. It is my first newish car and I feel so embarrassed to drive people around while having this problem. I don’t understand why it can’t be recalled now with all the complaints. This is not a problem to put aside or ignore. I’m so disappointed, don’t feel safe and extremely stressed.
The best overall Mid-Size SUV
Louis, 06/17/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
The wife and I traded in our two cars (2008 Honda Civic-SI and 2005 CRV) for the AWD RAV4 XLE with upgraded Tech Package and Entune 3.0 (Entune sucks but it has Apple Carplay so doesn't matter, but this is the only way to get the JBL speakers which are AMAZING). We needed something that could get us hiking, camping, over mountain passes, and was comfortable on long road trips and this met those needs better than any other car in the segment while also offering the best safety features, cargo space, and MPG. But just as important to our final decision, this car looks awesome (we also got the Lunar Rock color which is very neat). When buying an SUV I didn't have high expectations for it being fun to drive (especially coming from a 6 speed manual Si) however this car is actually really fun to drive (when in sport mode). We just got back from a trip to Whistler and I didn't want to relinquish the steering wheel at all. The thing handled corners and accelerated extremely well and the only other cars that seemed to keep up with us on Sea to Sky were performance brands (Porche Cayennes, Jaguar SUVs, Etc.) and the CX-5 of course. This was of course all managed while still getting about 30 MPG which is extremely wild to me. I have read a lot of reviews about jerky gear shifting and slow starts and I 100% have noticed that in Eco Mode too (not in normal or sport). But that's what you get when the car is attempting to get 35 MPGs! IF YOU WANT GOOD GAS MILEAGE THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. Eco mode essentially just keeps you at the highest possible gear it can while also shifting power to the front wheels. Sport mode does the opposite and it is very noticeable. Also, speaking of MPGs, this car has the best in class by far. And if you want even better you can get a hybrid model. This was maybe factor #4 that pushed me in this direction. Other important factors were: It looks dope, the upgraded sound system is killer, it's very comfortable (leather interior at least is), cargo space is best in class, safety features are superb with blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and collision avoidance breaking (the car makes it very hard to crash), the tech package has a digital rear view mirror for when you have stacked things in the back (very handy for big camping trips or festivals), and the various other bells and whistles (locking the car by swiping a finger on the handle, very well made moon roof that doesn't make a lot of noise under 70 mph, 4 fast charging USB ports, AND A WIRELESS CHARGING PAD). All in all I couldn't recommend this car more. However, if you want a faster car there is the CX-5 which comes with a turbo on some trims (very cool... but not what I need in a utilitarian vehicle). TLDR: Great well rounded car that looks great, gets great MPGs, and has great options and safety features. But isn't as fast as the CX-5. As a side note I haven't noticed any gear grinding, which some reviews mentioned, for the 500 miles I've driven the car so far. Maybe Toyota fixed their AWD system or updated something since those reviews were written or maybe I just got lucky. Time will tell... I'll update this review if I notice it. I'll also update it if the car doesn't perform as well as I assume it will on snow this winter.
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Test Drove and Simply Unimpressed
Albert Salazar, 01/21/2019
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
114 of 133 people found this review helpful
Before going to test drive the 2019 Toyota RAV 4 LE, I test drove a 2019 Kia Sportage, the Sportage wins between the two. The exterior is my biggest issue followed by the transmission. The exterior has so much ugly grey plastic, it really really takes away from the aesthetics of the car in general. The salesman suggested getting the car wrapped to cover it up. The upgraded XLE doesn't change the grey plastic at all, it stays. The dealer I went to didn't have anything readily available above an XLE to see. The interior was fine to good but I was so turned off by the exterior plastic that it was hard to get mentally past it to appreciate the interior. The SUV basically looks like a stripped Lexus NX in early concept stages. Second issue, transmission. I was excited to hear that it got an upgrade in the engine department so although I was literally about to walk away from it because of the exterior, my better judgement told me to test drive it to rule it out. The transmission is an 8 gear set up. You don't get to use gear 1 and 2 very long, most of your power will come from 3rd to really get you going. So, because of this, you can't really step on it right away, you almost need to wait till 3rd to drive it the way that I'm used to at least. If you try to floor it, the transmission misbehaves in a way. It just doesn't like it. Other than that, the engine performs well and the car feels pretty solid. Plenty of room, plenty to like it you can get past my two issues. I am not going to buy this car which is a shame due to its long model run. I wanted to like it.