2018 Toyota RAV4 review
Toyota RAV4 highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- One of the largest, most versatile trunks in its class
- Advanced driver aids come standard
Cons
- No Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™ connectivity
- Interior finish feels more utilitarian than in newer rivals
Mileage (EPA estimate)
22 city, 28 highway, 24 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
Toyota RAV4 gains sharp-looking Adventure trim for 2018
There are plenty of compact crossover SUVs out there to pick from, but Toyota's RAV4 is a strong seller and for good reason. While the 2018 RAV4 doesn't shine brightly in any particular area, its well-rounded ability appeals especially to those looking for a family vehicle. The regular RAV4 offers comfort and space to rival the top contenders. It drives well enough to engage without wowing behind the wheel, and the standard 2.5-liter engine and six-speed automatic work well together. It also provides respectable EPA-estimated fuel economy. But if you want headline-grabbing fuel economy, seek out the RAV4 Hybrid. It combines the same 2.5-liter gasoline engine with a pair of motors driving each axle—making it the only RAV4 that comes with all-wheel drive as standard—to produce significant fuel savings and improve performance, too.
A new Adventure trim that offers slightly more ground clearance and a sharper style joins the 2018 lineup, which stands at LE, XLE, Adventure, SE, Limited, and Platinum. The Hybrid does without the Adventure and the Platinum trim. The XLE is our preferred starting point, not because the LE is too lightly equipped but because the XLE adds alloy wheels, foglights, and a more attractive exterior trim. All RAV4s come with Toyota Safety Sense™, a suite of active driver aids that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RAV4 is a strong all-arounder that should be on your shopping list, and likely near the top.
All Toyota RAV4 years
Not sure what year to select? Learn about each Toyota RAV4 generation from 2011 to 2024
What is new for the 2018 Toyota RAV4?
- The RAV4 is available in a new trim called the Adventure.
- Tow Hitch features are now available as options on select trims.
2018 Toyota RAV4 trims
LE:
Includes remote keyless entry
6.1-inch touchscreen
cloth seats
17-inch steel wheels
adaptive cruise control
six-way adjustable driver's seat
XLE:
Adds dual-zone automatic climate control
power tilt and slide moonroof
17-inch alloy wheels
leather-trimmed steering wheel
Adventure:
Adds all-season floor mats and cargo liners
plastic fender flares
halogen projector-beam headlights
SE:
Adds LED headlights
synthetic leather upholstery
sport-tuned suspension
eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat
heated front seats
Limited:
Adds a seven-inch touchscreen
push-button start
blind-spot monitoring
driver's seat memory function
Platinum:
Unlocks a heated steering wheel
parking sensors
360-degree parking camera
ambient footwell lighting
sliding center armrest
Toyota RAV4 photos
5 reasons to buy the 2018 Toyota RAV4
1. Great for road trips
One of the most notable features of the 2018 Toyota RAV4 is its roominess. Featuring 73.4 cu ft of cargo space with the rear seats folded, this SUV is an ideal choice for weekends away, carpool duty, and golf outings. The RAV4 stands out as a particularly spacious vehicle—a real plus for families and taller passengers.
2. Comfort is a priority
In addition to being spacious, the 2018 Toyota RAV4 is also comfortable to drive. The suspension is designed to create a smooth, stable ride, and 6.5 inches of ground clearance ensure that AWD models can tackle tough terrain. The SE model is a little less smooth, but that's because it's sport-tuned and better suited to speed-seekers.
3. User-friendly features
The last thing you want to do while driving is fiddle with a difficult-to-navigate touchscreen and infotainment system. Fortunately, the infotainment system in the 2018 Toyota RAV4 is incredibly user-friendly, with a 6.1-inch screen and simple controls, making it straightforward for you and your passengers to work with.
4. Lots of driver aids
For peace of mind, the 2018 Toyota RAV4 offers a variety of driver-assistance features as standard, including forward collision warning with brake assist, rearview camera, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Even on long journeys or uneven terrain, this vehicle has your comfort in mind. The highway never looked so welcoming.
5. Adventure trim
New for the 2018 RAV4 is the Adventure trim, which adds some great features for camping and outdoor enthusiasts. These additions include heavy-duty all-weather floor liners and cargo mats, a 120V/100W power outlet near the cargo area, halogen projector-beam headlights, lower valance panels and rocker panel guards, and more. This trim also boosts the estimated towing capacity to 3,500 lbs with the Tow Prep Package, when properly equipped.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2018 Toyota RAV4, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
Comfortable and spacious, the Kia Sportage balances a plush, quiet ride with sporty handling and agility. This compact SUV has 60.1 cu ft of cargo space with the rear seats folded, plus additional storage beneath the cargo floor, creating even more space for luggage, shopping, or sports gear. 2017-present models of the Sportage come with a 2.4L four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission as standard, as well as a premium interior and intuitive infotainment system.
Backup camera
Keyless entry
Brake assist
The Subaru Forester has 74.7 cu ft of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and the 2017 model year introduced a suite of driver aids. Lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring were added as part of the EyeSight® driver-assistance suite, while the 2020 model opened the availability of a lane-centering system. Whether you're trekking into the wilderness or running errands around town, the Forester is a great companion.
Other standard features of the 2017-present Subaru Forester include:
Standard symmetrical AWD
Daytime running lights
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity (2019+)
One of the Jeep Wrangler's key selling points is its exceptional off-roading ability, making it ideal for road trips and camping on uneven terrain. Acceleration is brisk and there's plenty of room inside—essential for a rugged adventure vehicle. 2017-present Wranglers offer 41.2 inches of legroom in the front and 35.7 inches in the back, making this SUV great for anyone along for the ride. The standard 3.6L V6 engine—with the option of turbocharging—ensures there's plenty of power under the hood.
Other standard features of the 2017-present Jeep Wrangler include:
Rollover protection system
Traction control
Easy-to-use infotainment system
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
4.7 out of 5
68 customer reviews| 5 Stars | 51 |
|---|---|
| 4 Stars | 12 |
| 3 Stars | 4 |
| 2 Stars | 1 |
| 1 Star | 0 |
RepairPal gave the Toyota RAV4 an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Toyota RAV4 4th out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Toyota RAV4Toyota RAV4 features and specs
LE 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Cloth Seats
- Entune
- Lane Departure Warning
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Alloy Wheels
- Cloth Seats
- Full Roof Rack
- Running Boards
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.5L
Horsepower
176
Torque (ft-lbs)
172
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
15.9
Wheelbase
104.7"
Overall length
181.1"
Width
72.6"
Height
65.9"
Leg room
F 42.6"/R 37.2"
Head room
F 39.8"/R 38.9"
Front tires
P225/65HR17
Rear tires
P225/65HR17
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
150/1500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2018 Toyota RAV4 FAQ
Yes, the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Platinum trim has a 360-degree parking camera.
No, the Toyota RAV4 has five seats as standard.
The Toyota RAV4 XLE trim is one level up from the base trim and adds features like a moonroof and alloy wheels.
More about the 2018 Toyota RAV4
Exterior
Black
Black Currant Metallic
Blizzard Pearl
Electric Storm Blue
Galactic Aqua Mica
Magnetic Gray Metallic
Ruby Flare Pearl
Silver Sky Metallic
Interior
Ash (XLE, Adventure, Limited, Platinum)
Black
Cinnamon (SE, Limited, Platinum)
Nutmeg (XLE, Limited)
Interior details
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 has cloth seats as standard, though the SE, Limited, and Platinum trims have the option of SofTex® synthetic leather seating. In addition to 73.4 cu ft of cargo space with the rear seats down, the 2018 RAV4 also has 39.8 inches of front headroom, 42.6 inches of front legroom, 38.9 inches of headroom in the rear seats, and 37.2 inches of legroom in the rear seats. The Adventure trim comes with heavy-duty floor matting cargo liners, and the Platinum trim adds a heated steering wheel.
Child seat details
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 offers seating for five and can fit up to two car seats in the second row. All trims include LATCH lower anchors and tether anchors on outboard second-row seats as standard.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 received an overall 5/5 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Find out more about this rating and how NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program evaluates the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles.
Keep in mind that certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Test: A head-on collision between two similar vehicles traveling at 35 mph.
Overall: 4/5
Side Barrier Crash Rating Test: A vehicle standing in an intersection sustains driver-side impact from a vehicle moving at 38.5 mph.
Overall: 5/5
Side Pole Crash Rating Test: A vehicle slides sideways at 20 mph and impacts a tree or telephone pole.
Overall: 5/5
Performance
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that produces 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. FWD and AWD base models get an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined. The towing capacity of the 2018 Toyota RAV4, when properly equipped, starts at an estimated 1,500 lbs.
Emissions
According to EPA estimates, the FWD 2018 Toyota RAV4's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are 349 grams per mile.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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