This is the revised RAV4 that Toyota is releasing in Japan – and that we will likely see as a 2009 model here in the US. Toyota has been selling a lot of the current RAV4, but they haven’t enjoyed the tremendous success that Honda has with their new CR-V. Regardless of the fact that the RAV4 offers a V6 and 3rd row seat ( neither of which are available on the CR-V ), Honda has continued to outsell Toyota in this area. Exterior design is one of the most likely candidates – something that the 2009 RAV4 tries to rectify.
The front end gets an updated, more modern look, but more important is the rear. Toyota finally got rid of the tailgate-mounted spare tire that was hideous to behold. The spare will now presumably be mounted under the floor in the rear cargo area ( though it could be mounted up underneath the vehicle instead ). Kudos to Toyota for keeping their product fresh – competition keeps progress coming. A better RAV4 means a better CR-V, means a better Nissan Rogue.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Good thing they are stepping up the design. I’m definitely a fan of the Nissan Rogue http://youtube.com/watch?v=o5PgHAHAoRw
The Rogue is fantastic ( Really impressed with Nissan on this one. ). The features / price is excellent, and I think it has an excellent future. That being said, I like to see Toyota and Honda improving their CUV ‘s – competition is a wonderful thing.
Love that video by the way.
Along with the great idea of relocating the spare tire,they also need to add great utility by making that tailgate window go down.
They really should, but I can’t think of any compact CUV / SUV’s that offer that feature. I know the Escape , Rogue, and CRV don’t. Can you think of any that do?
Toyota should also upgrade the current RAV4 4-cylinder engine & 4-speed automatic transmission with the new higher milage (and power) 2.7 litter 4-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission to be used in the 2009 Venza.
I hope that Toyota come with something more special like it’s showed on picture.
I expect the simillar movement and changes like it was on CR-V done.
Since the difference it’s really huge!
I don’t care if the new 2009 Rav4 gets 50 miles per gallon, has a built-in wet bar, a 500 watt 10 speaker sound system with a 15-inch woofer, and sports a 20-inch video screen and a built-in port-a-potty; if they continue to utilize that stupid, awkward side-opening rear hatch, they won’t sell one to me!
re Ron Henard comment May 23…
By doing away with the hanging spare, it would be smart for Toyota to have a 3-way hatch. Much like the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-way_tailgate of the late ’70′s, except it would swing up instead of down.
The Rav4 you’re referring to may very well be a 2010 model due to the radical design change (Toyota has 5-yr design cycles on all of its vehicles).
Check out this site: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2009-toyota-rav4-4.htm?photo=3
I had a 2004 toyota Rav4 and regret all the time ever trading it in. The looks of the 2009 Rav4 is very nice. The spare tire on the backin the tonneau cover never bothered me and it looks just as good with no tire on the back. I do like side opening rear hatch door- I always felt it was easier to use then the typical hatchback door that always lifts up- every suv out there opens that way and I feel its just a little bit of a different feature that no other SUV has- but in all the RAV4 was the best SUV I have ever owned. It was fantastic in the snow. I remember a horrible snow storm we had and cars were stuck everyone and my Rav4 past everyone no problem and up the big hill that I live on. GREAT SUV
If the spare isn’t on the back, you’re going to lose cargo space somewhere. The cargo space for the size vehicle was a huge selling point for me (along with that outrageous V6). Personally, I think it gives the trucklet character and keeps it from blending in with every other Crossover/SUV. The side open doesn’t bother me. I’d love to know Toyota’s target audience. It’s not exactly a Crossover but it’s not a true body on frame truck either. They could ship the “spare off the back” version over to Lexus to compete with the RDX, though in my mind, with V6 in a hypothetical Lexus, the Turbo 4 RDX isn’t much of a threat.
I’ll admit some occupational-based prejudice against the RAV4′s side-opening rear hatch. A lifelong professional musician, over the years my various wagons and SUVs overhead-opening hatches allowed me to back up flush with loading docks and unload without having to stop 4 or 5 feet away and haul my keyboards and amps the extra footage (frequently in the rain) as I’ve seen happen to a number of my colleagues from time to time. I refuse to put up with that aggravation no matter how wonderful the vehicle is otherwise. Whatever cargo one is carrying, there has to have been some awkward times where – for example- someone has parallel parked behind someone with one of these side-opening jewels and rendered them unloadable without first moving the vehicle. That’ll make somebody’s day and give’em a chance to brush up on their 4- letter word vocabulary!
Re. Ron Henard on Jun 21st
I agree with Ron on what he said. Very good points! All the more reason to have the 3-way hatch, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-way_tailgate.
Re: John Douglas on Jun 22nd Thanks of the vote of support, John. I can understand the viewpoint of Laurene and others who favor the side-opening rear hatch. If one wishes simply a relatively smooth-riding dependable vehicle in which to merely carry a few changes of clothes or a couple bags of groceries occasionally, the RAV4 would be a great choice. Also, I can imagine some senior citizens with limited range of motion and mobility having difficulty negotiating an overhead hatch. I certainly have no issue with those for whom the cargo management is not a factor. As for 3-ways; I don’t know about that element. The best time I’ve ever had in my entire life thusfar, there was only one other person besides me present.
The 3-way hatch is a multi-hinged tailgate. Ford Country Squires had it in the ’70′s. A CUV could do be made to swing up instead of down like the Squire.
looking for 2009 toyota rav4, please contact me at this ###, i would appreciated, i have a 2006 toyota rav4 i need to trade to a 2009
Ermite,
I removed your phone number from your comment. I’m not a dealer myself – and I don’t want your phone number ending up in the wrong hands. For a quote / availability check, please use our quote page.
Hello everybody.I have heard about the new RAV4 2009.and in the up I saw it.I think some changes are made.please who has got exact information about the new RAV4 theb write to me to e mail or link please…thanks a lot……
zaur1989@mail.ru
RAV4 2005 is the best vehicle I ever had. Just leased RAV4 2008. Design is less importnat than reliability. The 2005 one never gave me a single problem.
Paul – that’s a very good point. Reliability def. comes in as more important than design. However, when you’re in a segment like the RAV4, and up against similar quality vehicles like the CR-V, looks definitely come into play.
well there will be no spare tire on the model shown without the wheel on the door. instead the ’09 will have run flats from what I have heard. I own a ’07 which I love and the tires are already kinda spendy so the run flats are going to be more? no thanks. I would rather keep the tire on the door and all the storage space than aquire the extra expence. having the v6 is nice when you drive there is almost no other average car that has the pick up that this has. nice when a rice rocket pulls up next to you.
I just leased a RAV4 2008 V6 4WD Sport (for under invoice) and really like the storage space under the way-back that is allowed by putting the spare on the back. Also the side opening rear door is much easier to open than an overhead———I for one like the sporty look of the RAV 2008 and find that the loss of the tire on the back makes for a more generic look in 2009. Hopefully the 2009 will have the same pick up and go that the 2008 has.
I just bought a 2009 and was told that indeed the tire does stay on the back and is not hidden as you say. Are you sure you haven’t got the Rav 4 picture mixed up with the Highlander (which doesn’t have the tailgate spare)?
Al – Toyota decided to only drop the rear spare for the Sport Appearance Package units. You can only get that package on the V6 4WD models. Read the details here.
The sport appearance package is only available in certain regions. I live in Ohio and cannot get this – but I have talked to a dealer and she can get one from Indiana but Ohio will never have them in stock. If you go to Toyota.com and build a rav using an IN zip vs an OH zip, the Sport package will be there for IN. Other states that have them that I’ve found are IL and WV. FYI.
That’s an interesting note Ben – and I had no idea. I wonder what Toyota’s thinking is, only offering the Sport package in some areas.
According to the dealer I talked to – Each Toyota ‘region’ consists of 2-3 states and each region has independent ability to make the final decision on whether they offer certain vehicles. Individual dealers in these regions do not have a say in the matter.
Does anyone have a confirmed release date of the 2009 model? I have been to three different dealerships & have been given three completely different answers.
Thanks,
Howard
Three dealers I talked to in WV are expecting their first ones to arrive the week of October 6, 2008.
I for one like the sporty look of the RAV 2008 and find that the loss of the tire on the back makes for a more generic look in 2009. Hopefully the 2009 will have the same pick up and go that the 2008 has.
Just checked out a RAV4. The Sport Appearance models without the spare tire on the gate, have run-flat tires. Problem with this is not only are the tires very expensive, but they also aren’t that good. Most of them wear very quickly.
Much better to go with the spare.
Besides, even without the spare mounted back there, you still get the same side-opening tailgate.
I test drove the new 2.5L 4-cyl. Not bad at all. But I sure wish the redesigned transmission was a 5-speed. Can’t believe they invested R&D dollars and still came out with a 4-speed. The RPMs are too high at 60-65, which results in more engine noise while cruising.
I want to order a new Toyota Rav 4 automatic 2008 or 2009)and I need all informations about the payment and how it can be provided until here in my country (Kigali – Rwanda)
My collegues need also Toyota PRADO
I just spotted this vehicle in a parking lot and I was so amazed I took a picture of it with my camera phone! It looks really nice! I was so excited to see the tire taken off the back. I was a little upset that it is still a side opening rear door. A feature that pushed me towards the Acura RDX (also considered the Rogue and the CRV). I was caught up in heavy rain the same day unloading groceries, and am very glad I went with the rear door that can shelter me from the rain.
I’m almost on the verge of trading in my RDX for the new body style,though. I am puzzled why there has been no adverting on this new body style. I went to the Toyota page after seeing it, and they have the 2010 body style with a rear mounted spare! I don’t know why this is such a secret. Get the word out – a small SUV that has a 3rd row, the ruggedness of a truck and A LOT of neat utility features.
I do love my RDX and it’s chic and sporty, but I always had my eye on the Rav4 but couldn’t stand the rear mounted tire. I will have to go test drive one and see what happens!
my only quibble with the side openign rear door is that it open onthe wrong side. if it opened onthe right side – loading from the curb would be easier.
must be because the japamnese are right hand drivers in Japan