Art of Gears
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2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD Review: Better Than Before?

By Wade Thiel

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Toyota unveils the 2019 Toyota RAV4 at the New York International Auto Show, March 28, 2018 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. SUVs and crossovers are expected to capture most of the attention at this year's show. Despite car sales declining for the first time in seven years in 2017, SUVs and crossovers remain a bright spot in the auto industry. The auto show opens to the public on March 30 and will run through April 8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Toyota unveils the 2019 Toyota RAV4 at the New York International Auto Show, March 28, 2018 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. SUVs and crossovers are expected to capture most of the attention at this year's show. Despite car sales declining for the first time in seven years in 2017, SUVs and crossovers remain a bright spot in the auto industry. The auto show opens to the public on March 30 and will run through April 8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Toyota unveils the 2019 Toyota RAV4 at the New York International Auto Show, March 28, 2018 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. SUVs and crossovers are expected to capture most of the attention at this year's show. Despite car sales declining for the first time in seven years in 2017, SUVs and crossovers remain a bright spot in the auto industry. The auto show opens to the public on March 30 and will run through April 8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: Toyota unveils the 2019 Toyota RAV4 at the New York International Auto Show, March 28, 2018 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. SUVs and crossovers are expected to capture most of the attention at this year's show. Despite car sales declining for the first time in seven years in 2017, SUVs and crossovers remain a bright spot in the auto industry. The auto show opens to the public on March 30 and will run through April 8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /

When Toyota redesigned the RAV4, I was a bit nervous. The previous-generation model was a quality machine and one that I liked. It also sold well, so Toyota had its work cut out for it.

The company did a few things very right. First, it made the Toyota RAV4’s exterior look a little more rugged and square-jawed. Toyota bills the RAV4 as an adventurous vehicle and the new exterior reinforces this marketing message.

Toyota improved the interior, too. The last generation RAV4 had a weird interior. It wasn’t ergonomically laid out. Still, it worked well enough. The interior of the 2019 model is much more conventional. Everything is easy to reach and use. This is a good thing. It looks better, too.

Lastly, Toyota kept the vehicle comfortable and safe. It also updated the engine, adding 27 hp for an output of 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

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