2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure review: All-new midsize SUV photos, specs, price

The Toyota RAV4 has been redesigned inside and out for a new generation, in time to fight it out with an ever-growing list of contenders in this crucial segment. And a crucial segment it is, as the RAV4 is no longer the niche offering that kicked off this nameplate in 1994 -- the model has eclipsed the Camry and Corolla when it comes to sales. The RAV4 has been a part of the American landscape for well over 20 years now, long enough for most buyers to start to take for granted what a revolutionary model the Recreational Active Vehicle 4 Wheel Drive was when it first debuted.

The all-new model also seeks to return to its SUV roots, shifting away a bit from the car-like, crossover-style proportions of the outgoing model while increasing versatility, fuel efficiency, usability and, most importantly, driving dynamics.

The RAV4 in Adventure trim I sampled days ago strongly suggests Toyota has hit all of these targets, while injecting a healthy dose of an SUV feel and experience back into its best-seller.

When it comes to exterior design, the all-new model is now more of a pocket 4Runner, rather than a very tall station wagon with car-like looks. Shorter overall but sporting a longer wheelbase along with greater ground clearance, the RAV4 boasts a lower center of gravity and structural rigidity that has been improved by 57 percent. The rugged appearance and wider stance reinforce this look, as do the black fender flares and off-road trim of the Adventure flavor. The thin, tense lines of the outgoing model have been replaced by a hexagonal grille that's wider at the bottom than at the top, mimicking the look of Toyota's pickup truck lineup, while the larger headlights sweep back from the sides of the grille, sitting above separate daytime running light housings.

Out back, the D-pillar now curves inward toward the center of the vehicle rather than out toward the tail, giving the RAV4 a more classic, coiled look, along with a shorter and flatter roof. The taillights have been reworked as well, adopting the rhomboid shapes and corners of the rest of the vehicle's surfaces, with a pronounced spoiler bill completing the sporty look. A thin black stripe bisects the upper portion of the D-pillar, lending the new RAV4 a trendy "floating roof" look that can be paired with a two-tone color scheme that offers a contrasting white roof.

Under the hood is a 2.5-lliter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, good for 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. A hybrid version is on the menu as well, pairing the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, or ECVT, and two electric motors, serving up a maximum of 219 hp when pressed into action. But a combined 39 mpg is perhaps the sweeter number to consider if opting for the hybrid -- which is actually the performance model this time around.

Based on the Toyota TNGA-K platform that currently underpins the Camry and Avalon, the RAV4 will be offered in a variety of trim levels in gas and hybrid form, with the Adventure trim spun off the well-equipped XLE and XLE Premium models. The Adventure trim offers all-wheel drive as standard, as you might expect, in addition to Dynamic Torque Vectoring on this off-road-oriented trim, offering several terrain modes including mud & sand and rock & dirt, as well as snow modes. The Adventure trim also serves up a unique grille design, special 19-inch wheels, roof rails and an optional two-tone color scheme, in addition to the larger black fenders.

As with the rest of the gasoline range, which spans from the base LE model to the XLE, XLE Premium (again, Adventure can be paired with these two) to the range-topping Limited trim, the RAV4 offers the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite with a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, road sign assist, lane tracing assist and lane departure alert, in addition to dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams. A 7-inch touchscreen display is standard on the gasoline models, while an 8-inch display is optional. Apple CarPlay with Waze is on the menu as well, in addition to Toyota+Alexa connectivity and services.

BASE PRICE: $26,545

AS TESTED PRICE: $33,945

POWERTRAIN: 2.5-liter I4, 8-speed automatic, AWD

OUTPUT: 203 hp @ 6600 rpm, 184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

CURB WEIGHT: 3,615 lb

0-60 MPH: n/a

FUEL ECONOMY: 24/32/27 city/hwy/combined mfr. est.

(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)

OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 26 mpg

PROS: Tidy road manners, great visibility, easy to maneuver

CONS: Generous engine noise under acceleration, front passenger seat does not adjust vertically