cars news 10: Toyota RAV4: 2019 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Contender

WE LIKE Apple CarPlay availability, hybrid model returns

WE DON’T LIKE “Angry” front styling not for everyone

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the redesigned Toyota RAV4, the hottest seller in the popular compact crossover segment. And Toyota went bold with the fifth-generation model.

Editor’s Note: Toyota has set an embargo of November 20 for driving impressions. Please check back at that time for more on the RAV4.

Riding on a new platform, the 2019 RAV4 boasts a 1.2-inch-longer wheelbase and promises a rear seat that’s just as impressively spacious as that of the outgoing crossover. The updated model’s 2.5-liter engine will likely make just over 200 hp (like the Camry’s), and the automatic transmission has changed from six to eight speeds.

With the RAV4 hybrid’s return, Toyota remains one of just two automakers to offer such a variant in this class. Aside from quicker acceleration, Toyota says the hybrid in XSE form is the best-handling model in the lineup.

No matter whether you choose the RAV4 XSE, Adventure, or other trims, Toyota offers a surprising amount of visual differentiation between models. All 2019 RAV4s come with a full package of safety tech that includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert with steering assist, and adaptive cruise control that will continue to function down to 0 mph.

The 7.0-inch touchscreen and standard Apple CarPlay will probably prove more useful on a day-to-day basis (an 8.0-inch screen is available). Although Android Auto isn’t yet part of the package at any price, offering CarPlay on a screen mounted high on the dash is a step in the right direction.

Check this page on or after November 20 for driving impressions on the 2019 Toyota RAV4.