Jerry Robbin

2015 Toyota RAV4 XLE

Overview

For 2015, the Toyota RAV4 is unchanged with the exception of some new options and features. My test drive was a XLE, which had the new standard wheels.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment on every 2015 Toyota RAV4 includes antilock disc brakes, a rearview camera, stability control, traction control, whiplash-reducing front head restraints, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. A driver knee airbag and a rearview camera are also standard equipment.

Safety Features

4-wheel ABS Front and rear head airbags Dual front side-mounted airbags Child seat anchors Emergency braking assist Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes Rear door child safety locks Daytime running lights Engine immobilizer Front fog/driving lights Auto delay off headlamps Dusk sensing headlamps 2 front headrests 3 rear headrests Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation Rear center 3-point belt Turn signal mirrors Stability control Traction control Rear height adjustable headrests Tire pressure monitoring

Remote Security System First Aid Kit VIP RS3200 Plus Security System TOYOGUARD Elite TOYOGUARD Select TOYOGUARD Select TOYOGUARD Plus TOYOGUARD Elite

Driving Impression

Driving the Rav4 with the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is more than adequate and very fuel-efficient. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and handles most road conditions well.

The steering was fairly responsive and the acceleration was good. My RAV4 was a FWD and handled well on the highway and in the city. 

Under the Hood

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque powers the 2015 Toyota RAV4. The average mileage was good at 26mpg (23-city/31 highway.

• Engine & Performance

BASE ENGINE SIZE2.5 L	CAM TYPEDouble overhead cam (DOHC)
CYLINDERSInline 4	VALVES16
VALVE TIMINGVariable	TORQUE172 ft-lbs. @ 4100 rpm
HORSEPOWER176 hp @ 6000 rpm	TURNING CIRCLE34.8 ft.

Inside

The interior of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 features a streamlined and modern-looking dash. The RAV’s design and materials are little above average and the layout of controls is well thought out.

I found the seats supportive and was fairly comfortable. All the conventional controls in the 2015 RAV4 are easy to use and accessible.

The rear seat has enough room for 3 passengers. The rear seats were comfortable and have a recline adjustment.

The cargo area can accommodate 38.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats. With the rear seats down there is 73.3 cubic feet available. That’s one of the largest capacities in its class.

Below is a list of all the features, that came on my test drive:

Height adjustable driver seat Cloth Bucket front seats Split-folding rear seatback Reclining rear seats Folding center armrest Remote keyless power door locks 1 one-touch power windows Clock Tachometer Trip computer External temperature display Cruise control Front and rear cupholders Front and rear door pockets Front seatback storage Electric power steering Tilt and telescopic steering wheel Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel Rear view camera Interior air filtration Dual zone climate controls – driver and passenger Turn signal in mirrors Dual vanity mirrors 6 total speakers AM/FM stereo Satellite radio w/real time traffic satellite radio Auxiliary audio input and USB with external media control 3 Months of provided satellite radio service USB connection Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone

Outside

The 2015 RAV4 has sharp crisp lines and has added a swing wing-up rear door instead of the swing-out design on previous versions.

Summary 

If you are in the market for a 5 passenger SUV then you should go to your local Toyota dealer for a test drive of the RAV4 

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

WIDTH6 ft. 0.6 in. (72.6 in.)	HEIGHT5 ft. 7.1 in. (67.1 in.)
LENGTH14 ft. 11.9 in. (179.9 in.)	WHEEL BASE8 ft. 8.7 in. (104.7 in.)

Interior Measurements

FRONT HEAD ROOM38.9 in.	FRONT HIP ROOM54.3 in.
FRONT LEG ROOM42.6 in.	FRONT SHOULDER ROOM57.3 in.
REAR HIP ROOM48.9 in.	REAR HEAD ROOM38.9 in.
REAR LEG ROOM37.2 in.	REAR SHOULDER ROOM55.4 in.