2006 Toyota RAV4

mike_belknap

Yes, the USDM RAV4 will offer a 268-hp 3.5-liter VVT-i V6 engine. Note, however, that the vehicle will be a quasi-midsize model, sporting a 14.4-inch increase in length over the current version. The wheelbase will grow by a full 7.0", and a fold-away 3rd-row of seats will be available.
Here's a little info, and here are some good photos (of both short- and long-wheelbase versions).

Mike

wmquan

Just a small item: the Tucson does actually come standard with those safety features (as will all future Hyundai SUVs/crossovers and mid- to upper-market cars; in fact, most Hyundais will also come with active head restraints), though the current-generation Santa Fe does not.

Sorry, I was ambiguous in my quote. My "not Hyundai" comment wasn't meant to say that the Tucson didn't have those features. It was a response to the previous post saying "Hyundai HAS TO give away every safety item for no extra charge." Even if one believes that, the fact that Honda (not just Hyundai) is fully including them as standard is revealing.

Yes, Toyota has VSC, Honda has VSA, Subaru has VDC I believe. Interesting that some Hyundai's have "ESP." "ESP" is licensed by either Bosch or Continental-Teves, under an agreement with Mercedes-Benz (MB and Bosch co-invented electronic stability control). ESP is also licensed to VW, Audi, Saab, and probably some others. Some folks believe that the ESP implementation of stability control is better than VSC and VSA (e.g. more advanced ESP implementations are full-range, being fully active and potentially engaged when the vehicle is braking, whereas with VSC and VSA, both disengage in favor of ABS).

Thanks!

wwest

The Toyota.com article seems to be saying that there is a manual switch to "lock" all four wheels together. That wouldn't be the current HL, RX, or Sienna AWD system. Maybe this whole product series is finally getting a "true" AWD system.

That would be really nice.

The article, by omission, seems to indicate the stick shift is being dropped.

nippononly

they still have a standard manual for the 4-cyl. Keeps down the base price they can advertise. I have no doubt that being Toyota, the V-6 will be automatic-only.

alpha01

Actually, both have a drag coefficient of .28, I believe, so that statement about the Avalon being more slippery than the Camry is incorrect.

~alpha

terakami

Is the price really going to be over 30K? What is the base price or a price of a AWD base? Does anyone know for sure?

jbollt

Actually, both have a drag coefficient of .28, I believe, so that statement about the Avalon being more slippery than the Camry is incorrect.

Alpha, thanks, however I was only guessing that the Avalon was more slippery than Camry, not making a statement of fact. However the real point of my post was that certainly, the Avalon is more slippery than RAV4 will be, only one reason it shouldn't be expected to get the same mpg as the Avalon with the same engine.

Jeff

vonnyvonce

What's the odds the Limited will be available with the 2.4l engine.

maxwell3

The pics from japanesecarfans.com of the new RAV4 show it with the full sized spare mounted on the back, but the pics from Frankfurt do not...does anyone know which version the U.S. is getting?

mike_belknap

Well, in several markets the spare will be stowed under the floor for certain trims (like the Frankfurt unit), while other trims will get the door-mounted spare. I've only seen the US-spec version with the door-mounted variety, but I have my fingers crossed that this will be optional.
As an aside, we will only be getting the long-wheelbase vehicle (105.0"), though the 3rd-row of seats will not be a standard feature (odds are, they probably won't be available on the Sport edition).

Mike

mike_belknap

"What's the odds the Limited will be available with the 2.4l engine."

The odds are very good, I'd expect: the 4-cylinder models are scheduled to show up a couple of months before the V6.

Mike

vcarreras

Wouldn't it be nice to get the European RAV4 with the 2.2 diesel with D-CAT. 177DIN hp/400 max torque. GREAT mpg and NO spare on the back! All in a package that we probably won't see. Maybe Toyota will see these commets and surprise us.

http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/05/0912.html

dan bitman

Next MATRIX will grow in size filling te void...
All new models grow in size here in the US...

biker4

One of these days this "Supersize" everything mentality will wane.

That diesel version will probably make its way to the US eventually.

It seems that the availability of diesels may save VW - Sept sales so far are up 77% over last year. Folks in the US will wake up and finally accept diesels like Europeans have.

Imagine a midsized RAV4 that gets 35MPG. :shades:

taz16

I wonder if the Rav4 will come with a hybrid model and will the horsepower will be more than the highlander and the up coming camry hybrid?

Also will the rav4 be the first compact suv to get a 3rd row seat?

jchan2

A Lexus RAV4 Hybrid, for $34,000 with 3 rows of seats. (don't forget 35MPG)

Any takers?

Lexus might have 1, right here!

owens2

What is the curb weight for the '06 RAV4?

wwest

Lexus Rav4 hybrid version, first in line provided it uses the I4 and goes for fuel economy and not the leadfoot crowd. Not holding out much hope....

navigator89

The Suzuki XL-7 beat the RAV4 in getting a 3rd row seat.

A hybrid Rav4 would be neat, a good competitor to the Ford Escape.

xr_matrix

I am disappointed Toyota did not listen to the current Rav4 owners and take the opportunity to "fix" the rear door issue. We used to own a Rav and now own a Matrix nearing the end of the lease and we were so hoping they would make a Matrix-like rear door system when they redesigned the RAV. The huge opening rear door with fixed glass is simply a bad design in the RAV...and the new RAV still has it. I recall physically moving the vehicle ahead at shopping malls because a car parked behind us too close to open the door...

Come on Toyota..you got it right in the Matrix with the up swinging gate and seperate opening glass...but that massive opening rear door on the RAV which opens the wrong way (hinged on the sidewalk side...) should have been fixed in this new design...

xr_matrix

With gas currently at $1.14/litre after just coming of a high of $1.46/litre (for the US folks that is a whopping $5.55/gallon)...I really hope Toyota will either a) bring the diesel over from Europe or b) make a hybrid Rav for us soon.

Now that the Rav is bigger and heavier gas mileage will most likely be worse and not better...making the Matrix seem more and more attractive to keep or re-lease!

xr_matrix

Ok...off my negative soapbox for a bit...

Does anyone else think 268hp, AWD and 5 spd auto sounds like a heck of a lot of fun to drive? :surprise:

Can't wait to test drive one...which if my facts are correct, this spring in Canada..

taz16

Yes, the new Rav4 will be fun to drive.
The highlander hybrid 0-60 is 7.3 seconds.
The Rav4's new weight should be way lower than the Highlander, maybe 6.8 sec in 0-60.

I wonder when the honda will redesign the CR-V and will it have a V-6 that can match the new Rav4's

I think there are still 2 compact SUV's that will be still faster than it like the Subaru Forester and the Saturn Vue

sockpuppet1969

When will the 2006 RAV4 hit the showroom floors? Any news on pricing yet?

taz16

I do not know about the pricing but the Rav4 should begin sales in late November or early December.

ink

i read that with the 2006 rav4 "the driver has the possibility to lock the torque distribution to the 55:45 ratio by the 4WD LOCK mode switch" on this site http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2050913.005/page/4/lang/eng/toyota/1.html does it mean that it becomes sort of like a Subaru, i.e. all 4 wheels have constant power and open differentials on the front and rear axels allow you to go fast on paved roads (not like 4x4 systems which are designed for serious mud and speeds not higher than about 10 kph.) thank you in advance for clarifying this for me.

jchan2

Give me the Mark Levinson stereo, the Navigation system, the stellar customer service, and a 3rd row that can be occasionally used, and I guess I'll be 2nd in line for one.

What would they call it though? And how much would they charge us for it?

I'm betting a loaded Hybrid model in the $36,000-$37,000 range, with lesser equipped gasoline versions in the $31,000-$33,000 range.

I would be all over the RDX, but its minus a 3rd row. (for good reason maybe)

dan bitman

I doubt it.
I work @ DCX Corp, involved with design of future vehicles- year 2009 +.
I can tell you that ALL future minivans, SUV's, sedans, trucks will grow in TONS and GAS engines size....
Unfortunately benchmark ( competition) is following too....and RAV4 is an example.
As long as number of cupholders, speakers and seat rows counts more then powertrain technology and engineering refinements, regardless of gas price, mentality will not change in favor of lets say.... diesels.
Dan -from Europe

dan bitman

In simple terms, curb weigh is the weight of a vehicle PARKED on o curb... seriously.
It's his own carried weight, without being loaded to its max (that’s GROSS weight).
Dan

dan bitman

it's a cost saving measure. The Matrix like door with the flipped window vs the RAV like side hinges door is aprox. 25% more expensive to build.
The entire new RAV4 is bigger then the present one, it's almost Highlander-ish. To keep the price reasonable enough not to hit the Highlander range, rear door design was one of the compromises.
Furthermore, as long as direct competitors ( the new G Vitara and CRV) are following the same rear door system, why bother?
But you're right, it's a poor compromise Toyota made..... beside the lack of standard side/curtain airbags IMHO
My hope is that the next new Matrix will be "inflated" in such a way that it will please all those disappointed in expectations by the new Mazda5 or new Toyota RAV4.
Dan

biker4

But when the competition sees how well the diesel line at VW is selling, that tune will change quite quickly.

Biker, who doesn't believe the US can live in its diesel isolated world for much longer.

csmatrix

Thats cool and all that the Rav4 is coming with the 3.5L 268 HP V6 engine and 3rd row seating but I believe thats going to put it in the Highlander's price range or possibly hurt the Highlander's sales because its more powerful. With the size increase will it handle as well as the current one does? Me personally, like the Rav4 the way that they are now. Oh well hopefully the 2.4L engine will become an option in the underpowered but very nice Matrix.

ateixeira

I bet this will force the HL to upgrade, perhaps with the next generation, to the same engine, or even the 3.8l from the Avalon.

It'll be strange that the RAV4 will make more power than the Lexus RX330! A lot more!

-juice

biker4

The Avalon uses the same 3.5L V6 as this future RAV4 (slightly different state of tune). In a few years this 3.5L V6 will be whored out about as much as Nissan's VQ.

Biker, who still can't believe an entry level SUV from Toyota will have that much power.

ateixeira

Oops, why was I thinking 3.8l? Maybe because GM uses that displament in the Avalon's competitors.

Wonder what size engine the Camry will end up with, right now it offers 3.0l and 3.3l, and both make significantly less power than the Avalon.

Does Toyota need all these V6s? If you count the hybrids and pickups there are even more.

-juice

nippononly

3.0 is gone for Camry for '07, I am sure. People seem to think the 3.3 will be gone too, in favor of the 3.5. As for the only other V-6 they use in Toyotas, it is the 4.0 used in the Tacoma/4Runner, and it is a big-torque, low fuel economy engine that would not be good in the cars and would be total overkill in the RAV.

I think the 2.5 now in use in the IS250 would have been a better choice for the RAV, bumped up a little in output.

Now if all this means the next Matrix gets the 2.4 from the Camry, then it's all worth it.

ateixeira

Good idea but they probably thought it would end up too close to the 2.4l's performance.

-juice

alpha01

I think there would still be a distinction in performance. The 2.4L will produce about 166 hp, whereas the 2.5L V6 produces 204 hp. 38 is enough to feel, especially when it is accompanied by about 21 foot pounds torque. However, if the cost to implement the high-tect 2.5L is the same as wedging in the 3.5L, then by all means, Toyota should go with the 3.5L!!!

I am surprised that Toyota chose not to use the 3.0L 245 horse engine that is available. (Actually, I think its less than 245 as that number, I believe, is NOT SAE certified).

~alpha

ateixeira

I think that V6 is now under 200hp. Again, perhaps not enough differentiation to justify the cost of wedging in a V6.

I'm surprised that they'll offer a V6 at all, to be honest.

-juice

kfl

New RAV4 design is RAV...but I see two different rear doors, one with a spare tire and one without...anyone know which is which. That will make a difference whether or not I purchase, since I am inches away from buying a good used Lexus....

kfl

actually, I thought I read that the V6 is somewhere around 250 hp, could be wrong though.

csmatrix

I read on the toyota website that the 3.5L engine is going to make 268 HP which is too much for an entry level suv. I can't see how its going to be affordable. I guess in the future that are going to sell the Matrix as an entry level SUV. That would make sense the Rav4 is going to cost too much and guzzle up more gas. The Matrix could serve as an inexpensive alternative

ateixeira

Yeah, Toyota probably figures the entry-level market isn't very profitable, may as well move up a bit.

You'll still be able to get a V6 RAV4 for the price of a well equipped Jetta.

-juice

nippononly

had to get a V-6 this time around - look at all the competition, almost every one except Honda has a V-6 option. Just a pragmatic response to market forces.

The choice of the 3.5 instead of a smaller engine is the surprising part to me. I am hoping it can do at least as well as the much heavier (but also lower-profile and NOT 4WD) Avalon in the fuel economy department - that would be worth every penny. The 22/27 of the present 4-cyl AWD model is fairly pathetic, IMO.

petl

It's still the best gas mileage of any (non-hybrid) SUV being sold to date.

jchan2

CR-V in 2WD LX guise gets 29MPG highway.

What does the 2WD RAV4 get anyways?

I'm surprised the RAV4 has 268HP though.

nippononly

gets 29 mpg now

jchan2

So we have a tie for best small SUV fuel economy!

29MPG isn't too shabby.

sr45

Thats if you get 29 highway on this veh. I only drive city, and get 18/19 miles per gallon on a 05 Rav, 2 wd.

jchan2

EPA estimates are always higher than what a person might get.

But at least you won't be getting 8MPG highway.