2009 Toyota RAV4 sneak preview
August 27, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Toyota’s popular compact SUV is scheduled for a facelift and our Toyota insider has given us a sneak peak of what we should expect from the new model.
New updated models of the new RAV4 are currently being built with the Australian release expected in late September.
Changes are aplenty. As per current model RAV4s an airbag package including front side and curtain airbags is available as an option on 4-cylinder CV grade, and is standard on all other models.
The new additions mean the option pack now includes driver’s knee airbag and front dual zone climate control air conditioning.
Toyota has dropped the moonroof as an option on 4-cylinder Cruiser grade, but it’s now standard on Cruiser L, SX6, and ZR6 variants. Three new exterior colours are also available. Graphite, Liquid Bronze (new to the Toyota range) and Sandstone. The three will replace Storm Grey, Dune and Mist Green.
For the facelift Toyota has updated pretty much everything, although from the photos above, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed. Our source says there has been revisions to the front bumper, headlamps, exterior mirrors, rear bumper, radiator grille, front fog lamps, rear combination lamps as well a range of new alloy wheels.
The headlamps now make use of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as the light source for each of the tail and stop lamps, meanwhile side turn signal lamps have been fitted to the exterior mirrors (moved from the front fenders)
The overall length of the car has increased slightly to 4625mm while kerb weight has also gone up slightly. The interior also receives a new dark silver brushed metallic finish.
A new scuff plate for the upper side of the rear bumper has also been added to prevent scratches.
New wheels for the updated RAV4.
Safety has also been improved with VSC (vehicle stability control), Toyota’s version of ESC, now standard across the entire RAV4 range. Another standard feature is Hill-start assist control. Downhill assist control is also available on all automatic four-cylinder and all V6 models.
Power from the 2.4-litre four-cylinder 2AZ-FE engine now rates at 125kW and 224Nm of torque. The V6 manages 201 killer-wasps and 333Nm of torque.
Official information from Toyota Australia is expected within the next few weeks.
Print it: 
Another “steady as she goes” facelift from Toyota. yes its conservative but they wont burn someone who just bought one either, protecting resale values yet attracting buyers who want the newest thing.
To those who sledge Toyota on this site. Why do you think they sell so many cars? Hmmm.
Constant improvment and development is the key.
And now for the inevitable police raid on the CarAdvice offices like that incident in France…
“You motoring journalists with your foolish integrity! I fart in your general direction! You mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!” *
* I’m assured the French actually talk like this, complete with so-called ‘ridiculous accents’.
Once again we seem set to miss out on the Diesel model and the 5 speed auto in the 4 cylinder.
Memo to Toyota: You dont need a 200kW V6 in a small/medium SUV. You do need an economical Diesel and a 5 speed auto.
The V6 models long term resale will end up just like the other small V6 SUVs (Freelander, Tribute, Vitara ect) in other words very low.
Get stu**ed Hugo….CARADVICE is clearly entitled to do it as they are not suggesting it 100% is as they state; its how they declare it may be or will be. They use the disclaimer wording “SPIED” as story line which suggests that thats what it might be closely resembled to and may well be. As a CAR ENTHUSIAST….I say truly well done CARADVICE for trying to advise what is or may be around the corner as consumers are hungry for whats around corner car wise! As someone as shallow as evidenced with your comment; may I say if you dont like it Hugo…..well you Go Go!
DanMan, Your posts are passive aggressive and obviously designed to antagonise REAL car enthusiasts
The cosmetic changes seem a real waste of money from those photos. If people can’t tell it’s a new model, why bother?
You guys are good at getting the scoops i will grant you that!!
How about being FIRST IN THE WORLD with the new 4-cyl. Elfin?Thats gota be out very very soon?
Cheers
F-0
Gift-Ed = Because it costs alot to have a major workover half-way during the car’s lifecycle. I mean what differences where there from VY Commodore to VYII?
Refreshes are simply refreshes – renew market interest, add features and slight improvements and usually improving value. Most major manufacturers do it this way.
Robbo, yes, I understand what you’re saying. However Toyota have spent some money on the refresh with many changes to minor cosmetic parts. However most people won’t be able to tell the difference. To me that makes no sense.
If they’re going to refresh visible parts, they should look different IMO. That’s what I was trying to say.
Toyoda massive sponsers of CA..
More whitegood trash >>>> boring !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yawn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only reason Toyoda sell is because thier advertising hoodwink’s the public.
ZZzzZZ ZZZZZZZZ zzzzzzZzzzzzzz Yawn !!!!!!!!!
Rav 4 is a big ugly Bore……………..
“OH WHAT A BORING CAR” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AC Cobra,
Mate I see plenty of manufactures advertising here, and I see good and bad reports from all of them.
On the RAV, so it’s just a “bolt-on” upgrade then? No panel changes, just bolt-on bits and a few mods to the spec sheet – not much of an upgrade really.
I know several people with a RAV, and get both good and bad reports, but I am not convinced that they haven’t ougrown (in size) thier real target market.
Mmm, not a fan of the new look front end. Looks alittle squashed if you asked me. Much prefer the more defined look of the current model.
VE grill with Toyota badge?
I get it they are trying to make it look like a Captiva!LOL.
DanMan
When this “updated” Rav is released get one of your many Toyota friends with a current model Rav to go into their local Toyota dealer, with you, and enquire about trading it in. Then sit back and count how many times they mention “now the new model’s out it’s hurting value’s…” or, “it’s the old model so it’s only worth….”
Protecting re-sale values eh???
You are either monumentally stupid,
Or awe-inspiringly naive,
Or you work for Toyota or a Toyota dealer.
Truth be known it doesn’t matter what it looks like as Toyota buyers just buy the badge.
Another toyota box on wheels.LOL.
Good point Millatime.
A good example would be a 2004 Prado GXL bought new for approx 65k.
Given u can buy an average used example from a dealer for between 32,000 – 38,000 what would the guy have got who traded it?
26,000 – 30,000?
Good resale?
Oh what a sinking feeling!
To be fair same applies to everything else.
Oh and BTW – the V6 Rav is a dud, a big mistake from Toyota, sales are completely underwhelming. Very very few have sold with the loves adrink V6, if only they’d put a diesel in…
In fact the real world fuel economy of these vehicles including Honda CRV and Nissan X Trail is poor. Big thirsty four cylinder engines struggling with heavy AWD chassis. Check out what the new FG Falcon uses compared to these SUV’s.
I know which is safer, quieter, more comfortable and more economical. And it’s not a SUV…
Millatime don’t bother with the argument about sedans being more comfortable safer quieter blah blah blah. If people wanted a sedan they would buy one. Perhaps this type of vehicle is what people actually want. Sadly for too long Ford hasn’t had a wagon that private buyers might actually like… current Mondeo excepted, and Holden has only recently realised this with the Sportwagon and Captiva. As for the economy I’ve achieved real world figures of 10 or better in both late model Ravs and Forresters. The best my Falcon ute gets over same environment is 13’s and 04 territory 15’s.
Dir1
Wipe the food running down your chin, and if you are able try to remove the fork from your eye, it’s way past your bed time and you are not allowed to do anything without supervision, see what happens when you try…?
I hate to point out your lack of intelligence and reading comprehension but you force me to.
I recently drove for a couple of days the new FG Falcon in base model XT form. My partner has a new CRV. I also have had as company vehicles the current RAV4 and friends owned the X-Trail.
Having recently driven all the vehicles I referred to, I am not arguing the case for all sedans, I simply stated the FACT that the FG Falcon IS DEFINATELY safer (absolutely no question), quieter (easily), more comfortable and refined (like comparing day and night), and more economical (according to the on board trip computers and basic math) than these “small cheap to run economical SUV’s” that are so often bought because they have 4 cylinders and are therefore “economical”.
So let me underline this for you.
I was just very surprised to see the Falcon consistently using less fuel than these cars. In fact it used with cruise control on the highway at 110 between 5 and 7 litres per 100 km! Plus it’s miles in front in all those other area’s. No argument, just stating facts.
I was surprised, the FG is that good!
Both of you are correct,
Although I think what Dlr1 is trying to point out is… People will who are after an SUV will buy and SUV, regardless how much a better car a similar priced Sedan/coupe/hatch could have been. Its like trying to convince a britneywannabe 18yr old to buy an FG falcon, she’ll laugh at you face and tell you its for old daddy’s with a family and will pick the tinny Fiat 500 instead.
Sure probably pound for pound the FG is a better car no doubt, buts its mainly targeting a completely different market segment, so no comparison.
Dlr, funny though, toyota no longer offers any wagons on their cars anymore, perhaps research shows the buyers of a wagon is not justifiable with the upkeep costs of the variant?
Dont have a hissy fit. Didn’t anybody teach you with a child that you cant compare apples and oranges. No one is arguing that probably all sedans are safer, more comfortable ect ect. I do however love the fact that everyone always wants to quote their highway economy figures for their sedans. No arguments there. I know most large 6’s can achieve great numbers on the highway and be more fun too. Thats when they are at their best. The opposite is probably true in the city. No body ever wants to mention 16+ l/100 there.
My observation is from my experience. Where i drive the SUVs used less fuel than the Ute and Territory. A Golf or Lancer would more likely use less than the SUVs also. Im not saying the FGs arent a great car or that ford hasnt done a great job with them… just that they arent always the type of car most people want.
And as for the reference of “small cheap to run economical SUV’s” they are only more economical and cheaper to run than large SUVs. The FG might be more economical, but they havent managed that with the territory yet.
o i like the eyebrows in the current reav4 headlamps.ALso in the USA in the top spec model the whell ahs been removed from the rear.
Well Millatime, (by the way its Millertime if your refering to the American brewing house) Hmm how to answer? Actually i dont sell Toyota’a at the moment but have sold a few hundred in my time. Along with Ford, Vw,Honda, and Nissan. Have also sold Vehicles in Euro and North America. Along the way have owned more than a few cars… So yeah i dont just talk the talk but walk the walk. Enthusiast? More than you…
Wow i didn’t even need to insult you. You do that fine by yourself…
Well Millatime, (by the way its Millertime if your refering to the American brewing house) Hmm how to answer? Actually i dont sell Toyota\’a at the moment but have sold a few hundred in my time. Along with Ford, Vw,Honda, and Nissan. Have also sold Vehicles in Euro and North America. Along the way have owned more than a few cars… So yeah i dont just talk the talk but walk the walk. Enthusiast? More than you…
Wow i didn\’t even need to insult you. You do that fine by yourself…
“Another “steady as she goes” facelift from Toyota. yes its conservative but they wont burn someone who just bought one either”
I would agree with you there on the RAV4, but having seen the scoop on the new Prius, I’ll predict large amounts of vomit hitting computer screens all over Australia!
“In fact the real world fuel economy of these vehicles including Honda CRV and Nissan X Trail is poor. Big thirsty four cylinder engines struggling with heavy AWD chassis. Check out what the new FG Falcon uses compared to these SUV’s.”
Well there lies your problem. you can’t compare an SUV to a sedan. Your pointing the finger at its 4cyl engine without considering the poor aerodynamics (among other things) of all SUV’s. Surely a more valid comparison would be a territory vs Rav4/CRV/X Trail.
Think it will beat the 4cyl competition on fuel economy??
I don’t doubt the credentials of the FG as probably the most economical 6cyl on the market, ‘Adam aka (Mada)’ pointed this out in a previous post, It beat the Borion by at least 7% on the caradvice realworld test. But we need to compare SUV’s with SUV’s and Cars with Cars simple!
Nick……if in your opinion people that don’t like Toyota’s are uneducated bogans, does that make you a snob? or just a twit?????
Nick…..it looks like you’ve backed a real winner and you should very proud of your self, it sounds a bit like religion but try not get too fundamentalist on everyone or convert everyone after all we can’t all believe in the same god that you do!
Well put Nick,I think the problem here is the “Bogans” hate hearing the truth put to them in such an easy to understand way.It is the “tall poppy” syndrome,they can’t stand it when they are shown the “FACTS”.
“pretty shallow to me to be considering fuel costs only”
Well that depends on what your purchasing the car for. But the raising cost of fuel is changing the market dramatically if we like it or not. The knock on effect is depreciation which is the largest cost of car ownership. So choosing a car thats fuel efficient does make good sense.
Gee these toyophiles are touchy.
So everyone else is a bogan or bogon.LOL.
Shows the intellect of the Toyota buyers out there.LOL.
So he went to a Toyota show room and decided on that basis that the product is of superior quality.LOL
Very objective.
Were the various models colour coded so u could tell them apart?LOL.
Looks like Toyota have copied the Captiva grill on this update after all the Captiva is a better looking vehicle and the “new look” may be enough to sway a few would be Captiva buyers.
Camry /Corolla drivers live in Fairy land. These cars could feature in Noddy and Big Ears.lol.
Congratulations Nick, couldn’t have put it better myself – straight to the point without messing about, that’s what i like in a person.
Realcars – were did Nick say Toyota was superior ?
He said after visiting a Toyota Dealership and checking out the cars, he understood why they sell so well – nothing about superiority. You got it wrong
And we all know who the touchy people are, don’t we Realcars. It is Holden and Ford swirling down the drain not Toyota.
People like yourself can harp on with stupidity as much as you want but allow me let you in on something, you idiotic people are fooling no one but yourselves.
Car companies (like any other business) are in the game to sell and make loot and it’s crystal clear who’s doing a convincing job and who’s not.
Critise the Camry and Corolla to your hearts content but but truth be told, they’re no re-badge Daewoo. And what are the words people like yourself use so often – no matter what, you carn’t polish a turd !
Lazybones – shallow, that would have to be you to a ‘T’
Nick’s comment is to the point. How often do characters like yourself compare the fuel consumption of a Falcon or Commodore to a 4cyl Camry, regularly by what i have seen but it’s usually only ever about highway consumption. Nick is correct in that most commuters travel most of their mileage in suburbia and a 4cyl Camry remains alot more frugal then a Falcon or Commodore (and the Aurion for the sake of the arguement). Apart from that, purchase cost (equivalent model) is cheaper (4 – 5k) and so is registration, insurance and even scheduled servicing as mention by Nick. Calculate the total annual sum and it works out to be quite a notable amount of loot. And lets not forget the petrol Mondeo isn’t exactly a lite drinker itself, is it !!
It is people like yourself who are shallow and exhibit little thought or understanding beyond the obviuos that smacks you in face but i guess simple things amuse simple people.
Better still, people like yourself complain about Toyota propaganda when truth be told – most have had a gut full of having Holden and Ford propaganda rammed down thier throats especially when it is from idiotic twits who speak endless crap.
‘It looks like Toyota has copied the grille on the Captiva’ … if that’s how low characters like yourself have to go to discredit Toyota then it truely highlights the challenged mentality of some.
Carl – not everybody wants to believe in the same god as you either.
Oh, hi Dingo!!!
(Nick and Seumas are both Dingo, everyone)
I see you’re having a little conversation with yourself. I’m not sure how kindly that would be assessed by your psychologist, Little Fella. Any psychologist, I mean, not just yours. Oops, sorry, my mistake. You haven’t got one, have you? No…this little example retreated to central Queensland and slipped through the mental illness net completely.
Anyway, where wuz I? Oh yeah…I feel a little rubbing out coming on…
Seumas sounds like you are in a Toyota induced Coma.LOL.
Where’s Dan the Toyota Man?LOL
It’s got Kia Carnival headlights Dingo!
Finally caught up.LOL.
To all those who think Toyoda are superior to other manufacturer’s, about time those advertising blinkers come off, here is one example of complaints about Toyoda these days so many pop up on Google it make’s me laugh, 2007 & 2008 Toyoda Tundra’s Paint Quality issue..
Many people on numerous Toyota Tundra discussion forums have complained about the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Tundra paint quality.
They put forward to Toyota that the failure to apply sufficient layers of paint, coupled with the lack of a clear protective coat on a truck does not provide the quality of product that Toyota usually provides, nor the quality of product we were expecting to purchase. We petition Toyota to look into the matter and to respond to each of the respondants in the petition with a resolution. Please detail below your Toyota Tundra Paint Problems and we’ll make sure Toyota gets back to you and responds to this Petition
“My truck in not even a week old and already i am seeing signs of a bad quality paint, I am glad i found this petition”
“Problems with rust and overall quality of the paint is unlike any other car I have had in the past. Especially for a $40,000 truck. And worst of all No clear coat!
“PAINT SCRATCHES WAY TO EASILY!”
“2008 Tundra I have the salsa red color, only 3.000 miles on truck paint scratches so easily that the truck looks used already. even plastic and paper in the box have scratched the wheel well”
“I have a 2005 Tundra in Salsa Red Pearl that has paint chips missing all over the vehicle. I took it in to the dealer while under warranty and they said that since they are chips that they won’t cover it. I had to take the truck in to a dealer referred body shop to fix a spot where someone had keyed it and they looked at the paint and asked if I constantly drive behind rock trucks or something similar due to the amount of chipping. When I informed him that I do not and that it’s from regular driving, he was shocked at how easily the paint chips on my truck. Something should be done to fix this problem because I definitely will not be purchasing anymore toyotas if this is the case.”
“paint scratches too easily.”
“Just weeks after buying my tundra, I started seeing scracthes everywhere. If I touched the truck in any way it scratches. I wash my truck one body panel at a time and rinse out my microfiber mit each time and make sure its clean, still it does horrible damage. All over my truck is scratched just from leaning on it… not rubbing. Ive had little bushes scracth it that never scracthed any of my other trucks. Ive got alot of scratches right down to bare metal and I have no clue how they even got there. My hood is peeling paint in alot of places from rocks… I dont ride close enough to anyone to do that bad of damage. ”
“I drove a 91 lexus ls that never had 1 paint chip,after driving my tundra for a little over a year,I probley have 15 to 20 big paint chips,truck is awesome,but I expected more from the paint,If theres no improvements il never buy another!!!”
“I have a Tundra and the paint is sorely disappointing”
“paint is very thin not enough clear coat scrathes way to easy very poor paint job (silver)”
“I just bought my ‘08 double cab two months ago, and I have to agree, the paint scratches far too easily. I have no kids, I work at night and garage the truck during the heat of the day, I park in areas where no one else parks, and I still have paint scratches. I wash it every week and I wax it often. I really baby that thing. No four wheeling. No tailgating. Still, I have scratches in just two months of ownership”
^^^^^^^ The last comment is a classic “I have to baby the thing”, after spending truck loads of cash wouldn’t you expect anything but the best, maybe Toyoda only care about it’s hip pocket not customer satisfaction and expectations.
Many more of these Toyoda complaint’s to come.
Yes beware of Dingo’s multiple personalities!!!
Some would like you to believe that Toyotas range is one of if not the most Diverse on the market..
VWs range is more diverse as they have a car in nearly every major segment which make up a substantial % of sales in that segment.
Yet when you look at it the only real reason Toyota dominate the 4×4 market is because they have so many models with so many similarities in that market competing against eachother.. almost half of their range consists of 4×4s SUVs Pick Ups and Commercials
And this is a prime example of how Toyota has similar sized cars with similar features etc and similar prices competing against each other in the same class
I mean the looking at the design the specifications etc the RAV4 its really no more than a Kluger Wannabe which is a Prado Wannabe which is a Cruiser Wannabe.. Oh then of course theres the similarities between the Camry and Aurion
Whereas surely it would make more sense to drop the RAV4 as its so suimilar to the Kluger and introduce say a RWD Family Sedan and become a real direct rival to the Commodore or what about introducing a Ute [not a Pick-Up] to compete against the XR8 ute or even re-introduce a sports coupe to take on the Hyundai Genesis coupe when it arrives
Sure Hodlen make the Omega and the Calais but that is just one car with varying levels of luxury.. They dont have a similar sized car with similar features competing against the Commodore range
Or what about an AWD sedan to compete against the Impreza?
If Dingo can come up with 4 more aliases he will crack the ton [100] and all within approx 9 months of being on CA – not a bad effort: Dingo; Australias First Taste Of A Tough Truck; Oh What A Feeling; Supporter of Toyota Motorsport; I could be Anyone from Anywhere…
leave him alone,
it must be hard finding out that Toyota has been cheating in Nascar ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
DanMan
I am not referring to the American brewing house, but thank you for pointing out the obvious.
The fact you worked in various dealerships around the world underlines your naive comments that releasing a new model won’t hurt the current models resale, you would’ve seen it happen many times.
I didn’t insult you, I merely offered you multiple choice. And as you no longer work for Toyota, you are clearly, by your own admission, one of the first two.
Oh and DanMan
The fact you have worked in dealerships all over the world doesn’t mean you “talk the talk & walk the walk” as you claim, just means you have supreme difficulty holding down a job..
I guess they haven’t figured out how to get away with cheating in F1 “yet” Andrew.M.
Wheelnut what exactly is wrong with a manufacturer having vehicles in most market segments. A Rav4 is substantially smaller than the current Kluger, and the Kluger isn’t a real 4×4 like the Prado anyway. Holden is probably worse when you consider that they have both the Viva and Astra. And when it come to commercials compare the number of commercial van variants that VW sells compared to Toyota anyway. About 5 times as many. Theres nothing wrong with having plenty of different models IMO.
Dlr1
Yes 6 cylinder sedans get brilliant economy on the highway. But just to clarify..
I read a lot of car mags, talk cars every chance I get, love motorsport in all it’s varied forms and I work with cars every day (not a mechanic though!). But I rarely checked fuel economy figures. So my impression, or perception, of the small SUV’s was, like a lot of other people’s I talk to, that they would be more economical than 6 cylinder sedans.
So once I bothered to check I was amazed to see Rav and CRV averaging high 10’s and 11’s with one car averaging high 12’s (litres per 100 kms). And all these were vehicles I’ve driven – sedately as I’m over voluntary taxation – with a little highway use but mostly by far urban driving.
Then I drove the FG Falcon in a similar style over the same roads, and was, as I’ve allready said, amazed by the average use of 10.1 – better than the small SUV’s!
So please note these figures are taken directly from the vehicles own trip computers.
So it’s a complete myth that small SUV’s are more economical around town where most people drive them. I once believed it too. And if people buy them thinking they will be economical they will be dissapointed.
For me, with the FG’s quieter smoother ride, better safety and everyhting else, and with better economy, I’d choose the Falcon every day of the week.. It’s a nice safe roomy comfortable place to be..
Just my two cents worth, thats all.
AC Cobra how could anyone buy a Tundra over those other American Trucks from Ford/GM/Dodge.
Tundra just looks like a bloated Hilux.LOL.
Millatime SUVs generally have the aerodynamics of a brick so economy should come as no surprise.
I’ve driven a 2.7 4cyl Hilux 2wd and was surprised how slow it was.My neck is f^&ked as it is so I’ll stick with the Falcon ute. Not so bone jarring.
Millatime…….i agree with everything you have just written regarding fuel consumption, However i think the real reason the sedans are suffering is that MOST people seem to like a high driving position and the convenience of a wagon or hatch shaped vehicle! Especially if you have a family.
I find my self constantly wishing i could see over these toorak tractors in traffic….also a lot “people” seem to feel superior in a high driving position and that is what is really killing the Aussie sedan…..in my opinion!