Toyota RAV4 gets TRD, Modellista kits for Japan
We shouldn't expect to see them in Australia, but if you'd like to know what a modified RAV4 could look like...
Toyota’s Japanese arm has unveiled a range of factory-fitted accessory packages for its RAV4 midsize SUV. The four packs announced belong under either Toyota’s Modellista brand or its TRD performance division.
Starting with the former, two Modellista kits are on offer: the road-biased ‘Urban Solid Strider’ and the rugged ‘Jaos’. The former wears an aggressive aero package consisting of a front splitter, revised upper grille, redesigned rear diffuser, bold side skirts and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Jaos is oriented toward the off-road crowd, with its RAV4 Edge-based body featuring a tougher front bumper with an inbuilt skid plate, heavy-duty side skirts, protective material around the C-pillar, bonnet-mounted LED lights in addition to 20-inch wheels wrapped in Toyo all-terrain rubber.
The TRD accessory packs take a similar approach, with different variants aimed at different environments.
The ‘Street Monster’ kit is intended for urban dwellers, thanks to its wild body kit that includes sharper front and rear bumpers, a body-coloured rear diffuser, sporty fender flares and aggressive side skirts. Other styling elements include black window trim, large alloy wheels shod in low-profile sports rubber, and the deletion of a rear Toyota emblem.
In contrast, TRD’s ‘Field Monster’ package is most at home off the beaten track. Based on the range-topping Adventure grade, it features a front skid plate, inbuilt LED fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in off-road tyres, TRD-branded mud flaps, plastic wheel arch extensions, black roof rack and TRD side decals.
TRD is also offering a number of performance parts for buyers of these packs – these include lowered performance dampers, 20-inch TF X Limited alloy wheels and unique mufflers.
Powering these models is the same range of powertrains as the rest of the RAV4 range, meaning customers will be able to choose from either a 152kW/243Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol or a 155kW 2.5-litre hybrid setup.
Japan doesn’t get access to the same 114kW 2.0-litre petrol engine that will feature in the Australian range.
Australia
The Toyota RAV4 TRD and Modellista packages hit Japanese dealerships later this year.
However, they are unlikely to ever reach Australian shores, considering very few of Toyota Japan’s previous TRD/Modellista packs have ever made it Down Under.
The standard 2019 RAV4 range launches in Australia in the second quarter. You can read our initial launch review here.
MORE: 2019 Toyota RAV4 driven
MORE: RAV4 news, reviews, comparisons and videos
MORE: Everything Toyota