Most drivers will find that the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivers power that’s adequate for moving people and cargo around town - Edmunds
2018 Toyota RAV4 Engine and Transmission
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 has a standard 2.5L Inline-4 engine running point on its power duties. This standard Inline-4 engine delivers a respectable 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, which puts it right in the middle of the compact SUV segment. This might not be as good as the power front put up by the Honda CR-V but nevertheless is quite effective in letting you go about your daily needs.
There is also a 2018 RAV4 hybrid variant, which also houses the same 2.5L inline-4 unit, but with three electric motors guiding it through to put up an even more impressive 194 hp. Available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive, the 2018 RAV4 pairs a 6-speed automatic transmission unit with the gasoline variant, whereas the hybrid variant gets a loathsome CVT to put the power down.
Model |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Ford Escape |
MSRP |
$24,510 |
$24,150 |
$23,850 |
Engine |
2.5L Regular Unleaded I-4 |
2.4L Regular Unleaded I-4 |
2.5L Regular Unleaded I-4 |
Drivetrain |
Front-Wheel Drive |
Front-Wheel Drive |
Front-Wheel Drive |
Transmission |
6-speed shiftable automatic |
CVT |
6-speed shiftable automatic |
Power |
176 hp @ 6000 RPM |
184 hp @ 6400 RPM |
168 hp @ 6000 RPM |
Torque |
172 lb-ft @ 4100 RPM |
180 lb-ft @ 3900 RPM |
170 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM |
The engine remains the same as with the previous iterations, although Toyota has reportedly said that the engine has been tweaked a bit more for a better throttle response. Furthermore, the RAV4 can also tow up to 1500 lbs. The 2018 Honda CR-V certainly turns out to be a head-turner, even with the CVT at the helm.
2018 Toyota RAV4 Acceleration
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 can do the 0-60 MPH sprint in just about 8.3 seconds. This makes it the fastest crossover in the segment, despite losing out on the quarter-mile race, as that it does in 17 seconds. All of the said power kicks in quite early in the rev band for the RAV4, and that is the reason why it posts these competitive times.
Model |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Ford Escape |
0-60 MPH |
8.3 seconds |
8.6 seconds |
9.1 seconds |
Quarter Mile |
17.0 seconds |
16.7 seconds |
16.8 seconds |
Switch to the Sport mode, and you get a much better throttle response of the line. The Hybrid variant certainly does better in these terms than the gasoline variant with 194 horses. The 6-speed of the gasoline RAV4, also is a big help, as it does assist in smooth and quick shifts. The Honda CR-V, even with the best power figures in the segment, turns out to be one of the slowest crossovers in the segment, slowly because of the CVT in play.
2018 Toyota RAV4 Braking and Handling
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 comes with different drive modes, which altogether have different throttle and steering responses too. This, in turn, aids in the overall driving dynamics of the SUV, which makes the driving manners of the RAV4 as impressive as it can get. Come the year 2018, Toyota also introduces a new Adventure model, with the sole purpose of going off-road, with a number of off-road features helping it through.
Model |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Ford Escape |
Front Brake Rotor Diameter (in.) |
10.8 |
11.1 |
12.8 |
Rear Brake Rotor Diameter (in.) |
11.2 |
10.2 |
12 |
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
122 |
117 |
112 |
Disc Front/Rear |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Brake ABS System |
4-Wheel |
4-Wheel |
4-Wheel |
Base Curb Weight |
3455 |
3307 |
3552 |
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 has 10.8-inch front brake rotor discs and 11.2-inch rear rotor discs. Combined, they can bring the 2018 RAV4 to a complete dead stop from 60 MPH in just about 122 ft. Despite having the smallest rotors in class, Toyota certainly delivers in this case, as the brakes are well-calibrated.