The best-selling Toyota RAV4 is a popular and beloved little SUV, and Toyota has just made it even more appealing to the segment of owners who want to explore further, by making the 2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road version.
The TRD designation is reserved for Toyota’s most off-road ready vehicles that are setup with a tuned suspension, off-road tires, and other upgrades to make the trucks more trail-worthy.
The RAV4 isn’t the first vehicle you think of when it comes to overlanding, but expect to see a ton more of these builds for drivers who want the benefits of a small and energy-efficient vehicle, with the capabilities of a larger off-road truck.
Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road
From Toyota:
The RAV4 TRD Off-Road model shares high-rise roof rails, large over-fenders, and aggressive bumper and grille designs and fog light surrounds with the RAV4 Adventure grade, but with a TRD personality.
Building on the 8.6-inch ground clearance of the RAV4 Adventure, the TRD Off-Road goes above and beyond with suspension, wheels and tires engineered specifically for rugged trail driving. Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Driveline Disconnect is standard and supported by and a full complement of off-road handling technologies. To take more adventure equipment along, such as personal watercraft, dirt bikes or a small enclosed trailer, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is rated to tow a trailer up to 3,500 pounds.
Inspired by TRD’s expertise gained from Ryan Millen’s Rally RAV4, the TRD Off-Road model’s suspension is engineered to enhance body control and small-bump isolation to help smooth out trails and rough city streets. Exclusive red-colored coil springs are tuned for an off-road focus. The twin-tube shocks are re-valved and feature internal rebound springs to improve control. New bump stops maximize compression-direction wheel travel and help improve body control over large bumps and dips.
The 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road exclusively rolls on lighter and more rigid flow-formed 18×7-inch matte-black TRD alloy wheels with Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail all-terrain tires. The tires use a unique tread pattern and compound developed to TRD technical requirements, and their rugged, square-shoulder design helps protect against punctures. The tires are Severe Snow Rated, with open shoulder grooving to shed debris, mud and snow.
Using standard Multi-Terrain Select, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road driver can maximize traction by matching the drive mode to the conditions: Mud & Sand for beach driving, Rock & Dirt for trails, and Snow for wintery conditions. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road is in addition equipped with Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) for on-road and off-road performance and safety. The Multi-Information Display (MID) shows torque allocation and slip-control data.
Available in an exclusive two-tone Magnetic Gray Metallic with Ice Edge Roof combination, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is accented by dark gray front and rear lower fascias, and front LED fog lights are standard. TRD Off-Road is also available in Midnight Black or Lunar Rock, both available with the optional Ice Edge Roof. Other available colors include Ruby Flare Pearl and Super White.
Striking red stitching and red trim accent the TRD Off-Road model’s cabin. Seat surfaces are covered in comfortable Black SofTex®, which is lighter than leather yet highly durable, and the front seats have the TRD logo stitched into the headrests. Exclusive TRD all-weather floor mats and rear cargo mat capture the mud, sand and water dragged in from the outside and easily shake out for cleanup.
Front Runner Outfitters RAV4 Roof Rack
One of the top names in off-road accessories has recently invested in the RAV4 off-road craze. Front Runner Outfitters now has a roof rack available for all 5th generation RAV4s, whether they are TRD Off-Road or not.
Their popular Slimline II Roof Rack will allow 2019/2020 RAV4 owners to customize their vehicles to meet their specific lifestyle needs. We’ve got the same rack for our 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser, and we chose it based on it’s functionality, strength, and sharp looks.
The Toyota RAV4 Slimline II Roof Rack Kit contains all of the components needed to mount the Slimline II cargo rack to a 2019/2020 Toyota RAV4, including the Slimline II tray, wind deflector and foot rails. The mounting system easily bolts to the existing mounting points on the body of the vehicle, eliminating the need for drilling.
The high-performance mounting solution gives drivers the flexibility to haul heavy gear and equipment without compromising the sleek, day-to-day RAV4 design.
The Slimline II Roof Rack Kit will open a lot of doors for RAV4 owners, allowing them to get outside with their friends and family while still having the space to safely haul their camping gear, bikes and paddleboards.
Buying a RAV4 seems like a safe investment as the aftermarket will continue to grow as more and more of these companies invest in this very capable platform.
