RAV4 Ground Clearance: What To Know
2019 Toyota RAV4 by Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Toyota RAV4 has consistently been among the best-selling vehicles for years. In fact, since its launch in 1994, more than 10 million RAV4s have rolled out of Toyota’s factories. For compact SUV shoppers, what’s not to like? Legendary Toyota reliability, decent gas mileage, and crossover functionality. RAV4 ground clearance is another favored characteristic. Let’s drill down on ground clearance and what it means.
Ground Clearance Pros and Cons
Ground clearance is the space from the lowest part of a vehicle’s body (excluding tires and wheels) to the surface below. As with many car features, each characteristic has its advantages and disadvantages. Here’s how that shapes up with ground clearance.
Ground Clearance Pros: One reason for the tremendous popularity of SUVs is that these vehicles sit higher up than a sedan or coupes. Drivers appreciate the increased visibility provided by the higher ride height. Increased ground clearance also helps reduce the chance of undercarriage damage when driving over speed bumps or unpaved surfaces. SUV owners also appreciate the rugged, go-anywhere looks that increased ground clearance promotes.
Ground Clearance Cons: In some SUVs, taller ground clearance can make entering the cabin a real climb. A higher center of gravity goes hand-in-hand with greater ground clearance, so extreme cornering and some accident situations can lead to a rollover. This is less of an issue with RAV4 ground clearance, but SUVs, including the RAV4, are more prone to rollovers than ordinary passenger cars.
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Toyota RAV4 Ground Clearance By Generation
● First Generation: Launched in 1994, with U.S. sales starting the following year, the first-generation RAV4 was Toyota’s debut product in the compact SUV category. Ground clearance ranged from 7.3 inches for the base front-wheel-drive (FWD) model to 7.5 inches for RAV4s with all-wheel drive (AWD).
● Second Generation: A more civilized RAV4 was launched for the 2001 model year, and with these changes came a lower ground clearance of 6.3 inches for FWD models and 6.7 inches for AWD models.
● Third Generation: Beginning in 2006, Toyota redesigned the RAV4 around an all-new chassis platform. Unlike previous models, this third-generation RAV4 has the exact ground clearance, 6.3 inches, for all versions regardless of drivetrain setup.
● Fourth Generation: Toyota introduced an all-new RAV4 for the 2013 model year. Despite the completely different design for the fourth generation, a 6.3-inch ground clearance was carried over from the previous RAV4.
● Fifth Generation: Along with the blocky, rugged styling of the fifth-generation RAV4 launched for the 2019 model year, Toyota’s compact SUV received a significant increase in ground clearance. Lower-trim LE and XLE models measure 8.4 inches from ground to chassis, while higher-end versions, including the TRD Off-Road, have an 8.6-inch ground clearance.
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RAV4 Ground Clearance By Generation
1st Generation: 1994-2000
Front-Wheel-Drive: 7.3 inches
All-Wheel-Drive: 7.5 inches
2nd Generation: 2001-2005
Front-Wheel-Drive: 6.3 inches
All-Wheel-Drive: 6.7 inches
3rd Generation: 2006-2012
All Models: 6.3 inches
4th Generation: 2013-2018
All Models: 6.3 inches
5th Generation: 2019+
LE/XLE: 8.4 inches
XLE Prem, Adventure, TRD, Limited: 8.6 inches
Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Edition
If RAV4 ground clearance is vital, check out the TRD Off-Road. While it has the same 8.6-inch ground clearance as other higher-end models, the TRD version has extra off-road capabilities.
These features include a steel front skid plate to offer additional protection from off-road obstacles like rocks and upgraded engine components to help when the car is under extreme operating conditions. The TRD Off-Road model also offers downhill assist control and an AWD multi-terrain selector for driving in mud, sand, dirt, and snow.
Should You Buy the Toyota RAV4 Based on Ground Clearance?
If you’re looking for a rugged off-road machine, you have plenty of better options than the Toyota RAV4. However, a RAV4 is more than a capable off-roading vehicle, thanks to its 8 inches of ground clearance. The general rule of thumb for well-maintained off-road tracks is you’ll need 6-8 inches of ground clearance, which the Toyota RAV4 efficiently clears.
For more adventurous pursuits like overlanding, your vehicle needs a ground clearance of 8-10 inches. In this case, the RAV4 barely squeaks in the minimum requirements. However, if you have the TRD Off-Road Edition of the RAV4, you have more than enough off-road capabilities in your hand. Aside from the excellent 8.6 inches of ground clearance, the TRD Off-Road Edition is specced for off-road adventures and has the features to show for it.
Furthermore, you can customize your RAV4 for increased ruggedness and off-roading chops by adding specific feature packages. Overall, the Toyota RAV4 doesn’t have the most powerful off-road capabilities, but what you get from it is worthwhile. With the TRD Off-Road Edition, the RAV4 is a worthy competitor to the likes of the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.
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