Think of your pants. Are you a slave to fashion? Of course you're not. But depending on how old you are, the cut of your pants has probably changed several times already. And though you're no fashionista, stylistic trends nonetheless creep quietly into our lives, reflect the zeitgeist, and stay awhile. It's the same for cars. The current fashion in SUVs is hiking-boot chic, the rugged off-road-inspired style that promises fun times away from pavement.
The RAV4 Woodland PHEV plug-in hybrid nails the look—so we were curious to know how much of its style was backed by serious boulder-climbing, desert-running substance. It surprised us, but not in the way we anticipated. SUVs that look plucked from Patagonia ads are plentiful these days, and they come with a range of off-road skill sets that vary wildly.
Some are fit for traversing rock-strewn trails and desert washes (think Lexus GX550 Overtrail), while others can't handle much more than a dirt road. Judging by its specs, the RAV4 Woodland PHEV appears to fall into the latter category, meaning it's more about off-road style than serious mudslinging.
View Price on AmazonThe Woodland trim is offered on both the standard and plug-in RAV4 hybrids, both of which come standard with all-wheel drive enabled by a second electric motor powering the rear wheels. Equipment revisions specific to the Woodland trim include a blunter-looking, blacked-out front fascia, a set of Rigid Industries LED fog lights, a tow hitch, black roof rails with crossbars, and knobby-looking tires on 18-inch alloys.
The interior is highlighted with orange trim bits, businesslike rubber floor mats, and a clever front center console bin lid that flips over to become a small tray table. This is otherwise a well-equipped model, appropriately so given the PHEV's $46,895 base price. It comes standard with faux-leather upholstery, a power driver's seat, a heated steering wheel and front seats, a power liftgate, a 10.5-inch infotainment screen running Toyota's latest software, a six-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a cargo-area 120V power outlet, and more.
The only major extra on our test car was its $850 power moonroof; that, plus black-chrome wheel locks and an accessory light that plugs in to the dash, brought the as-tested price to $47,995. Toyota lists the Woodland's ground clearance at 8.5 inches, 0.4 inch more than the SE and XSE PHEV models and 1.0 inch more than the GR Sport PHEV.
The additional lift comes not from any off-road-specific suspension changes but from the taller sidewalls on the fat 235/65R-18 Dunlop Grandtrek A/T tires. Their shoulders look appropriately knobby for an off-road vehicle, but that's a visual suggestion; their tread pattern is essentially that of a conventional all-season tire. Nor is there any underbody protection in the form of skid plates, further confirming that the Woodland is not intended for aggressive off-road action.
Not that it would lack the power to tackle just about any terrain. The PHEV powertrain consists of an Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter four-cylinder, plus front and rear permanent-magnet electric motors that combine for a robust 324 horsepower. The estimated-19-kWh battery enables up to 49 miles of all-electric driving range, according to the EPA.
Source: caranddriver.com
