For the first time, Toyota is extending its TRD Off-Road trim to the RAV4 crossover. Toyota’s TRD Off-Road Trim has previously been held to its trucks and larger SUVs… but for the first time will now be available in the RAV4. For 2020, the RAV4 TRD Off Road will build off of the adventure model and retain its 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and add Falkin all terrain tires. There is still no low range 4WD so you’re limited to first gear for any kind of off road crawling. The TRD’s gearing gives it a yawn-able 16.7:1 crawl ratio – still bested by Jeep’s Renegade and Compass Trailhawks at 20:1. Jeep’s Cherokee Trailhawk still leads off-road capable crossovers at an impressive 52.1:1 crawl ratio.

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, has aggressive black fender flares, and TRD styling.

The TRD Off Road has one engine option; Toyota’s 203 Horsepower 2.5L 4cyl. and comes standard with an 8 speed automatic transmission and AWD. One thing the RAV4 beats the 4 cylinder Jeeps at (and most likely all other 4 cylinder crossovers) is towing. The 2.5L is rated to tow 3500 lbs… which beats any of the 4 cylinder jeeps (2.4L Renegade, Compass, and Cherokee are only rated to tow 2,000 lbs at best). The 3.2L V6 Cherokee only beats it by 1,000 lbs – and you need the factory tow package to get the 4,500 lb. rating.

I truly wish Toyota had come up with some sort of gear reduced low range to actually compete with the Cherokee Trailhawk as a truly off-road-able crossover; but its good to see another brand offering an aggressive package on their typically street oriented vehicles.

The TRD off-road RAV4 will certainly give Subaru and Jeep customers something to cross shop.