2019 Toyota RAV4

[t0y0ta]

Toyota needs to replace its team of designers.

Complacency has set in and they believe that consumers will keep on buying blindly, based on past reputation.

The usa reviews are all very very positive. Firstly they get the more powerful 2.5 DF + 8 speed combo, next they get a full touchscreen HU with apple car play. Lastly they have 5 trim levels to choose from.

 

With this 1990s HU, seriously Borneo deserve zero sales.

[Lala81]

Was quite excited the see the new RAV4, knowing how its probably Toyota's most important global model, together with the Camry. 

 

While the new Camry was a very pleasant surprise, the RAV4 was a very much a disappointment. The active safety features and the price point are positives, but the materials quality and the head unit were obvious letdowns. 

 

It just feels a couple of steps below its main competitors CRV, CX-5, Tiguan/Karoq/Ateca in refinement and build quality, which is very disappointing for a brand new model of such strategic importance to Toyota.

 

In fact, I was in a Proton X70 a short while ago, and frankly, it you covered the badges and did a blind test, the X70 would feel a couple of classes more premium than the RAV4. 

 

And this is from a long time Toyota fan, having owned 2 Camrys in the past...

 

The Rav4 will still sell 400k units per year in america due to the toyota brand.

The american unit is better spec-ed and the materials wise, it has always been lousier than mazda, honda.

I think it's already selling like hotcakes.

 

Low impetus to improve is my honest assessment. They made big strides in camry and the corolla hatchback cos they need to improve sales figures/demographic sales for those models. 

The usa reviews are all very very positive. Firstly they get the more powerful 2.5 DF + 8 speed combo, next they get a full touchscreen HU with apple car play. Lastly they have 5 trim levels to choose from.

 

With this 1990s HU, seriously Borneo deserve zero sales.

 

yes. as above.

haha yeah the HU is quite shocking LOL. It's like the most basic trim of a B&B car. 

Edited January 14, 2019 by Lala81

[SZ_ford]

The usa reviews are all very very positive. Firstly they get the more powerful 2.5 DF + 8 speed combo, next they get a full touchscreen HU with apple car play. Lastly they have 5 trim levels to choose from.

 

With this 1990s HU, seriously Borneo deserve zero sales.

Any expert here on HU? how much does it cost? 5k?

 

add 5k to the list price still in line with the pricing of cx5 and crv

[Elmo]

This cheaper Rav4 is just here to whack the PI Harriers and other similar priced SUVs like Forester.

Any better and it will cannibalize its own Harrier Turbo.

I guess the HU can be easily retrofitted outside if you don't mind losing the warranty.

[GTO-1]

This cheaper Rav4 is just here to whack the PI Harriers and other similar priced SUVs like Forester.

Any better and it will cannibalize its own Harrier Turbo.

I guess the HU can be easily retrofitted outside if you don't mind losing the warranty.

 

I'm confident that BM will bring in higher trims with an LCD headunit.  I suspect that they wanted to rush the Rav4 to the motorshow, so got the bare minimum car to sell.  They know they don't have a true crossover competitor in the 105k-129k bracket.  This is the fastest selling bracket in all overseas markets, and looking on the roads, it feels similar for Singapore. 

 

Personally think that if you're keen on the Rav4, might be worth just waiting out the higher trims.  Let the buyers who are buying just the rav4 name (of which there is a shocking number) pay the premium of being the first.

[inlinesix]

This cheaper Rav4 is just here to whack the PI Harriers and other similar priced SUVs like Forester.

Any better and it will cannibalize its own Harrier Turbo.

I guess the HU can be easily retrofitted outside if you don't mind losing the warranty.

Are you sure can be retrofit easily?

[Lala81]

I'm confident that BM will bring in higher trims with an LCD headunit.  I suspect that they wanted to rush the Rav4 to the motorshow, so got the bare minimum car to sell.  They know they don't have a true crossover competitor in the 105k-129k bracket.  This is the fastest selling bracket in all overseas markets, and looking on the roads, it feels similar for Singapore. 

 

Personally think that if you're keen on the Rav4, might be worth just waiting out the higher trims.  Let the buyers who are buying just the rav4 name (of which there is a shocking number) pay the premium of being the first.

 

Yeah. Agreed. 

[Spring]

Toyota needs to replace its team of designers.

Complacency has set in and they believe that consumers will keep on buying blindly, based on past reputation.

I had previously read that Toyota had the mentality of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” so it might not be the designers to be blamed but perhaps company philosophy dictated not to design something revolutionary as they believe the majority of their loyal(read repeat) customers don’t like drastic change.

 

That’s why u can see their newer models like C-HR can have modern designs and sexier lines vs Corolla which has been largely evolutionary. That said the last generation Corolla n the upcoming one does buck the trend somewhat.

[Lala81]

I had previously read that Toyota had the mentality of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” so it might not be the designers to be blamed but perhaps company philosophy dictated not to design something revolutionary as they believe the majority of their loyal(read repeat) customers don’t like drastic change.

 

That’s why u can see their newer models like C-HR can have modern designs and sexier lines vs Corolla which has been largely evolutionary. That said the last generation Corolla n the upcoming one does buck the trend somewhat.

 

Only because of decline in sedan sales. 

Retooling a factory cost millions of dollars. Shutting it down is also a cost. So to make their sedan factories still viable, they have to innovate.

 

Like the current refreshed 2018 avalon in america, also has a lot of kit now which would previously only be found in a lexus.

 

The japs (honda, toyota and mazda) are still betting on the new generation to slowly buy more sedans and to slowly claw back back market share.

As crossovers/SUV are now mum and dad vehicles 

[Cheefarn]

This cheaper Rav4 is just here to whack the PI Harriers and other similar priced SUVs like Forester.

Any better and it will cannibalize its own Harrier Turbo.

I guess the HU can be easily retrofitted outside if you don't mind losing the warranty.

Thats a thin piece of prop up plastic panel. It is not our CHR (vs the Euro models) where its actually a 2DIN hole in there

 

If u remove that OMFG looking HU panel, all you see are the connectors behind. You cannot just go to any audio shops and stick a 2DIN LCD HU inside. There is no space behind

 

You have to replace the entire HU bezel and replace it with another that comes integrated with a touch screen LCD panel...similar to what u see in the Rav4 brochure. 

Edited January 14, 2019 by Cheefarn

[DACH]

Thats a thin piece of prop up plastic panel. It is not our CHR (vs the Euro models) where its actually a 2DIN hole in there

 

If u remove that OMFG looking HU panel, all you see are the connectors behind. You cannot just go to any audio shops and stick a 2DIN LCD HU inside. There is no space behind

 

You have to replace the entire HU bezel and replace it with another that comes integrated with a touch screen LCD panel...similar to what u see in the Rav4 brochure. 

 

I have asked the SE in regards to this.

As long as the electronics are not affected, the warranty won't be void.

[Cheefarn]

I have asked the SE in regards to this.

As long as the electronics are not affected, the warranty won't be void.

In typical BM nonsense, they expect owners to search high n low and arrange for their own mod job if they want to return the HU back to where its supposed to be from the factory, so that BM can save on the OMV... 

 

Luckily it is possible with today's internet and Amazon, Taobao. 

[inlinesix]

In typical BM nonsense, they expect owners to search high n low and arrange for their own mod job if they want to return the HU back to where its supposed to be from the factory, so that BM can save on the OMV...

 

Luckily it is possible with today's internet and Amazon, Taobao.

I don’t think Toyota China is selling such barebone car.

 

I doubt able to find LCD screen and associated hardware.

[t0y0ta]

Can source full LCD HU from Taiwan or Australia, they both also sell RAV4

[coktky]

Like the look of the new RAV4, especially the Urban Khaki / cyan metallic colour with sporty exterior.  . 

[DACH]

Photos from the recent motor show

Edited January 22, 2019 by DACH

[Laoren]

Sharing some pics taken too !!

Edited January 22, 2019 by Laoren

[EdwinLee_146267]

For the price BM is selling the Rav 4, CX-5 wins hands down. In price, quality and specs. I think the CH-R has better interior quality and features. I think it is for the die hard Camry buyers/uncles that no longer want to pay 140k for a Camry.