Materials & Controls<\/b>
\nThe old RAV4’s interior was nice but nothing special, and the new one toes the same line. It isn’t a huge leap ahead in terms of materials; there’s still hard plastic throughout, including the door armrests on all but the top Limited trim level. A new protruding dash panel and the center console armrest are the lone areas of cushiness.<\/p>\n
The interior gets points for layout and design, however, with a more modern, handsome look. A color-blocked, two-tone theme is attractive across all trim levels, as are houndstooth-patterned plastic trim pieces. Midline XLEs get bolstered sport seats, and uplevel Limited versions get imitation leather seats and classy-looking French stitching on the dash. For 2013, Toyota’s Softex imitation leather replaces last year’s real stuff.<\/p>\n
The previous gen’s climate buttons have been replaced by large, clear dials that are a bit closer to the driver for easier control. A long vent high on the dash is also new to the setup, and Toyota says it helps heat and cool the backseat quickly.<\/p>\n
The multimedia interface should look familiar, as it’s similar to the old optional unit. All RAV4s now come with a 6.1-inch touch-screen radio and a backup camera; Bluetooth is again standard. Optional on XLEs and Limiteds are navigation and Toyota’s Entune multimedia system. On the Apps menu, I tested the Pandora internet radio interface and found it intuitive. Same goes for the regular radio controls. Most functions are controlled through the touch-screen, but there’s also traditional knobs for volume and station tuning.<\/p>\n
The optional navigation system was easy to use, though it’s not in the most logical menu. Rather than a button that says “Nav,” the maps and directions are in the “App” menu. The screen size is fine for most radio functions, but when reading the map it seems small.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Materials & Controls The old RAV4’s interior was nice but nothing special, and the new one toes the same line. It isn’t a huge leap ahead in terms of materials; there’s still hard plastic throughout, including the door armrests on all but the top Limited trim level. A new protruding dash panel and the center …<\/p>\n