Take A Look at the All-New 2017 Toyota RAV4 XLE

A lot of customers like the extra cargo space and available all-wheel drive that come with an SUV, but they don’t want the high price and poor gas mileage of a large three-row vehicle. That’s why Toyota offers the RAV4, a compact crossover SUV that provides just the right compromise to satisfy these car customers. The 2017 RAV4 has five regular trim levels and three hybrid options including the XLE trim, which is an interesting compromise between budget and luxury.

Safety Features

With the 2017 model year, the Toyota Safety Sense package has become standard equipment on every RAV4, including the XLE. The TSS-P offers four advanced driver assistance features, including a Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, a Dynamic Radar Cruise Control that lets you set a safe follow distance from the car in front of you, and automatic high beams that shut themselves off when they detect an oncoming car. Finally, there’s the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. This last feature is especially important because it warns you when it detects cars or people in the road ahead and starts braking for you if you don’t react in time.

High-Tech Audio

Standard equipment on a 2017 RAV4 XLE is a 6.1-inch touchscreen with Toyota’s Entune Audio and a connected navigation app. This system has a lot of functions to offer, including voice recognition, hands-free phone calls, streaming audio, HD Radio, a three-month subscription to SiriusXM Radio, and a backup camera. If you’re willing to pay extra for the upgrade, the XLE comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, integrated navigation, and the Entune App Suite.

Driving Modes

Driving an inexpensive compact vehicle shouldn’t stop you from having a little fun. That’s why every RAV4 has at least two driving modes you can activate to change the way the vehicle behaves. ECO mode adjusts the transmission and other characteristics to make the RAV4 as efficient as possible. This reduces the crossover’s impact on the environment and the amount you have to pay at the gas pump. Sport mode switches to a more aggressive acceleration, making the RAV4 more fun to drive but less fuel efficient.

A Hybrid Alternative

The XLE is one of the three trims to come with hybrid options. Aside from adding an electric motor and a heavy-duty battery to the engine, the XLE Hybrid also switches out the regular six-speed automatic transmission for an efficient CVT. It comes standard with a unique AWD system. It comes with a third driving mode, EV, which lets the RAV4 run for a short period on pure electric power.

Whether you decide to buy an XLE or you prefer one of the other trim levels available for the 2017 RAV4, you’ll find that the compact crossover is surprisingly exciting to drive and has a surprising amount of room inside for both passengers and cargo. If you want a solid SUV but you don’t want something too big or heavy, you should give a RAV4 a test drive.

 

Image by RL GNZLZ, Licensed via CC BY-SA 2.0

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