Yes, its time indeed for another episode of “what does HammerheadFistpunch have to say about it.” Thanks for joining! In Today’s episode...
GRRRRRrrrRRrRRr!
Rawwwwrrrrrrr
grr....
gr...
So, what time should I pick you kids up?
Evan. EVAN! You forgot your pads!
No but seriously, this TRD the Sequoia was an easy no brainer trim level for eeeking out the last few years of this ancient platform that will either be replaced or retired in the next year.
Much like the Tundra, its closest sibling, it’s a reliable, thirsty, hilariously large old thing that people...buy? I don’t know. Look its a trim level. I’m sure the suspension actually makes a big difference off road and the skid plate is nice to have just in case but, well, yeah.
It’s still got a lot going for it if you don’t care about economy, the new infotainment is up to date, it’s faster than anything this size should be, its a strong towing performer and it’s now probably pretty comfy off-road. If you want a Tundra and you need to carry more than 6 people then your shopping is done.
Thing thing tho...
I don’t know about that.
Yes, it’s REALLY a TRD Off-Road Rav4
Look I already said many things about this generation of rav4 and that still stands...in fact most all of it since the TRD Off-Road model is just the adventure grade+
Differences:
Shock tuning
shorter Bump stops
Wheels
Tires
Meaningless cosmetic fluff
Of all the changes that will make a difference Im betting on the revalved shocks alone. The tires will help, but they don’t really look all that...off-roady.
Or rather they LOOK off-roady but are probably not. They look like Wildpeak H/T with the Rubitrek’s sloppy seconds. They are called the Wildpeak A/T (not to be confused with the Wildpeak A/T3W which are great tires so far for me except in mud where they kinda stink) and they are exactly none bit bigger than stock. meaning ground clearance is unchanged at 8.6.
Also unchanged is the AWD system with is the Torque Vectoring double decoupling PTO/RDM unit on the Adventure grade. It’s like Honda’s i-vtm4 where there is no diff, only a spool and clutches linking each axle stub. Only this can’t overdrive the outside wheel, which is both good (the honda system HAS to slip the clutches when the system is active of dry roads because the rear wheels go 3% faster than the fronts) and bad (no additional yaw control).
It can send 50% power to the rear axle (not to be confused with 50/50 split) meaning of of the 2000 or so Lbs-ft this will be able to dish out in 1st only 1000 of those can go aft, with the other 1000 staying up front regardless of the traction situation. The good news is that 100% of that torque can go to either wheel without the use of brake based traction systems. Which means that its effectively twice as much power to a single rear wheel as their regular system.
Does it “Earn Trail Cred’” as the press piece promises (who apostrophes cred? Toyota, thats who). HEEEEEELLL no. But it will look the look and walk the walk for people in the market for a RAV4.
Toyota likes to say that the shocks were tuned from experience with the Ryan Millen RAV4 Rally car. Now that program, where they compete (and win) in American rally with a more or less stock previous gen rav4 is, actually, pretty impressive all things considered. Only the shocks on the production model?
Yeah they don’t look like this
Oh Tein doesn’t make the coilovers for the TRD Off-Road? Oh, they’re not coilovers? Oh they’re not even the same car? Yeah.
It’s funny because outside of safety gear the shocks are about the only non-stock thing about the rally Rav4.
Whatever, I’m sure they’re fine, I’m sure the whole thing is fine. It’s not bad looking, it’s not a bad vehicle from the reviews...but I feel bad for the sucker that tries to put that trail cred[’] to the test.
Toyota - Please don’t make “TRD” any more of a joke than the “hurr durr TuRD!” people want it to be already.