The Toyota Rav4 is one of Toyota's most recognizable models. It is one of the leading cars when it comes to the compact crossover segment and continues to be part of the top-selling vehicles on the market. But have you ever wondered just how much weight you could carry with an RAV4? We researched this for you, and this is what we found out.
The 2022 Toyota Rav4 is rated to haul as much as 1,240 lbs; this payload capacity includes passengers. Compact crossovers such as Rav4 aren't typically known for payload or towing capacities but can still prove to be capable and versatile family vehicles.
Continue reading as we will discuss more details and answer additional questions, such as what trim of the Rav 4 can carry the most, can you tow with your Rav4, can you pull with a U-Haul and more. Also, at the end of this post, we will suggest some interesting topics you can check out. So let's get started.
How much can you carry with your Toyota Rav4?
The 1,240 lbs payload rating of the Rav4 might seem menial next to that of Toyota's Land Cruiser or the Toyota 4Runner, but it is comparable to other compact crossovers.
Despite low payload, the Rav4 continues to rack up sales, as it has sold more than 400,000 models in 2020 and 2021 (despite the shortage in the economy due to the pandemic). It also has an NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating and the 2022 Kelly Blue Book Best Buy Award winner.
The Toyota Rav4 is a compact crossover SUV designed to be used for either a family car or a personal vehicle. Although the Rav4 is usually only a five-seater vehicle like a sedan, older models, specifically 2005-2011 ones, will have a 3rd-row seating option for the North American market.
That is why the Rav4 is only rated to carry over a thousand pounds, as it was not really built and designed to haul many passengers and cargo. Because of this, the Rav4 would be ideal for small families with a maximum of two children or an individual as a daily commuter vehicle.
Remember, when we talk about load capacity, we mean everything your car will carry outside of what it already has. This means that for the Rav4's 1,240 lb capacity, you must also consider the passenger weight and the cargo weight. Never exceed the payload capacity as this poses a danger to your vehicle's components and performance.
The Dangers Of Overloading Toyota Rav 4
Overloading the rated capacity of your Rav4 would really take a toll on your engine. If you load your car with more weight than it's supposed to, it could result in a broken engine. Your tires could also blow out as more friction and heat are created due to the excessive weight.
Which Rav4 trim has the best payload capacity?
The cargo capacity for the 2022 Toyota Rav4 line-up is the same across the board. From the base model LE up to the highest trim Limited, the Rav4 is equipped with the same 2.5 liters 4-Cylinder engine, with a power output of 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
This is also the same when it comes to the estimated gas economy of the Rav4, which is 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg in the highway.
Trims
If you are looking for a brand new 2022 Toyota Rav4, this section would greatly help you. Below are the available trims and the features that it has, including the SRP.
LE
For the base trim, the MSRP is $26,97. Some features include.
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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LED daytime running lights (DRL)
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Audio compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
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Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
XLE
XLE trim has a retail of $28,445.
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17-inch 5-spoke light gray metallic alloy wheels
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Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
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Dual-zone automatic climate control system
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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LED daytime running lights (DRL)
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Audio compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
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Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
XLE Premium
The XLE trim has a retail price of $31,335.
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9-inch multi-spoke cuper chrome-finished alloy wheels
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SofTex®-trimmed seats and power-adjustable driver's seat with available two-position memory function
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Power tilt/slide moonroof
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Smart Key system on front doors and liftgate
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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LED projector headlights with chrome-finished bezels
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Audio compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
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Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Adventure
The Adventure trim has an MSRP of $33,230
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19-inch split 5-spoke alloy wheels with matte-black accents
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Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
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120V/100W deck-mounted power outlet
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SofTex®-trimmed seats and power-adjustable driver's seat
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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LED projector headlights with chrome-finished bezels
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Audio compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
TRD Off-road
The Rav4 also has an off-road version, the TRD off-road, which comes at an MSRP of $36,915. It is the only trim with a slightly lower projected fuel economy at 25/32 mpg.
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18-inch 6-spoke matte-black TRD flow-formed alloy wheels
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Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
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TRD-tuned independent MacPherson strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and multi-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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LED projector headlights with chrome-finished bezels
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Audio compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
Limited
The top-of-the-line Limited comes at an MSRP of $35,475.
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19-inch multi-spoke Super Chrome-finished alloy wheels
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Available Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
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Audio Plus, 11 JBL® speakers including subwoofer and amplifier, compatible with Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa
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SofTex®-trimmed seats and power-adjustable driver's seat with two-position memory function
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Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 (TSS 2.0)
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Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights with LED accent lights
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Safety Connect® with 1-year trial
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2.5L 4-Cylinder
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Direct shift 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
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Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
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Available Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD)
Hybrid
The Rav4 is also known for its range of Hybrid models. Some trims mentioned above have hybrid versions like the Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XLE Premium, and Hybrid Limited. Other exclusion trims are Hybrid XS and Hybrid XSE. The Hybrid trims are rated at 41/38 mpg.
Can your Toyota Rav4 tow? [How much?]
The Rav4 is rated to tow weight of 3,500 lbs, which can be achieved with the Adventure trim that has Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD). This feature is also present in the TRD version and the Limited trim.
This means that the Rav4 can theoretically tow lightweight trailers that are about a thousand pounds in weight and small fishing boats that are usually 650 lbs.
Again, the Rav4 is not designed and created for towing purposes, but if needed, it can be a good hauling vehicle from time to time for very light loads. If you are looking for a more heavy-duty tower, the Rav4 might not be for you. Continue reading as we will discuss this further along the post.
Can a RAV4 tow a trailer RV?
You can tow a trailer RV with the Rav4 for as long as it does not exceed or reach the towing limit of 3,500 lbs. It would be best if you also left an allowance of a few hundred pounds not to max out your engine. This would really pay dividends when driving on inclined roads. Great examples are single-axle trailers, pop-up campers, and lightweight jetski trailers are all great candidates.
Can you flat tow a Toyota Rav4?
A manual transmission 2WD Toyota Rav4 could be towed behind a motorhome. But the downside to this is that these models were last made in 2005. Therefore, from 2006 onwards, no Toyota Rav4 is flat or dinghy towable.
What is the best Toyota vehicle for hauling and towing?
This title will obviously belong to the Toyota Tundra. The 2022 Tundra is rated to haul a maximum weight of 1,940 lbs with a towing capacity of 12,000 lbs.
Here's A Quick Recap Of What We've Discussed
The 2022 Toyota Rav4 can haul as much as 1,240 lbs. It is not generally designed to carry heavy loads and tow heavy cargo. It is one of the best compact crossovers in the market and one of the most highly rated vehicles regarding safety and customer popularity.
The Rav4 is a great individual vehicle. This can also be a family car for small families. The great gas economy of the Rav4 is one of its main strengths, especially with its Hybrid versions.
We hope that we have satisfied your questions about your Toyota Rav4. Do you have any more vehicle-related concerns, particularly about the Rav4? Check out some of our previously written articles below!
Toyota RAV4 Won't Start [But Makes Clicking Noise]—What To Do?