'06 RAV4 debuts at SEMA

Yes, the 2007 Highlander will be bigger. If you look at the exterior dimensions, the new RAV is actually pretty close in size to the CRV, although I suspect the interior room will be larger.

Yes. toycash is correct. The 2006 RAV4 is now almost identical in *all* dimensions to the CRV -- within a fraction of an inch, both inside (passenger space anyway) and out. Cargo room in the new RAV4 hasn't been published yet. So please do please do your research before posting -- I realize this is supposed to be a blog, but Edmunds is supposed to be a professional automotive industry website.

Point taken. Thanks.
 
Bob

Even so, the new 14 in. longer RAV4 is getting pretty darn close to the current Highlander in terms of size ('06 RAV4 ~180.6", '06 CRV 181", '06 Highlander 184".).
 
Add in a more powerful V6 than the Highlander and 3rd-row seating, and it becomes clear (at least to me) that a RAV4 vs Highlander comparison is not out of the question; but I do see your point.
 
Bob

Someone, please tell me it isn't true that you can't get the third row seat option when ordering leather seating package! I got this off Toyota's site under Dream Configurator for 2006 RAV. You can get the Highlander Limited with leather and 3rd row seat... why not then the new RAV?

A 3.4" difference amounts to something minor like a lower-profile bumper, these SUVs overlap significantly. At least until the new HL comes out.
 
A CR-V model in Southeast Asia indeed offers a 3rd row, and at least attemps to compete with the Highlander.
 
Toyota will likely bump the next HL up to Pilot size.
 
Meanwhile, it's overlap city.

Does anyone know if the overall length (181in) includes the rear spare tire which sticks out a good 3-4 inches beyond the rear bumper? Important point when trying to accurately compare the
'06 RAV to the CRV and Highlander...or other vehicles in its class(ex: Subaru Forester, Kia Sorento, Ford Escape, BMW X3, Hyundai Santa Fe etc...

Bob -- Sorry for going off on you like I did, but I keep seeing the same question mentioned over and over again about the size. It's a question of economics and what sells -- nearly all of the RAV4's competition is almost the same size as the new 2006 (CR-V, Forester, Liberty, Escape/Tribute/Mariner, VUE/Equinox/Torrent, Santa Fe, Sorento, X3, etc) and most of them outsell the RAV4 by at least 2:1.
 
Yes, I fully expect the 2007 Highlander to get a bump-up as well, though a more modest one and will likely affect the interior more than the exterior. Not sure if the 4-cylinder Highlander will go away, depends on whether a 2.4 still has the power to pull the larger vehicle along well enough. At this point, the fuel economy is still quite critical, so I'd consider it a prority, but Toyota may not have had it in mind as development solidified. Until then, think of the new RAV4 as a Highlander-sized SUV on the cheap! ;)
 
Umberto -- The overall length includes the spare tire on the RAV4, same with the CR-V. An upgrade to a hard spare cover (vs the soft vinyl one) on the CR-V increases its length by 0.8 inches. Note that you'd do well to compare the interior dimensions, not just exterior. The RAV4 SEMA Show flyer includes most of those numbers.
 
http://www.toyota.com/images/vehicles/future/rav4/ravflyer.pdf

I agree. My point is not so much the size (although that's part of it), but more the content. by that I mean having a larger and more powerful V6 than the Highlander. Same can be said by offering a 3rd-row seat.
 
If the CRV had a V6, and 3-row seating, I would say it also competes (more) with the Pilot than it does now.
 
When the '07 Highlander debuts, all those issues may be addressed, but for now I expect to see many cross-shopping the RAV4 with the Highlander, at least more so now than ever before.

I don't expect the CR-V to grow physically, but it could get a V6 and third row seats, since that's where the market appears to be heading. Bigger is better, right? The next Santa Fe gets a V8, scarily enough, so maybe upsizing is in the cards for the larger mid-sized SUV's as well.
 
Since the 2001 RAV4 and Highlander were introduced at the same time, it seems a little odd that Toyota would hold off on introducing the new Highlander as well, but it could be for a number of reasons.
 
For one, the HL might have been all set to debut alongside the 2006 RAV4, but the debut of four new vehicles, three being SUV's, might have been a little too much for Toyota's PR machine and logistics to worry about. Media exposure spread thinly across that many can't be overly helpful and would steal thunder from the re-launch of two critical vehicle segments and a completely new SUV. The new HL could also be waiting on a tandem debut of its next-gen hybrid powertrain. A new HL wouId would also cannibalize sales of remaining inventory -- the RAV4 took a noticible hit in October numbers month-to-month and compared to last year.

My guess is the RAV4 needs the marketing push more so than the Highlander. The Highlander has been a bigger hit in its market segment, than has been the RAV4.
 
Also, as you say, having too many new intros, especially SUV intros, at the same time is not smart marketing, as one or more will suffer, and not get the "full marketing bang" that it should get.

tonychang- Thanks for the feedback, and I will consider the interior demensions when comparing these vehicles... however, per Toyota, the overall length of the '06 RAV4 or the current RAV for that matter DOES NOT include the rear mounted spare tire or its shell that hangs off the back. They call it an "accesory". I tend to belive you, and therefore this is important to consider when comparing the overall length of the '06 RAV to other vehicles in its's class, ex: Highlander, Forester, Escape, Sorento, X3, Vue that don't have rear spares... By my estimates the rear tire adds (with or wothout a cover) a good 3-4 inches to the vehicle length, albiet by having the spare tire outside the vehicle it does lend for more interior room or storage.

According to Consumer Reports the length (181) and height (66) of the CR-V & RAV4 is the same, no mention on the interior room yet. The width is 2 inches more in the RAV4. No interior details, but would assure that the RAV4 may do better in the hip room wth the extra 2 inches.
 
Crash and roll-over has not been reported for the RAV-4 (please let me know if anyone hears), but I would assume that the roll-over would be better, again because of the extra 2 inches on the wheel base.
 
What is impressive about the RAV4 is the width of the wheelbase is 2 in more, weight is almost 300 lbs lighter, gets 2 mpg better mileage, halls 2000 lbs more, rates better in suspension (everything else is =). The RAV4 has Daytime running lights as an option (not available on the CR-V), but head protection is also optional where the CR-V is standard.

I, too, am dying for an answer to Umberto's 11/6/05 - please tell me it isn't true that you can't get the third row seat option when ordering leather seating package! You can get the Highlander Limited with leather and 3rd row seat... why not then the new RAV? If this is true, what makes the most sense - get the third row, then add leather aftermarket? But then you can't get heated seats.