2021 Toyota RAV4

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2021 Toyota RAV4 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front: driver-side
G
Small overlap front: passenger-side
G
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Moderate overlap front: updated test
M
Side: original test
G
Side: updated test
A
Roof strength
G
Head restraints & seats
G

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
GMP
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
Seat belt reminders
M
LATCH ease of use
G
+

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention
  • Optional rear automatic braking

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Toyota Venza was re-introduced to the market as a small SUV in the 2021 model year and shares the same platform as the RAV4. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2019 RAV4 conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteriaRating
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Toyota Venza was re-introduced to the market as a small SUV in the 2021 model year and shares the same platform as the RAV4. Two passenger-side small overlap frontal tests of the RAV4 were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Toyota. Ratings are based on both tests, but the vehicle specifications shown below are based on the Institute’s test.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the Institute's passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was maintained very well (Institute test car shown).

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury (Institute test shown).

The passenger's space was maintained well in both tests, and in the Institute's test, risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low. (Risk of injury to the left lower leg was moderate in Toyota's test).

Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Toyota Venza was re-introduced to the market as a small SUV in the 2021 model year and shares the same platform as the RAV4. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2019 RAV4 conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Thigh/hip
G
Leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
A
Thigh
G
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
M

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries.

During rebound the rear passenger dummy's head moved outside of the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate and puts the head at risk of possible contact with outside objects.

Technical measurements for this test

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Toyota Venza was re-introduced to the market as a small SUV in the 2021 model year and shares the same platform as the RAV4. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2019 RAV4 conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. The Toyota Venza was re-introduced to the market as a small SUV in the 2021 model year and shares the same platform as the RAV4. These ratings also apply to the Toyota RAV4 Prime, now known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid beginning with 2025 models.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis
A
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis
G
Rear passenger head protection
Part of the dummy's head moved beyond the rear portion of the side curtain airbag and contacted the C-pillar hard. The head protection is inadequate.
M

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head struck the C-pillar (inset) despite the deployment of the side curtain airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
G
Curb weight3,500 lbs
Peak force21,009 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio6.00

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
G
Dynamic rating
G
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Hybrid Limited trim equipped with Adaptive Front Headlight System package
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
G
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)

  • LE trim
  • XLE trim
  • XLE Premium trim
  • Adventure trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid LE trim
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
M
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves and inadequate on the gradual right and gradual left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)

  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • Hybrid XSE trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
P
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-21 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0/2.5/2.5+ Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph. A warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2021-22 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimLE
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimLE
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
Rating iconRating
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

PositionRating
1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

About the child seat anchor evaluation