Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Toyota RAV4

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2017 Toyota RAV4 4-door SUV
2016 Toyota RAV4 shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

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 2015-18 models built after November 2014

Tested vehicle: 2015 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Beginning with 2015 models built after November 2014, the front-end and occupant compartment structure was modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

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

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

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.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1451
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1451
Head
HIC-15 163
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 1.6
Right 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.5
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 62
Right 47

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Although Toyota reinforced the structure in later model years on the driver side to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes, no such changes were made on the passenger side.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The passenger door opened during the crash, which shouldn't happen because the driver could be partly or completely ejected from the vehicle. Still, the dummy’s head loaded the frontal airbag, which stayed in front of the dummy until rebound. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the 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 not maintained well.

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.

Despite extensive intrusion of the door hinge pillar and dashboard, risk of injury was moderate and limited to both lower legs.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CN15002
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 40
Footrest (cm) 40
Right toepan (cm) 23
Center toepan (cm) 21
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 17
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 10
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 26
Upper dash (cm) 23
Right lower dash (cm) 21

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CN15002
Head
HIC-15 102
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 21
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 2.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.91
Right 0.89
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 71
Right 118

Driver injury measures

Test ID CN15002
Head
HIC-15 33
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.25
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 32
Right 50

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota Rav4 LE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1221
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6
Left (cm) 9
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1221
Head
HIC-15 237
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.31
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.0
Femur force - right (kN) 1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.48
Maximum tibia index - right 0.40
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 68
Right 81

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Toyota RAV4 was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Two side tests of the RAV4 were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Toyota. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the Institute's crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag in the Institute's test.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1225 CES1302
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5 -15.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1225 CES1302
Head HIC-15 277 201
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.1 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 47 36
Lateral force (kN) 2.2 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38 19
Average deflection (mm) 26 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 6.10 2.50
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.51 0.16
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.9 2.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.4 1.9
Combined force (kN) 4.2 4.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 124 107
A-P moment (Nm) 34 -17

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1225 CES1302
Head HIC-15 136 152
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.7 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 33 20
Lateral force (kN) 1.4 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 42 30
Average deflection (mm) 25 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.30 2.49
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.76 0.37
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.6 0.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.9 1.3
Combined force (kN) 1.9 1.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.4 1.7
L-M moment (Nm) 192 206
A-P moment (Nm) -30 -63

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,516 lbs
Peak force17,575 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.00

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 22
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 14.1
Head contact time (ms) 65
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 470

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Platinum trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
  • SE trim
  • Hybrid SE trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
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 inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

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 inadequate in all 4 tests.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Platinum trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
  • SE trim
  • Hybrid SE trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 114.0 m 1.2%
Straightaway left edge 43.6 m 1.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge 73.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 40.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.2 m 0.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge 39.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.0 m
Straightaway left edge 115.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 52.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • XLE trim
  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • LE trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
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 left and sharp right 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 and on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • XLE trim
  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • LE trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 94.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 54.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 52.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.7 m
Straightaway left edge 99.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 51.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 52.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 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

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

Overall evaluation
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 only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLE
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
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

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
none available
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

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 61
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Rating applies to 2015-17 models built before April 2017

Overall evaluation
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 only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLE
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
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

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 40
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 41
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 25
Clearance angle (degrees) 43
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 34
Clearance angle (degrees) 42
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Rating applies to 2016-17 models built before April 2017

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLimited
Seat type leather

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

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLimited
Seat type leather
1 2 3
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

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 6-8
Force (lbs) 32
Clearance angle (degrees) 34
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 30
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 43
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 23
Clearance angle (degrees) 30
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation