Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2020 Toyota RAV4

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2020 Toyota RAV4 4-door SUV
2019 Toyota RAV4 shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

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

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1819
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1819
Head
HIC-15 293
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.63
Right 0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.4
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 82
Right 38

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.

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

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1835 CEP1902
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5 6
Footrest (cm) 4 5
Right toepan (cm) 6 2
Center toepan (cm) 5 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6 3
Upper dash (cm) 5 4
Right lower dash (cm) 5 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1835 CEP1902
Head
HIC-15 216 221
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9 1.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21 17
Maximum Nij 0.37 0.38
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23 22
Femur (kN)
Left 1.7 2.0
Right 3.4 1.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 8 6
Right 5 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.86 0.52
Right 0.46 0.49
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.0 2.3
Right 1.7 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 98 60
Right 58 75

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1835 CEP1902
Head
HIC-15 125 184
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10 11
Maximum Nij 0.19 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5 0.5
Right 0.8 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1 1
Right 2 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40 0.27
Right 0.34 0.19
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8 1.0
Right 2.1 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 33 27
Right 75 39

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.

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 VTF1831
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 7
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1831
Head
HIC-15 321
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.25
Maximum tibia index - right 0.34
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 46

About the original moderate overlap front test

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.

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
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1829
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -21.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1829
Head HIC-15 124
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 19
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.90
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.25
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 71
A-P moment (Nm) -23

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1829
Head HIC-15 87
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.8
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 26
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.40
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.20
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.3
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 63
A-P moment (Nm) 30

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.

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

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2008
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -23.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2008
Head
HIC-15 120
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 12
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.13
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.38
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2008
Head
HIC-15 542
Peak gs at hard contact 104
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Compression (kN) 1.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 24
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 21
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.64
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.22
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.1

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

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

Overall evaluation
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
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 18
Distance below top of head (mm) 11
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.2
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 231

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
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
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 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)
  • Hybrid Limited trim equipped with Adaptive Front Headlight System package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 114.1 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 98.6 m 18.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 80.0 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 62.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 147.3 m
Straightaway left edge 113.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 91.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 74.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 72.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • LE trim
  • XLE trim
  • XLE Premium trim
  • Adventure trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid LE trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
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 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)
  • LE trim
  • XLE trim
  • XLE Premium trim
  • Adventure trim
  • Limited trim
  • Hybrid LE trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 107.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 46.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 54.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 45.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 148.6 m
Straightaway left edge 83.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 62.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.8 m

Trim level(s)

  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • Hybrid XSE trim
  • Hybrid Limited 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 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
Trim level(s)
  • Hybrid XLE trim
  • Hybrid XSE trim
  • Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 112.2 m 30.0%
Straightaway left edge 54.8 m 30.0%
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.9 m 22.7%
250m radius left curve, right edge 53.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.8 m 24.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 120.7 m
Straightaway left edge 116.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 56.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.5 m

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

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Overall evaluation
+
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.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
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
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

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 92
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 9
Clearance angle (degrees) 89
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
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared 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) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 93
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