It’s Time For an Upgrade: The 4Runner vs. The Rav4

 

The Toyota 4Runner and Toyota RAV4 have been two of America’s favorite SUVs for years, and with new upgrades and features, the popularity of these sleek sport utilities won’t wane any time soon. 

You know when it’s time for an upgrade: various portions of your vehicle’s interior are warped and broken—some knobs and sections of armrests are completely missing; there’s that loud clunking sound that you’ve had checked out but nobody can seem to find what it is so now it serves as an embarrassing reminder that you have an old car. The paint is faded, the CD player stopped working years ago, and there’s that strange smell you can’t seem to get rid of. Yeah, it’s time.

Or maybe you already have a 4Runner or RAV4, and you love it, but you would also love to ride in something that sports new features and upgrades; maybe even try and different trim level. Regardless of your reasoning, if you are feeling the pull, Mount Airy Toyota has you covered with all the best trim levels of the Toyota RAV4 and 4Runner.  

 

The RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 has always been an eye-catcher since it was designed well from the start: it serves as the 4Runner’s little brother with sleek curvature outside that leads to roomy space on the inside.

 Here are two good reasons to upgrade to a RAV4:

1. There are six different trim levels to choose from, and each is stylish and modern with unique features. Whether you go with the LE, XP Trail, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, or Limited you will surely have plenty of comfort, style, and technological options to choose from. Plus, there are six vibrant color options available—you could buy one in every color!
2. Just because the RAV4 is the smaller sibling doesn’t mean it isn’t spacious. Inside, the RAV4 has two comfortable rows of seating with room for up to five people (comfortably). For stowing in the back, there are nearly forty cubit-feet of space, which allows for plenty of room for groceries, luggage, band equipment, etc.

…and here are a few more reasons:

• 27/35 estimated miles-per-gallon
• Comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, AppleCarPlay, and Amazon Alexa
• Integrated backup camera with Projected Path
• 17-inch steel wheels

There are plenty more cool features to the new Toyota RAV4, and we have plenty on the lot and online for you to look through. Now, let’s have a look at a top-of-the-line SUV, the Toyota 4Runner.  

The 4Runner

Right now at Mount Airy Toyota, you can find deals on a 4Runner with incredible off-roading capability, tons of storage space, a tough V-6 engine, and optional third-row seating. This celebrated sport utility vehicle comes with a durable, boxy looking exterior with lights that slightly protrude to the side, and a front honeycombed grille. Inside, every piece of material is made to last, and there is plenty of space for you and the family. The dash is full and flowing, filled with buttons and knobs, but not at all busy—its expertly- designed frame puts everything in perfect position.  

Two Reasons to Upgrade to the Toyota 4Runner:

• The all-new 4Runner comes in ten different trim levels: SR5, Trail Special Edition, SR5 Premium, XP Predator, TRD Off-Road, Venture Special Edition, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Nighshade Edition, TRD Pro—and they all come with the same color options as the RAV4.

 

Because the 4Runner has had so much success over the years as one of America’s most versatile and stylish SUVs, Toyota has created tons of options for you to choose from, all of them carrying their own special strengths and styles.

The new 4Runner also comes with all the best features:

• LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights
• WiFi Connect
• Available part-time 4-wheel drive
• 17-inch, 6-spoke alloy wheels with mud/snow tires
• Toyota Safety Sense
• Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

It’s hard to decide which is the better vehicle, the RAV4 or the 4Runner, so we like to think in terms of which one fits best for your situation? Need that extra room and punch, go with the bigger sibling. Rather something to zip around town in, maybe do some light off-roading? The RAV4 is your ride.

Visit us online or come test drive both vehicles and get a feel for what type of upgrade you want.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD—It’s the Real Deal

Sheer power may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think about the Toyota Camry—until now. Sure, it’s been America’s best-selling passenger car for the past 17 years. But in general, Camrys usually sell because of their reliability, looks, well-rounded performance, and value.

Enter the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD. While still offering exceptional value, this new model puts the Camry in the conversation as a real sports car. With more aggressive looks and performance, it might reach a new market of buyers—those who are looking for a sleek sports car that’s safe, doesn’t guzzle gas, and will still run like new in 20 years.

Let’s get into some of the features offered by the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD:

Driving and Performance
The Camry TRD still provides the comfortable drive that Camry fans have grown to love. However, the modified chassis dynamics make for a midsize sedan with more precise steering and superb body control, especially around corners.

All current Camrys are based on the TNGA-K platform, which provides sufficient torsional rigidity in its own right. Add the TRD treatment of extra underbody bracing, stiffer coil springs, thicker anti-roll bars, specially-tuned shocks, and bigger front brakes, and performance goes to another level. The Camry TRD also gets 19-inch summer performance tires and reduced ride height (0.6 inches), both of which help the car stick to the road around turns.

Buyers of the Camry TRD will get a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s good for 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Toyota’s D-4S dual fuel injection is present, which means that both multiport and direct injectors are used. The engine is matched with a Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission.

Exterior Design
The Camry TRD’s exterior styling is, in a word, aggressive. The subtlety usually present in the family versions of the sedan is gone. Riding with a flashy, pedestal-mounted rear wing, the car rocks a body kit that emphasizes aerodynamics—complete with ground-effect rockers, dynamic front and rear fascias, a mean-looking dual exhaust, and flat-black 19-inch alloy wheels that are exclusive to the TRD. And the airfoils found on the front and back of each wheel opening add a nice touch.

More black adorns the front grille and badging and is offset by red brake calipers. Moreover, buyers who opt for the Barcelona Red Metallic paint job will get blacked-out window trim and mirror caps, along with a gloss-black roof. Simply put, the Camry TRD’s exterior looks fast. Even when parked, it’s easy to imagine it speeding down the highway.

Interior Design
The same aggressiveness is found in the Camry TRD’s interior. In place of the family-friendly features that other trims offer are aluminum race-style foot pedals, red seatbelts, and Toyota’s comfortable Softex-covered seats, which combine the trademark black leather-like material with a red-black cloth scheme. TRD logos adorn the floor mats, leather gear shifter, and seatbacks, while red stitching runs along several areas of the cabin.
The sportiness of the Camry TRD doesn’t sacrifice the comfort that drivers love about the mainstream Camry models. Though the cockpit is more driver-centric than the more traditional trims, high-quality soft-touch materials make for a cabin that feels much more upscale than the price reflects.

There is also ample headroom, legroom and cargo room throughout. Along with a 15.1 cubic-foot trunk, the Camry TRD’s back seat folds down for hauling longer items, and there is plenty of storage offered by the glovebox and center console bin, among several other compartments that hold miscellaneous items.

Safety and Technology 

Even given the beefed-up performance and appearance of the 2020 Camry TRD, the sedan is still one of the safer vehicles on the market. As with all the other Camry trims, the TRD comes stocked with Toyota Safety Sense, a safety package that includes several high-tech features, including:

• Lane departure warning with gentle steering assist
• Forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Automatic high-beam control 
• Backup camera with trajectory lines
• Three years of Toyota Safety Connect (emergency roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, and stolen vehicle locator).

In addition to the suite of safety features, buyers of the Camry TRD will get Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and Android Auto compatibility with the infotainment system. Furthermore, a seven-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, and in-car WiFi are included.

Toyota is breaking new ground with the 2020 Camry TRD. Rather than simply being a family midsize sedan with an optional sport package, this model brings all the power and toughness that Toyota Racing Development can throw at it. So, if you’re looking for a legitimate sports car that still provides the comfort, reliability, safety, and all the other qualities Toyota is known for, then the Camry TRD could be the perfect vehicle for you.