The 2024 Toyota RAV4 consistently earns high marks in crash tests and safety assessments conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and other reputable organizations. This comprehensive guide delves into the specific ratings and technical measurements for various crashworthiness and preventative safety aspects of the 2024 RAV4.
IIHS Crash Test Ratings for the 2024 Toyota RAV4
The IIHS rigorously evaluates vehicles through a series of crash tests, assessing both crashworthiness—how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash—and crash avoidance and mitigation—technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity.
Small Overlap Front Test
The small overlap front test replicates a crash into a narrow object like a tree or utility pole. The 2024 RAV4 receives a “Good” rating, the highest possible, in both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests. This excellent performance stems from minimal cabin intrusion and well-controlled dummy kinematics, indicating a low risk of injury in such a crash.
Action shot of the passenger-side small overlap front crash test.
Moderate Overlap Front Test
In the moderate overlap front test, simulating a head-on collision with another vehicle, the 2024 RAV4 earns a “Good” rating in the original test (2019-2025 models) and a “Marginal” rating in the updated test (2021-2025 models), which includes a rear passenger assessment. While the driver’s compartment remained well-protected in the updated test, the rear passenger’s lap belt submarined, increasing the risk of abdominal injury.
Post-crash view of the updated moderate overlap front test, highlighting airbag deployment and damage.
Side Impact Test
The side impact test evaluates a vehicle’s ability to withstand a T-bone collision. The 2024 RAV4 achieves a “Good” rating in the original side test and an “Acceptable” rating in the updated side test. In the updated test, while overall protection was good, the rear passenger’s head contacted the C-pillar despite the side curtain airbag deploying.
Immediate post-impact view of the updated side crash test.
Front Crash Prevention Systems
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assistance systems.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The system earns a superior rating for its ability to avoid collisions with other vehicles in various scenarios. It successfully avoided collisions in most tests, even at higher speeds.
Pedestrian Detection
The pedestrian detection system also receives a superior rating. It effectively avoids collisions with pedestrians, both during the day and at night, in various simulated scenarios including child and adult crossing the street and a parallel adult walking along the road.
Other Safety Features and Ratings
Headlights
The 2024 RAV4’s LED projector headlights garner a “Good” rating, providing adequate illumination in most situations. High-beam assist further enhances visibility by automatically switching between high and low beams as needed.
Seat Belt Reminders
The RAV4’s seat belt reminder system receives a “Good” rating for its effectiveness in prompting occupants to buckle up. The system features audible and visual alerts for both front and rear passengers.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The RAV4 is equipped with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for securing child safety seats. It earns a “Good+” rating, indicating ease of use and proper functionality of the anchors and tethers. The “+” signifies the availability of extra LATCH positions.
Conclusion
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, excelling in crash tests and offering a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features. While the updated moderate overlap front and side impact tests revealed some areas for potential improvement regarding rear passenger safety, the RAV4 remains a top contender in its class for overall safety performance. This information provides valuable insight for prospective buyers prioritizing safety in their vehicle purchase decision.
