The current generation Toyota RAV4 already has a slightly angry mug, but it turns out you can coax even more ferocity out of it with a bit of lift, fender flares and big tires. This RAV-X SEMA concept reinvents the RAV4 as a Dakar Rally style vehicle, and honestly it looks great. With the feature of big adjustable shock absorbers, it could also be fun to drive.

I like the fact that we’re returning to the concept of off-road crossovers. A few decades ago, many compact SUVs, even unibody ones, had a gruff, charming side. The first Mercedes-Benz ML came with a real low range. The first RAV4s could be equipped with canvas roofs. Even the Land Rover Freelander had an ordeal in the Camel Trophy.

Between Honda TrailSport cut and HRC pilot concept, Subaru Desert models, the Hyundai Santa Fethe new counterfeit Defender look and the model already in production RAV4 TRD Off-Road and Adventure versions, I think it’s fair to say that crossovers are working to become cool again. But the RAV-X ventures beyond casual capability into novelty territory, with some cartoonish touches that remind me of how a Raptor version changes a Ford.

If Toyota could actually build a vehicle with the efficiency, driving dynamics and overall practicality of a RAV4, which Also resembling a Dakar racing vehicle and featuring a very stress-tolerant suspension, we would have one hell of a vehicle on our hands! It would also be great for most people’s idea of ​​off-roading: flying over an unpaved national forest road in the west, or the pothole-filled roads of Newark in America’s great east.

Toyota describes the concept’s suspension as follows: “Custom, fully adjustable, 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks are found front and rear. Dual-speed compression adjustability allows fine-tuning of the shock absorbers to smooth out terrain and improve handling and vehicle control. Front external reservoirs and rear piggyback reservoirs are added to control the shock absorber oil temperature when driving the vehicle off-road. To ensure that the vehicle can repeatedly tackle high desert terrain at high speeds, SPAD (Toyota Parts and Accessories Division) engineers developed forged aluminum front lower control arms and forged aluminum rear upper supports. .

OK, now that I’ve read all that, I realize this car should cost about as much as a Forest Raptor anyway, and he probably wouldn’t be able to take that many hits if he landed on a rock facing the wrong way. Still, I like the idea of ​​a compact runabout that you could throw over rough terrain every now and then.

The setup gives this RAV-X two inches of lift and widens the track by 6.3 inches. The tires are 265/65R17, which would be about 30 inches in diameter: small for a real truck, but certainly big for a RAV4. I also really like the look of these wheels; the offset lines up so well with the fender flares. And the spoiler and high-clearance exhaust setup at the rear really complete the rally-raid vibe.

Toyota will never put this into production, but honestly it might serve people better than a heavy-duty truck with a similar setup. As long as you drive it within the limits of its chassis. Or who knows, if the Honda Pilot HRC ends up selling well, Toyota might finally start making RAV4s meaner.

Does anyone take their RAV4 for a drive? Send the author a message at [email protected].