Toyota Rav4 Seats: Do They Fold Down Flat?

Weekend getaways are all the more easier if you have plenty of cargo space. Having seats that can be taken out is great but having seats that can fold-down flat might be even better. The Rav4 might be a small and compact SUV, but its interior and cargo space are a whole different story.

The Toyota Rav4 second-row seats fold down flat to provide more cargo space. The option to fold down the seats in a Rav4 is ideal for those needing more than 35 cubic feet of space. There is a slight incline when folding the rear seats down, but this can be solved by removing the rear bench seat.

The Toyota Rav4 has the following cargo set with the seats down:

• A 2023 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 69.8 cubic feet of space
• A 2022 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 69.7-69.8 cubic feet of space
• A 2021 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 69.7-69.8 cubic feet of space
• A 2020 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 69.7-69.8 cubic feet of space
• A 2019 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 69.7-69.8 cubic feet of space
• A 2018 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2017 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2016 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2015 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2014 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2013 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73.4 cubic feet of space
• A 2012 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2011 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2010 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2009 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2008 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2007 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2006 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 73 cubic feet of space
• A 2005 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 68.3 cubic feet of space
• A 2004 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 68.3 cubic feet of space
• A 2003 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 68.3 cubic feet of space
• A 2002 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 68.3 cubic feet of space
• A 2001 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 68.3 cubic feet of space
• A 2000 Toyota Rav4 with the seats folded down has 57.9 cubic feet of space

If you’ve ever tried to go camping in a compact car you already know it’s not a great idea. If you’ve already tried to fit larger furniture in a compact car, you know it doesn’t work. Compact cars aren’t the best for adventure seekers.

But the compact Toyota Rav4 SUV isn’t just any compact car. Find out more about the Rav4 fold-down seats and how they can benefit you by reading further below.

Do the Toyota Rav4 Seats Fold Down Flat?

The rear seats of a Toyota Rav4 do not fold down completely flat and have a slight incline when they are folded down. The incline is only minimal though and drivers say the incline isn’t bothersome.

Folding the seats down is down with a simple lift handle and push design and when putting them back up you simply push them back into place. Here’s a demonstration by Northern Viking Everyday.

They are a split design, with a 60/40 split reclining fold-fold method to allow for more cargo space in the rear of the car. Both sides of the seats can fold down if needed, but you can also just lower 60% or 40% if you also need the seats for passengers in the back.

The option to have seats that fold down is ideal for camping, bicycle space, needing to move larger furniture or items, traveling with pets, etc.

The seats in a Rav4 are bolted down and are designed to remain in the vehicle permanently.

If having the ability to fold seats down flat is something of importance to you for your work or leisure, though the Rav4 has plenty of cargo space when the seats are folded down, you may want to consider removing the bench seat to have the back support completely laying flat.

Reviews on Cars US News from Rav4 owners state that the storage space is good in the Compact SUV and the dimensions allow for convenience with almost laying flat and having the slightest incline. There is also a cover panel that spans the gap between the floor and the seat which is also very convenient.

The Rav4 is offered as an AWD which also makes this reliable vehicle perfect for adventure and off-road seekers.

Can You Remove the Rear Seats in a Toyota Rav4?

You cannot completely remove the rear seats of a Rav4, but you can remove the bench seat cushions so that the back support folds down flat without a slight incline.

Check out this short YouTube video by Morozov Automotive to learn how to remove and reinstall a Toyota Rav4 rear bench seat for maximum cargo space.

Other Toyota Options with fold-down and removable seats:

Toyota has multiple other vehicles available with fold-down, stow and go, and removable seats to suit a wide range of necessities for all those needing a little bit of extra cargo space.

• Toyota Sienna

Toyota Sienna has stow and go seating and second-row seats that can be folded and pushed all the way forward. This allows for 101 cubic feet of cargo space if needed.

• Toyota Sequoia

The seats in a Toyota Sequoia can be folded flat to allow 120 cubic feet of cargo space.

• Toyota Corolla Hatchback

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback (2021) rear seats can be laid flat! When the rear seats are folded over you are offered 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space which is pretty decent for a hatchback.

• Toyota Highlander

The third-row seats in the Toyota Highlander can be folded flat which would then allow for approximately 64 cubic feet of cargo space. There’s already 16 cubic feet allowance behind the third-row seating which is sufficient space for school bags or groceries, but when the third row is folded down you can fit much more.

• Toyota 4Runner

The 2019 – 2021 Toyota 4Runner allows a 40/20/20 split seat fold-down option which gives you the ability to fold each seat individually. Folding all the rear seats in a Toyota 4Runner will give you 89 cubic feet of space.

Can You Go Camping in The Toyota Rav4?

If camping, cycling, and outdoor adventuring are your game, the Toyota Rav4 shouldn’t disappoint. The Rav4 has around 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and when folded flat has a total capacity of around 70 cubic feet.

To put this into perspective:

• a baby piano is roughly 70 cubic feet
• an average size coffee table is 12 cubic feet
• and a large-screen television is around 40 cubic feet.

Because you can fold the seats down in the Rav4, you can easily fit a bicycle, plenty of camping gear and equipment, and you can even sleep in the spacious cargo area provided by laying the seats flat. Mind you, if you’re over 6ft tall, it might not be the most comfortable sleep.

Back Country Canada Travel says that the cargo space in the rear of the Rav4 is spacious enough for one sleeper but it might be okay for two if you’re happy for it to get crowded.

The Toyota Rav4 is ideal for an extended road trip if you’re an organizer.

Journalist Yrene from the Backcountry Canada Travel site has converted her Rav4 into a mini camper-style vehicle for longer trips away. Yrene has completely removed the back seats, built a platform for sleeping support, added a memory foam mattress, added a roof rack for the water supply, and converted the rest of the cargo space into camping storage.

2021 Toyota Rav4

The cargo area in the 2021 Rav4 offers around 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space and with the rear seats folded down, you get a total of 69.8 cubic feet of space. Do you know how much luggage you can fit in that kind of space? Heaps.

If that isn’t enough for you, the Toyota Rav4 can tow approximately 1500lbs worth of luggage in a trailer, and with the higher models, the Adventure and the TRD Off-Road Rav4, you can tow an extraordinary 3500lbs.

When folding the seats down in the 2021 Rav4 there is still a slight incline, insignificant enough to hardly be noticed, but if it does both you the rear seat or bench cushion can also be removed so that the rear seats are laying flat.

The 2021 Rav4 has a maximum cargo space big enough for a human to sleep in when the seats are folded down. Though this isn’t technically what the Rav4 was built for, so we do recommend bringing a more comfortable mat or thin sleeping mattress for a more comfortable sleep.

Conclusion

When folded down, the rear seats of a Toyota Rav4 almost lie completely flat. The space this provides is good for those who need to use extra storage and luggage room regularly. The space is a sufficient 70 cubic feet when the back seats are folded down, but the cargo space already offers a decent amount of boot space with the seats up.

The seats can be removed, though you will need some additional tools to get this done because the seats are not designed to be removed easily. You can also remove the rear bench seat to have the back support lay flat without a slight incline.