Redesigned Toyota RAV4, Nissan Altima to debut at New York auto show

Nathan Bomey | USA TODAY

New versions of the two of the nation's most popular vehicles — one a sport-utility vehicle and the other a small sedan — are about to get splashy introductions.

Toyota is set to introduce a redesigned RAV4 sport-utility vehicle, and Nissan will reveal a redesigned Altima sedan at the New York Auto Show this month.

The RAV4 was the best-selling crossover SUV in the U.S. in 2017, and the Altima was the fifth-best-selling passenger car, according to Autodata.

The planned announcements by Toyota and Nissan set the stage for the New York show, typically known as a hot spot for luxury vehicles, to exhibit two of the most popular mainstream models in the auto industry.

Toyota said it would reveal the 2019 RAV4 in New York on March 28, marking the fifth generation of the vehicle. The RAV4 overtook the stalwart Camry sedan as Toyota's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. last year, representing a shift by consumers to the higher-riding, boxier vehicles.

And Nissan is hoping to reinvigorate the Altima with a total overhaul that will be seen for the first time the same day. Altima recently lost its crown as Nissan's best-selling vehicle to the company's popular Rogue crossover.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.