Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review // The Fuel Savings Are Real

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the fastest way to save money on fuel and reduce your impact on the environment. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is built on the same TNGA platform as the gasoline versions and loses none of the interior space or cargo room thanks to placing the battery under the rear seats. The buyers only needs to pay $1400 more to get the RAV4 Hybrid over the gasoline equivalent, so the barrier to entry is very low. The RAV4 Hybrid is a compact utility that is powered by a 2.5L gasoline engine and electric motor to deliver an official fuel rating of 5.8L/100km in the city and 6.3L/100km on the highway. The real world test was done with driving the speed limit, keeping up with traffic and settling in for a comfortable commute. The real world fuel economy was even better the the posted numbers, so please watch. The Toyota RAV4 has become the best selling compact utility in Canada and now with this latest design and hybrid technology that RAV4 is sure to remain the top choice by Canadians.

[Kindness]

Getting over 43 mpg after some practice in my new RAV4 hybrid! Initially, I was doing too much. I was trying to use the electric ability as much as possible. Watching the graphic engine power graphic...charging the battery/using the battery...trying to avoid the ICE. Shooting for the "Pulse and glide method." After about 2 weeks, I embraced some ideas that have earned 3mpg better. First, I learned that using the electric battery (process of charging the electric battery with the gas engine) is not without its own parasitic drain...and second, the ICE engine is very efficient in its own right. So, I started doing less jockeying of the vehicle to "stay in electric" and let it do it's own thing...It will do the work for you! It will choose the most efficient mode of operation. I do look ahead to anticipate stops and incorporate coasting time. I do speed up gradually. In forums and on youtube I've seen the proposal to: "get up to speed so you can coast and get off the ICE engine." This sounds well thought out...and I wasn't gunning it to get to speed either...just not delaying....anyway...it wasn't panning out. I just speed up gradually...slow down gradually and let the car do the rest. 43.6 mpg average now. It was enlightening to me to see the vehicle get its best numbers after taking a highway trip when it should be less efficient as hybrids go. But...the highway driving limited my ability to jockey the electric battery and I had to allow the vehicle to do its own thing. And surprise, surprise...the average mpg shot up. I thought what Jeff suggested here was too simplistic. Turns out he's absolutely right. It's just that simple.

[runforit]

The fuel savings are real. I have owned my 2019 Limited for three and a half months now and each tank averages between 5.0-5.5L/100km. The electric motor has great low-end torque. Fuel prices have really peaked in Ontario at $1.35/L.

The blueprint colour looks great.

[claytonroot]

FINALLY, someone talks some common sense about the move towards Fully Electric Vehicles. The economics of simple hybrids is becoming very compelling, ie the up-front penalty is much less than it used to be so the payback period takes substantially less years. Also, as Motormouth has stated, that payback becomes even quicker as fuel prices rise.
A little over a year ago, I purchased a Fully Loaded Kia Niro Hybrid Touring. It actually cost less than a Fully Loaded Hyundai Kona, even though it is larger and much more highly equipped and luxurious, so essentially the Hybrid came for FREE. I log ALL gasoline receipts in a spreadsheet so I KNOW exactly what this vehicle delivers and it is excellent, although definitely not as good as the on-board "Guess-O-Meter" suggests. I would suggest that if that Toyota RAV4 Guess-O-Meter shows 4.6 liters per 100 km, the real consumption is probably closer to 4.9, BUT that is still substantially better than the government rating. I have seen the same thing in my Kia and have averaged an overall 5.0 liters per 100 km, over 21, 000+ kilometers, combined against a rating of 5.4, AND that includes winter driving with snow tires on it. In the summertime, we average around 4.6 real world.
Now here comes the INSANITY. The Fully Electric Version of the Kia Niro became available in 2019 and with the same equipment level carries an MSRP over 60% higher than our hybrid. There is NO WAY that I can make an ECONOMIC argument to support such up-front pricing. Electricity is NOT free and MANY of the Hi-Speed DC Charging stations cost almost the same as gasoline to cover a specific distance. While home owners can charge at home using lower cost "off peak rates", that is NOT an option for most apartment dwellers. A hybrid vehicle doesn't present such an obstacle to those tenants.
With the current global shortage of batteries, there are many more millions of hybrids and plug-in hybrids that can be produced using the available battery supply and that WILL make a more substantial cut in global emissions than making much smaller quantities of FULL EV's. That WILL change going forward but for now, hybrids make a LOT of sense.

[vlee]

Had to order a hybrid XSE so the dealer lent me a Trail for 2 weeks. The hybrid is far superior to the regular engine in power. Also the 8 speed does not seem to shift well and slow to respond. The CVT in the hybrid is instant in response and fuel efficiency is far superior. Absolutely worth the step up to the hybrid. My advice is to try both before purchasing. 100% happy with my decision. Toyota has a hit with this one.

[tadehaleksaniansarneghi]

The amount of money you are going to save will differ from person to person. I'm guessing the 400 dollars a year you would save on gas is based on 12, 000 miles a year of driving. For someone like myself who drives 40, 000 miles a year, the savings start to add up quickly and the hybrid system premium pays for itself within the first year.

[DaRazorback]

That's the exact RAV4 I got the hybrid limited with blueprint paint and the tan interior and I'm loving it a few months in, granted it took 2 months to get my exact confirmation, but I'm glad that I waited.

[asifhirji]

Great content as always. I think another big benefit is the big jump in torque, which makes the hybrid version much faster than the gas version.

[aetiusg]

This is a well done video. I wish more videos would explain and chart a hybrid's advantages like this.

[jackp]

the only way to get real number start with a full tank, drive and refill after that do the math. good video

[rightlanehog]

Zack, Next Spring there will also be a new Highlander Hybrid on the road with a more powerful version of the 2.5 Hybrid system used for the RAV4. It is expected to get over 40 miles to the Imperial gallon and have a towing capacity of 3, 500 lbs. Plenty of us are speculating that the next shoe to drop is a Sienna Hybrid which will get similarly impressive fuel economy. Too bad we are stuck with a re-badged Mazda 2 as the next (genuine) Toyota Yaris Hybrid is coming out with eAWD and staggeringly high mpg. UPDATE - The upcoming 268 HP, AWD Yaris GR hatch makes the Mazda 2 even more antiquated.

[PilotEJ]

My Prius has 293000 miles on her. Hybrid tech is a incredibly reliable, sensible bridge to an all electric future. Cheers!

[smarticus]

This RAV4 hybrid is amazing technology. I opted for the RAV4 over a BEV simply because I didn’t want to deal with the added stops at chargers and range anxiety. I am very happy with this decision.

[kaleimaile]

I just bought my XLE Premium RAV4 Hybrid @ the largest Toyota dealership in the world last weekend. I love it!

[tc]

Now, if saving fuel is what a driver is after on a small crossover, it makes total sense to seriously consider the RAV4 Hybrid instead of the Mazda CX-5 diesel which by the way is thousands of dollars more expensive.

[emperorzarkov]

I have the Hybrid LE and I absolutely love it. Best purchase I ever made. My only regret is that it doesn't have Android Auto.

[polarisstar]

I have the 2018 fully spec model, i love it. Works very good in Norwegian conditions.

[garrytennese]

Great real world review Zak! We had test driven the gas RAV4 and thought it to be equal to the Honda CRV but without some of the Toyota's "bells & whistles" available in the Limited trim. We test drove the RAV4 hybrid on the basis of this and other reviews and was impressed! Placed our order and had a new hybrid 2020 Limited RAV4 in the driveway in less than a week! We love it! Quiet and responsive power train. I'm not a fan of CVT's but this one works nicely with the electrics/gas. Much better drive than the gas RAV4. And the fuel economy is great - averaging 5.4 to 5.7 l/100 km in our first 1200 km of mixed driving.Highly recommended!

[stevec.]

just taken delivery of my RAV4 hybrid ( 2 days ago.) In the UK all RAV's are hybrid and we get a choice of 2wd or AWD. I picked the 2wd version getting high 50 mpg, early days yet. My trade in was a Honda CRV 2l petrol manual 4WD. That got me 33mpg over 4 years. So about 25mpg better off. (all imperial MPG ). I recon a tank of petrol will last me a month, pleased with that.

[maccullo]

Should mention RAV4 are assembled in Ontario Canada. We are averaging about 5.7 l/100km. Will have to driver better to achieve Zaks 4.5. Its very quiet and you don't notice when it changes from gas to electric. The computer will tell you how good you are stopping, cruising and starting. We love our RAV4.

[JogBird]

I like that it has a large screnn but also physical control widgets