2022 Toyota RAV4 | Long Term Impressions

We do a short buyer's guide on the 2022 Toyota RAV4, including the Hybrid and XLE models. We discuss long-term ownership and why the plug-in and Hyrbid versions have wait lists. As usual, we detail the pros and cons, design, and why you would consider this among other products like the Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Honda CRV, Mazda CX50, and Toyota Ford Bronco.

#rav4 #toyota #cars

Index:
00:00 Interior Impressions
2:10 In the Shop - Suspension etc.
6:35 Driving Impressions
13:06 Final Thoughts

[damieg]

Toyota has the daily appliance thing down to a science. As I'm watching this video, I remembered back to 2007 when one of my best friends bought a new Yaris sedan. I couldn't fault her decision (for her needs), but I thought to myself in the days leading up the collection day, that there's no way I could have bought one myself. Man was I wrong. I drove it quite a lot after she got it, and what stood out, and I'm not kidding, is that nothing stands out. When you drive these vehicles, your thoughts about the driving experience immediately fade into the background because they do commuting so well, it's mindlessly easy. As a car enthusiast I never thought I'd find that appealing, but given the congested traffic conditions nowadays, having a spirited drive is a deliberate planned event usually outside of city/town limits, otherwise you're just putting around town or your neighborhood, and the ease with which Toyotas get you where you need to go, is admirable to the point of likable. I could definitely see myself owning a Toyota now for daily use, albeit alongside some sort of weekend toy.

[tjkadar]

The RAV4 is not what I look for in a vehicle, but SavageGeese is what I want in a car review!

[loganmahoney]

LOVE my RAV4 hybrid. AWD, 40mpg, 8 inch clearance, 7s 0-60, tons of cargo storage, silent on battery power, smooth comfortable ride, small footprint, compact parking, apple carplay, history of reliability. There arent many other vehicles that competes with its suburban utility. On top of that I like the new rugged looks.

[AccessDeniedCloudStrike]

You guys nailed it. It’s an appliance. The best example of reliable transportation. 👍

[MLHunt]

Best mix of enthusiast and practical automotive content on YT.

Best combination of information, entertainment, and personality of any Autotubers on the platform.

This isn't a market segment I'm in at this stage of life but I enjoyed this, and I'm sure it's very useful for people actually shopping this type of vehicle.

[Jaime]

You definitely nailed it with this review. I've always been a die-hard car enthusiast, and I still chose a 2022 Rav4 XLE as my daily driver for all the reasons you said. It's a no nonsense reliable vehicle that just works, and it's good for hauling the family. Then when I'm by myself and want to have fun, I have my Supra.

[finnmichaelj]

I hate that I am the buyer for this sort of thing. After all, I'm clearly paying for premium automotive content and appreciate the work that you do. Reality is, my growing fleet of motorcycles get my discretionary transportation / hobby money. My one car needs to commute, haul them in a little trailer, haul the same trailer for house crap, and handle road trips and camping. These midsize CUV cockroaches are pretty much the only game in town in the US where manufacturers insist that small wagons and hatchbacks aren't legal to tow with. So here I am, thinking I'd like a new CX-50 to replace my aging Forester and knowing there's a good chance I end up with a used RAV4. Thanks again for your honesty in these reviews.

[LuisFlores-sbkb]

The reason why I love this channel and reviews is because I live pretty close to where you do your testing. It makes a difference because you’re driving in the conditions I myself drive in.

[Breadtscks]

I'm an enthusiast and bought this in 2020. You said the exact reason I bought this thing. When I am turning wrenches on fun weekend cars, I just need something I can get in the morning for work and get to the office and back without breaking down. I want to do it for as long as possible, and as cheap as possible. Still love the car!

[SoundFX]

I have Multiple Members of My Family who OWN a RAV4, and they haven't complained about ANYTHING in terms of the Powertrain.
I know there's a lot of issues in terms of 'Creature Comforts', but if there's anything to go by with the RAV4, it's that you're getting a SUV that WILL last a long time, despite having less features than a lot of other SUVs on the Market.

And That's why I believe the RAV4 is such a Successful SUV. Most people in the SUV Market WANT Practicality and Longevity OVER Features.
What Good is 'Heated and Cooled Leather Seats', a 'Navigation System' or 'Safety Suite', or Even Total Volume of Space in an SUV, if you're CONSTANTLY having to take it to the Dealership for one repair after another? (I'm Looking at YOU, GM and Stellantis SUVs.)
Toyota's SUV Selections, while not as Feature-Rich or Fuel-Efficient as a LOT of Offerings (Though I'm likely wrong when it comes to the Hybrid Options), has the SOLID Reliability that you come to expect from Both Toyota and Honda.

And Given how much the Market for Vehicles has gotten more and more EXPENSIVE, People are WILLING to wait Months to a Year for a Toyota if it means having a Vehicle that will almost NEVER Break Down on the Side of the Interstate, or Put you in a Bad Side of Town with no way home.

As Much as I HATE The SUV Market, Toyota has been hitting HOMER after HOMER with their SUVs, even if I don't drive them myself (I own a Tacoma, After All).
Heck, every time someone asks me 'What SUV do you recommend I Buy?' My First Answer is ALWAYS Toyota RAV4 or the 4-Runner.

Now, Regarding AWD/4WD or FWD, I'll say this:
It really depends on where you live and if you'll actually use it. My Brother Owns a LE FWD, and it's done everything he's asked it to do.
Genuinely, it really depends on what you use it for. If It's a Daily Driver, the FWD is more than enough for most people. If You actually plan to hit a Trail or Two, then 4WD can be an option.
Just remember to balance the additional cost accordingly.

In addition, The Argument for an ICE or Hybrid really comes down to how much you value Fuel Economy. If you live in a Big City with Start/Stop Nonsense, then Yeah, the Hybrid is Great for that! However, if you just want Simplicity, You can't go wrong with the Naturally Aspirated Engines. There may be some Rattle, but I believe that's due more to the Age of the Engine than the Vehicle Philosophy itself. Some of the 4-Cylinder Engines Toyota puts in their Vehicles are from Years Past, which may not sound good on paper, but in reality, they do what they need to do without overcomplicating the Vehicle itself, So pick whichever Engine that fits the environment that you live in.

Overall, The RAV4 Deserve it's Popularity and Praise, as Toyota did a Fine Job of Balancing what people want in an SUV with the Reliability that they're known for.
While Other Manufacturers try to 'Innovate or Revolutionize' the SUV, Toyota's doing a Damn good job of giving people what they need in an SUV.

Keep up the Great Work Guys.

[arickbakken]

Besides the almost ridiculous comment about replacing a hybrid battery system at 150k, you guys absolutely nailed the RAV4. Case in point, my wife and I (40 yo) were forced to get 2 cars at the same time right now. We randomly rented a RAV4 XLE. We set off to many many dealerships across several days. We both initially commented how we'd never buy a RAV4 after driving it just a little bit. So we went and test drive everything... CRV, HRV, Rogue, Forester, Equinox, Terrain, Encore, CX5, Niro, Tucson... probably more. In the end, we hated something about each and every one of them. We kept getting back in the RAV4, all pissed at how bad car manufacturers are and how slimey dealerships are....and it dawned on us, we did 700 miles in the RAV4 and we didn't absolutely hate it. Picked up our Certified Used 2020 RAV4 today. FML. Gonna drive a washing machine every day. I will say, fuel economy of the na is so good, I don't think you'd ever make up the price difference on the hybrid. Ehh, who knows.

[InternetDude]

I’ve had a RAV4 Prime for over a year and a half and it’s the ultimate Toyota appliance. No regrets.

[Llamacowking]

As an enthusiast that requires some semblance of reliability Toyota has always had my heart. I have a 16 RAV4 hybrid and my wife has a 20 RAV4 hybrid and they just work, no bullshit they just perform. Saves money to have the fun car and know I have a reliable backup always ready to go

[bertito]

I’m a car enthusiast and I recommended my mother in law an XLE Hybrid premium. She loves it and it’s extremely reliable

[jandebuhr]

We have a 2020 (in Germany 2019) RAV4 Hybrid AWD-I top trim (Lounge in Germany, limited in US) and drive it with 40-45mpg in daily use. It’s just their perfect family car. It rides good, has enough space and is very reliable. 👌🏼🙏🏼 I think that’s why 1.1 million people bought it 2021 all around the globe and made it the best selling car.

[jaykay]

Extremely fair review. I would add, however, that the interior space, while not necessarily "premium", is a bit more stylish than you give it credit for. Yes, it's "understated", but I don't really think it looks "cheap". It may lack a certain amount of "flair", but it's "pleasing", and makes you feel like you are sitting in something that was put together with quality in mind. That goes a long way.
When you drive a Toyota, you know you are not driving a "shitbox".

[IllTaco]

What you guys need to bring to light is the QC differences between Canadian built and Japanese built RAV4s.
I've worked for Lexus for over a decade and the difference in build quality and fit/finish between the two plants is vast. The RX in particular, even the same pieces will have different part numbers depending on where they were built for some reason. The new NXs that are built in Canada are coming in with all sorts of problems.

[captsavage]

My wife’s 2019 XLE has been great except for having wiring harness work under warranty. It started throwing random errors for TPMS failure and after 3-4 diagnostic visits the dealership had it for most of this summer (2022) waiting for backordered parts. They claimed it is a common corrosion problem with the wiring harness for that year that has (supposedly) been fixed since. She loves the car and we plan to keep it for many more years so fingers crossed it’s all permanently resolved.

[captainvector]

I've put 10K miles on my 2021 Rav4 Prime (so far), and you guys got it right. The Rav4 is absolutely adequate, completely competent, and brutally boring. There's nothing really fun or enthusiast about this car, and Toyota can't make them fast enough. That pretty much sums up the car market in this country.

Good review of a model that everybody takes for granted - and it excels at that.

[ToolGT]

Sold my wife's 2020 Corolla XSE Hatch 6spd for a 2022 RAV4 SE hybrid (only a 9 day wait), what a great trade up. Tons of space and utility and 41mpg combined. I cannot state how much I love the hybrid system, it works so good, and there's nothing like being stuck in traffic or a drive thru and not use any gas.