Why we rate it best Hybrid SUV - Toyota RAV4 Full Review

Sending Howard Ritchie out in the 2.5-litre petrol/hybrid which comes in front or all-wheel drive, we check all the characteristics including the brand new Toyota TNGA platform.

Not only is this one of the cheapest SUVs on the planet, but now Apple CarPlay is standard on the RAV4, there really are few excuses not to get one.

Key Moments:

What is it? : 00:00 - 00:33
Boot Space: 01:12- 01:40
Rear Seats: 01:40 - 02:21
Engine and Weight: 02:22 - 02:54
Driving Position and Cabin : 02:54 - 03:29
Rav 4 Reversing Sound: 03:29 - 03:59
Road Noise and Wind Noise: 04:14 - 04:57
Infotainment and Apple car play: 04:58 - 05:16
Free Safety Features 05:28 - 06:02
Prices: 06:08 - 06:28
Verdict, better than Skoda Kodiaq?: 07:03 -09:12

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Top Trumps:

Max Speed - 111 mph
8-speed automated sequential transmission with manual mode.
203 hp @ 6600 rpm.
2.5L L4 DOHC 16-valve.
Fuel Consumption. 8.8 (Automatic City) 6.7 (Automatic Highway)
UK ( 40 mpg ) Our Average across a week.
Co2 131 to 134 g/km
Length - 4600 mm
Width - 1855 mm
Luggage Capacity 1690 litres
Tow - 850kg
Wheels- 19s

Safety:

Intelligent Rear parking sensors with clearance sonar and automatic braking
Reversing Camera
Pre-Collision with Cyclist Detection, Day & Night-time Pedestrian Detection.
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Control
Road Sign Assist (RSA)
Automatic High Beam (AHB)
Full-range Adaptive Cruise Control
Adjustable Speed Limiter (ASL)
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Automatic headlight levelling
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
Brake Assist (BA)
Driver Attention Alert
eCall emergency call system
Emergency Brake-light Signal (EBS)
Front fog lights
Glass-breaking alarm sensors
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
Immobiliser
Indicators integrated on door mirrors
Intrusion Alarm
Lane Trace Assist
LED Daytime running lights
LED Dual-beam Projector headlights
LED high mounted stop light
LED Rear brake lights
LED rear combination lights
Memory on speed limiter
Motion sensor alarm
Panoramic View Monitor (PVM)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Brake Assist (RCTA-B)
Tilt detection sensors
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS)
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags - 7 airbags
Adjustable Driver seat belt extender
Adjustable Front Passenger seat belt extender
Driver & front passenger Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats
Front passenger airbag detector
Front seat belt reminder
ISOFIX child restraint system
Passenger airbag on/off-switch
Pre-tensioners and force limiters
Rear seat belt reminder

[chrisland]

A great review picking up on the practical pros and cons of the vehicle.
Much preferred to how most car reviewers nit-pick on issues mainly because they drive mutiple vehicles in a year, while most of us just drive one!

[chrisbagginsmay]

Just ordered one of these in that very Dacuma Grey. Can’t wait. First time watcher and great review. Subscribed 👍🏻

[AnderaM]

Picked up my Dacoma Grey Dynamic in May and I’m still in love. I do motorway driving and love playing music so never noticed road noise. I must listen for it next time.

[johnnywires]

I would be subscribing your site because the way you put your opinions across is excellent.Fully agree with you on the RAV4.Have just placed an order for one, where i come from, the model is called the lounge and its top of the range.Of all the cars i did test, before i gave the gold medal to the Toyota, the one that nearly won me over was the Mazda CX5.Thanks for a great review and stay safe out there.

[DruMcDoo]

Great review Howard...
After thinking long and hard about replacing my 2007 diesel Rav 4 with 250k reliable miles after basic DIY basic servicing ~ oil, oil filter, air filter and brake pads every 25k with a convertable have decided buy another Rav with around 40k miles.
All the luxuary convertables, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar etc seem to have significent issues with reliability and cost a fortune to repair.

Toyota seem to be the only company which regularly have recalls ~ even on older vehicles which give complete peace of mind.
Having bought previous Rav with 47, 000 miles and had it for 12 trouble free years with only a few minor problems this work horse has made for hassle free motoring.
Only replacing it because of ULEZ rules coming in but even so it's still worth over 2k. It doesn't even use oil which is amazing for milage and will serve a non-city dweller very well with continued reliability....

[LanguageOfMars-FunLanguages]

First time watching your review, and there goes the subscribe button.. well done ...

[thezanzibarbarian]

If someone partially sighted was behind one of these when it went into reverse, they'd be looking up to see if they could spot a flying saucer with that weird Sci-fi noise. They would not be looking to see if a reversing Rav4 was going to flatten them :-))...
Towns in the UK only flood on Fridays. Not Tuesdays!
Monday is misty. Tuesday for tornados. Wednesday is windy (Parp!). Thursday for Thunderstorms and Friday is for flooding. Just for the weekend. Saturday it snows and Sunday, is sunny :-))...
Great review again Howard. Thank God for a "cheap" hybrid that doesn't need plugging in too ;-))...

[polattanoglu]

Always fun reviews on this channel. Love it.

[tectoramia-szlu]

Nice review, one of the few reviewers who didn't have to comment on the CVT transmission.
The Rav4's and the Lexus, all have AWD not 4WD now.

[johnnywires]

A brilliant review, if i may say so, so good in fact that i have now placed an order for my Rav4, which i will get in early June.It has a 4 month waiting list.Have bought the longe version which in my part of the woods is top spec with AWD and 220 BHP.It was a close one between this and the Mazda CX5 but went for the Toyota, for me, it looks better.Have subscribed and look forward to your new reviews.Stay safe mate.

[dannyhudson]

Just bought xle all wheel drive absolutely love it with gas prices going up im getting 44 miles per gallon save enough on gas to pay on the monthly payment

[chrishext]

Look forward to the reviews Howard no one does it better

[elhombre]

I've just ordered one (8 month lead time now). We don't tend to lease as much here in Oz.

[oliveringram]

If you think this is a good car, you should try the PHEV version. Picked mine up 3 months ago, and so happy with it. 306 hp, very economical, 50 miles to a charge, which covers 80% of my mileage, costing 8p a mile. I cannot fault it in any way.

[ibuk]

We lease a 2021 excel model, great car but lets be honest the prices you flicked through were the base model only 5k Mile's a year and 48 .months 🤔

[ahbenjamin]

Beautiful countryside scenery. Wherein the UK was this filmed?

[newbeginnings]

Excellent review... How about a 2021 review if the PHEV version? Thanks

[mowuvz]

Problem with RAV4 is that unless you go for pricey Excel trim, the creature comforts are minimal. Not even lumber support in lower grades. No paddle shifters in any grade. No electric seat below Excel trim. Tiny screen on dashboard while other cars are having large digital screens. The infotainment is prehistoric. Even legendary Toyota reliability is missing as many owners reported hybrid system malfunction.

[jonharry]

Have had my Rav 4 2019 model great car but very disappointed with the road noise.

[guyheaton]

I've just ordered an Obsidian Blue Design.