REVIEW: 2019 Toyota RAV4 - Australian launch

The new Toyota RAV4 has moved with the times to appeal to modern families. To find out just how far it's come in this new fifth-generation form, Joshua Dowling takes a spin.

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[PM-doyu]

Call me a lucky bastard but I waltz into my local dealer last Friday, (May 1 2020), plonked down a $1000 holding deposit, paid the balance two days ago, and pick up a GXL hybrid AWD today (Friday 8 May). It’s funny having looked at lots of reviews (and there are lots!) and read many comments. What is striking is the negativity of the comments on Australian reviews. Elsewhere people love this car. Here seems not so much. I have a 2015 Prius C. Bought new, I’ve done 276, 000 trouble free kms. CVT v Auto? An automatic transmission is always looking for the right gear, CVT is always in the right gear.

[user]

4:33 "There's even a digital speed display, IF you know where to find it". Where could it possibly be, under the seat??

[brucekendall]

Were you scared to mention the CVT gearbox?

[dingbatt]

Toyota do themselves no favours by calling the transmission in the Hybrids a CVT. They do at least stick an “e” in front of it and call it an eCVT but it still gets lumped in with all the belt drive mechanical CVTs which, on the whole, have achieved a poor reputation.
They should just stick with “Hybrid Synergy Drive” (HSD) to describe the power train. A planetary gearbox system with an internal combustion engine (advanced Atkinson cycle) mated with two electric motor/generators to produce the required output shaft speed and power while running the ICE at it most efficient settings. In the 4WD system on the new RAV4 they add an additional electric motor to drive the rear wheels when required. People who lump this system in with belt driven CVTs are just showing their ignorance.

[glowe]

Must admit that the freeway footage indicated the suspension looked floaty 🤔

[Danny_Martino]

What is your opinion on 2WD hybrid? Car used mostly to drive in the city or regular roads

[damienfisher]

i just purchased a black rav4 on friday the 13th lol, i hope it doesn't bring me bad luck. the delivery time has now pushed out to over 8 months for the hybrid, that's how much people are jumping onboard now.

[BH-eemr]

I drive on the highway 800 ks on country roads, is the hybrid model a better buy for long distance driving’s?

[iMitsubishiZA]

Looks great but i heard that the vehicle is driven by a CVT and not AT, so which is it?

[muzzasevern]

can someone please advise how you can actually change the system to a digital speed display?

[unknowntraveller]

Grown slightly from the first generation 2 door RAV.

[louisstennes]

As a Yank I love watching Australian You Tube reviews. Love the accent but am curious about one thing. In the U.S and Europe and especially Canada they emphasize handling in SNOW and very cold below farenheit temperatures like 20 and 30 below but the Australian car and suv reviews kind of leave this out. I know it gets very hot Down Under but is inclement weather like snow and extreme cold important to you or you just don't experience that type of weather?

[beaubes]

These reviews are the worst!
*It doesn't have every bit of tech available - there's no self parking

[rocketable]

The wheel arches, what were they thinking!? The whole thing looks like it was designed by a committee.

[stevenpam]

"Safest, most technically advanced, and roomiest RAV4 to date". Well, the first two are expected (or why release a new model at all), so basically what we're saying is that it suffers from that most common of new car afflictions, BLOAT. 🤣

[craigfleming]

Good review, Toyota has done a great job

[DuDe]

In the description of the RAV4 they left off "ugliest" RAV4 in 6 years!

[awdlover]

Good review. Here in Europe we can get only hybrid version (2WD or 4WD) but the price is very high. Here manufactures will have to bring their model range CO2 emission average below 95 g/km from 2021 and only Toyota can respect this limit because it only sales hybrid models (with some exception like Land Cruiser that won’t be probably sold anymore). The 2.5 petrol AWD is very interesting also due to its front grill. Cheers from Italy

[HjMaswadyHjAmjah]

Front kinda reminds me of the Hyundai Kona whilst the rear kinda has a Kia Sorento look... ;-)

[justin]

Mazda sure has Toyota beat on the power/torque front! These cars aren’t the lightest....having mediocre outputs will show once the whole family and their gear are aboard. The reviewer probably should have tested it under the conditions it is intended.