Toyota Rav4 review: Landmark SUV plugs in to new technology
The Toyota Rav4 is now in its sixth generation but do an updated plug-in powertrain and fresh look inside and out do enough to keep it relevant?
The Toyota Rav4 has been an integral part of the Japanese brand’s line-up for more than 30 years.
Launched in 1994, it was one of the first in a new breed of sports utility vehicles that blended its maker’s off-road expertise from vehicles like the Land Cruiser with a more on-road-focussed look and feel.
It’s fair to say it was a success. The world is now dominated by SUVs and Toyota has sold more than 15 million examples worldwide over the past three decades.
In that time, the Rav4 has evolved from a fairly cute and compact three-door runaround into a full-size, full-blown family do-it-all.
It’s now competing with the likes of the Peugeot 5008, Honda C-RV, Skoda Kodiaq and Mazda CX-60 in the large D-segment, where it’s also up against newcomers such as the Leapmotor C10 REEV and Chery Tiggo 8.
To keep pace with them, Toyota is about to launch its sixth generation of Rav4, promising better dynamics and refinement, new technology and better performance from its updated plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Design, interior and technology
While the original Rav4 would barely count as a B-SUV in this day, there’s no doubt the new model is now a fully fledged D-segment car. And it looks it. There’s no coupe-SUV silliness here. The Rav4 is a traditional boxy SUV that declares its rugged nature to the world through a high ride height, chunky looks and a smattering of body cladding.
The new model is the same dimensions as the outgoing one — at 4.6m by 1.85m — but it’s got a far neater look. The front now has the same hammerhead motif as the C-HR and bZ4X along with a smoother, simpler grille picked out with hexagonal details. GR Sport models get a more assertive (and more attractive to these eyes) look with a blacked-out grille pattern, sharper lower bumper and unique fog lights.
It’s still recognisably a Rav4, especially since the name is spelt out across the new-look tailgate with its one-piece LED lights, but it now feels more closely aligned with Toyota’s new SUVs including the C-HR+ and bZ4X Touring.
The generous footprint translates into generous interior space for a family. Even with the front seats at full stretch 99% of adults will find there’s plenty of rear legroom and the square body shape means plenty of headroom, even with the optional panoramic roof.
There’s heaps of space in the supportive front seats and more steering wheel adjustment than before, which makes it easier to find a comfortable driving position. And the reconfigured battery layout means the boot’s bigger than before even though the car isn’t. It’s now 446 litres in the PHEV version.
The Rav4’s interior has been redesigned with a simple one-piece dashboard, high-level centre console and some chunky rectangular controls for drive modes that link back to Toyota’s “rugged and robust” tagline.
And the robust line is more than just words. You could take a hammer to this car’s interior and the hammer would come off worse. There’s a satisfying solidity to every operation and touchpoint.
But it’s very, very dull. You cannot fault its quality, the logical layout or the welcome presence of proper buttons for any feature that needs a button. But it’s all made up of huge slabs of flat, grey plastic and there’s no colour or character to it. A little playfulness would be welcome, but it’s not really in keeping with the Rav4’s tough image.
A big part of the Rav4’s updates centre on the new Arene software powering the configurable digital instruments and then main 12.9-inch touchscreen. This runs on new processors and is four times quicker than the old Rav’s system. It has also been designed to specifically meet European user’s tastes and put more important functions close to hand. It’s certainly sharp and responsive, and the number of menus and sub-menus seems to have been cut down for easier use.
Other tech upgrades include a mobile-based digital key; a drive recorder that automatically saves camera footage if it detects an incident; navigation-led geofencing that will save enough battery for any low-emissions zones en route; and a remote immobiliser that can kill the car via phone app if it’s stolen.
Powertrain and driving
While other markets get “full” hybrid versions, the UK is only taking the plug-in hybrid Rav4, which has been given a thorough overhaul.
There’s a new e-axle developed by Toyota’s EV division, which saves space and weight while delivering more power. And there’s a new, bigger battery mounted in the floor to improve cabin space and structural strength.
For the first time, there’s also a two-wheel-drive version, which Toyota expects to be its best seller.
This pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a 151kW e-motor to deliver up to 268bhp. Above that, there’s a four-wheel-drive model that adds a second electric motor for a total of 305bhp.
Toyota says that the front-wheel-drive version will cover up to 85 miles on electric power alone, thanks to its new 20kWh battery, while the AWD version manages up to 75 miles. Maximum DC charging has also been upgraded to 50kW, allowing a 10-80% recharge in under 30 minutes.
The system certainly feels more sophisticated and battery-led than previous efforts. The upgraded electric motor does far more of the work and the petrol only kicks in during high-demand situations. Over a couple of mixed test routes in different models, both operated in EV mode more than 85% of the time.
In EV mode, the Rav4 is brilliantly smooth and quiet, and even the two-wheel-drive version has sufficient punch, although the all-wheel-drive has just a little bit more urgency. Unless you’re brutal with the throttle, most acceleration is taken care of by the electric power.
When the petrol kicks in there’s none of the jerkiness or hesitation that used to plague PHEVs, just a smooth transition. A really brutal application of throttle will raise some obvious roar from the engine but gentler controls keep the noise to a faint rumble.
In general, the Rav4 is pleasantly quiet until you get to European motorway speeds, when wind noise around the D-pillar becomes apparent. It also rides incredibly well, feeling completely composed in urban, rural and highway environments. Even on a stretch of pretty rough unsurfaced trails the AWD model did a remarkable job of dulling the bumps and bangs.
And it steers positively for such a big car, too. It’s not going to set the world alight with its dynamics – it’s tall, heavy and really not designed to be driven hard. But there’s actually very little body roll and enough grip and steering feel to give you confidence behind the wheel.
Once again it shows the difference between the Chinese companies that claim to set their cars up for European tastes and the companies that actually do, like Toyota.
The GR Sport model gets a fractionally wider track and retuned suspension and steering for what Toyota claims is a sharper driving experience. Maybe more time would unlock this, but I struggled to detect much difference between the “sporty” and regular versions of the car.
Price and specification
Toyotas have sometimes carried a bit of a price premium over similar models but the Rav4 is priced pretty competitively.
Prices start at £43,845 for the Icon grade and rise to £52,045 for the GR Sport.
The Design FWD is destined to be the best seller, and that starts at £45,745.
Icon models all get 18-inch wheels, LED lights, heated front seats and steering wheel and a powered tailgate. They also get the latest suite of safety and driver assistance, including adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring.
Design adds 20-inch wheels, two-tone paint, power adjustment and cooling to the front seats and a hands-free sensor for the boot, plus a single wireless phone charging dock.
Excel adds a second wireless charge pad along with unique 20-inch wheel designs, leather upholstery, heated rear seats and a head-up display as well as a JBL stereo and upgraded safety systems. It also gets the option of all-wheel-drive for an extra £2,345.
AWD GR Sport is based on Excel but gets the chassis adjustments, GR badging inside and out and part-Alcantara upholstery with red stitching.
Verdict
Some people will point out you can get a Chinese-built alternative for a lot less than the Rav4 PHEV. And for some buyers that will be the end of the discussion. But there’s no doubt that the Rav4 is a better vehicle – it’s better built, better to drive and easier to use.
It’s also more than capable of matching any of its European rivals in those stakes while sticking close to them on price.
In fact, it feels like a perfect embodiment of Toyota. It’s refined, robust and technically clever. It’s also spacious, comfortable and just a little dull. But that’s worked well for the Rav4 for the past 32 years and there’s no reason why it won’t continue to.
Toyota Rav4 PHEV Design FWD
- Price: £45,745
- Powertrain: 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol, 151kW electric motor, FWD
- Battery: 20kWh
- Power: 268bhp
- Torque: N/A
- Top speed: 112mph
- 0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
- Electric range: 85 miles
- Fuel consumption: 157-217mpg
- CO2 emissions: 117-129g/km
- Charging: Up to 50kW
Also consider
- Peugeot 5008 PHEV – Sharp looking and comes with a seven-seat option, but range and built quality aren’t a match for the Rav4
- Honda C-RV – Similarly spacious and well built but more expensive and lacks an AWD option
- Skoda Kodiaq – Smart family-friendly features, a seven-seat option and competitive range and pricing
