The Toyota RAV4 is a superlative hybrid car, able to drive on electric as well as petrol by virtue of its electric motor, which shares the effort between fuels while cutting both their consumptions. You can opt for a regular hybrid that charges as you drive, or a plugin hybrid which you can plug in to achieve a longer electric-only range.
In the lineup of Toyota SUVs, the RAV4 sits above the C-HR but below the rough-and-ready Land Cruiser. It competes most directly with the Honda CR-V, as they’re pretty much the same size and both available as hybrids. If you’re seeking a bigger hybrid, you should check out the seven-seat KIA Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, and if you’re happy to look beyond hybrid SUVs then take a look at similar-sized rivals like the Peugeot 5008 and Škoda Kodiaq. But before we delve too deeply into the RAV4, let’s check in with its key stats.
| Brand-new price range | £39,000–£50,000 |
| Car Planet price range | £13,000–£20,000 / £259–£358 a month |
| Trims | 3 |
| Engines | 3 |
| Available fuels | Hybrid |
| mpg range across all versions | 50–283 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Warranty | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £617 / £2,758 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £1,234 / £5,516 |
Equipment, options and extras
The Toyota RAV4 comes with an immense amount of gear. All models boast alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control, rear privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. However, it’s still worth stepping up to the Design trim because of its excellent extras: satnav, keyless entry, bigger alloys and front parking sensors. Then there’s Excel and Dynamic, with leather trim and heated seats and steering wheel, and to top it off there’s Adventure, with panoramic glass roof and a more aggressive exterior style—although personal taste will dictate whether the premium is worth it for you. For our money Design is the best trim because it includes everything you really need but with some great goodies thrown in, not least heated rear seats.
Costs, insurance groups, mpg and CO2
The plugin hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4 costs more than regular hybrids but less than premium plugin hybrids like the DS 7 E-tense and Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e. If you’re seeking a large SUV for less, consider the Citroën C5 Aircross—although it’s not a hybrid, and therefore not as fuel-efficient. The fuel economy of the plugin hybrid is phenomenal, especially if you keep the battery topped up and you’re making shorter journeys. In those driving conditions, you’ll find you rarely need to fill up.
Company car drivers will be intrigued by the RAV4 because it produces less CO2 than its rival the Honda CR-V, meaning lower tax payments. The plugin hybrid version’s electric range and CO2 emissions place that model into an even lower tax band—although the list price means it’s not notably cheaper as a company car than its competitor the Ford Kuga.
Safety and security
The Toyota RAV4 comes with a wide array of safety equipment, including traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking and an SOS emergency call function. If you opt for the Excel trim or above you’ll also get blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, warning you of approaching vehicles when you’re backing out onto a road.
Reliability
The RAV4 comes with Toyota’s Relax warranty, a 3-year policy that can be topped up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if you have your car serviced at an official dealership.
The Car Planet verdict
The Toyota RAV4 plugin hybrid has low emissions and an impressive all-electric range, although its relatively high list price limits its appeal for both private and company car buyers. That being said, the regular front-wheel–drive RAV4 hybrid hits the sweet spot in range: it’s fairly ordinary to drive, but boasts astounding economy, strong resale values and a fantastic reliability record, making it an eminently tempting option in the large SUV class.
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