2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review | Car Reviews

Auto123 opinions the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Canadian motorists really do not actually will need an introduction to the well-known RAV4, the flagship product that potential customers the cost for Toyota-badged sport utility motor vehicles. Available in no less than ten iterations, such as 6 non-hybrid and four hybrid variations excluding the Key variation, the RAV4 is the brand’s Swiss Military knife. We place the 2021 RAV4 XLE AWD hybrid to the take a look at and were ready to examine its 4-wheel generate technique, the effectiveness of the hybrid technique in temperatures that were typically close to -20 and its gasoline intake in winter.

The exterior
Dependent on Toyota’s new world architecture (TNGA), the 2021 Toyota RAV4 attributes a dynamic style and design, highlighted by a chiseled silhouette, a commanding stance and a rugged search.  

At the entrance, the high-perched headlights highlighted by LED daytime working lights are placed at the ends of the entrance fascia. Just below them are the fog lights, which by the way are not LED on the XLE variation. In the middle is a grille that continues to be discreet for Toyota.

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2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, entrance

From the aspect, the floor clearance of the Toyota RAV4 is in fact high for this phase. A smaller Hybrid symbol is inscribed at the top rated of the entrance fender. At the rear, the lights are dominant and the bumper is imposing, and produced of plastic. We also discover that the plastic surrounds the entire reduce car to increase its visuals as a a lot more adventurous car.

The inside
As shortly as you get on board, you discover that the plastic is existing in the car to further more underline its desire to go wherever things can get a minimal rough… and dirty. The buttons and controls placed right here and there have been placed wherever they are with practicality in intellect. Beneath the armrest you can obtain a respectable total of storage space, and underneath the centre console, a big pocket. At the top rated, a 7-inch multimedia display screen reigns. At 1st, you may perhaps feel it’s smaller, but frankly which is the sort of thing you swiftly quit wondering about. Apple CarPlay and Android vehicle are out there with a wired link.

Our XLE product – not a person of the range-topping models I must level out – available twin-zone local weather management and heated entrance seats. In the middle, to the remaining of the gearshift lever, we obtain the Toyota driving mode selector with EV, ECO, Normal and Sport modes. As with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, we only made use of the ECO mode throughout a snowstorm, as there is no snow driving mode. The rest of the time, we trapped with the Normal mode, which provides the best harmony of driving dynamics and comfort.

2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, inside

In the again, absolutely nothing particular to report for people acquainted with the product: the sixty/forty break up rear seat provides a at ease expertise, and there is sufficient space for travellers of all sizes for a compact SUV, this product is quite roomy. The RAV4 Hybrid provides the similar cargo space as the typical product, 1059 litres commonly and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded.

2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, seocnd row of seats

2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, cargo location

The generate
Hybrid models are run by a 2.5L 4-cylinder motor assisted by two electric powered motors that develop a full of 219 hp. The CVT transmission does a discreet task as very long as you really don’t overdo it with your ideal foot. The 4-wheel generate configuration was regular and we were ready to see how well it labored throughout a balanced snowstorm. The technique switches from the entrance wheels to the rear in search of the best grip at all situations. Aided by quite fantastic Blizzak W90 tires, the end result was outstanding.

Be aware that we were ready to generate in electric powered mode for a several (quite several) kilometres at cruising pace. Usually, at underneath 30 km/h, you can have pleasurable looking at how significantly you can get in pure electric powered mode.

On the gasoline intake aspect, things are not rather as extraordinary. Toyota announces figures of six.0L/100km. We totaled, following quite a few days of suburban commuting covering about 300 km, an common of 7.4L/100km. The good news is, above the weekend, we took off for the mountains and drove 165 km at an common of eighty km/h on secondary roads. Our recorded gasoline intake in this context was a quite satisfactory 5.8L/100km.

2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, profile

The variations
As outlined, four RAV4 models are out there with a hybrid powertrain. There are the LE, XLE, XSE (also out there with the Technological know-how package deal) and Limited. The selling price ranges from $35,289 to $45,689, and for that you get the fantastic Toyota Safety Feeling 2. package deal that offers you adaptive cruise management, lane departure warning (with a beep 1st, followed by a slight steering correction), lane hold assist, automatic high beams and a pre-collision technique with pedestrian detection.

Other regular safety attributes involve a blind spot observe with rear cross-targeted traffic inform, a rearview digicam and ten airbags.

We recommend the $38,289 XLE product, which provides twin-zone air conditioning, heated seats and steering wheel and a sunroof.

2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, 3-quarters rear

Summary
Remarkably, there continue to is not that significantly competitors for the RAV4 Hybrid. Aside from the Key variation of the similar product, which continues to be rather restricted for now many thanks to quite high need, the possibilities are restricted. So when we wait for the Key variation to grow to be out there or for the competitors to loosen up, we recommend buying a hybrid variation.

The car is roomy, reliable, well-produced and inexpensive. The XLE hybrid AWD variation is only $1,660 a lot less than the equal non-hybrid variation. If you take into account the reduced intake, it’s really worth it!

We like

Hybrid powertrain
Safety techniques
Roomy inside

We like a lot less

Passenger seat a lot less at ease than the driver’s seat
Very a little bit of plastic (in the XLE)
Winter season gasoline intake
Backup digicam lens receives dirty quite swiftly

The competitors

Ford Escape Hybrid
2022 Hyundai Tucson (coming shortly)
Toyota RAV4 Key (the SE, a lot less highly-priced and far better outfitted than the XLE variation with authorities incentives)
Toyota Venza LE

2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, rear

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