To create the hybrid powertrain in the RAV4, Toyota pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack housed underneath the back seat. The rear electric motor effectively gives the RAV4 Hybrid standard AWD.
Together, the components generate 219 horsepower, 16 hp more than the RAV4’s standard engine but 83 hp less than the plug-in RAV4 Prime. The front electric motor makes 149 pound-feet of torque, and the rear electric motor generates 89 lb-ft. Several driving modes are available, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV. When the RAV4 operates in EV mode, it emits a whirring noise to let pedestrians know an electric vehicle is operating nearby.
Depending on the trim level, the RAV4 Hybrid weighs between 3,690 pounds and 3,780 pounds, which is as much as 200 pounds more than a standard RAV4. However, the instant electric-motor torque makes the RAV4 Hybrid feel lively when accelerating, and there is plenty of power available. Unfortunately, the four-cylinder engine sounds unpleasant when it revs. The EPA says the RAV4 Hybrid will get 40 mpg in combined driving, and we averaged 39.7 mpg on our testing loop.
Under almost all driving circumstances, the RAV4 Hybrid’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) operates transparently. After a week of driving, it failed to establish a reputation for droning. The regenerative braking system proved equally amenable, exhibiting none of the pedal modulation flaws common to the technology. The nicely weighted steering is a willing partner, and the wheel rim is great to grip.
Toyota uses a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension design, and a brake-based Active Cornering Assist system to maximize the RAV4 Hybrid’s ride and handling qualities. However, the test vehicle’s P225/60R18 Michelin Primacy all-season tires do the SUV no favors, thanks to unexpectedly low levels of grip. Take a corner with too much speed, and they start to scrub, squeal, and make a big fuss.
Otherwise, the RAV4 Hybrid is agreeable to drive on roads that bend and kink. The SUV has a relatively flat cornering stance, and overall driving dynamics are favorable. You just can’t have much in the way of fun unless your idea of a good time is hypermiling.
As a daily driver, the RAV4 Hybrid impresses. The SUV soaks up bumps and potholes, and it effectively quells unwanted body motions. If you choose the XSE trim level, you get a sport-tuned suspension for a firmer feel, but this version of the RAV4 Hybrid sits on the same vociferously-protesting tires.
During a short off-road jaunt, the RAV4 Hybrid and its 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Trail driving mode allowed it to easily travel where a car cannot. However, you must take deeply rutted terrain at very slow speeds.