2019 Toyota RAV4 vs 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 sported a bold new look that turned heads with its chunky design and sharp edges, clearly inspired by the Toyota Tacoma pickup. This aggressive and futuristic aesthetic conveyed a certain strength, a theme that extended to its side-profile styling and rear, where the taillights seemed to draw inspiration from Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus. A character line broke up the rear C-pillar, a common design trait among new vehicles which didn’t always visually appeal, especially in the RAV4. About half of the RAV4's color options matched the body to the roof, while seven options offered a contrasting-color roof, with either a gray or black roof. For two-tone options, the black strip across the rear pillar made sense, but for monotone color schemes, it appeared as unnecessary design clutter. Inside, the cabin of the RAV4 contrasted the exterior with its surprisingly simple and elegant design. Many features were integrated into the new floating touch screen, and the rest of the controls were packaged into a pod that spanned from the center of the dash to the cupholders. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid also impressed with its tougher and more angular design, ditching the soft-roader styling look of previous generations. This sturdy and angular form, especially in the front fascia, shared similarities with Toyota’s robust rock crawler, the 4Runner. Stacked, trapezoidal apertures and a perforated grille gave the Hybrid a mean and mechanical look, complemented by dark trim around the wheel wells and doorsills, which suggested that the RAV4 Hybrid was more than just a fuel-efficient vehicle but also an able off-road machine. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid boasted excellent ergonomics. Its standard 7-inch touchscreen (with an option for an 8-inch screen) was prominently placed atop the center dashboard, surrounded by hard buttons and a pair of knobs for volume and tuning. The climate controls were positioned lower in the center dash stack and similarly well thought out. The center console provided room for essential items, with an optional Qi wireless charging tray available. Although the interior could be quieter, the Hybrid’s electric drive mitigated some engine noise. The spacious rear seat and generous cargo compartment ensured long trips remained comfortable.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, providing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that sent power to either the front wheels or available all-wheel drive (AWD). There were two flavors of AWD: the base offering and the new torque-vectoring AWD, found in the Adventure and Limited trims. The XLE test model featured the base AWD, offering Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt drive modes. The torque-vectoring AWD, more advanced and capable, could divide the engine’s power and send it to the wheels needing it in real time, enhancing off-road capabilities. On the road, the 2.5-liter engine provided decent acceleration to highway speeds, although it felt sluggish in stop-and-go traffic due to a lack of low-end power. The ride quality was generally good but had some drawbacks, with twitchy steering and noticeable body roll, making the RAV4 feel awkward through fast corners. The fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive RAV4 was 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the AWD test car achieved 27 mpg city and 34 highway. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, with 219 horsepower—16 more than the standard version—excelled with its combined EPA fuel economy rating of 40 miles per gallon. This impressive figure was consistently achievable in real-world testing. The Hybrid used a powertrain combining a 2.5-liter, 176-horsepower gasoline engine with two electric motors. The first electric motor, inside the hybrid transaxle, drove the front wheels with up to 118 hp, while the second motor, mounted under the cargo floor, provided 54 hp to the rear wheels. The Hybrid system allowed the RAV4 to weigh only about 200 pounds more than the regular model, aiding handling and fuel economy. On the road, the RAV4 Hybrid felt well-matched to its engine, with the hybrid system providing plenty of instantaneous electric power, making it quicker to accelerate than the non-hybrid model. It could tow up to 1,750 pounds and featured a smooth regenerative braking system and nearly seamless electric motor assist.

The cabin of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 aimed for a clean, upscale look while remaining immensely practical. Key features included plenty of cargo space and spacious seating in both rows. The center stack pod contained climate controls, a large tray for small items, drive-mode controls, and a short, stocky shifter minimizing space usage. The front row offered many storage options, including deep center-control trays and bins in the doors, while the rear featured a fold-out armrest with cupholders. With the rear seats up, the RAV4 provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 69.8 cubic feet when the rear bench was folded down. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid maintained excellent interior ergonomics, with a standard 7-inch (optional 8-inch) touchscreen and user-friendly climate controls. The center console offered space for a cell phone, two cupholders, and a large storage bin under the armrest. The Hybrid’s cabin was comfortable for long trips, featuring a particularly spacious rear seat with impressive legroom that could accommodate three adults comfortably. Importantly, the hybrid system didn’t compromise interior or cargo space, maintaining 98.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 37.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity—comparable with the standard RAV4.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4’s base LE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Toyota’s Entune 3 infotainment system, Apple CarPlay (but not Android Auto), Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, and a WiFi hotspot. The XLE trim added five USB ports and progressed to an 8-inch screen in higher trims like the Adventure and Limited, the latter also offering an optional JBL premium stereo. The infotainment system was easy to use, with floating screens for simple menu navigation, complemented by hard dials for major functions. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid marked Toyota’s adoption of Android Auto, joining Apple CarPlay as standard features, and included SiriusXM Radio with a 3-month free trial. These additions enriched the infotainment experience. The base system included a USB-A port on the dash, while higher trims added four more USB-A ports. Predictive Efficient Drive technology optimally managed battery usage based on multiple data sources, while various drive modes (Eco, Sport, Trail) tailored performance to different driving conditions.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 included a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard, featuring forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, dynamic radar cruise control, traffic-sign detection, and Lane-Tracing Assist. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard, with additional options like blind spot monitoring and front and rear parking assist with automated braking. Standard features included a pre-collision system, full-speed range dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane-tracing assist, road-sign assist, and a 1-year trial of Safety Connect. NHTSA awarded the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid a five-star rating overall, although it had two safety recalls for issues related to engine coolant and suspension.