2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD review

Today at 08:00 AM

2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge

The Toyota RAV4 is a household name in Australia. Known for its no-nonsense practicality, frugal running costs, and efficient hybrid powertrain, the medium-sized SUV is now in its fifth generation and remains ever-popular, taking an almost 25 per cent share of the medium SUV market all on its own.

It was a masterstroke to add a hybrid powertrain to the fifth-generation RAV4 when it made its debut in 2019, a decision that's now paying dividends as Aussies face increasing cost-of-living pressures from all fronts.

But other, newer medium SUV makers are now offering the fuel-sipping technology too. They're undoubtedly less popular compared to Toyota's RAV4 sales juggernaut, but is it because these SUVs are missing something? Or is it more of a case of Australians choosing to stick with what they know, rather than what's best?

Just because the Toyota RAV4 is popular, doesn't mean it's the best. I stepped back into a top-spec Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid to find out whether it's still a worthy mid-size SUV in 2024.

How much is a Toyota RAV4?

Midway through the year, Toyota decided to make the RAV4 a hybrid-only offering. It was a bold move, but considering 95 per cent of sales were petrol-electric anyway, it was a smart one.

There are five distinct model variants within the RAV4 line-up. With a choice of front- or all-wheel drive on all but the top-spec Edge, which is all-wheel-drive only.

Each is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo petrol engine that's paired with three electric motors for 163kW total outputs. Fuel economy is claimed to be 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres.

The RAV4 Edge Hybrid sits at the top of the model range as the most expensive and most kitted-out version with adventure-ready bodywork, design details, and upholstery.

It's not a purpose-built off-roader, but the all-wheel drivetrain equipped under our car's skin helps it tackle modest off-roading as it's encountered.

The price you'll pay for the range-topping Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD is $58,360 before on-road costs. There are few additional options you can add to a RAV4 aside from $700 premium paint.

For that spend the RAV4 Edge gets 19-inch matte grey alloy wheels, unique styling for the front bumper, wheel arches, grille, and fog lights, and orange accents inside the interior.

It also gets 'SofTex' synthetic leather upholstery in a black-and-orange colour scheme. The specification is billed as the rough-and-ready RAV4 variant.

Compelling alternatives in the medium SUV segment, with hybrid powertrains, include the Nissan X-Trail Ti-L e-Power ($58,190), Hyundai Tucson N Line Premium ($61,100), and Honda CR-V e:HEV RS ($59,900). The Honda's price is expressed as drive-away with no additional costs, whereas the others have on-road costs that are not included.

Five seats is all that's available with a Toyota RAV4. Some other medium SUVs, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander, cater to seven.

How big is a Toyota RAV4?

I'm a fan of the RAV4 Edge's interior look and feel. The regular RAV4s now present a bit dated with small screens and minimal contrasting trims, but the orange accents around the cupholders and storage trays of the Edge specification liven the space up nicely.

That said, there's little hiding the fact that the RAV4 is due a cabin spruce-up. Edge spec or not, the RAV4 has gone through minimal updates since it was introduced five years ago and the interior is starting to show it.

Even still, it's great to see big, chunky controls for the air conditioning and volume dials – especially with rubberised grips – plus the leather-lined gear selector feels great in hand. Toyota has placed effort in making the switchgear inside the RAV4 feel sturdy and easy to use, rather than placing too many controls within the infotainment screen.

It's a shame to see some disappointing spec omissions such as no memory seats – and even the passenger's seat goes without height adjustment. Though the RAV4 Edge gets a sunroof, it's nowhere near as impressive as the units found in the Hyundai Tucson or Nissan X-Trail. Likewise, the light-coloured roof-liner screams ‘rental car’.

You also don't get a head-up display or steering wheel heating in the Toyota RAV4. However, it does have a digital rear-view mirror, which not all mid-size SUVs have.

The seats are premium to the touch and provide a nice amount of support around the sides, while containing a good amount of adjustability to sit in that ideal driving position.

Space in the front row is great and everything is ergonomically sized and placed for ease of use. There are soft-touch panels to the door panels, dash top, and around the steering wheel; everything feels well built and sturdy enough to last years to come.

Storage-wise, the RAV4 contains a series of spots to store your items, such as the shelf below the dash (which includes a wireless phone charger), the two large cupholders in the centre console, and big door card slots for large bottles. It also houses a sunglasses holder in the roof.

Second-row occupants are treated to a comfortable amount of space, even if you're on the taller side. The RAV4 has grown incrementally in dimensions across its generations to accommodate a great amount of leg, head and foot room. There are air vents, two USB-A ports, and the seats have two steps of recline for extra comfort. But, it would be handy to have a sliding second-row base.

One aspect that continues to be competitive in the mid-size SUV segment is the RAV4's humungous boot. Not only is it a sizeable 542L with the dual-level boot floor set to its highest position, or 580L when lowered, but it's just super easy to load items into it with a low-loading floor and wheel wells that don't cut into the available space.

There's a power-operated boot for easy access and a temporary spare wheel.

Does the Toyota RAV4 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Doing service in the RAV4 is Toyota's newer-generation infotainment software that first started proliferating across its range throughout late 2022.

It's slick, easy to use, and looks great on the 10.5-inch infotainment display. There are handy shortcut buttons along the right-hand side for smartphone mirroring (wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), car settings, navigation, and Toyota's Connected menu.

I spent a lot of my time using Apple CarPlay and streaming tunes via Spotify, though it also contains AM/FM/digital DAB+ radio functionality.

The 360-degree camera quality on the screen is very clear and the Edge's JBL sound system packs a bassy punch.

The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can show different graphics, an ADAS display while on cruise control, trip and fuel information, and power draw on the engine and battery.

The RAV4 comes with the ability to connect to the myToyota smartphone application that can show fuel level information, servicing updates, vehicle location, and remote climate operation.

Is the Toyota RAV4 a safe car?

Toyota's RAV4 is well sorted in terms of safety kit and caboodle. It managed a five-star ANCAP rating upon its test back in 2019, and the Edge variant inherits this top-marks score.

That said, it's due to expire in December 2025 after ANCAP's six-year stipulation ends.

It achieved scores of 93 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 85 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 83 per cent for safety assistance systems.

What safety technology does the Toyota RAV4 have?

All RAV4s benefit from the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver assistance systems. These are active safety measures to prevent crashes.

But the Toyota RAV4 also comes with seven physical airbags in the event of a crash.

In my time with the car, I was happy with the way these active safety systems worked. They didn't erroneously activate at the wrong time and they seemed to keep me safe during my time spent inside.

I like the way the adaptive cruise control worked – it accelerates smoothly and brakes appropriately when required. However, the lane-centring system would often steer the car towards the right side of the lane, which prompted me to turn it off altogether.

How much does the Toyota RAV4 cost to run?

Toyotas are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia and services are due every 12 months. However, if you do more than 15,000km within a year you're due another service.

Handily, the driveline is warranted for another two years if you stick to the annual service schedule. Disappointingly, Toyota charges its customers for roadside assistance coverage. Many other manufacturers provide multiple years of coverage for free.

As of September 2024, service pricing has stepped up from $230 to $260 for each visit to the Toyota dealership. This means servicing for three years costs $780 and five years costs $1300.

This is still competitive, but it doesn't beat the sharp pricing of Honda's CR-V that stands at $995 for five years. However, it does beat the $2040 pricing for the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid AWD.

Comprehensive insurance for the RAV4 Edge Hybrid is $1787 per annum based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

The same details for a Nissan X-Trail Ti-L e-Power or Kia Sportage GT-Line hybrid (FWD) came to $1189 and $1522 respectively, making the RAV4 the more expensive hybrid option to insure.

Is the Toyota RAV4 fuel-efficient?

Efficiency and frugality at the fuel pump are the aim of the game with the Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD, and it continues to be an affordable option in that regard.

Against Toyota's economy claim of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres for AWD variants, I notched up an economy of 6.0L/100km.

Admittedly, a lot of my week was spent on freeways. Perhaps the economy would have been better if the onboard generators were given more chance to recoup energy for the electric motors, but 6.0L/100km is still pretty good.

The RAV4 Hybrid AWD still only requires regular unleaded petrol, which is a big plus considering the way petrol prices are going these days.

What is the Toyota RAV4 like to drive?

One of the key things I appreciate in a hybrid-powered vehicle is a seamless hand-off between petrol and electric power. Not every manufacturer can do a smooth shift between the two disciplines, but Toyota has been doing hybrids long enough now that the changeover is imperceptible.

It sets up a serene and refined driving experience elsewhere. There's very little noise experienced inside the cabin on the move, and the cabin ambience isn't interrupted by abrupt wheel slap noises through potholes or over rough terrain.

Loud engine noises can be heard at a standstill, say, if you're static at a set of traffic lights, though it's not long before the engine switches off after generating some charge for the battery.

It's a nice-riding car across the board – speed humps are absorbed with a soft initial compression and the rebound control is impressive.

The steering is lovely and light, which makes for easy manoeuvrability around town. There's not too much feel, in the way of feedback, but the light handling makes it simple for anyone to steer the RAV4 through a series of twisty roads.

The RAV4 AWD's 163kW power output is all you need in this type of medium SUV. It punches away from a set of traffic lights quickly and the continuously variable automatic transmission is quick to respond to changing throttle inputs. The CVT is also not the type that drones on loudly.

A Sport driving mode is available for zippier powertrain response, but I never required the setting. Likewise, Eco and full-EV drive modes are available. That said, it annoyingly doesn't take long in EV mode to revert to petrol power – roughly 20–30km/h or a few hundred metres of tarmac is all the car's battery can take, usually.

It's easy to manoeuvre about town thanks to the light steering, and its 4615mm body is simply reversed into tight parking spots. It's generally a very well rounded car to drive, no matter whether you're in town or further afield.

Can a Toyota RAV4 tow?

Toyota rates the RAV4 Hybrid AWD for towing up to 1500kg using a braked trailer or 750kg without.

The payload is calculated at 470kg – enough to carry just over five adults weighing 87kg each.

Should I buy a Toyota RAV4?

The Toyota RAV4 is popular in Australia because it's a known quantity. You know you're going to get reliability, affordable servicing, frugal running costs, and an extensive dealer network that allows for flexible maintenance.

These attributes go a lot of the way to explaining why the model has held long wait lists over the past few years.

But there are now other options in the medium SUV market that are doing similar, or even better, things. The new hybrid Hyundai Tucson is a flashy prospect with a presentable interior full of features, while the Nissan X-Trail is more affordable than the Toyota RAV4 and arguably offers a nicer driving experience.

There's nothing inherently wrong with a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid purchase – it's a great, practical car. But the model has been left to languish over the past few years – with minimal updates – and the rest of the medium SUV market has caught up with compelling alternatives.

How do I buy a Toyota RAV4? The next steps.

The Toyota RAV4 Edge is the range-topping variant with all the fruit, but better value is likely found further down the range. The Toyota RAV4 XSE represents a good middle ground between features, price and technology. You can read a review about that variant here.

The good news is that Toyota tells us supply has improved, particularly of hybrids. That means further reductions in customer wait times for the second half of 2024. Many variants are already back to around 4–6 months’ wait; a significant improvement on the 12–24 months customers have been experiencing in years past.

The next step on the purchase journey is to check the Toyota website for stock of your preferred RAV4 variant. You can also find Toyotas for sale at Drive Marketplace.

We strongly recommend taking a test drive at a dealership before committing because personal needs and tastes can differ. Find your nearest Toyota dealer via this link. We'd also recommend test-driving the Hyundai Tucson N Line Premium or the Nissan X-Trail Ti-L e-Power because they’re popular with consumers and are a good benchmark.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD review appeared first on Drive.