The RAV4 XSE Hybrid AWD from Toyota is a shockingly efficient SUV for all seasons
"Nobody can complain about the practicality of the Toyota RAV4, especially with hybrid technology and all-wheel drive."
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Spacious, comfortable interior
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Attractive style
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Reliable AWD system
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Excellent fuel consumption
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So-so interior technology
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Not really suitable for offroading
Women buy 54% of cars in the United States and, unlike men, do not decide which car or model to buy based on the model or brand. Women are usually more practical and take care of the interior or the cargo space the most.
That is true in my case. As a journalist and filmmaker, I have to have a second closet in my car and enough space to bring my lighting and camera equipment. And I need space for my two babies – my dog Bruno and my cat Roberta. I really want everything.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid All-Wheel Drive (AWD) meets all of the above requirements at an affordable price. You can keep your vacation budget by understanding your financial needs, your family, and your lifestyle expectations.
As a thrill seeker, I decided to analyze this SUV on a trip where Florida alligators set the rules. Everglades National Park. The muddy park became the perfect place to experiment with the RAV4's all-wheel drive system as I thought about how it could fit into my everyday life.
AWD and off-road performance
The RAV4 Hybrid AWD is the best-selling SUV in America. While most people buy it with a 4-cylinder engine, the hybrid version offers many advantages. Thanks to the combination of a gasoline engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear, it not only delivers better mileage, but also more power than others (219 compared to the 4-cylinder 203).
The petrol engine drives the front wheels, while a 54 hp engine only drives the rear. They work together on an electronic on-demand all-wheel drive system that allows the car to decide how to supply electricity.
Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends
Such an advanced system has practical advantages under tricky conditions. The off-road experience begins by activating the trail mode, which makes the vehicle more aggressive and ready to overcome the obstacles ahead.
Although the RAV4 has no mechanical limited slip differential, it has an electronic lock. A computerized operation in which the rear electric motor is activated to give the wheels more power by turning faster and pushing the vehicle thanks to the traction it generates.
If you only use EV mode with activated trail mode, you can drive through steep gravel hills. With the automatic all-wheel drive, the computer can analyze where the torque is needed. In this case, thanks to the electric motor, up to 80% can drive to the rear wheel.
The Hybrid AWD drivetrain impressed me. In fact, Digital Trends rates the Toyota RAV4 as one of the best hybrid family SUVs available today.
The driving experience
The RAV4 AWD, which is based on a platform shared with the Camry on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), is not designed for extreme off-roading. This is probably not a surprise.
Still, his off-road skills are not pointless. Many RAV4 buyers choose the small SUV from Toyota over a Corolla or Camry because the RAV4 performs excellently under adverse conditions. The all-wheel drive system of the RAV4 is intended to strengthen driver confidence and is successful.
Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends
If you hope to be off the beaten path, make no mistake. The RAV4 Hybrid AWD currently lacks ground clearance, tire capability and suspension for serious crawling.
The RAV4 Hybrid XSE is 8.1 inches above the ground. That's enough to handle most winter storms, but not enough to keep it away from jagged rocks on a path. The RAV4 is clearly best suited for people living in the city, as it no longer has to adapt to certain situations such as flooding or snowfall in the city.
When you're ready to spend a little more money, Toyota offers the Adventure model with a 8.6-inch ground clearance. However, you cannot buy the Adventure model with the hybrid powertrain. It will still have AWD, but it will work differently than the model I drove.
However, among its main competitors, the RAV4 is the one that stands out. The Honda CR-V is a well-known rival 7.1 inches from the ground, while the Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue are at least 7.9 and 7.4 inches, respectively. The only model that fits the adventure model is the Buick Envision, which is 8.6 inches above the ground. Other competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have a ground clearance of 6.4.
Tires are also crucial in off-road conditions. The RAV4 Hybrid XSE has 18-inch all-season bikes that are covered with the Dunlop Grandtrek P20. These tires, like the rest of the RAV4 Hybrid XSE, can process some snow, but are not ideal for conditions with strong weather. In my off-road experience, the RAV4 had difficulties on an inclined gravel road – especially with the rear wheels.
Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends
The rear independent suspension ensures better traction. Because of its electric motor in the rear, it supports the car on steep hills. The articulation is not bad, but lockers (an unusual feature) or descent control (which is more common) are missing.
When driving the RAV4 Hybrid XSE on an inclined gravel road, the rear wheels simply pull. In order to get out of this situation, I had to back up and accelerate several times. The RAV4 Hybrid XSE was better on flat roads, and although its distance is minimal, the few inches it can claim compared to a Camry are appreciated.
Design and style
I brought my sister with me to learn more about the comfort and cabin of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE. She is a busy woman and mother who works as an inventory analyst between 9 and 5. It was a feast for the eyes to drive with someone whose priorities are completely different from mine, and in between operations we put the SUV through its paces.
We agreed that the RAV4 also looks sporty in a hybrid look for a small SUV. We found that the RAV4 Hybrid is suitable for a young family like my sister's or for outdoor-loving singles who want a stylish but economical ride.
The RAV4 has really conquered our hearts with its bold front grille, accompanied by LED headlights and fog lights. Our tester also had a black body package with LED taillights, spoilers, double exhaust and a panoramic sunroof to improve the view of the street.
Some of these features, such as the sunroof, are optional, but the LED lights and double exhaust tips are standard. Steel wheels are the only low-cost exterior feature of the basic RAV4 LE, and all hybrid models are upgraded to alloy wheels.
Interior and comfort
Powered by a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder gearbox (CVT). The Toyota RAV4 is a quiet ride. You can speak or hear your favorite songs from the engine without much background noise. However, my sister Isabel has a 4 year old in the house and mentioned that she would prefer the RAV4 hybrid to make more noise.
The RAV4 is a great size for city life as it is not too big. My test model also had a large rear view camera with an overhead and 360 degree panoramic view, which made parallel parking in a narrow street much easier.
Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends
Toyota offers one of the best entune infotainment on the market. A multimedia navigation system that provides satellite-based information on traffic, weather, sports results, stocks and many other functions. For $ 1,620, you get an 8-inch touchscreen with buttons and buttons, app integration like Apple CarPlay, and my sister's favorite, Wi-Fi connectivity.
Let's now compare RAV4's infotainment system with its long-standing rival: the Honda CR-V.
Hondalink's system is called Hondalink, but it's still not noticeable. The CR-V has a 7-inch display, only a volume control and no Wi-Fi connection. The appearance of the graphic display falls behind the Toyota Entune system, which has a striking 8-inch touchscreen display.
However, Entune is far from perfect. Android owners will not be enthusiastic about RAV4, as Toyota's infotainment only allows Apple CarPlay. This offers the CR-V an advantage as Hondalink supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The cabin technology of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is not up to date, but the RAV4 does have a full suite of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 features. This includes braking before a collision with pedestrian detection, lane departure alarm, automatic high beam and radar cruise control. Competitors like the CR-V from Honda and the Escape from Ford are on par with the Toyota system, but options like the Chevy Equinox and the Nissan Rogue retain all of their safety features for step-up models.
Should you buy it
As daughters of a car parts seller, my sister and I agreed on the total price, fuel consumption and the resale potential of the RAV4 XSE. For $ 38,294, you can enjoy the comfortable leather seats, a digital and analog instrument cluster, a wireless Qi charging pad, and USB chargers at the front and back.
The second row offers enough leg and head room for tall adults and has ventilation slots, but no air conditioning. The car also features an electric tailgate and a total loading capacity of 69.8 cubic feet once the rear seats have been folded down. That's at the top of the segment, although the Honda CR-V is slightly better at 75.8 cubic feet.
When comparing fuel consumption between hybrid and gas, the hybrid powertrain is worth the additional $ 1,400. The gas model gives you 25 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined. The hybrid achieves excellent 41 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 40 mpg together. You can easily make up for the costs of the hybrid upgrade over a period of five years.
The Toyota RAV4 is a practical car, family-oriented and suitable for anyone who needs a lot of space in a medium-sized vehicle. It's not the most exciting choice, but I can hardly fault the practicality of the RAV4.
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