The venerable urban 4×4 has been given a hybrid powertrain, but it’s now in a crowded marketplace. Can the new Rav4 Hybrid compete?
The Toyota Rav4 emerged at around the same time as the Spice Girls. Both products were destined for mid-nineties success by virtue of their cheerful, slightly plasticky nature. If anything could define the year 1997, it would probably be Wannabe reverberating around the scratchy interior of a first-gen Rav4.
Toyota was clearly onto something though, as every other car is now a chunky, upright, urban 4×4 with off-road pretensions and a high driving position. This latest iteration, a hybrid, is also up against some stiff competition.
It looks much more aggressive than it did in its previous form. It’s angular and has a gaping front end, part of the distinctively divisive Toyota design language. It doesn’t turn heads but it’ll look good wherever it goes.
While it has off-road aspirations and some 4×4 capability, it also looks good in town. It isn’t as utilitarian-looking as Rav4s of old, and the ‘hybrid’ badge on the back separates it from the gas-guzzling soft-roaders that still crowd the school gates.
Realistically, this isn’t a car you’ll crave on an emotional level, rather one you’ll choose after objective consideration.
The 4×4 version of the Hybrid will deliver the best part of 200bhp, and it’ll tow over 1,600kg. This means the Rav4 Hybrid is a viable light utility car, and it effectively replaces the diesel 4×4 for those who want a bit of a workhorse.
Inside, the cabin is spacious enough for four adults to travel in comfort. The boot is decent, with 501 litres of space with the back seats in place and 1,633 litres with the seats folded. The seats don’t fold flat, though, and the cargo space is an awkward shape.
The Rav4 Hybrid will reach 62mph in a solid 8.4 seconds. It’s not a performance car and was never meant to be, but this acceleration makes the car feel quite nippy. The CVT gearbox generates some noise but when left to its own devices will help propel the car smoothly up to cruising speed without any drama, great on slip roads or when pulling out of junctions.
A well-hidden button allows you to engage ‘EV’ mode, which will keep the car running silently on battery power only for as long as possible, but there’s hardly any range in this system, a mile or so, at best.
Depending how and where you drive, the Rav4’s value is in running costs. It’s not a cheap car to buy, but it is a cheap car to keep on the road – it consumes a thrifty cocktail of petrol and self-generated electricity, and Toyota’s legendary reliability and build quality should keep maintenance costs low.
If you’re looking for a light 4×4, take the Rav4 for a test drive. It doesn’t corner like an Elise and it won’t win any prizes for the way it looks, but the hybrid powertrain coupled with 4×4 capabilities offers a lot of practicality to make up for it. If you’re accustomed to the oomph of a diesel but want to kick the habit, now’s a good time to start.
THE FACTS
Model: Toyota Rav4 Hybrid
Price: From £26,195
Engine: 2.5-litre petrol engine powering electric motors
Performance: Top speed 112mph, 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds
Economy: Two-wheel-drive 57.6mpg, four-wheel-drive 55.4mpg
CO2 rating: Two-wheel drive 115g/km, four-wheel-drive 118g/km