I’m rolling along congested urban streets. The is barely whispering. The speedometer tells me I鈥檓 moving at 50 km/h and the battery is doing the engine鈥檚 work quietly and efficiently.
It鈥檚 getting warm, and, without me looking for the control, my right arm knows where the large temperature dial and fan speed button are. My mother calls and the infotainment screen lets me accept the call through Apple CarPlay. I keep driving and passing gas stations with confidence, knowing that I can squeeze nearly 1,000 km per tank here. After ending the call with my mom, it鈥檚 now too quiet in here. In a quirky turn of events, my Spotify daily mix offers up Simon and Garfunkel鈥檚 鈥淭he Sound of Silence.鈥
础听聽is the best option for an alternative fuel vehicle in the modern market. This is thanks to the self-charging hybrid technology that drives the front wheels through the engine and hybrid motor. When the rear wheels are needed, accessed via the on-demand all-wheel drive, they rely on their own motor to spin them.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
There’s no plugging in; simply start the car and drive!
Here, there鈥檚 a monitor that lets you know just where and how the power is being distributed.
What does that mean for you?
More time in motion and lower fuel costs.
The RAV4 is 91原创鈥檚 bestselling non-pickup truck.
Why?
Let鈥檚 start with the remarkable fuel economy figures, as measured by Natural Resources 91原创 in its average of litres used per 100 km driven; 5.8 in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and six combined, with a 55-litre fuel tank running on regular 87 octane fuel.
What does that mean for you? Nearly 1,000 km of driving between gas station visits. Only the matches these figures.
All RAV4 hybrids feature standard all-wheel drive for added traction in inclement weather.
A 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine keeps the RAV4 hybrid in motion. It produces a healthy 219 horsepower. Reaching highway speeds is done quickly and having the extra oomph beneath your right foot can help avoid a collision. Both city and highway driving are comfortable and the hybrid system allows you to drive with battery-only power at lower speeds, which saves you fuel. The car is good for long and short drives thanks to comfortable, supportive seats.
The tradeoff is the use of an electronic continuous variable transmission, which contributes to efficiency but can be slightly droning at higher speeds. The vehicle boasts a large cargo area of up to 1,977 l, with the rear seats down, and a spacious 1,059 with the rear seats up.
Practicality is a theme here and it continues in the cabin. As several automakers migrate to larger screens, haptic touch controls and futuristic designs, Toyota鈥檚 2024 RAV4 hybrid remains as a balance of modern and traditional throughout.
When you first sit down in the driver鈥檚 seat, you鈥檒l notice large dials and buttons for the temperature controls, easy-to-see-and-use steering wheel controls, an equally simple-to-read instrument cluster and an old-school gear lever. It almost feels old by current design.
Heated seats, five USB charging ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual-zone climate controls come standard. My tester was the XLE trim, second from the bottom of the range, and it provided the more-than-adequate standard seven-inch instrument cluster (there鈥檚 a 12.3-inch digital offering on higher trims) and the standard eight-inch infotainment screen. Higher trims feature a slightly larger 10.5-inch screen. All the screen sizes are more than enough for daily driving.
The climate controls are oh-so-easy-to-use with large dials, clearly labelled buttons and an easy-to-read screen. The only oddity is the heated steering wheel button, above your left knee.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The top “Limited” trim features ventilated seats, heated rear seats and a power passenger seat, while all but the base trim feature a large sunroof, power tailgate, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and push-button start. Toyota has packaged the RAV4 hybrid well, so there鈥檚 something for nearly every buyer in this segment.
If standard safety ranks high on your list, the RAV4 hybrid includes the following: right- and left-turn, oncoming pedestrian detection and braking; lane-tracing assist; left-turn, oncoming vehicle detection and braking; automatic high beams; lane-departure alert with steering assist; pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, cyclist detection and night time pedestrian detection; a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.
The price ranges from $35,950 for the LE and caps out at $46,950 for the Limited. Add in freight, predelivery inspection and other fees, and, of course, provincial taxes, and the Toyota RAV4 hybrid is competitively priced.
Compact crossovers are popular and the new leader in the segment blends style, substance and sips fuel, which makes it a great choice for those looking for a hybrid.
Correction - March 12, 2024
The fact box accompanying this article was edited from a previous version to update the fuel economy figures for the vehicle.聽
The previous version included these incorrect figures of聽 10.6 litres/100 km in the city; eight l/100 km on the聽highway; 9.4 l/100 km聽combined
Camp is an experience the lasts a lifetime that many kids don鈥檛 have access to.
With your support, the 91原创 Star Fresh Air Fund provides opportunities for financially vulnerable children to ignite a lifelong love for adventure at camp. Above all, your kindness makes it happen.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation