It may seem hard to believe, but 2019 was a long time ago. Or wait, does it feel like it was 100 years ago? Either way, the 2024 Toyota RAV4’s unmatched variety represents the sixth model year since the best-selling compact SUV was totally redesigned.
It was a thoroughly impressive redesign, which injected character and capability into what had been a rather dull product, but as they say, time moves on. Importantly, so does the competition, and the RAV4 is now one of the segment’s elder statesmen.
The Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, and most notably, Honda CR-V have all been redesigned in recent years and in many ways, are stronger than the RAV4 as a result. All of that said, we still recommend the 2024 Toyota RAV4’s unmatched variety of trim levels, exceptional fuel economy, and long-term ownership prospects. Quite simply, it’ll still make sense for a lot of buyers. The hybrids, in particular, including the Prime plug-in hybrid, are our top choices given their superior fuel economy and performance.
Should you be more into a sportier vibe, the SE and XSE remain exclusive to Hybrid and are the best RAV4s to drive on-road. Really, there’s something for everyone, along with a solid backbone of well-rounded practicality.
What are the RAV4 interior and in-car technology like?
Interior materials are acceptably average for the RAV4’s compact crossover class, and much better than past generations. Materials and build quality are excellent. That said, the RAV4 never achieves the near-luxury vibe of its rivals’ top trim levels.
Genuine leather is not available, and the SofTex vinyl that comes on up-level models isn’t a convincing substitute. This could certainly be a problem on pricier trim levels.
Nevertheless, we like the use of colorful trim pieces that differentiate the various models. And if you are going for a more premium vibe, the Toyota Venza is basically just a fancier RAV4 Hybrid. And the new Lexus NX is a fancier step beyond that.
In-car storage is better than most with large and versatile cupholders, an easily accessed spot to store and charge your phone, an under-armrest bin, and unique shelves built into the dash.
In the cargo area, the floor is double-sided (one carpet, one easy-to-clean plastic) and the cargo cover can be hidden away below it. Neither is included with the RAV4 Prime, but we do like that it provides a spot for the cumbersome portable charge cord: It cleverly can be wrapped around a foam doughnut within the spare tire. Usually, a plug-in vehicle resorts to a small briefcase-like bag that takes up cargo space.
Technology Shift Could be Improved
An all-digital instrument panel is found on top trim levels and is basically expected now in the segment. It’s fine. The touchscreen interface, which was new last year, is also just fine. The good news is that it looks far more modern than the RAV4’s old interface, has more state of the art features, and reacts far quicker to user inputs. The screens are also bigger, with the base touchscreen growing to 8 inches (below left) and the top-of-the-line growing to 10.5 (below right). The bad news is that they’re no longer accompanied by the handy physical menu buttons that made the outgoing system so user-friendly (the radio controls were also far better).
Going in between Toyota’s controls and the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interfaces are particularly annoying without the old home button or at least menu buttons permanently docked on the screen. How you feel about any of this will largely depend on how you use a car’s tech interface, but either way, we think the systems of most rivals remain superior.
How big is the RAV4?
The RAV4 isn’t class-leading when it comes to passenger or cargo space, but we’re really talking about degrees of “really big and practical” when sizing up the merits of the RAV4 versus the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The important thing is that it remains one of the most practical small SUVs. Full-sized adults and rear-facing child seats will have no problem fitting, and if you’re seeking family-friendly transportation, it’s hard to imagine being disappointed by the RAV4’s passenger space. It’s a similar situation with cargo space. The specs say it has 69.8 cubic-feet of maximum cargo space and 37.5 cubic-feet with the back seat raised. That’s bigger and better than most compact crossovers (including the Honda CR-V), but ultimately less than the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.
We should note however, the RAV4 Hybrid includes a spare tire, whereas the Tucson Hybrid and CR-V hybrid models do not (the Sportage does).
Now, the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid does lose its spare tire and some cargo space as well since its floor is higher, but we doubt you’d notice the resulting difference. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention the RAV4’s ample ground clearance, which contribute to it being one of the more capable compact SUVs off road. Only the Subaru Forester, Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk have greater clearance than the off-road-oriented RAV4s.
Even the lowest RAV4 — the XSE Hybrid — still clears 8 inches, which is better than most.
What are the RAV4 fuel economy and performance specs?
The standard RAV4 powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 203 hp. That’s above average for the segment, but acceleration doesn’t wow, with a run from 0-60 mph taking an estimated 8.1 seconds. An eight-speed auto and front-wheel drive are standard, while two all wheel drive systems are optional depending on trim level.
The RAV4 Hybrid gets a different 2.5-liter engine along with three electric motors that combine to offer up 219 horsepower.
Fuel economy estimates for 2024 were not available at the time of this writing, but it’s doubtful they’d change substantially from the 2023 estimates listed here. With front-wheel drive, the RAV4 returns 11.5 l/km city, 14.8 /km highway. The hybrid RAV4 returns 17.5 l/km city, 16.5 /km highway.
In Conclusion,
Pros: Toyota RAV4’s Unmatched Variety; strong fuel economy; available plug-in hybrid; reliability and resale value
Cons: Unrefined powertrains; tech interface can frustrate; less luxurious than rivals
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