Used 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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Love This SUV!
Jenny, 02/25/2018
updated 03/01/2021
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
99 of 99 people found this review helpful
A second update to my original review. Now, after four years' ownership and 46K miles, I still love this hybrid! Still tight and handles like a new vehicle, best car my family has owned. One update to the audio system (listed at the end). As it has broken in, my city MPG has improved to 36 MPG! This is 2-3 MPG better than my former Camry Hybrid and this RAV4 hybrid weighs more and has a huge trunk. Two big improvements over the old Camry Hybrid that I forgot to mention are that the "hybrid" brakes are greatly improved, feel essentially the same as a non-hybrid, now. Second, the feel of the steering is also much improved, I don't think that I am driving a hybrid in either case. The built-in Nav system is wonderful, accurate and I use it all of the time. Believe it or not, the optional seat warmers are great for soothing my lower back and loosening it up on the way to the gym (as well as afterwards). I've come to like the synthetic leather seat fabric, it doesn't get as hot during the summer as real leather and I don't have to use a leather conditioner on it. Feel very secure with all of the Toyota Safety Sense gizmos, worth every penny. Still unhappy with the Premium JBL Audio, a good table radio (Bose or Tivoli) sounds 10X better. Despite this crappy sound system, I'd gladly buy another RAV4 Hybrid if I didn't own this one! This is our second Toyota hybrid. Gifted our 11 y.o. Camry Hybrid after many miles and zero trouble, so we were interested in another Toyota hybrid. Drove the RAV4-H and loved it, but thought that we should also give the highly acclaimed 2018 CRV a try (we also own a recent CRV). The CRV is an excellent SUV, but we were leery of the long term reliability of a turbo engine and our past Hondas (4) have not lived up to their mpg ratings. Bought a RAV4-H Limited w/Adv. Tech. Package. Very happy with this car, getting 30+ mpg around town, which is only about 10% less than our former Camry-H. Quiet, smooth, comfortable, feels very safe. One significant Con to be aware of is that the Premium JBL Audio is nothing to write home about, mediocre sound at best (the Honda CRV Touring's premium sound system is no better), not worth the extra money. Minor Con, there is only 1 USB, which is tethered to the Entune system, whereas the CRV has lots. Added two Amazon USB adapters, one to the front 12V jack, another to a rear console 12V jack (for rear seat occupants), and all is good. Another minor Con that none of the reviews we read mentioned, the dashboard casts a significant reflection upon the lower part of the windshield in strong sunlight (the CRV has this issue, too). Dashboard mat on order. Other than these minor issues, we love our RAV4-H, especially when driving past our neighbors filling up their SUVs at the local gas station! 2019 Update. Got tired of the mediocre sounding JBL system and replaced all 6 of the door and dash speakers as well as the subwoofer with much better units as recommended by Crutchfield. Subwoofer amp installed in the flip-up storage area on the trunk floor just behind the seats (unique to the Hybrid). Subwoofer is one that fits in the same panel space as the OEM unit. Used the OEM JBL electronics. Sounds fantastic now.
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great vehicle, very poor software implementation
Bob, 01/10/2018
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
62 of 63 people found this review helpful
i was very impressed with this car. living in oregon, i was not expecting the car to reach it’s milage standard (ethanol blend gas) but so far we’re averaging about 34mpg combined. on a road trip to CA the milage was more towards 38mpg. the sound system, handling, styling are all great. the only negative, and it’s a big one, is their entune software system. it’s a “substitute” for apple/android carplay. it just doesn’t work. it doesn’t remember your phone or password and will randomly shut down. it’s time for toyota/lexus to support apple/android carplay and give up on this entune nonsense. reading reviews in the app store will give more than enough info on the subject.
More of everything
Michael, 02/14/2018
updated 08/17/2020
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
39 of 40 people found this review helpful
The 2018 RAV4 does give you more than you expect without a lot of fluff. While I see some feel the CRV a bit more luxurious, I found it cramped and lacking without the hybrid option. The comparative Lexus NX which does offer a hybrid version suffers from the same feeling of being in a cockpit with an asking price far exceeding the Toyota version. I think its a great choice for those wanting more flexibility than found in a Camry but do not need or want a Highlander size trade up. I do think that black interiors, a common color in the RAV does make it seem dreary and challenging to keep to clean. I happened to get one with a cinnamon interior and think it makes the interior design far more attractive. It looks perfect with the the metallic gray exterior. I have had leather before in my Camry (gray) and have seen it age after only 7 years despite conditioning it regularly; hope the softex has a more extended life. Since its a Limited, would have expected dual power seats but its my only disappointment. Well, one more I guess...CD players have gone too. Did not catch that initially until I went to play one and realize it....I am getting old! Update: solid car, no surprises except the all weather floor mats hard to keep clean and switched to carpet ones. Neither is high quality but carpet is more resilient. Another update: No real issues but I am driving even less due to pandemic. This lack of driving seemed to have contributed to a block in the a/c drain and condensation backed up in the cabin. Would not have noticed except it dripped on my passenger and we both noticed the wet carpets. This required a/c service to clean out lines and replace filters and sanitize carpet to remove mold. Caught early enough but I was told some folks have had cars totaled due to black mold spreading through the cabin,,,,glad we caught it in time.
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Better than expected
ARG1, 09/17/2018
updated 09/17/2019
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
35 of 36 people found this review helpful
The 2018 RAV4 is my 3rd RAV4, 1st hybrid. My 2016 gas xle drove like a sedan with a 27.5 combined mpg. Pretty good handling slow acceleration...just a very reliable car. The 2018 hybrid is giving me a combined 37.5mpg...is pretty quiet and has good exceleration...roomier than the 2016...takes curves well (I live in the Poconos)...the only concern so far is the noise and jolt when the gas engine kicks in after being in electric mode. Update: I now have the car for a year & my initial impression has been correct. I'm averaging about 36mpg city & 34mpg hwy. Traction in snow with the AWD was good with the factory all season Michelins. This car will never win any races...acceleration is adequate for normal driving. The 2018 RAV4 is a reliable family SUV.
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On the road again!
Alan VanTassel, 12/27/2017
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
61 of 66 people found this review helpful
I have found this SUV to be the best auto I have ever driven. I don't say that from a small perspective. I have owned at least 22 cars and trucks of different makes and models. I now own this vehicle, my 2007 Mustang GT and my wife's 2005 Prius, our second Prius. We were sold on the idea of a Hybrid. I don't want to give up my pony car. So we shopped. One day we were getting the Prius serviced RAV 4 which I would not have recognized as a RAV 4. Toyota has completely redesigned this vehicle. The color (metallic blue) and the look of the vehicle sold me right there. My wife intervened to make sure I didn't give away the farm. The salesman, Jose, didn't miss a beat. I asked him about some of the features. He offered me a drive. Long story short, we bought it that day. I have found that the handling on the road, mountain roads, local roads, and freeways is exemplary. The steering system is very refined in all arenas. There is a line of sight issue that produces a blind spot. This issue is mitigated by two little square mirror in the corner of the very large review mirrors in on the front doors. My question was about power. I love my V8. I love the way it sounds, the way it picks up and the way it drives. Taking the step to drive a four cylinder from my V8 was a very large step, I thought, down. To my surprise, it was a step up. This vehicle is equipped with a tachometer. It isn't labelled as a tachometer, but it is. It also has a transmission that can be switched over from automatic 6 to standard 6. There is no clutch. You just move the shift lever over to begin moving the lever up and down based on moving from a lower gear to a higher one and visa versa. Watching the tachometer, I enjoy moving through the gears as a drive up and down hills and around curves. Road stability in these moves is outstanding. I have had more fun driving this car than I have had driving any car including the Mustangs I have owned. It is a very well-put-together vehicle. I have confidence that I will own it for many years. It has been a long time since my wife and I have planned and across-the-country road trip. We are planning to take our RAV 4 across country this summer. I am really looking forward to it.
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Buy the LE model . Add aftermarket luxury
Tommy Farrell, 10/20/2018
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
32 of 34 people found this review helpful
Didn’t want a sun roof or care about electric seats or automatic hatch opening and wanted to pay lowest possible. After purchase I added Katzkin leather seats, Pioneer wireless Apple CarPlay, Weather Tech floor mats , LED fog lamps. 2k aftermarket saved me 10k on the front end.
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I Have A Great Car
Cedric, 01/29/2019
updated 01/31/2020
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
The purchase of my vehicle was exactly as expected. I'm satisfied with my research and selection. I love my car. I like this car better than my previously purchased Honda Element (2007, purchased in 2009) and my previously purchased Subaru Legacy Outback (2000). I wanted a car that had great acceleration, which I feel this one is for an SUV type. I wanted a hybrid vehicle that was stress-free, which this one is. I wanted heated driver and front passenger seating, which this is. Finally, I wanted a vehicle that had great console technology and I have to say that the technology is a disappointment. I'm still happy with my purchase however, I would have liked the technology to do the following for me: give me access to voice enabled texting for my iPhone (the tech is not compatible with my texting). The iPhone has a voice activated texting function, however I do not recommended to use while driving because it still requires you to handle your phone. I would like to see some feature that can access my google maps, the technology doesn't support my google maps where I can see it on the monitor. There is no alternate way to access my google maps. Instead it gives me it's own navigation system which is not as accurate as google maps but it's not bad. I can access my podcast from Stitcher by using the Bluetooth function. In other cars I've rented this past year, I have seen a far better user experience than in my own vehicle. I love my car but I am not at all thrilled by the technology as it is mostly useless. Thank goodness the Bluetooth function works!
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My first Hybrid
Wayne, 03/17/2018
updated 09/19/2018
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
37 of 40 people found this review helpful
Overall, I think the RAV4 is a great Hybrid SUV. The ride is smooth and acceleration adequate. I feel safe driving this car. The view of the road is probably the best I've had out of any car I've owned. Other pluses are the comfortable "fake" leather seats, roomy interior, and advance safety features that come standard. There are some cons I wish Toyota would fix. First is their crappy navigational system and Entune Infotainment system. The maps that come with the car are outdated and it costs over $200 to get new maps installed that are at least 1-2 years old. The infotainment system doesn't support Android Auto. Get with the program and update the software Toyota! The regenerative brakes feel squishy...you have to apply more foot pressure than normal to get the vehicle to slow and stop. Other than those two things, I would highly recommend this vehicle for its fuel economy, reliability, and comfortable/practical driving experience. The AWD comes in handy too in bad weather.
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Can’t see the speed ometer during the day
Ron, 02/16/2018
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
24 of 26 people found this review helpful
The speedometer is impossible to see during the day, but easy at night. The car is comfortable, lots of leg room on the passenger side. That’s where I sit, I am 6’2” . I have to use a walker and it fits sideways and allows for room for luggage and groceries. I ride a recumbent trike, it fits with the front wheel on the consol. Just lock the rear wheels, strap it down with bungee cords and go. We have the hybrid, it doesn’t get the mileage that the Prius did. But for an SUV it does OK ! Haven’t had it that long to see what all it does. Except for the speedometer problem we love it. We are getting 28.6 with 523miles so far.
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MPG vs storage
rcamero1, 06/30/2018
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
41 of 46 people found this review helpful
We traded a 2008 non-Hybrid RAV4 on this one, and didn't realize how much space we would lose for our camping gear. Not a show-stopper, but a consideration. Comfort and quietness are definitely improved. It's also nice to get 35 mpg on a mixed city/hwy tank, with regular gas. It's underpowered compared to our previous V-6, but not dangerously so, just needs a bit of re-strategizing for getting into freeway traffic. Nice safety features - the radar-controlled cruise control is especially convenient and inobtrusive, as are blind spot warnings, good back-up camera (we didn't get the surround-view, which would be even nicer for parallel parking). However, the heating/airconditioning system is not intuitively obvious, and our dealer wasn't much help - two ways of defrosting, which is better? what does the a.c. light mean, since it comes on whenever the auto feature's engaged, regardless of heat or cooling needed? how do you get just plain fresh air? - those kinds of things need better explanation in the owner's manual (which is a fine publication IF you already know the answer beforehand - otherwise, it's a montage of lawyers' cya cautions, and reads like a longtime owner wrote it, not intended for the new owner at all). Oh, and by the way, if you get the hybrid, it is PROHIBITED to put a trailer hitch on it (you'll void the warranty if you do), so goodbye to rear bike carriers, since they don't make them that will work, at least not on the Hybrid SE model. Oh, and while the styling means you'll confuse it in the parking lot with about a dozen other small SUV manufacturers' models, it looks nice . . . but I miss our full size spare and the unique rear-spare look of the "old RAV4s", ah well, I guess that's just me...
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