2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review

Acceleration is snappy, especially from around 25 to 40 mph. Electric assist combined with the gas engine's 176 horsepower keeps enough power on tap for lively slingshots around traffic. Our RAV4 Hybrid test unit covered 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, a solid result that's more than a second quicker than the non-hybrid RAV4 we've tested.

The hybrid's brakes differ from those of a regular RAV4. They are effective in daily situations, but the pedal feels vague and mushy and lacks the feedback needed to stop smoothly every time. Panic-stop performance is underwhelming, largely because of the economy-minded tires. In our braking test, the RAV4 Hybrid needed 131 feet to stop from 60 mph at our test track. Most other top small SUVs stop in the low 120s.

The steering is vague around its center point when you're driving at highway speeds. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to make tiny corrections to stay centered. The thing is, it does track well enough if you don't fuss with it. The steering gets more direct when you're driving around turns, but even then there's no real feedback or sense of the road.

With the XSE trim and its sport-tuned suspension, the hybrid provides good composure and stability when turning quick corners. It shakes off midcorner bumps without losing stability, and there's minimal body roll. There isn't enough tire grip for any truly sporty driving, but it's consistent with the class.

The hybrid's unique continuously variable automatic transmission is smooth at all speeds, whether in town or cruising on the highway. It also copes well with gentle acceleration. But digging into the pedal for any quick burst will rev up the engine and generate the typical obnoxious engine droning that some passengers will not like.

All-wheel drive and 8.1 inches of ground clearance give the hybrid some basic tools for modest trail or all-terrain work. It's enough to warrant consideration as a dual-purpose car that saves gas by the week and gets to the ski hill or trailhead by the weekend.

The front seats have padding that is both supportive and pliable, and aside from a flattish bottom cushion, they're generally well-shaped. But these are not cradling sport seats, so you'll find yourself sliding around during spirited driving. The rear seats are comfortable enough and recline but lack side bolstering.

Despite the XSE's sport-tuned suspension, its underpinnings offer a good combination of comfort and control. Body motion is neither busy nor floaty, and rough patches of bumps and dips don't really upset the cabin. Harsh impacts from driving over potholes sound sharper than they feel, which suggests a need for more sound-deadening materials.

The hybrid powertrain toggles between silent and overly noisy, depending on what the engine and transmission are doing. Road noise is nicely muted, but at highway speeds you will hear wind noise if you leave the optional roof rack crossbars fitted. The hybrid system makes Toyota's familiar assortment of electrical whizzings, clickings and whirrings at odd intervals.

There's suitable airflow throughout the cabin thanks to strong fan speeds and easily adjusted air vents front and rear. It gets to temp quickly, too. Chunky rubberized control knobs are easy to use, even with gloves. The seat heaters warm quickly, but even the highest setting the seats don't get all that hot.

Most every control is logically placed and easy to figure out at a glance. We like how the audio and climate systems are clearly separated. The biggest drawback is the long reach for the driver to the touchscreen and the tuning knob.

The high-mounted front seats make for easy entry and exit. The narrow doorsills and minimal side and thigh bolsters also make easy work of getting in and out of the back seat. But the low fixed point of the rear seats will force you to "drop in" slightly on entry.

The tilt-and-telescoping steering column will help you dial in a clear view of the road ahead. But the height of the front seats, even at their lowest setting, might still be too high for taller drivers.

The RAV4 doesn't feel claustrophobic in any seat. The rear seat is especially spacious in all directions. It reclines, too. Taller drivers may feel too close to the roof even in the lowest height setting, and the front passenger's high-mounted seat cannot be lowered at all.

The slim front roof pillars help mitigate front-corner blind spots, ensuring a good view of pedestrians and curbs while turning. A rising window line compromises some rear-side visibility, but extra windows behind the rear doors do much to minimize the blind spot. The optional surround-view camera offers multiple useful viewing angles, but the image is fairly low-res.

Interior surfaces, touch points and assembly all feel high-quality. Nice tactile touches abound, such as rubberized grips on dials and soft landings for elbows. Toyota's SofTex simulated-leather upholstery feels soft and pliable, and the stitching looks tight and tidy, even if the fabric inserts give it a bit of a rental-car feel.

A small center console and molded door pockets large enough for a medium-size bottle are the extent of the hybrid's most useful storage nooks. A nifty tray lined with rubber grip spans a length above the glovebox for items such as a phone or sunglasses. It's a neat idea seemingly imported from the Highlander.

The hybrid impressively offers the same luggage room (37.5 cubic feet) as its gas counterpart. A low loading height and wide opening make for easy cargo shuffling. The optional stereo system subwoofer takes up some corner space, but a small cubby with secure netting helps you store smaller items. Four tie-down hooks and a 12-volt power outlet enhance the hybrid's utility.

Lower car seat anchors are easily accessible at the base of rear seatbacks. A swatch of vinyl above lower car seat anchor points should help prevent fabric wear due to frequent car seat changes — a nice touch. Top tether anchor points behind the rear seatbacks are also easily accessible and are hidden out of sight by fabric flaps. The RAV4 has plenty of room for forward-facing seats, but installing a bulky rear-facing seat may require sliding up the front seats somewhat.

Other RAV4 variants, such as the non-hybrid Adventure model, can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The hybrid is stuck with a 1,750-pound towing capacity, but that's still a bit better than what you'll get from some other small SUVs.

The display is large, and it's easy to pull up maps and menus using touchscreen icons and fixed buttons surrounding the bezel. The graphics look dated, but otherwise the system works well. The optional JBL audio system delivers full, clear sound.

Apple CarPlay is available, but Android users will still need to interface with Toyota's clunky Entune system. Only one USB port transmits data, but passengers can charge their devices with four USB ports (two front, two rear). Bluetooth pairing is easy and requires few confirmation steps, and an optional wireless charging pad will hold today's largest phones.

The impressive group of driver aids includes stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and Lane Tracing Assist, Toyota's nearly self-steering system. In our testing, it worked well in dense highway traffic and free-flowing roads with clear lane markings. Adaptive cruise control defaults to the farthest following distance each time it's switched on.

Voice commands are available for basic phone, audio and navigation functions, but they require careful and deliberate verbal input that's easier after you spend time using the setup wizard to teach it your voice. Android and iPhone can go directly to Siri or Google Voice instead by pressing and holding the voice button.

All RAV4 Hybrid models come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor with a continuously variable automatic transmission. And an additional electric motor is used to power the rear wheels in low-traction situations. Total system output is 219 horsepower.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on all RAV4 Hybrid models and includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, auto high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control.

The base LE trim comes relatively well equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a rearview camera, LED headlights and daytime running lights, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats with adjustable recline, and dual-zone climate control.

Infotainment is handled by a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration (Android Auto isn't available), Toyota Connected Services (includes onboard Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, one USB port, and a six-speaker sound system.

The XLE trim adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, automatic headlights, integrated foglights, proximity entry with push-button start, a sunroof, upgraded fabric upholstery, sliding sun visor extensions, and additional USB ports (five total, including two for the rear seats).

Options for the XLE include the Weather package, which adds a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel and automatic wipers with a de-icer function. The XLE Convenience package equips a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a power liftgate. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite radio can also be added to the XLE.

Moving up to the XSE gets you the 8-inch touchscreen system and the contents of the Convenience package. You also get black-painted 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, two-tone exterior paint, simulated-leather upholstery (SofTex), upgraded interior trim materials, a digital speedometer, a 7-inch digital driver-information display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera, and additional interior ambient lighting.

Optional for the XLE and the XSE is a Technology package with front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear cross-traffic braking, an auto-dimming rearview mirror (XLE), and a wireless charging pad (XSE only).

At the top of the range is the Limited. It arrives with 18-inch chrome-finished wheels, the parking sensors and automatic rear cross-traffic braking, an integrated navigation system, and two-position memory for the driver's seat.

But wait, there's more! The Limited Grade Weather package adds a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear passenger seats, and the de-icing and automatic wipers. You can also get the Limited Grade Advanced Technology package with proximity-entry sensors on all four doors, foot activation for the power liftgate, the wireless charging pad, and a surround-view parking camera system.

Finally, the XSE and the Limited can be upgraded with an 11-speaker JBL stereo system (bundled with navigation for XSE) and a panoramic sunroof. Adaptive headlights are available as a stand-alone option for the Limited.