Our manufacturing partner introduced the XLE Premium version for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to build on what the existing LX and XLE models have already offered. The 2023 TOYOTA RAV4 has a braked towing capacity from 1500kg to 800kg depending on the variant and an unbraked towing capacity from 480kg to 750kg depending on the variant.There might not have ever been a review of any Toyota RAV4 model year that said the vehicle was under-equipped. It makes the RAV4 a very easy car to live with, and its all-round consistency and competency is no doubt a key driver to its sales success not just in Australia but globally. Where previous generations of product had overzealous steering corrections and an infuriating range of beeps and bongs, this latest iteration is intuitive, more natural and more likely to be kept on.Īdaptive cruise control and Lane Tracing Assist work well to take the load off longer freeway stints, while blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and surround cameras aid visibility at various speeds. Toyota’s suite of assists are impressive. As noted earlier the TNGA underpinnings and communicative controls mean it’s not a bore to pilot this thing through bends, and if you flick it into Power mode both power sources team up to give you a bit of shove. When things get twisty the RAV4 is happy to play along, too. When you’re not wringing its neck, the RAV4 Hybrid gets along in a smooth and relaxed manner, and the shuffling between power sources is generally pretty seamless bar the change in sound. That applies to the 2.0-litre, too.Īnother issue across the range is the presence of tyre roar on rougher road surfaces. As is the case with Toyota’s hybrid engines, pushing hard can result in a vocal, unrefined soundtrack. The hybrid is more athletic, though hit the throttle a little harder and the 2.5-litre petrol quickly fires, as the CVT flares revs to keep you in the power band. It doesn’t have much oomph until you’re carrying some revs, with some breathless moments as the speedo gradually climbs. You can chirp the tyres easily in front-wheel drive hybrid models but you won’t with the base 2.0-litre. You can silently putt along below 40km/h on flat ground or descents. With the hybrid powertrain, it almost always sets off on e-power, and the petrol engine kicks in once things are rolling. It’s no wonder the Toyota RAV4 has proven to be so popular with Australian families, given its spacious and versatile interior. Should you need to fit a third person in the middle, the seat itself is wide enough to be reasonably comfortable for longer journeys, but if you are putting three teenagers in the back regularly, it may be worth looking at a Kluger. ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard positions mean parents can get little ones secured, and there are bottle holders in the doors and air vents. In the second row the Toyota continues to be one of the class leaders, with more than enough room for two tall adults even behind other tall adults in the front. There’s also the shelf midway up the dashboard in front of the passenger that can hold phones and wallets. Space and storage up front is pretty good, with a decent cubby under the front-centre armrest, deep door bins that can accommodate larger bottles, as well as cupholders between the front seats. At least it has physical shortcut buttons, though. The graphics aren’t super flashy, the screen resolution is fairly average compared to Korean and European alternatives, and response times are laggy. The 8.0-inch central touchscreen is well featured on paper – offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and, on most models, satellite navigation – but in operation it feels quite old hat. Where the RAV4 feels a little behind the benchmarks is in its displays and infotainment system. The touchpoints are all soft-touch or leather/leatherette-lined, the ergonomics are sound, and visibility is great. Opting for the Cruiser and Edge gets you padded, leatherette-lined door tops compared to the hard plastic of lower grades, but otherwise the fundamentals are the same. Eight-way power seat adjustment (front passenger).18-inch alloy wheels in gloss black (Hybrid).10-way power adjustment with lumbar support (driver).Reversing camera with active guide lines.LED headlights (parabolic, auto-levelling in petrol projector in hybrid).Dual-zone climate control (hybrid only).60/40 split-fold rear seats and centre armrest.8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
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