2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid could be one of the most rational and recommendable vehicles in existence. It takes Toyota’s best-selling RAV4 – an excellent vehicle and one of our top recommendations in the compact SUV segment – and adds a gas-electric hybrid powertrain that yields up to 39 mpg combined. The story only gets better from there. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has all-wheel drive standard, and when compared to a similar, non-hybrid RAV4, it costs only $1,600 more. Also, it’s more powerful than a standard RAV4. Sometimes, these decisions make themselves.

The RAV4 Hybrid now has competitors in the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, but none can beat its MPG in an apples-to-apples comparison, and no other automaker can touch Toyota’s expertise with hybrid powertrains in general.

The standard RAV4 and RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid are reviewed separately.

What’s New

After some tech updates last year and introducing the outdoorsy Woodland Edition, 2024 is a relatively quiet year for the RAV4 Hybrid. The only updates of note are a standard activity mount to handle extra gear on the Woodland, a new weather package, and a 2-tone Army Green/black color combo for the Woodland as well.

Getting the best of both worlds seems to be a theme with the RAV4 Hybrid, and that extends to the way it drives. In addition to being more fuel efficient than the standard RAV4 – see the Hybrid’s 39 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for a similar gasoline-only RAV4 – the RAV4 Hybrid is more powerful, with a combined 219 horsepower to the regular models’ 203. And when you consider the electric motors that help power the RAV4 Hybrid, the difference is even more noticeable from behind the wheel.

That’s because an electric motor provides instant power for acceleration. None of this business of waiting around for gasoline to combust in an engine and turning mechanical couplings that ultimately power the wheels. An electric motor is like a light switch. In the everyday driving you’ll be doing in a RAV4 Hybrid, this means crisply moving away from stoplights and having some added juice for passing. We’ve come to relish both aspects in our testing of the RAV4 Hybrid.

It’s not all roses, with some drone associated with the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) used by this powertrain. Still, we think that’s a pittance to pay for better fuel economy and more power. Oh, and standard all-wheel drive. This turns out to be a win-win-win.

In other aspects, the RAV4 Hybrid feels, well, like a RAV4. That is to say, it’s comfortable, has good visibility thanks to its higher riding position, and is easy to maneuver. Hybrid SE and XSE models have a sportier suspension, but the added spice is more akin to paprika than cayenne. The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland has an outdoorsy design and what Toyota calls “trail-tailored” suspension but no added ground clearance. Still, at 8.1 inches, it’s appropriate for dirt paths and snow-speckled roads.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of hybrid SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Fuel Economy

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is rated to return 39 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. That’s nine mpg better than a regular RAV4 with all-wheel drive, saving about 10 gallons per month using EPA estimates. At $4 per gallon, that’s $40 per month. Over a 3-year buy/own/sell cycle, the RAV4 Hybrid should more than pay for its price premium for most buyers. More RAV4 Hybrid fuel economy information can be found on the EPA’s website.

This generation of the RAV4 is now in its sixth year, and in the automotive realm that’s getting a bit dated. There are now fresher rivals with snazzier, more tech-forward interiors, especially the Kia Sportage Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. This isn’t to say the RAV4 Hybrid isn’t pleasant. We find that it still holds its own, and for some drivers, its relative simplicity is a benefit. We admit to also liking the ability to quickly and easily change the temperature with a large dial instead of a needlessly complicated control (we’re looking at you, Kia Sportage).

Moreover, we think the RAV4 has among the most comfortable front seats in its class. The RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t lead the class in rear-seat legroom or cargo space, but its numbers are still up there. To be precise, there’s 37.8 inches of rear legroom, which trails the Sportage Hybrid’s 41.3 but is still plenty for most adults. Laudably, the RAV4 Hybrid’s interior measurements mimic the standard model’s. This hybrid RAV4 enjoys 37.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 69.8 with them folded. Again, that trails the Kia’s 39.5/73.7 numbers, but they’re still impressive.

Back up front, the RAV4 Hybrid benefits from an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, or a 10.5-inch unit in higher trims. These remain competitive, especially with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Standard on lower trims is a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, while an impressive 12.3-inch display comes on the Hybrid Limited and is optional on the Hybrid XSE.

As with the standard RAV4, the RAV4 Hybrid has an angular, rather chunky exterior design. It doesn’t scream “hybrid” but rather whispers it. You’ll know this is a RAV4 Hybrid by the blue-tinted Toyota emblems and small exterior badging. The most interesting model to our eyes is the Woodland Edition, which joined the lineup last year. It has bronze-colored wheels and all-terrain tires. New this year for the Woodland is an Army Green exterior with a black roof. The XSE can also be had with similar paint schemes, jazzing things up to our eye.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
This is standard in the 2024 RAV4 Hybrid, allowing smartphone integration sans cable.

High fuel economy
It’s the reason you buy a hybrid, and why you’ll smile as you fly past gasoline stations. A practical and spacious SUV with all-wheel drive that kisses 40 mpg is a wonderful thing.

Standard AWD
The combustion engine and one electric motor drives the front wheels, a second electric motor powers the rears. So, it’s not an old-school all-wheel drive (AWD) system with differentials, etc. But it is an increasingly common arrangement and one that’s just as welcome when the weather turns rough.

Digital instrument cluster
This 12.3-inch driver’s display is standard in the top Hybrid Limited trim and optional in the Hybrid XSE models. It’s customizable and can show hybrid system information.

JBL audio system
Available as an option in the XLE Premium and XSE trims, this 11-speaker/800-watt setup comes from the same parent company as the Mark Levinson systems offered in Lexus vehicles.

Advanced Technology Package
Offered with the XSE and Limited variants, this options bundle includes wireless charging, a panoramic/360-degree camera system, and a height-adjustable powered tailgate with hands-free operation.

The RAV4 Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors — one of which turns the rear wheels. The total system output is 219 horsepower. This is about typical with competitors. The Kia Sportage Hybrid has 227 horsepower, while the Tucson Hybrid has 226. The Honda CR-V Hybrid comes in lower at 204 horsepower. The maximum towing capacity of the 2024 RAV4 Hybrid is 1,750 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The new-vehicle warranty for a 2024 RAV4 Hybrid is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. Both are typical of the class. Toyota’s hybrid battery warranty is impressive, though: 10 years or 150,000 miles. And other hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance is also included.

Safety

While the hybrid-specific model has not been tested, the standard Toyota RAV4 garners Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The RAV4 Hybrid has earned the top 5-Star score from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).