The car will have a lot more competition in 2021, especially from the Honda CR-V, the traditional leader in the compact crossover segment, which last year became available as a hybrid for the first time. Fortunately for Toyota, the 2019 RAV4 underwent a complete redesign, providing more power, better fuel economy, a more attractive appearance, improved interior quality and Apple CarPlay. For 2020, the much-needed addition of Android Auto arrived. Not much has changed in the 2021 model - with the exception of the new XLE Premium interior trim level - and the RAV4 remains our top pick in this segment.
Price and design of the 2021 RAV4 hybrid
All 2021 Toyota RAV4 hybrids come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to an electric motor, with an extra motor powering the rear wheels in case of loss of traction. The system has a total output of 219 horsepower, and the EPA estimates excellent fuel economy of 39 miles per gallon combined. The lithium-ion hybrid battery is charged by the gas engine and through regenerative braking, and power is sent to the wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The base LE package starts at $28,800, and the exterior features 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, LED headlights and daytime running lights, LED taillights, power and folding exterior mirrors, keyless entry and intermittent wipers. Standard interior features include power windows and doors, automatic climate control, cloth-trimmed seats, six-way manually adjustable driver and front passenger seats, 60/40 split folding rear seats with adjustable tilt, telescopic steering wheel with audio controls and rearview camera.
Standard technology consists of a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, audio system with six speakers, AM/FM HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls and music streaming, voice recognition, USB drive port and a year trial version of Toyota Connected Services, which includes telematics services, remote access and 2GB Wi-Fi in the cabin.
The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 driver assistance suite comes standard on all RAV4 hybrids and includes frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane-keeping support, automatic high beam, traffic sign detection, adaptive cruise control and hill start assist.
The XLE trim starts at $30,095 and adds chrome headlight faceplates, LED accent lighting, fog lights, heated color exterior mirrors with integrated turn indicators and blind spot indicators, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, automatic headlights, intermittent speed control wipers, remote entry lighting, button start, sunroof, upgraded cloth upholstery, eight-way power driver seat with lumbar support, and four additional USB charging ports, two of which are in the rear seats.
New for 2021, the XLE Premium trim starts at $32,800 and adds 18-inch chrome alloy wheels, LED headlights with projector, LED daytime running lights with accent lighting, integrated fog lights, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with leather trim and audio controls. The XSE also features dual-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster display, and five USB ports.
The XSE trim starts at $34,750 and adds 18-inch black wheels, sport-tuned suspension, two-tone exterior paint, 8-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, power tailgate, faux leather upholstery, upgraded interior. trim, a 7-inch LCD dashboard, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dynamic rearview camera recommendations and interior ambient lighting.
The flagship Limited trim we tested brings the price to $37,330 and adds front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear cross-traffic braking, puddle lights, navigation and two-position memory for the driver's seat.
Our test car came with options that raised the price by nearly $5,500. The $1,025 Limited Grade Technology package adds keyless access to all doors and the tailgate, a power tailgate with foot controls, wireless smartphone charging and a surround-view camera with perimeter and curb scanning. The $1,015 Limited Weather Package option includes a leather-trimmed and heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated side rear passenger seats and de-icing wipers.
Individual options included $500 for a panoramic sunroof with front tilt/slide, $415 for adaptive headlights and automatic headlight alignment, a $543 protection package, $315 for roof rack crossmembers, $175 black emblem covers and $296 for all-weather floor mats and trunk. cover. Including the $1,175 shipping and handling fee, the final sticker was $42,462-a dramatic increase over the 2020 model we tested, which had a final sticker of $38,407.
The redesign of the 2019 model year RAV4 Hybrid easily makes it the best-looking car in its class and is much more stylish with a two-tone exterior and black wheels on the XSE trim compared to the solid Honda CR-V. Hybrid.
Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid is comfortable and spacious, with thoughtful details such as knurled climate control knobs and a diamond pattern on the smartphone charging pad and other surfaces that create a rugged look.
RAV4 infotainment system and connectivity
The 8-inch infotainment interface in the RAV4 Hybrid is the same as in other Toyota vehicles for many years. The screen is surrounded by four buttons on each side, as well as the power / volume and setting / scroll buttons. Both the home screen layout and the individual function icons can be customized to suit your preferences, and while the interface is a bit dated, it is simple and intuitive to use.
When the all-new RAV4 debuted two years ago, it only had Apple CarPlay, as Toyota was one of the last automakers not willing to add smartphone connectivity. Fortunately, the 2020 model also got Android Auto. In addition to the cloud-based features of the two platforms, HD Radio provides free weather and traffic information.
The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 RAV4 Hybrid's comprehensive driver assistance suite is standard across the lineup, while it requires upgrades to more expensive interior trim levels to get these safety features from some competitors. We also like that you can adjust driver-assist sensitivity with the 7-inch digital dashboard, making it easier to track fuel economy once you get the hang of the somewhat clunky steering-wheel controls.
2021 RAV4 Hybrid Performance
The battery-powered 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has 16 more horsepower than its non-hybrid counterpart and surprisingly fast acceleration. Even with this extra power, the EPA estimates fuel economy of up to 39 miles per gallon combined, which is 6 miles per gallon better than the previous generation.
The Sport, Eco and Normal driving modes can be turned on with a knob on the center console, and unlike many hybrids, the Eco and Sport modes actually affect performance. The separate Trail mode transfers more power to the wheel that has the most traction, while the EV mode provides electric-only performance for very short distances.
Excellent performance, however, is hampered by the variator. The slush box is smooth at most speeds, but it howls and shakes when pressed hard. The hybrid system is also one of the noisiest we tested, but the noise mostly occurs when the car stops and you can hear all the pops and sounds.
Compact hybrid crossover
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the company's best-selling hybrid, surpassing even the popular Prius. While the Ford Escape Hybrid and Kia Niro Hybrid can be considered competitors, in the small world of compact hybrid crossovers it all comes down to the RAV4 and the new Honda CR-V. The CR-V is smart, reliable and affordable, but a little boring. By comparison, the RAV4 Hybrid is just more attractive, sporty and fun. Both are great cars, but we'd rather own the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which means it remains the winner of the Editor's Choice in this segment.
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