Toyota RAV4 XA50 (2019-2026)
VerifiedAlso referred to as: Toyota RAV4 XA50 2025 and Toyota RAV4 XA50 2027.53 reviews
Picked up from the dealer in mid 2023 after almost a 2 year wait. Great vehicle, love driving it, the hybrid system works very well. Quick response, good acceleration, and fuel consumption averages 5.8l/100km probably due to us living in a hilly area and it being an AWD. With a petrol only engine it would probably be about 9-10l/100km around town… Read more
so I'm very happy with it. Have now done 59,000km. Finally got the wireless Android Auto update a few months ago. One thing that annoyed me was that when listening to the Radio on FM the radio text details (name of song and artist) are truncated. It is possible to show the full radio text but you must stop the vehicle to change that option, otherwise that option is greyed out. Really? I put in feedback about this, and the official response was that it was deliberately done this way for driver safety!! I doubt they really believe that - its just that they don't want to change anything. Another downside is the road noise and wind noise when highway driving is not up to the standard of what the car cost, so it will be interesting to see if this is improved on the new model coming out in 2026.
- +1
I have owned 4 TOYOTA‘s out of the last 5 cars I have owned since 2017. I first bought a brand-new 2017 CHR base model which I kept for 4 years. I wanted something bigger so I swapped it for a 2017 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS, which I kept for about 2 years but I missed the CHR so much. I sold the Mitsubishi and bought another 2017 model CHR but the… Read more
top model KOBA. I had services every 6 months. I used 98 Shell and BP fuel in my CHR’s along with PEA (Polyetheramine) fuel additives 4 times a year, with multiple freeway trips for between 1 to 2 hours 6 - 7 times a month and I still had carbon buildup in the engine. I always warmed my turbo engine up and cooled it down for at least a minute or two and drove conservatively for the first 10 minutes or so; did regular spirited freeway driving; had them serviced every 6 months but they both still had excessive carbon buildup. My fuel economy was between 6 to 8 L per 100 KM. I loved the shape of the CHR. That’s what drew me most to buy them and of course because it was a TOYOTA but from my experience with both the base model and the KOBA top model which I owned I would never purchase a turbo engine again. I loved the CHR however due to my back pain and arthritis worsening in my knees as well, I needed a car that was bigger and easier to get in and out of. I did a lot of research before I chose the RAV4. I wanted a car that was going to last me at least 20 years with minimal mechanical issues and good fuel economy. The first thing I did was watch multiple YouTube comparison reviews and the RAV4 was always in the top 3 if not the top vehicle in most of the reviews, the sales of the RAV4 speak for itself. There are a lot of new SUVs coming out trying to compete with the RAV4. They may have extra tech and extra comfort features but they don’t have the history to prove the reliability and I think it is a big gamble to buy a new model car just designed and built whereas TOYOTA has already built a good reliable name for itself and the design of their hybrid engines are well established and have proved to be extremely robust and reliable. They may not be as fancy as some other cars but it has everything you need - the more features you have the more chances of things breaking down and the more cost involved especially since everything is computerised these days. The safety tech in the TOYOTA fifth generation is one of the safest cars out there with a 5 Star ANCAP crash rating. The GX model has 7 airbags. The TOYOTA Safety Sense 2.5 has Automatic Emergency Braking - the pre-collision system has vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, it also has Intersection Collision Avoidance and has Emergency Steering Assist which helps drivers to stay in their lane and not manoeuvre which helps the driver maintain more control: It has Lane Departure Warning with Lane Centering and Steering Assist with road obstacle detection ; Blind Spot Monitoring - if a vehicle is in your blindspot you will see an orange vehicle symbol flashing in your mirror but you should also make sure you still do your shoulder checks as well; it also has Rear Cross Traffic Alert with vehicle and pedestrian monitoring when reversing with the reverse camera - an alarm will sound with large orange arrows appearing on the reverse camera screen. It has front and rear parking sensors with three levels of sensitivity. The reverse parking camera also has guidelineWILL s to help you park more easily. It also has Road Sign Recognition so there is no excuse for speeding. The speed limit will show up on your instrument cluster and if you’re listening to music the sound will go down if you go over the speed limit and the speed limit sign on the cluster will turn red. The best part of the safety technology in the RAV4 is the Emergency Driver Stop System - this system only works when you are driving in Adaptive Dynamic Radar Cruise Control whilst Lane Trace Assist is operating. It monitors the drivers steering and attention level for example if you not steer properly and lane detection is detecting excessive movement or your hands aren’t detected on the steering wheel the car issues audio and visual alerts on the instrument cluster alerting the driver to take control. If there is no response the Emergency Stop system takes control and brings the vehicle to a gradual stop: The car will stay in its lane and the hazard lights will be activated and all doors unlocked. This feature saves lives when it comes to driver fatigue or medical episodes. The RAV4 also has an advanced integrated Emergency Assistance safety system through the TOYOTA Connected Services App, some features must be paid for through a subscription but the Automatic Collision Notification and built-in SOS Emergency Call button is FREE. You may be driving on a road where you can’t use your adaptive cruise control and you may have an accident. Or you may be alone and feel unsafe. You may be out in the country somewhere for example. If you need help all you have to do is press the SOS button on the roof of the car and Emergency Services will be sent to your exact GPS coordinates location. This works on the 4G and 5G Telstra network and is free for the life of the network. If you are unresponsive, the car has built in crash detection sensors and will automatically contact Emergency ervices and send them to your location. This is great peace of mind, especially if you do a lot of country driving, or drive long distances or drive alone. These safety feature was one of the main reasons for me buying this car also. The RAV4 drives beautifully, I would have to say it is the best car I have ever owned in my life and I have owned countless cars over my 40 years of driving. It’s smooth, the steering is nice and responsive. It’s comfortable there’s plenty of leg and head room. It’s large in the back especially when you fold the seats down. It comfortably fits 3 adult passengers in the back. If you have two passengers in the back there is a pull down armrest in the middle with cupholders. There’s air vents in the back and charging ports. The passengers in the back can choose to have the back of their seat in two positions either more a upright or slightly back. I really wanted heated seats however I was not going to pay thousands of dollars more just to have heated seats when I didn’t want all the other features so I simply bought a 12 V plug in lumbar back cushion for my driver seat which is both heated and a massager for just $40 from Autobarn with a 2 year warranty. I upgraded the sound system which cost me around $1500 and because they only had white vehicles available I had a professional body wrap done on the sides to make it stand out. I absolutely love driving my RAV4. It has Adaptive Cruise Control with a radar allowing for 3 different distances you can choose to maintain behind the car in front - when they slow down your car automatically slows down as well, even if they come to a full stop you gently come to a full stop right behind them, then you just tap the accelerator when they begin to move and your car will gradually build up to speed; if they go faster you continue doing your set speed, when the speed limit changes you simply press a button on the steering wheel you can click quickly and go down or up by 1 km at a time or keep the button pressed longer to go down 10 or 20 km for example. ACC is great when you’re on a long trip or if you have aches and pains in your leg. There is also a ‘HOLD’ button on the console, once pressed, every time you come to a complete stop and have to wait at traffic lights for example, the word ‘HOLD’ will light up on the instrument cluster in Orange and it will hold the brake in place; it saves you constantly pressing your foot on the brake pedal while you wait. As I have arthritis in my knees and sciatica in my right leg and hip, I find it extremely helpful and I use this feature every time I drive, once you turn the engine off, you need to reset it when you turn the engine back on. It also has Eco Mode to save on fuel, especially on long trips in cruise control or when you’re using your air conditioning, Eco Mode is particularly good for driving in the city when you have stop start traffic and a lot of your driving is in EV mode when the car is running off the hybrid battery instead of the petrol engine. Normal Mode is the general driving mode, great for normal urban driving. It will give your acceleration more power than Eco Mode especially when turning across traffic or merging. Sport Mode is for more spirited driving and windy roads. Sport mode is particularly good for hills as it gives the acceleration more power and the car feels more ‘zippy’ to drive, however you will use more fuel driving in this mode, I only use it for steep hills and windy mountainous roads but it is not recommended to use Sport Mode in the wet. It is best to drive in Eco or Normal Mode. I got the GX model because it’s basic and all the controls are easy to use, both the instrument cluster and the multimedia screen are extremely easy to use there’s controls on the steering wheel as well. I like the fact that you don’t have to go into the multimedia screen for everything, it has push buttons for the air-conditioning and heater and knobs for the temperature and volume. It has Apple CarPlay, Android CarPlay and Bluetooth with USB ports and 12 V. It has road sign recognition so there’s no excuse for speeding. If you’re listening to music and you start to go above the speed limit your music will go down and the screen will appear red. It has auto wipers auto high beams daytime running lamps, fog lamps and they’re all led as well. I watched multiple tutorials on the RAV4 - everything from maintenance to hybrid driving techniques; and since the RAV4 was the best selling SUV in the world, it was not a hard decision to make. The base model GX had everything I needed. All the RAV4 models have the same safety systems built into them. The higher models just have extra features which I did not really need. I bought my RAV4 in July 2025 the brand-new price was $49,706, drive away, but there was a 5 - 6 month wait on new cars so I bought a 2024 August build RAV4 with just 15,000 km for $44,321 (saving, $5,385‼️); because I had bought all my other cars from the same dealership I got a fantastic deal - they even paid my registration transfers for me with 6 months registration and a bonus year of warranty so I had the equivalent warranty of a brand-new RAV4 which is 7 years (+ 1 bonus added year) and 10 years on the hybrid battery, with fixed price servicing for the remainder of the first 5 years. A hybrid car suited me very well because I am a naturally conservative driver, as hybrid cars are better driven with slower acceleration from takeoff - although they do move very quickly if you put your foot down but if you’re fuel economical like I am you will drive it conservativey; gliding and braking gently to a stop, where possible when you see the lights ahead have changed to red also helps with fuel economy because gliding and coming to a gentle stop with gentle braking you are charging your hybrid battery to give you more EV driving rather than using the petrol engine more often. There is no point in driving up to a red light fast and then having to stop quickly and then put your foot down when it turns green. Hybrid cars use regenerative braking to recharge the hybrid battery. The battery also charges as you are cruising along especially downhill. Brakes last about 3 - 4 times longer than normal brake pads because you only use the brake pads when you brake heavily. Fuel economy is phenomenal in the 2.5 L hybrid engine. I do 80% freeway driving (5 trips a week consisting of 25 KM urban driving at around 70 KM per hour with a few traffic lights where I use the hybrid ‘pulse and glide’ driving method, which provides much better fuel economy in urban traffic; and 40 KM freeway driving at 80 to 85KM per hour using Adaptive Cruise Control in Eco mode and I get between 4 to 4.3L per 100 KM (TOYOTA states 4.8 L per 100 KM). TOYOTA states for the 2 L petrol RAV4 that it uses 6 to 6.5 L per 100 KM combined. Hybrid cars are more efficient in city driving and low speeds. They use more fuel on the freeway that’s why I drive at 80 - 85 km/h instead of 100. It really makes a difference. I can do my 5 weekly trips on the freeway for 80 km at 100 km/h but my fuel consumption increases to around 5.8 - 6 L per 100 KM so by taking a more economical route and slowing my speed down on the part of the freeway I can’t avoid driving on, I save quite a bit on fuel and with the price of fuel these days and being on a pension I need to save every dollar I can. What is the point of buying a hybrid if you are going to drive it fast and accelerate it into the ground? It beats the purpose! I turn adaptive cruise control off when I drive up and down steep inclines and declines as it does not put as much pressure and stress on the transmission as it tries to maintain the same speed. I only use adaptive cruise control on flat roads or slight inclines and declines. For very steep inclines and declines and winding roads I drive in Sport mode (except in the wet, when I use Normal mode); when driving down steep declines I use the ’S’ gear to prevent wearing out the brake pads and allowing the gears to keep the car moving in a slower mode descending. During the week I also do around 10 short trips of around 3 to 5 km in city driving and multiple short trips are not very good for hybrid engines. In the long-term you need to do frequent freeway drives to get the engine to optimal temperature to not only burn off carbon buildup but moisture that gets into the engine and fuel system; so when I am on the freeway once a fortnight I do a very spirited drive at 100 km/h for 40 minutes. I use 95 Shell and BP fuel in my RAV4 for the additional cleaning agents in the fuel along with PEA (Polyetheramine) fuel additives 4 times a year; even though the RAV4 has a dual fuel injection system having both port and direct fuel injection to help reduce carbon buildup on the manifolds, the many freeway trips I drive as well as the regular spirited driving, using nothing but top quality fuel and a PEA fuel system cleaning agent 4 times a year will not only help reduce carbon buildup but keep my car running much better with less mechanical issues in the long-term. Another thing I love about the RAV4 is the automatic transmission in the hybrid. It has an E-CVT transmission which has no belts or pulleys but an ‘E’lectronic planetary gear system which is described as being the most robust, smooth and fuel economical transmissions ever built, often described as “bullet-proof” whereas the petrol only RAV4 uses an eight speed automatic transmission. With regular transmission fluid changes at approximately every 80,000 KM you will never need to replace your transmission in a RAV4 - but you need to look after it - sealed transmission units are not ‘lifetime’ fluid that never needs changing as claimed. It needs to be changed. Transmission fluid gets extremely hot and gets fine particles of metal throughout over time which can eventually lead to gears slipping; once this has occurred it is too late to change the transmission fluid as it is the small metal particles that are keeping your gears in place, changing the fluid at this stage will cause more gear slippage creating an even bigger problem. Coolant and inverter coolant is just as important and also needs to be changed more regularly than TOYOTA suggests, even though TOYOTA has long life coolant, coolant becomes acidic over time, leaving it can literally start eating away at your car from the inside out without you even realising it. Regular servicing is just as important, TOYOTA recommends oil changes and servicing every 15,000 km or yearly. It is important to stick to this TOYOTA logbook routine to ensure you don’t break your warranty especially for the hybrid battery as it needs to be checked and serviced yearly, the air vents and filters for the hybrid battery need to be cleaned regularly to allow good airflow and stop the hybrid battery overheating. As well as cabin and engine air filters which can be done by yourself very easily, saving you extra at the dealership. However, I also get a service in between at JAX TYRES who use TOYOTA genuine parts, so I have them done at 6 monthly intervals or around 8,000 KM. If you want a car that is going to last you a long time, you can’t beat a RAV4. They are virtually unbreakable even when sticking to TOYOTA‘s recommended scheduled servicing but if you want longevity I would suggest the extra oil changes and the fluid changes along with conservative driving. Of course it costs you extra but it’s basically engine insurance. I don’t have any cash left and can’t get a car loan being on a pension so that’s why I put so much research into choosing this car because I knew it was the last chance I had at buying a car to last me as long as possible. I’m almost 60 and I’m certain that this car will out do me.
- +3
Driver area congested for me I am 6 foot tall,the seat is uncomfortable and terrible to adjust,does not go back far enough plus the pumping height adjustment probably suits cheap car not the mighty Toyota. The middle console is too fat ,hard plastic… Read more
,curved out just where the knee rests and hurts resting on it. The door handle inside is too far forward and takes a lot of effort to pull close due to weight distribution ,and the manual mirror retraction button is just below the handle and most times it gets pushed during door closing and swings the mirrors in,so annoying!!.No mute button on steering,car play screen not tilted towards the driver have to reach out to touch the screen which in rigid ,also the numbers stored in Favourites allow to scroll down only two pages so have to go via contacts and search which is dangerous while driving as Siri sometimes does not understand my accent.No lumbar support in drivers seat ,which should be standard for back issues.No USB C connection at front where it matters for iphone connection.Door mirrors do not swing in when locked.Remote control switches too close to each other and small ,I always misspress them!!. Storage spaces are not lined with soft material or rubber ,it is hard plastic so things just slide around when turning. Boot space is not good enough due to the rear windscreen too slopy ,could have made the roof 6 inches longer and top of wind screen bit straighter for extra space.Had to cut the corner of the storage case to avoid it hitting the windscreen. Lane departure system has steering control hooked up to it and sometimes it tries to "correct" the car but gets it wrong and moves the car towards a car if parked on side of the road ,if I go over the lane slightly ,to avoid the same car!! I hate it but cannot turn of the steering component only,have to turn off the whole lane departure system ,thereby disabling the warning beeps as well.Have to disable very time I start the car as it activates automatically at each start.Very annoying and dangerous so I turn the whole thing off every time and lose the lane departure warning beeps as well.
The Mitsy had the same system without steering control and worked really well due to the warning beeps being much louder as well.
If I put something on the rear seat the seat belt alarm keeps "binging",so annoying ,why cant I hit ok to shut it up?,Its not a person!! In very hot days if I want to start the car without getting in and have the air con kick in before sitting inside,I cant do that due to the st^pid start system needing to sit down ,burn your butt on the seat ,press the brake,then push the button which is in the middel left of the streering wheel so very hard to reach from outside. ,the old fashioned key on right hand side of the steering was far better,could start the car without sitting inside with door open from outside, on hot days it was very handy to get air con going quickly. The steering tilt has a limited range for height as well and my son has his knee/thigh rubbing on the steering wheel when he drives as he is over 6 foot tall.He hasdno issues with the old 2019 Mitsy Outlander as the steering and seat adjustments had wider range.
Electronic handbrake is a pain in case you need to roll the car without starting if battery is flat. I never owned a Toyota before and was forced into the Rav due to Company policy ,its a service use car,but thanks to them no more Toyotas for me in future.Previuos car was Mitsy Outlander 2019 which I loved ,was much better in those things. Use the car everyday for work and do around 30,000 kilometers a year. Also if the drive battery is down on charge then the engine kicks in to charge it on idle and it makes a helluva racket,very noisy! Not sure if more expensive models are improved but those good features like lumbar support mirror swing on lock etc are basic and should be standard.
Car play operation was much simpler in Mitsy as well.
Had to wait 18 months for this thing to be delivered ,totally not worth it at all!Was delivered in March 2024 but was ordered 18 months before ie around 09/2022
Positive for Rav4 is the fuel and mileage and the rotary volume control.
Follow-up · The infotainment system is not very user friendly for me.There should have been a back button and a USB C connector at front.I wish also the doors opened another 10 degrees esp rear ones.The trip meter reset is a pain to get to its like the old school manual reset push hard poking out of the speedometer cluster glass.Mitsy had a button on the right side of the steering wheel,so easy.
Reviews with attachments
- +8
You probably don't need to spend more on that AWD model – The RAV4 is wildly popular. If you want a hybrid, you'll be waiting for months after you place your order at the dealership. Is it worth the wait? If you're after a reliable, efficient, comfortable and spacious SUV with a rugged edge to it, it's hard to beat. You could cross shop a Subaru Forester Hybrid, but its hybrid system just isn't as… Read more
good as Toyota's system.
You want a RAV4 because you're either upgrading from your old one, or find most modern SUVs a little tame and rounded.
The RAV4 retains some 'rugged' elements, like chunky dials and buttons, but is mostly a regular Toyota SUV on the inside.
This slightly-above entry-level spec RAV4 is a fine choice for those interested in some minor creature comforts like a reversing camera, 'premium' fabric seats, dual-zone climate controls and 18-inch wheels.
With plenty of ground clearance, smaller wheels and spongey suspension - the RAV4 provides a relaxed ride across most surfaces you're going to encounter day-to-day.
A regen mode is available too, meaning you can maximise your time driving on pure EV power compared to some other hybrids too.
Add in 542L of boot space, and it's a great all-rounder.
During my drive with the RAV4, I never wished for an AWD system. This FWD set-up is suitable for most, and the default drivetrain I'd recommend for most buyers. That's unless you're needing to drive on unsealed surfaces more often than not.
The RAV4 isn't exciting, and it's lost a little of its off-road charm it used to possess. But it's ideal for those who want a boxy mid-size SUV from Toyota that'll simply sip fuel and get you from A to B in relative comfort too.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
Dangerous list of unresolved problems and issues. Please share! – I drive economically with the rare firm acceleration once every few trips. Daily drive taking partner to work equating to 20-25000 kms a year. Serviced on time. Videos of issues attached My low rating is both due to the issues existing and the lack of effort to resolve issues and take them seriously. Every RAV4 has this first issue. 1. slip… Read more
light remains on frequently when starting the car. Won't go out until you let brake off completely. If on steep slope you can put car in drive and start moving at which point the car is difficult to stop especially if Toyota washed your brakes like mine. https://youtu.be/bTD9-XV2X14 2. Brakes randomly let up while trying to brake. NOT ABS under steady braking the brakes will sometimes stop braking. Happens a few times a month. 3. squeaky brakes from new, resolved by machining brakes after being washed. Still minor squeaking for a while before it stopped. 4. Hybrid system will often malfunction. From accelerating while trying to brake to most commonly petrol engine refusing to turn off. I can drive home gently with battery 80% and all of a sudden petrol engine decides to kick in. press ev mode, car says unavailable. I stop car press ev mode and now it turns off. As soon as car moves slightly, petrol engine starts again. This means my hybrid car will often waste petrol driving down hill. It has often done this at full battery. 5. Lane keep assist trying to steer me into on coming traffic and beeping when I'm far from left line but rarely beeping for right line. When reported NOTHING was done or tested being told this is factory thing. I recently discovered it can be calibrated but unfortunately takes hours and instead advised to turn it off or disable it. 6. Squishing and occasional knock from suspension. (minor issue) 7. Boot struts are sometimes very hard (minor issue) 8. From new wipers skip across windshield (minor issue) resolved myself recently by cleaning Goof-off from Bunnings on a rag. (I am not recommending its just what I did to fix it after nothing working)
I have been to 4 different dealerships around south west Brisbane. Some have spent an hour or so driving with me but issues that happen a few times a week or month need to be driven more than an hour.
Issue 1. and 2. has been classed as normal behaviour and opperation by Toyota in consultation with (head office/ senior technicians).
Issue 3. 4. have been reported as no fault found and unable to replicate even though video footage has been recorded and witnessed.
Issue 2. was unable to be observed after several attempts with multiple service departments yet to this day I still experience the issue. The best attempt a department has made to replicate the issue is taking the car home for a night on a 15 minute drive and allowing me to drive a new one for a day. This made it clear to me not only am I experiencing weird issues but my car was extremely under-powered and rough to drive. Not even close to what I paid for.
After multiple attempts to get issues resolved I have requested a replacement vehicle given the hours of driving I have done trying to diagnose and fault the car. Toyota guest experience/ head office has refused me twice. I am now at the point of looking at buying a new RAV4 which dealerships are happy to process but absolutely no deal or budging on price. You would think after all this the lease they could do is knock a couple dollars off. I'm still unsure what I want to do because it seems like absolute rubbish that I have to pay thousands more on a car that has been a lemon from the beginning with squeaking brakes. Videos attached.
- +1
While I was driving the sun visor fell off so I phoned Toyota to ask for them to replace it as it was a manufacturing issue not over or mis use, which is their responsibility under Australian Consumer Law. I also told the dealership who were the ones to put in the claim. They told me it was rejected because Toyota says I was being rough and… Read more
snapped it off. It's a 2020! For such an expensive car, I am gobsmacked at how cheap the plastic fittings are. My 1999 camry never had these issues! I was told by the dealership that I had no avenue to request a re-assesment so today I phoned toyota back and just got obstructed and the so called assistance team wouldn't email my request to the warranty team and fobbed me off back to the dealership who says they have no control. I feel this system is purposefully meant to make customers give up and I am not taking it. It is too new of a car. It has just about 85000 kms on it. My camry had 370000 and still has a sun visor. Toyota already only gives partial warranty payments as is. I want a full refund on my visor and acknowledgment that these policies will stop. What is the point of customer assistance if they won't assist???? That is a misnomer.
Amazing SUV - the perfect family car! – After deciding it was time to buy a bigger car as we are planning on having our first child, we tested all the popular mid-large size SUV’s on the market, and nothing compared to the RAV 4! The look on the outside is so sporty and sleek, yet simple and sophisticated, the interior is savvy and organised without clutter and every space is used so… Read more
well. The materials are all premium and give you that touch of luxury, with the intuitive technology that all new cars are currently boasting including park assist, lane departure, radar detection etc. the only thing that really bothers me about this car is I have had no success turning the settings off and the navigation voice regularly tells me notifications like school ahead, red light ahead, follow road regulations etc, and after day 1 it is really annoying! This may be something I haven’t found yet as I’ve only had it this week, but overall, a great car you wouldn’t be disappointed picking up!
Positive reviews
I have had this car for nearly 2 years. I am impressed by the car’s fuel efficiency and the latest tech upgrade that was applied to it while I waited for my order to come through for just over 2 years due to COVID, it was worth the wait. The car is not cheap compared to its competitors but the hybrid setup in my opinion is refined as it has over… Read more
20 years of refinement behind it. I use this car almost on a daily basis, mainly urban commuting averaging about 5.3l per 100km not quite the 4.8l as quoted by the manufacturer. The frosted white colour in my opinion suits this car nicely. It conceals the dirt better than the dark colours I feel. I get the car serviced as per manufacturer recommendation every 15,000 km or once a year whichever comes first. The great thing is the service cost for the first 5 years is capped at $260 per service. Compared to other brands this is good value and peace of mind. Drives smoothly and quietly only exception is when you press the pedal hard then you will get the drone noise. I have no hesitation in recommending this car to anyone looking for a car in its category. ============== Update April 2026 March 2026 I seem to have a persistent issue with my preset DAB radio station. Unable to select an alternative station unless I go to the station listings. Car going to dealer soon to see if they can resolve the issue with their technician. Further update - car has been with dealer for 2 days early April. Their technician have been dealing with the issue and Denso they have informed me that there will be a software update to resolve the issue. It is now May no update provided yet.
We have had a basic model 2025 FWD rav4 purchased new for approx 7 months now and it has been great. Would prefer the "Toyota connected services" stuff was easier to disable, but the car is great to drive, economical with fuel and has lots of space. Even the basic model we got has a bunch of nice features (adaptive cruise control, split zone… Read more
aircon, android auto, etc). We had heard there was a long wait but we only had to wait a couple of weeks to get our vehicle. But we weren't too picky about the colour. Getting 5.6L/100KM so far, lots of freeway driving.
Absolutely love it. Fanciest car we've ever driven. I love that at the push of a button, I can change drivers seat to my settings. Cameras at the front and rear. Lane reminders. Lots of bells and whistles. Most importantly it's comfortable and economical. Show details
Negative reviews
These cars cost $55k for a fuel economy of 5.5l/100 while a Mazda CX5 at $36k gets 6.5l/100lm. So you need to travel 1million km (50 years of driving) to recover the costs!. Also you'll need to replace the hybrid battery after 6 years at $8,000. Oh what a feeling! Buy the cx5 it’s amazing, it’s a simple 4 cylinder with proper planetary gear… Read more
automatic so less things to go wrong.
The Rav 4 uses a CVT (belt transmission) which suck the life out of any driving experience. CX5 uses a proper planetary 6 speed gearbox which provides a sporty and confident drive
⚠️ DO NOT BUY THE TOYOTA RAV4 CRUISER – Ongoing Fault, No Resolution, and Toyota Is Aware But Doing Nothing ⚠️ I purchased my 2024 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser brand new, and the fault occurred within a day of taking delivery. Since then, the car has been returned for service and investigation too many times to mention, yet the issue remains unresolved. … Read more
The fault lies with the entertainment system, specifically wireless Apple CarPlay. It drops out on every phone call, making it nearly impossible to take hands-free calls — which is especially unacceptable for someone like me who works from the road and relies on my vehicle as a mobile office.
Over the course of more than a year, the service team at Sydney City Toyota did everything they could to try and resolve the issue. When they ultimately acknowledged that they could not fix it, they approached Toyota on my behalf to request a buyback of the vehicle. At this point, Toyota refused, claiming that the car had been “repaired under warranty.”
This is simply not true. When I spoke directly with the service team, they confirmed the car was not fixed, and that other RAV4s are experiencing the exact same issue. That’s right — Toyota knows this is a widespread problem and appears to be doing nothing meaningful to address or publicly acknowledge it.
This situation raises serious concerns about Toyota’s customer service practices and its adherence to Australian Consumer Law, including:
The right to acceptable quality — this car is not fit for its intended use.
The right not to be misled or deceived — Toyota’s written claim that the issue was fixed contradicts statements made by their own dealership staff.
I have now sought legal advice and lodged a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). My legal representative will be contacting Toyota directly.
Warning to Potential Buyers: Avoid the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser. Based on my experience, Toyota is fully aware of this issue, yet they are choosing to ignore it — hoping it quietly goes away. They’ve left both the dealership and the customer out in the cold.
I won’t stay silent — and I’m sharing this so others don’t suffer the same treatment.
Toyota: This is no longer just a tech issue. It’s an issue of honesty, accountability, and customer trust. Start acting like the company you claim to be.
Oh, what a feeling Toyota :(
@ToyotaAustralia @toyota @toyota_aus #Toyota #ToyotaAustralia #ToyotaJapan #ToyotaRAV4 #Toyotagram #ConsumerRights #RAV4Issues #DontBuyToyota #AppleCarPlayProblem #JDM #トヨタ #トヨタ自動車 #RAV4問題
Great run around vehicle but nothing special – I will start with positives. Bought this vehicle for my business to commute to work and to work events in and out of regional WA. - Great commanding driving position - Comfortable on long drives - The aircon and cooled seats are great - Love the more rugged look compared to most mid size crossovers - Easy to park - Responsive for overtaking … Read more
- Great boot and rear leg space - Toyota resale value Now here is where i am a little disappointed for the price of the vehicle I feel you dont necessarily get what you pay for especially in the current marker and wish I took it for a longer test drive. The feature list is great on paper however when living with the vehicle everything electric seems underdone or very outdated technology (my three year old vehicle that was cheaper to purchase makes it feel a good generation or two behind). The Toyota connected services app is terrible, this was one of the features that put this vehicle ahead on our short-list as we live in a hot regional climate and like to pre cool the car at the end of the work day, however by the time you actually get the app to load and send request to vehicle you may aswell go outside and do it yourself. The apple car play, android auto always seems to need re connecting each time you change drivers, the audio also cuts out frequently during phone calls or skips / restarts songs on carplay. The fuel consumption on a combined cycle is not as great as expected/ claim and petrol engine can be very rough and noisy when is kicks in.
All in all if you are upgrading from another Toyota vehicle or a much older vehicle you will love this car. If you have another more modern vehicle also at home, this may feel this is fairly behind the times.
Find out how Toyota RAV4 XA50 compares to other Midsize / Medium SUVs
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We long term rented one of these vehicles and I wanted to share my insight and oppinion on a few complaints people have. backstory, I own a few Japanese built Toyotas for reference. I understand a lot of Toyotas nowdays are built in third world countries and there tends to be more problems with them vs the Japanese made models, however This… Read more
vehicle didnt fail to perform at all no matter where it was built.
1- You dont buy a Toyota as an accessory to charge your phone because your too precious to take the case of it or dont want to plug it in... and you dont buy a modern vehicle in 2025 for typrwriter tech inbuilt GPS which is redundant the second the cards put into the gps. ie no online updates without costly subscriptions The phone in your pocket is 100x more powerful than any old tom tom unit or inbuilt unit can be and is instantly updated to live conditions and changes. Ie use google maps, waze or something on your phone.... we dont use carrier pigeons anymore for good reason.
The real reason You buy or rent a Toyota, is because they are reliable, well built and tested to perform consistently longer than other vehicles on the market. Are they the cheapest? Not usually, are the packed with every bell and whistle, not usually, why? Because its more failure points.
The reality is that ANY vehicle will have problems, but Toyota stake their reputation on reliability and spend billions on testing, research and development.
Thats part of the reason why Toyota is still around today, unlike australian Ford and Holdens. Again nothing is perfect and you have to balance what you need and want vs budget, expectations and reality.
2- Mis informed consumers. No this isnt a 70 series or a hummer with portal axles designed to take you on and off the battlefield. Its an SUV, AWD is designed to improve handline and grip not just off road but in wet, slippery, dirt or loose paved surfaces for example. I never took this model on the beach but years ago I took the v6 petrol awd on the beach and with the right tyre pressures it would fly across the sand.
Another thing Id like to add is the unrealistic comments about fuel economy. for the last decade or more, combustion engines have been highly efficent and to comments silly things like > expected this to double the economy of my last car... is riddiculous. Engines burn fuel to move, they dont use fairy dust and theres only so little fuel you can use before you have to change to fulm electric. Even then someone else is just burning the fuel so you can move. Unless there are significant breakthroughs which would rock the entire worlds economy and market overnight, your unlikely to see much chnage in terms of fuel efficiency.
and about the screens and paying more when the vehicle arrives... Costs change, yeah it sucks, but a motor vehicle, despite what tesla lead you to believe, is not a dishwasher or vaccum cleaner thats takes 5 minutes to assemble box and ship. A well built automobile is a highly complicated well orchestrated family of machines, all talking together flawlessly 24x7. Computers and mechanical systems control everything from dome lights, seats, wipers to the wheels body, engine and tyres nowdays. So yes you can buy an untested third party stereo for cheaper, but its not Toyotas. Same with nike shoes, you pay more for brand, its not new. Can you get a cheaper pair at aldi or vinnies, yeah. But it isnt the same. Would you be hapoy with a $500 poxy aftermarket headunit in your brand new toyota?
This is again another reason why Toyota is better than others, they spend thousands of hours ensuring that collection of machines and electronics talk, listen and repeat for thousands of hours, then they put their name on it, or use reputable components like denso etc. They dont just grab some liquid nails and stick a piece of metal onto the car like tesla did with their cybertruck.
Does this mean there wont be problems? No, because we are humans and nothing is flawless in design, but it does mean you have a global company backing their designs if something does go wrong, again not perfect, but imagine if this was an MG, Theyd hang up on you when speaking face to face...
We used this car daily for 10,000kms +/- and drove it like a rental, so I wasnt afraid to floor it or hop a kerb etc. and the vehicle doesnt over promise, but it delievers just like every other japanese built toyota Ive ever had, so if the vehicle is one you comparing to say an mg (which we had for a week and refused to use it due to so many critical safety problems, dont doubt the toyota, id go it any and every si gke day over a temu car.
Unleash the beast in Sports Mode – I upgraded from a 1998 Nissan Skyline to a 2024 Rav4 Hybrid Cruiser and was not prepared for how much I would absolutely love this car! First up the technology is mind-blowing. Obviously jumping 26 years from last century contributed to the initial shock (my last car didn't even have cruise control or a reversing camera) but the amount of extra… Read more
features this car has really makes the whole experience extra special. The intelligence of this machine is impressive, so much so that we named the car after a robot!
The Hybrid system is genius and the extra fuel efficiency is noticeable, but the biggest surprise for me was that I was expecting to downgrade to a sluggish soccer-mum SUV and instead got a beast that you can unleash in sports mode! You've got the luxury of a cruisy everyday drive on eco mode, but at the flick of a switch you've got performance and handling that is actually quite good.
The design and quality of the interior is just gorgeous, and the functionality of the whole vehicle is so intuitive. It has a feel of quality and safety that I've never felt in a car before. Definitely recommend!
Simply amazing – Toyota RAV4 2023 FWD : A Remarkable Experience Having previously owned both the 2017 RAV4 GXL (FWD) and the 2020 RAV4 Cruiser (AWD), I recently upgraded to the 2023 RAV4 Cruiser (FWD). This new model truly stands out. Design and Luxury: The RAV4’s sleek design and luxurious feel make every drive a joy. Attention to detail is evident throughout.… Read more
Performance and Economy: The powerful engine delivers impressive performance, although I do miss the AWD capability from my 2020 model. Notably, the FWD wheels tend to spin in the rain when accelerating after traffic lights. Fuel Efficiency: Remarkably, I can forget to refuel for up to 800 km, and adding just 45L of 91 UL suffices. Excellent fuel economy! Technology and Comfort: The massive, crisp multimedia screen and mind-boggling 360-camera view are stunning. Heated, ventilated seats, Wireless Apple CarPlay, and fast-charging USB-C connectors enhance convenience. Toyota’s Lane Trace Assist keeps me safely within my lane, surpassing other cars’ systems. Adjustable auto tailgate levels, customizable light sensitivity, and automatic side view mirrors add to the experience. Driving Experience: The 60-profile tires provide a comfortable ride. Responsive steering controls and speed sign recognition make driving easier. Adaptive cruise control enhances safety. The JBL Stereo system impresses. Minor Drawbacks: The electronic rearview mirror disappoints due to its poor refresh rate. The steering feels heavy but could be improved. In summary, the 2023 RAV4 is a gem, though Toyota’s one-year subscription for wireless connectivity remains a drawback.
Eco-Adventure with a Hybrid Marvel – The Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid in Australia is a standout choice for drivers seeking a blend of fuel efficiency, versatility, and rugged capability. As Toyota's pioneering hybrid SUV, the RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid offers an impressive combination of performance and eco-friendliness, making it a top contender in its class. One of the most… Read more
appealing aspects of the RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid is its exceptional fuel efficiency. With its hybrid powertrain, this SUV delivers impressive mileage both in city traffic and on the open road, helping you save on fuel costs while reducing your carbon footprint. The seamless transition between the gasoline engine and electric motor ensures a smooth and efficient driving experience.
In addition to its eco-friendly credentials, the RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid offers outstanding versatility and capability. Whether you're navigating city streets or venturing off the beaten path, its all-wheel drive system provides enhanced traction and stability, ensuring confident handling in various road conditions. With ample ground clearance and available features like hill descent control, this SUV is well-equipped to tackle rough terrain and adventurous excursions.
Inside the cabin, the RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid offers a spacious and comfortable environment for both driver and passengers. Premium materials and thoughtful design elements create a refined atmosphere, while intuitive technology features keep you connected and entertained on the go. With a range of advanced safety features, including Toyota Safety Sense, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your passengers are well-protected.
Overall, the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid in Australia is a compelling choice for drivers who prioritize efficiency, versatility, and adventure. With its hybrid powertrain, capable performance, and advanced features, it sets the standard for eco-friendly SUVs while delivering an exceptional driving experience.
Overall Better but not the Best Interior or Features, Kinda Disappointed on Tech and Convenient Aspects – 2023 RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid AWD, still sunroof need to be opened by hand like 2005/08 while other brands offer switch options even back then and looks cheaper and quite outdated. At the same time, interior designs and protective factors of interior parts really outdated compared to styles and materials used in Chinese cars with good quality over… Read more
plastic covers here and there.
Doors handles do not have pockets to close doors with minimum efforts and convenient ways like CHR. Need to lean a bit outside and grab the big old handlebar of the door to pull the door with all power like a lorry door. Women with average body types find it hard to deal with the matter and men might have no exceptions.
There is no head up display and this offer by all Korean basic cars nowadays. Extremely disappointed for its adaptation to latest basic tech features.
No options to upgrade for a factory fitted dashcam with subscription method to proceed with or quick connecting points for Dash cam installation rather wiring the whole car with the whole dashcam wires up and down like old days. Having dashcams and a cam system similar to Tesla Cam is a must with rising car related crimes plus real time communication methods & cloud storage options. It is an added value and love to have those features, so no need to worry about third party cam systems or what to buy. Dash cam is the biggest concern that comes right away after purchasing the new car for any car buyer. Also, it could be integrated to the system through the production process by the manufacture quite easily over what to trust or spend on from the customer end. Haval offers quick connect point for dashcam and its smart as well convenient rather wires are hanging here and there or middle of the phone charging space like an Asian communication centre within the car.
Almost all other aspects are better and worth to go for, but above those are real downsides, if you compare same range SUV by Korean or Chinese manufactures with enormous features and tech Intergrations.
A massive change from my 2008 Corolla Conquest – We decided as retirees we had earned a luxury vehicle. I ordered a Rav 4 Cruiser & all the bells & whistles including a chromed bull bar & CB. The 12 month wait was worth it Fitted out like the Lexus. Plenty of room. Plenty of power. The downside of the Rav 1, the brushed steel looking trim inside reflects too much in the sun. 2, engine a little… Read more
noisy with harsh acceleration. 3, NO built in Sat Nav. 4, the magnetic charging base won’t work with my iPhone 13Pro Max due to the lens protector. Meaning the phone isn’t flat. 5, the size of the place for the magnetic charging base is too small for my iPhone 14 Pro Max. 6, lots of wind noise at speed due to the size of the side mirrors. 7, still quite a lot of road noise from the tyres, 8, petrol release button awkward to reach as it’s low on the dash, 9, finally people keep walking up to me asking me how much I paid. Pluses, 1, absolute luxury 2, very quiet on normal driving around town. 3 extremely economical using only 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres around town when speed max is 40 KPH 4, 830 kilometres on a full tank. To fill up $70. Overall since completing 45.000, fuel economy is 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres. 5, Auto wipers are amazing in every aspect. 6, Headlights are brilliant in every sense. 7 amazing turning circle. 8, rides the bumps like being on air. 9, excellent & easy steering. 10, wonderful acceleration on every hill. 11, great all round visibility, 12, wing mirrors provide great side vision, 14, the digital rear vision mirror allows you to see every lane when turned on. A must if you have a load that restricts vision. 15, electric seats are perfect. 16, heated seats a must in winter. 17, air con seats help to keep you cool, 18, climate control with twin controls keeps the wife happy. 19, air con is quiet but very powerful. 20, cornering in smooth with no extra body roll.
Still going strong as new – I purchased my RAV 4 Cruiser Hybrid in 2020 after waiting almost 9 months for it and was it worth the wait. I was downgrading from a Ford Territory (after 10 years) as it was causing trouble and didn't need a big SUV as my children were out of the car seats. While searching I saw many YouTube reviews of the RAV4 and what drawn me was the hybrid… Read more
system. I get per tank an average of 950 and fill up every 2 - 3 weeks. It is smooth to drive and spacious cabin especially in the back when the seats are slightly reclined. Boot space is massive as I can fit 8 filled shopping bags or 4 massive suitcases. If you have a heavy foot this car will GOOOOOO!!! Capped price servicing is fair aswell from Toyota (any Toyota Dealer) around $250 per 6 months. Super happy with my car especially the heated front seats (my all-time favourite feature).
Better then expect – I purchased this car in may 2023... I had a fair idea that the car will be good... it wasn't until I got the car and used it that it exceed all my expectations. I have had no issues at all and the car feels very solid and safe. I have 2 daughters and I honestly feel at ease. It's definitely worth the money. I bought a mazda cx5 brand new before… Read more
this car, although the Mazda had a bit more bells and whistles I will still prefer the rav4 over the Mazda.
Worst voice recognition ever – The absolute worst voice recognition I’ve ever seen - you simply cannot use voice to find an address. It’s absolutely horrible and cannot find a street even close to resembling the street you mentioned. Show details
Find out how Toyota RAV4 XA50 compares to other Midsize / Medium SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid AWD – We have owned our RAV4 for close to 24 months and put 35000km on the odometer in that time driving over various distances from local around town to 1000km road trips. We initially had to wait 4 months for our car, I have heard it’s close to 12 months now due to demand (recommend checking with your local dealer). I also recommend shopping around… Read more
for the best deal, I contacted several dealers and the prices differed by thousands of dollars. We purchased ours from Torque Toyota at North Lakes QLD, we also have it serviced there and can’t fault the dealership in anyway. The car has been a dream to drive, fuel economy varies but on average around 5.5_6.5kms per 100km, if you just drive it around town with speed limits under 80km you will get the 5.5ltrs but on the open road at 100km both engines do the work which is pretty Normal for a hybrid. We chose a hybrid as many people don’t factor in the cost of electricity with a pure electric and we all know that the cost of power is rising exponentially! This and the fact we travel remotely throughout Queensland such as Brisbane to Longreach and there’s plenty of nothing between small country towns. All things to consider when purchasing a electric vehicle. Some issues to consider with the RAV, the reverse camera Quality isn’t on par with some competitors, clarity improvements are required here Toyota. Boot opening alarm ⏰ is loud, great to wake the neighbours at 5am in the morning, it’s a safety feature but if you don’t like it talk to your dealership and they can change it so it just beeps to let you know it’s operating and stops rather that beeping the entire time it is opening and closing. Passenger seat is not height adjustable and tall people may find this uncomfortable (especially models with a sunroof) so I recommend sitting in all the seats. And for all those people who like the black badges on the edge, you can achieve the same result using a product called Plasti dip which you can buy in aerosol spray at super cheap and watch YouTube for instructions. Any questions don’t hesitate to reach out.
Great car to drive – We decided to move to a hybrid for environmental reasons after owning a diesel SUV for years. We have had our RAV4Edge for 5 months and absolutely love it. It is so quiet to drive, but has excellent pickup and driveability. Plenty of room inside, and comfortable seating. The Jungle Khaki colour is unique and very attractive. We have had no mechanical issues. The car was great and very economical on a recent long drive. We are now RAV4 fans! Show details
Nice car in general but some major issues with GX model – We got the car as we are a family of 4 needed extra space. The car delivers in this regard along with a solid performance when driving with the engine. The battery is not that powerful and hardly gets a look in with the exception of reversing out of our driveway but this isn’t a real problem and certainly not a dealbreaker for us. The biggest… Read more
issue is the key. With two toddlers we often have our hands full and expected a car as up to date as a brand new Toyota to have a smart key system where you don’t have to constantly look for the key to open and close the door. Unfortunately this model (the GX Hybrid) does not have that feature. It’s a major problem for us as we are constantly having to put the kids down and taking time looking around for the key and we are not used to doing this.
Our other cars which are both six years old have this feature as standard so it was a little unexpected that Toyota (a brand which I always held in high esteem technically at least) does not offer this.
I’ve spoken to Toyota who understood and if anything seem surprised that the GX did not have this feature, they’ve checked and unfortunately I cannot pay for an upgrade. The technology just is not compatible with the GX.
Basically it means we’re not very happy with our purchase and I cannot in good faith recommend anyone to buy this model of this car. Shame on Toyota for not offering something as necessary as this as standard on ALL their models.
PLUS - we waited almost a year and a half for it!
Great Car BUT!!!! – You need to remember to switch off interior lights so don't come on when opening doors, open your drivers side door immediately when switching car off so turns off the headlights or you will flatten the really quite useless auxillary car start 12v battery - Toyota please fix this design flaw - Onto my 2nd Auxillary car starting battery in 2 years - Home & Business 50/50 and use car daily and book serviced at book service requied intervals Show details
Definately worth a Test Drive – I am a Toyota driver, driven everything from Camry to CHR and now a 2021 RAV4 Hybrid. Great on economy, pricing, comfort and safety aspects. Do yourself a big favour. Show details
Somewhat disappointed – Disappointed in some of the aspects, Of first the steering wheel is not centred to the drivers seat. Often times I struggle with discomfort when driving long distances due to the odd angle. Road noise is unbearable, and infotainment screen is of very poor quality on the 2020 model. I seen better quality screens on the cheaper corolla’s. Got to commend the fuel economy thou, which was what got me into it. Show details
Definitely low entry level dynamics and comfort – Hired the Hybrid and was looking forward to it. Economy was 6 litres/100Km on mostly country driving. Not good as my 2.0 litre 2005 BMW gets the same and does not need a battery that will need replacing at a sizeable cost. Dynamics were ok for an entry level car. The ABS did not do very well when stopping on dirt roads. The traction control… Read more
was worse. If you accelerated too hard, the back swung out to the side. Possibly it is an early (and cheaper) generation traction control unit. Latest generation traction control and ABS measure wheel slip many times a second and hence the wheel does not noticeably slip as it slipping is stopped just as it starts. The Toyota seemed to have a less sophisticated control unit as the wheels spun, stopped spinning, spun again, stopped spinning and spun again, which is why the rear end slid out sideways. May work better on smooth bitumen?
Comfort was good in the front seats. I can see people taking a test drive and being impressed. The road noise while on a highway in the back was quite high as there is little sound insulation for the rear passengers and the boot has places with no sound insulation at all. To speak to the rear passengers needed us in the front to raise our voices so much that it was better to speak when in towns with slower road speed. The windows did not stop the sun burning through onto your arm. More advanced cars use different glass that looks the same but stops most of the heat getting through so passengers are more comfortable, the aircon does not need to work as hard, etc.
Safety. The self steering was ok so long as there were well painted lines on both sides of the road such as a major multi lane highway. On good country roads, it would it was unable to detect the left side white line unless it was new and well painted. Roads where the left edge was less defined such as parts missing or a section was damaged where a truck ran wide in the past etc., meant the car would continue to slowly veer off the road. So. Ok for good highways, not for driving on the usual country roads. Passing other cars was a bit slow. I know that electric motors can provide enormous power short short times such as say 10 seconds (I am engineer). Not sure why Toyota did not let the battery give the motor more power so overtaking would be safer?
Sophistication was low. The touch panel was not intuitive to use. If you walk up to the car and unlock it with the key fob, the windows will not wind down so you can let the car cool down before driving off. You have to put the key fob in the centre console and push the start button. This means there are no smarts in the electricals, it's just a wire to the switch and battery. By comparison, in a 16 year old 3 series BMW, you can use the key fob to unlock and wind down the windows as you walk up. No need to get in a hot car. This is because the windows, etc., are all smart and under the control of the car's computer which does what you want when you press the fob buttons, such as just open the drivers door, or open all doors, or wind up all windows and close the sunroof as you hold the "lock car" button.
Overall a basic unsophisticated car. Quite good and a cheap price (around $48K), hence maybe you cannot expect the latest (or expect a 2005 level of sophistication) such as high quality ABS and traction control, a quiet ride in the back and creature comforts.
Excellent dashcam – Dashcam fitted front and back works excellently. Very easy to use and the Toyota sales staff were very helpful in explaining the features. Makes us feel a lot safer. Highly recommended. Show details
Great tough little suv – This car gets rough treatment as a work vehicle on a site. So far it's done 50k trouble free, fuel economy compared to the old hilux we had is amazing! Show details
Absolutely Amazing Vehicle - Simply The Best – We were a family that was loyal to Nissan for years and decided to switch to Toyota. This vehicle is spacious, economical, quiet, comfortable and stylish. What an awesome buy! Vehicle is mostly used as a shopping basket by the home boss! :) Show details
RAV4 - Still loving it – I picked up my RAV4 Cruiser - Petrol Feb 2021 and 19 months on I am still loving it. It is very comfortable with plenty of room in the back for my two girls aged 5 and 9. We enjoy throwing open the moon roof on a sunny day and I especially love the heated seats are a dream on those cold winter days. I'm a little disappointed with the Apple/Android… Read more
carplay. The JBL speakers are plentiful as are the usb ports. I love the auto boot, so handy for drop and go at school and speaking of the boot, it is so great o back up to the boundary fence pop open the boot and sit in there watching local footy. The air conditioning and heating is really comfortable to the front and back. Toyotas fixed price servicing is great. I chose the petrol option instead of hybrid as i really don't do enough klms to warrant the extra expense however those that have Hrbrids that I know are very impressed with their purchase.
Totally relaxing. Quiet & Safe – Our RAV is our family car and average about 25,000k's per year. Our first hybrid and won't be our last! As city drivers, I was getting increasingly frustrated sitting at red traffic lights, watching the fuel needle go down. Now out a 55lt tank, we average about 1,000km. It's cut about 40% out our fuel bill. But, that's not the best part of our… Read more
RAV, having now driven it for 18 months. Relaxing is an understatement. Cruising around, it's common the petrol engine just cuts out and total silence, other than a bit of road noise. The Adaptive (radar) cruise control is always turned on, keeping an even distance between us and the car in front (a great back-up also if a car stops fast because it stops faster than I can get to the brakes).
In fact, the entire Toyota safety sensing tech in this car adds a level of safety we've never experienced before. That is actually now our biggest winner with the RAV beyond fuel savings and general comfort.
And yes, it IS comfortable. Long 8 hour drives, and we arrive feeling fresh. No lower back aches (helped by the heated seats I'm sure). So much space to load up our gear, everything about our RAV met or exceeded our expectations.
About the only couple of points I'd pick on is petrol engine noise coming into the cabin under strong acceleration and the heater on a cold day taking a few minutes to start to kick in to warm up the cabin (have past had a Honda Civic which was virtually instantaneous). But once it cuts in, the auto-climate control is outstanding. Aircon on cold is instant and OMG cold.
I quizzed a number of taxi drivers about their experiences with Toyota Hybrids before buying the RAV. Never found one driver with a gripe about Toyota's reliability. Noting, they're commonly running their cars up to 800,000km. Batteries on the Hybrids seem to last forever, and the modern day cost for replacement if ever needed, has reduced to not much more than the cost of a Clutch replacement in my old Honda. So, that one 'early concern' was quickly abated.
I'd buy another RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser in a heartbeat. BTW we have often happily Towed a trailer up to 1.5 tonne with ease as Toyota state. Beautiful car. Worth every cent. I just want to be behind the wheel of a car again. Reinvigorated my past passion for driving.
And servicing every 15,000km @ $205 set price - hard to go wrong with that! Zero faults so far after 38,000km.
Very happy with the car – Really happy with the car generally speaking. It's well built, drives well and is comfortable. Plenty of boot space, and finished quite nicely. Only things I don't like: 1. Lane tracing pulls me to the left, into next lane, and you constantly have to fight it, so it's a useless feature I don't use anymore. 2. No illumination of window/door lock… Read more
controls can be somewhat frustrating at night 3. There is a constant very high pitched yet subtle wine when brakes or accelerator are pushed, it can be annoying if you focus on it 4. The JBL apple car play system has to be switched off and back on between phone calls, as if I finish one call, and try go to another, I can't hear the next call at all 5. There is no way to 'black out' or switch off the JBL stereo system
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Well, today I gave up wit Toyota and their broken promises to treated this a priority and sold the… Read more