Toyota RAV4 XA50 AWD 2.5L Hybrid (2019-2026)

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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

⚠️ 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.

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!

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.

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 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

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

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

Toyota - Oh What A feeling – We purchased the new Toyota RAV 4 in January and waited 3 months for it to be delivered due to it's popularity and market demand. The dealer was very honest in letting us know we had a 3-6 month wait from the date of ordering it. We purchased the Cruiser AWD hybrid as we plan on keeping this car for 5-10 years and want to future proof our self… Read more

with a hybrid engine. This vehicle was an upgrade from our Subaru XV which was also an excellent car, the boot space turned out to be a bit small though with a growing child (but more about that in another review). We test drove a few vehicles and settled on the Toyota due to hybrid availability in the market at that time (not many companies had medium size SUV hybrid vehicles) and the Toyota name and over 15 years in hybrid technology. We decided on the Cruiser as it had a drivers memory seat and my wife and I are miles apart in the height department, some of you will understand where I am coming from. We have had our car for around 3 going on 4 months. Sure there are a few little quirky things with this car that have annoyed us, such as the central locking system. For example you can't open the boot without the car first being unlocked, this can be frustrating at times. The other issue with the central locking is that you can't see what button unlocks the car at night from the drivers seat, this can also be annoying for the above reason as well as letting people out of the vehicle when you stop. An illuminated button would have been fantastic (talking to you Toyota). In some reviews people will talk about how slow the boot opens and the warning alarm when opening, this is one of the reasons the central locking can be annoying. I have tried on many occasions to open the boot early whilst walking toward the car to circumnavigate the speed of it opening to be tripped up by the unlocking issue. The alarm isn't so annoying during the day, but late at night when you get home and there is dead silence in the neighbourhood, lets just say shut your shed door before opening your boot or the whole neighbourhood will know your home. (Just an update, we raised this with our dealership during a service and they changed it so it just beeps once when opening and closing) The other issue is the reversing camera, the quality of this is below average and not what you'd expect from Toyota. Also another thing to consider is the head room in the front if you buy a model with a sunroof, if anyone is over 6ft I suggest you sit in both the driver and passenger seats. I am 6'2 and my head just touches the roof in the passenger seat. As I do most of the driving and only in the passenger seat for a short period of time or laid back asleep on long trips I can live with it. We get 5.5ltrs per 100km, 1000km per tank give or take based on driving style. Car drives like a dream and glad we made the purchase of our first ever Toyota.

Super Impressive – Daily for personal use/work/family trips/ vacation /leisure 15k or 12 months…no issues whatsoever Peace of mind/ amazing specs and features/audio…apple car play adaptive cruise distance control heated seats auto flooding mirrors auto 360 camera on slow speeds  Show details

Over rated, economical, horribly boring and almost unpleasant – The one and only reasonable thing is the fuel economy. I hate the nasty CVT transmission that makes it sound like a sewing machine, hard plastics and a feeling of commercial quality not luxury. The entertainment screen is of very average quality with camera resolution poor. I expected more but this car I just find so boring and uninspiring to drive Show details

Comfort with incredible economy – Hi! Some of you may have seen my earlier review of my Nissan X-Trail Ti. I have traded it to a Cruiser Hybrid eFour. After 1 tank of fuel, I can report that it is way more comfortable and economical. I ordered mine with nutmeg colour leather internal / electric blue external combo and have to wait 6 months for it. Lucky or unlucky either way, I… Read more

was in the Great Melbourne Lockdown for a good ~4 months. Therefore, it did not bother me with the wait.

We managed the first tank with 47Lt for 841km @ 17.89km/Lt or 5.59Lt/100km. The trip computer is now reset and it is showing an amazing 935km to empty. Considering that I have the A/C on, the engine is still feeling tight and I am not sure how to really drive a Hybrid economically. I was impressed with my first tank. I noticed this same early fuel warning light situation that is being reported / questioned by a few people....I will keep an eye on this and report in the next update.

For this first tank, we have travelled ~80% low speed (20~60km/hr) commute, one testing drive up Mt Dandenong and one short cruise down to Mornington. The testing drive to Mt D included winding roads, unsealed tracks and one very steep downhill track that I have tested the previous T31 & T32 X-Trail with.

Drive a Hybrid eFour is a very different experience compared to a conventional petrol all wheel drive vehicle. This is especially noticeable on winding mountain road. I am a driver that uses gear level more than brake pedal (I encourage you to practise this for safety reason). This does not matter whether you are driving a DCT, CVT or normal automatic vehicle. By using the CVT transmission (in this case) to induce engine braking, the hybrid system come along and help brake / slow the car down and re-charge the battery at the same time. (I changed the dash display to show the all wheel drive status) Exiting corner with a "Firmish" right foot smoothly power out of corners in "Electric Assisted All Wheel Drive Mode". The RAV4 is now became an "All Wheel Drive" driver car. (It started to feel like the Golf GTSport that I used to own in a much larger form.)

There are still many settings and tests that I want to explore in the coming months. Will provide further updates early 2021. Have a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year break everyone!

One thing that I need to mention - there was a very bad rattle in the sunroof and operation was also suspect on day 2 of ownership. Reported to the dealer for warranty. However, it has disappeared after the run in Mt D. May be the bush track run have re-set (shaken) the sunroof back in place?!?! Now, it is working perfectly......

Update No. 1 - After 2 months It has been an interesting 2 months of driving with the RAV4. Fuel efficiency wise has been consistence around the 5.2 ~ 5.5L/100km with A/C operating. The Econ mode definitely uses less fuel than the Normal mode. Done over 3000km now. It is starting to feel more normal (not as tight as before). I have only used the Power mode to do a few hard accelerations on to freeway.

The "Follow the Traffic" (I call this Traffic Jam Cruise Control" function) was fantastic. I have used it whenever I am in heavy traffic. It works really well. To be able to use it for the one hour jam I had travelling 10km to cross into Philips Island was a real delight......not the traffic jam itself. It stop, control the speed, maintain the distance and steel a little is truly not expected for a car of this price.

One thing that I am puzzled with is the tire pressure settings. The book and label is saying 34lb. At the 1st month service, the dealer adjusted to 38lb and told me that it is the right setting. After driving it on a freeway, the noise was so loud that I lower it to 36lb and leave it at this level for now. The noise reduction from 38 to 36lb was very noticeable......I wonder.

So far, very happy with the purchase.

Next update will be after April - reason = A trip to the Grampian. I will take it back to the tracks that I have done with the T31 and T32 XTrail and see how the eAWD system handle the rough stuffs :)

Update No. 2 - Grampian. What a rookie error - did not check tyre pressure before a long trip. The car was averaging 6 ~ 6.2L/100km on 100~110km/hr hwy. I was wondering why it is ~10% higher than normal....may be the many hills that it climbed along the way; plus that I did not hold back to use the e-power to pass any slow traffics (I was really enjoying the instant power from the eMotors). The tyre pressure was on 31psi instead of the 36psi that it should be.

Well that may explained why it was so comfortable and quite on all road conditions. Including very rough back road that covered with loose gravel. Disappointingly, I ran out of time to test the vehicle on the tracks the I have done with the previous two X-Trails. Because, we travelled northwards for the Silo Art Trail; which took an extra 4 hours that I was not expected. I will have to wait next time or find a nearby track in the Dandenong.

Done over 7700km so far in just short of 6 months. very satisfy with the purchase.

Great packaging. Overall a well designed SUV – This car is fantastic. The Hybrid changeover from battery to engine is unobtrusive and seamless. Visibility is great and one of the best in the segment The large windows also make it easier for the kids to see out. It has plenty of power for what we need as a family car for work, school drop offs, shopping etc. Real world fuel economy has been 5.7… Read more

l/100 kms. The suspension is well balanced and the car is noticeably quieter than my previous 2016 RAV4 Cruiser. Like any vehicle, there could always be some improvements. The transmission tunnel is very high and with this it means you knees rest on the tunnel plastic, whereas in my previous 2016 RAV4, my knees would be in the air over the transmission tunnel. Over bumpy roads, your knees bounce on the hard plastic and starts to hurt. There should be some padding added here. An annoying part for the kids is that there is no back seat pocket behind the passenger seat and the kids are always putting their things there. There was one there in both my previous RAVs, so this cost cutting decision to only have one seat back pocket is one that annoys us constantly. The Subaru Forester has a great back seat design where there are 3 sections, so you can easily store your mobile phone and then store other things in the larger pocket. Toyota has always never had illumination on all of its power window buttons on the RAVs. They have it on other cars i.e. Kluger, Camry. Come on Toyota, you still cannot do this on a 2020 model. Every other car in this segment has the switches illuminated at night. From a personal viewpoint I am not a fan of the black coloured wheels on the Cruiser AWD hybrid and the dealer wanted an extra $1300 to change out to the same size silver coloured wheels. On the digital instrument cluster, you can choose analog speedometer or digital. Would be great if one of the user options could have both the analog with the digital speed as well on the same display.

Hybrids are amazing – My wife and I bought this car recently. It is so quiet and drives like butter. We love the car and everything about it, great interiors, enough room in the back for our dog, the stereo system has wonderful sound. It has a really top notch safety rating which is the main reason we got it. Mechanically I trust toyota always, so far so good with this one too.

Waiting – Just read these reviews of the RAV4 GXL HYBRID. Thank you, I ordered mine today, there is a wait of approx 4 months, however I have a feeling it may arrive sooner. My test drive was fabulous. It’s much quieter than my Mazda3. It handles well and with so many features I can’t wait to get behind the wheel . Show details ·  1

Rav4 Hybrid: Apple CarPlay not worth the effort – This is not a review of the RAV4 Hybrid, its a pretty good all round car but I just picked my car up from the dealer after the Apple CarPlay "upgrade". The poor girl trying to show me how the Apple CarPlay worked was stumped and so was I neither of us could find it. Until she went and asked the Tech. YOU NEED A CORD! The car has wireless charging… Read more

for goodness sake. So the answer is if you want Apple CarPlay you will need to connect your phone via a cord to enable it, as you proceed to place it down for wireless charging. Not sure why Toyota bothered. I was disappointed.

Glimpse of automotive future – 4 months wait to get the combination I wanted - Pearl White AWD Hybrid Cruiser with tan leather, sunroof and dash cam. When I picked it up in early September 2019, I was told the wait time for this model had blown out to 8 months. Adaptive cruise control is brilliant on the freeways and around town, keeping you the correct distance behind the… Read more ·  2

car in front, even when they brake suddenly. The automatic lane keeping is a little hit & miss where the road markings are not absolutely clear - you still need hands on the wheel. 360 camera makes parking and tight spaces a breeze.

The controls are complex and take a lot of reading of the manuals and practice to be comfortable. Having said that, the car is brilliant to drive, 6 l/100km and feels very solid and safe. Fuel economy is the same around town and on the highway. My experience is that you are best to let the hybrid computer drive itself and ignore the changeover from battery to petrol. Battery power is quiet and good for leaving basement parking early in the mornings. Lucky to get 1km on battery before engine kicks in.

The car cost $49,000 On the road, including 5 years roadside assist and 5 years of annual servicing @ $210 per service. ACT Govt stamp duty is rebated fro Hybrids, a savings of $1,500.

Motoring perfection – I ordered a white GXL Hybrid AWD without even test driving one in April 2019. This beautiful machine arrived 10 days later with towbar fitted. What can I say, Toyota have absolutely nailed it this time. Its generally quiet, composed, refined, and everything I wanted from a vehicle. Best car I have owned in 35 years of driving. It ticked every… Read more

box, and then some: AWD, power, economy, comfortable cloth seats, auto wipers, reliable, big boot, small enough to park, tows 1700kg, full size alloy spare wheel, radar cruise to zero, auto lights, auto headlight dip, auto braking, smart key, wireless charger, tinted windows, dual climate air, parking sensors all round, nice to drive, quality interior, made in Japan, look stylish, no sunroof etc etc. The value proposition for around NZ$44k in NZ is simply unbelievable. A similar specced Mazda CX5/VW Tiguan in NZ costs around NZ$50-65k.

After going from a V6 AWD Highlander/Kluger I had for 10 years, I was worried the RAV4 might lack the power, but 0-100km is dispatched in the same 8 seconds (as long as it only has the driver on board). It also has more silent instant torque from the electric motors, and then linear acceleration even with the petrol added. Its fun to leave boy racers in your dust, with a Hybrid !. Economy, around 4.1 to 4.9 Litres/100 on my commute, which is 30 km in heavy traffic, and I get around 900 km per tank of 91, so only fill up every three weeks (instead of every 1.5 weeks with my last car). no range anxiety now ! At 100 km/h its using 6.5 litres, so my average overall is around 5.2 litres/100. Around town its near silent in EV mode. You cant use EV mode much above around 60 Km/hr, or for more than about 3Km, when the petrol automatically kicks in. Towing is really good, with the heavy car making it very stable.

Disadvantages....... perhaps the long wait if you want one (although it appears to be easing), the engine is a bit noisy compared to a V6 on the motorway. Also fully loaded with people and luggage the engine has to work hard so is a bit thrashy and corolla like. Its what you expect for a 4 cylinder. The AWD is not permanently connected so you do get some front wheel skid before the back wheels kick in, particularly in the wet. It still feels a little disconnected from the road. Brakes for a hybrid feel a bit woody until you get used to them.

The old model RAV4 was the best selling passenger vehicle in America, and this one will certainly sell even better. Taxis around the world are using them too.

Love... Love... Love.... my Hybrid RAV4.