2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review + Video

The Toyota RAV4 is a tried and true SUV with a proven track record.

Toyota sold nearly 78,000 of them in Canada last year, making it the most popular passenger vehicle in the country that wasn’t a pickup truck. The RAV4 Hybrid happens to be the most compelling model in the lineup, and is the one I recommend the most. While it’s been around for a while and isn’t bringing anything groundbreaking to the table, it’s tough to beat simply because it’s damn good at doing what it’s meant to do, which is being practical, reliable, and efficient.

Styling: 8/10

The RAV4 will never stand out in a parking lot simply because there are so many of them out there. Still, the design has aged well, and if you don’t mind the anonymity, it’s perfectly fine. The cabin feels a bit cheap, which is a letdown in the top Limited trim tested here, and there are too many hard plastics throughout. 

Power: 8/10

The RAV4 Hybrid is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that’s paired to an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) and Toyota’s reputable hybrid system. One reason I prefer the hybrid model is that it can pull on the hybrid system’s electric components for stronger acceleration. The result is decent enough acceleration to get up to highway speeds or pass a slower vehicle without too much stress.

The battery under the back seats powers the electric motors, including one on the rear axle to enable all-wheel drive — a clever system that gives added traction without a significant penalty on efficiency. The system predominantly drives the front wheels until more traction is needed during a launch or when slippage is detected. The RAV4 Hybrid can run on battery power in low-effort situations like parking, coasting, or waiting at a stoplight, and flips between gas and electric power (or a combination of both) without driver intervention. 

Fuel Economy: 9/10

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is officially rated to consume 5.8 L/100 km in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 6.0 combined, which is stellar. After 670 km of testing during a week of extreme winter weather, the indicated average was 7.0 L/100 km. Under better conditions, however, it’s easy to beat the official estimates; a summertime test a couple years ago saw an indicated average of 5.7 L/100 km without even trying. 

Driving Feel: 7/10

The RAV4’s compact size and excellent outward visibility make it easy to park, drive, and manoeuvre in tight spots. The chassis is also very well sorted, providing a confident but comfortable ride. The suspension does a great job smoothing out rough roads, and the RAV4 has an easygoing demeanour except when calling for a burst of acceleration, when the CVT leaves the powertrain feeling and sounding strained. The steering is quite numb and the brakes also operate inconsistently and feel a bit mushy.

Practicality: 9/10

The RAV4’s interior prioritizes practicality, which is one of its strong suits. Its boxy, upright shape means there’s tons of usable space. The cargo area is 1,059 L, which expands to 1,977 L when the 60/40 split rear seats are folded flat. The tailgate opening is wide and low, which makes it easy to load and unload. The RAV4 Hybrid offers the same cargo capacity as the non-hybrid version, so you don’t have to sacrifice practicality for efficiency.

The cabin also has some decent small item storage with a rubberized tray in front of the passenger that’s perfect for cables and phones. It also has big door pockets, and a decently sized cubby under the armrest.

Features: 7/10

The RAV4 Hybrid isn’t bringing any unique features to the table, but most of the basics are covered. Every version comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, five USB ports, and dual-zone climate control. The top trim adds a wireless phone charger, a power tailgate with a kick sensor, an upgraded audio system, a sunroof (standard on all but the base trim), and more.

Safety: 9/10

All Toyota RAV4 Hybrids come with an excellent safety suite that includes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-tracing assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The top Hybrid Limited tested here has extra features including reverse automatic emergency braking, a camera-based rear-view mirror, and surround-view cameras. Unfortunately, the safety systems are a bit too sensitive and fire off many false warnings when there’s no real threat of danger.

Comfort: 8/10

The top trim comes with comfort features like ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and driver’s seat memory system. The seats aren’t super comfortable for longer trips, and even in the top trim they’re wrapped in faux-leather that feels quite cheap. The good news is that the RAV4’s boxy shape allows for decent headroom in the back, although the space up front isn’t great because of the sunroof and tall seating position. 

User-Friendliness: 8/10

The RAV4 uses many physical buttons and big, chunky knobs for the climate control system, which are more user-friendly than touch-capacitive controls. The infotainment system is a bit clunky to use, although the 10.5-inch touchscreen that comes in the SE, XSE, and Limited trims makes room for a row of shortcuts that’s always visible, which makes it easier to use than the eight-inch screen found elsewhere in the lineup.

Value: 9/10

The base 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE trim starts at $36,505 plus a $1,930 non-negotiable destination fee, while the top Limited AWD tested goes for $47,525. All models offer a lot of value simply because of their solid reputation and historically good resale values.

The Verdict

The Canadian-made Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is like a salad. Salads don’t excite me, and they’re never something I crave, but I can fully understand that it’s a smart choice and a solid, healthy, and reliable meal that won’t do me wrong. 

The Toyota RAV4 is an easy pick for anyone who wants a crossover that’s easy to live with, dependable, efficient, and practical. There’s also a new-generation RAV4 coming later this year that will likely address some of its shortcomings to make it even better than it is now.