Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota RAV4 (2013-2018) review - Engines, performance and drive

The Toyota RAV4 can't match its rivals for ride, handling or performance

Engines, performance and drive rating

3.5

How we review cars
Find your Toyota RAV4
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The original Toyota RAV4 was quirky and fun to drive, but you don't sense much of the spirit of the first generation car in this fourth-generation model. It's perfectly adequate for most tastes, but when you've got agile and engaging rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and SEAT Ateca, 'adequate' isn't really good enough.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The RAV4 offers decent ride comfort most of the time and reasonable refinement, which is a bonus. It's grippy, too. But there's quite a lot of body roll, the steering doesn't inspire driver enjoyment, and it feels heavy and lumpen where the best rivals feel agile and nimble. For family use, however, it'll do the job.

The hybrid is even less accomplished. The extra weight of the electric motors and battery pack blunts its responses, making it far less enjoyable to drive. There's less front end grip and the suspension doesn't control body movements as well. On top of that, the hybrid doesn't ride that well and it thuds into potholes while sharp ridges send a shudder through the cabin.

The RAV4 is composed on the motorway, and thanks to the large cabin passengers will stay happy for the whole journey, too. Although it's been set up for comfort, bumps in the road are still rather noticeable, and over potholes the ride starts to feel stiff.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC
Focus Vignale

2020 Ford

Focus Vignale

59,430 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £14,676
View Focus Vignale
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

30,377 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,597
View Puma
C4

2023 Citroen

C4

20,443 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £14,297
View C4

The brakes are strong and on hybrid models are used to partially recharge the batteries - you can even hear the generator when you stop from high speed. Yet Toyota still hasn't managed to engineer a seamless transition between regenerative braking and the traditional discs and pads, plus the pedal has a sharp action.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There are two gearboxes, each paired with a different engine: a manual and a CVT automatic. The manual in the diesel model has a fairly long throw and feels notchy, and the CVT is noisy while accelerating, but on the motorway and in town it's pleasant and smooth.

Sport mode features on four-wheel drive models and adds weight to the steering and automatically sends 10 per cent of the to the rear axle in an effort to combat understeer. However, even in this set-up the RAV4 lacks the grip, composure and precision of rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Kuga. The hybrid's four-wheel drive system uses electric motors at the back, rather than a driveshaft.

Engines

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine and either one or two electric motors depending on whether you go for four-wheel drive or not. On the AWD model the second motor powers the back wheels - but there's no more power available. There's plenty of it, however, with 195bhp in total - so it's good at overtaking on the motorway. It's well insulated too, as long as you keep your right foot off the floor.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Toyota has dropped the 2.2-litre D-4D diesel option, leaving just the 2.0-litre model alongside the equivalent petrol. It’s been updated with an extra 19bhp to allow it to be just as fast from 0-62mph as the old 2.2 (9.6 seconds).

Its performance is adequate enough and almost on par with the Mazda CX-5 diesel, on paper at least - but it doesn’t feel quite as energetic on the road. It’s subdued enough at a cruise, but it lags behind some of the best in class overall for noise and vibration, especially at low speed. The hybrid is quieter at low speeds and on light throttle openings, but ask the Toyota to accelerate even moderately quickly and the CVT gearbox sends the revs soaring, which results in a coarse and intrusive drone from the 2.5-litre engine.

The hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4 is a great choice for driving in town, as there's absolutely no noise while crawling through traffic - the electric motors only provide the power for around a mile though with the engine cutting in when you need to accelerate or the batteries (quickly) get to their minimum charge. Even when the motor does start up it's well insulated, although the CVT gearbox means that when you put your foot down there's a loud droning noise.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025