Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2021 review: Cruiser

The exterior is modern and fresh, with a slanted back end and smooth front end with large grille. It feels very 2021, and reminds me of the car version of Bear Grylls. You know, smooth, likeable, practical, can take him anywhere.

The Toyota RAV4 exterior is modern and fresh.

Inside the car has unique styling that sets it apart from competitors, especially this textured rubber finish on knobs and shelves that adds to the rugged feeling of the car. 

The upholstery is leather accented and the steering wheel is leather, too. The centre console is nicely designed but is let down slightly by the multimedia screen jutting out the dash - it would be more seamless if it was integrated into it.

There’s a digital dashboard that makes everything feel quite fresh though and overall it feels great to sit in the RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid on the road.

The current RAV4 has a cooler, more modern shape.

There’s a silent start, as with all electric motors, but the petrol engine kicks in quite quickly soon after you take off. It drives really well with a seamless transition from electric motor to petrol engine power - though the engine is a lot louder and you do notice it as soon as it's running!

It’s happy to coast along on the battery for a while but there is the 2.5L four-cylinder petrol engine when you really need power on highways. 

And remember, it’s not a plug-in hybrid, so you don’t need to worry about cables or forgetting to charge overnight.

It drives really well with a seamless transition from electric motor to petrol engine power.

In this type of hybrid, the engine is charging the battery, and those batteries power the electric motors (one on the front axle, one on the rear) when the system thinks it’s appropriate.

So, it basically just uses less fuel than a regular engine because it’s dipping into stored energy. Claimed fuel consumption is 4.8L/100km which is amazing for a family sized SUV and I averaged 6.1L/100km, driving mainly around Sydney suburbs, not a lot of highway driving this week. 

The steering turns easily so parking the car is fine and there is a reverse parking camera, however it could be a higher resolution - especially when the whole car is about forward thinking technology, I would expect a better camera here. 

The front seats are power adjustable and the park brake turns on and off by itself, which I always appreciate. The tailgate is power operated, too, although it takes a long time to open and close, and sometimes you just want to be able to slam it shut. 

There are two cupholders in the front, a spot for charging your phone, that also has that textured rubber finish which helps stop your phone sliding around, a centre storage bin and bottle holders in each door.

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest plus bottle holders in the doors, and directional air vents, which is necessary in summer. 

It comes with a whole spectrum of safety equipment over the range and includes auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert and lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. 

The RAV4 scored the maximum five ANCAP stars when it was tested in 2019. 

You’ll get seven airbags plus two ISOFIX points and three top tether points to fit kids car seats in safely. 

It scored the maximum five ANCAP stars when it was tested in 2019. 

The Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid costs $46,290, before on road costs. Fuel consumption is a claimed 4.8L/100km and I averaged 6.1L/100km this week, with mainly suburban driving, which is what drives the fuel cost up. 

It’s covered by Toyota’s five year/unlimited km warranty, seven years warranty on the engine and gearbox (if you keep it serviced by the book) and seven years of roadside assist.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km.