Toyota RAV4 2021 review: Cruiser Hybrid AWD

We’re looking at one of the most in-demand variants of the RAV4 range, the Cruiser hybrid, which sits below the angrier-looking and non-hybrid Edge AWD but above the mid-grade GXL on the price scale.

Wearing a before on-roads price tag (MSRP) of $46,415, the Cruiser certainly ain’t at the cheap end of the mid-size SUV price scale.

To make things worse, a cursory search on Autotrader reveals people are apparently paying nearly $60K to skip the queue for even a lightly used example, so good luck wrangling a better price from a dealer.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch gloss black alloys. (Image: Tom White)

The stock shortfall can hardly be blamed on Toyota, though, which like many other brands this year, is facing multiple issues to do with both COVID-related logistics issues and the seemingly ever-present microprocessor shortage.

Price fluctuations aside, at the stated price the RAV4 Cruiser hybrid goes up against the Hyundai Tucson Elite (turbo-petrol AWD - $43,000), Mazda CX-5 (GT AWD petrol - $47,190), although is perhaps better rivalled in the hybrid space by the Subaru Forester (Hybrid S - $47,190).

As a reminder of how busy this space is, there is also the new-generation Mitsubishi Outlander (which is seven-seat, but the hybrid isn’t here yet) and Kia Sportage (although, no hybrid at launch) to consider.

If you really want to go harder on electrification, there’s always MG’s HS PHEV (Essence - $47,990) to consider.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch gloss black alloys, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, built in navigation, and digital radio, dual-zone climate control, synthetic leather interior trim with heated front seats and 10-way power adjust for the driver, a 7.0-inch semi-digital dash cluster, wireless phone charging bay, nine-speaker JBL audio system, a panoramic reversing camera, ambient interior lighting, a power tailgate, keyless entry with push-start ignition, and a (non-panoramic) sunroof.

Featuring an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. (Image: Tom White)

The Cruiser has specific exterior trimmings in chrome to differentiate it from the GXL and Edge, although it's missing some items like a holographic head-up display, and fully digital dash cluster, which is starting to make this high-spec car feel a little dated.

The same goes for the 8.0-inch multimedia screen, which is the same one appearing in the base GX, starting to look tiny in comparison to the 10+ inch screens starting to appear in rival models.

Still, most buyers are drawn in by the promise of Toyota’s silky smooth hybrid drive and trim running costs, which we’ll look at later.

Not only does the RAV4 feel spacious from the passenger seat, it is incredibly spacious in the cabin. I’d go so far as to say the RAV4 has one of the most spacious cabins in the mid-size segment, although there are one or two small areas where it could use improvement for a car at this price.

There are huge bottle holders and bins in the doors, huge bottle holders in the centre console, a large armrest box area, and a large bay with wireless charger and power outlets under the climate unit.

The cabin is excellent when it comes to ergonomics, with dials for volume, tuning, and both climate zones, as well as shortcut buttons for everything.

The cabin is excellent when it comes to ergonomics. (Image: Tom White)

There’s no wireless phone mirroring though, so you’ll still need to clutter the design with wires if you’re connecting to the touchscreen this way, and for a top-spec car, it’s notably missing electrical seat adjust for the passenger. Still, space and visibility are excellent up front.

The back seat also provides ample space for adults, with leagues of leg, arm, and headroom available to me behind my own seating position (I’m 182cm tall).

It also feels big and airy thanks to the blocky roofline and huge windows, and it’s nice to see the soft trims in the doors continue to the rear to provide elbow support.

The back seat provides ample space for adults. (Image: Tom White)

The seats are on a slight adjustable recline, and unlike some rivals, are not on rails, limiting the adjustability of the base.

Regardless, rear passengers are treated to a large bottle holder in the door, two smaller ones in the drop-down armrest, small pockets on the backs of the front seats, dual power outlets, and dual adjustable air vents.

Surprisingly for an all-wheel drive model, the transmission tunnel is surprisingly low-profile, an extra benefit if you need to put an adult in the centre seat.

While the rear doors are huge, they share the common Toyota problem of not opening all the way to 90 degrees, perhaps limiting the ease of fitting child seats in the outer rear seats.

The boot is huge at 580 litres (VDA), and even the rear wheel arch claddings have been squared out a little to help maximise the available space.

The boot is huge at 580 litres (VDA). (Image: Tom White)

The loading lip is also very low and flat to the floor making it remarkably easy to hoist objects up and into into the boot. It easily consumed our entire CarsGuide luggage set with ample space to spare.

There is still ample space to spare when luggage is accounted for. (Image: Tom White)

There’s also a small netted area on the dirver’s side of the boot to secure smaller objects, and a large underfloor space which houses a space-saver spare wheel.

A large underfloor houses a space-saver spare wheel. (Image: Tom White)

The RAV4 continues to offer one of the largest and most family-friendly cabins in this mid-size SUV class, with a clear preference for interior volume over a coupe-like design preferred by many of its competitors.

The Cruiser hybrid AWD packs one of Toyota’s most renowned hybrid systems. It consists of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 131kW/221Nm, which combines with an electric motor front and rear, producing 88kW/202Nm and 40kW/121Nm, respectively.

Toyota says the system combined can produce a peak of 163kW. It drives the wheels either directly via the electric motors, or via a continuously variable automatic transmission when running in parallel.

The Cruiser hybrid AWD packs one of Toyota’s most renowned hybrid systems. (Image: Tom White)

This all sounds complicated, but one of the reasons Toyota hybrid systems are so popular is because, for the most part, none of this complexity is communicated to the driver.

The system is silky smooth in operation, and especially around town is great at minimising time where the engine is doing most of the pulling.

There is a mild regenerative braking system paired to the brake pedal, and the high voltage components are backed by a 1.5kWh hybrid battery using an older-style nickel-metal hydride technology.

For such a relatively large vehicle, the official/combined fuel consumption figure of just 4.8L/100km seems unbelievable, but the brilliance of this hybrid system is it’s never far from the mark.

This is because it is great at switching the engine off as much as possible and squeezing as much time as it can from the electric motors in a million ways most drivers will never notice.

In my time with the Cruiser hybrid, it produced a dash-reported 6.4L/100km over what I would consider a realistic mix of driving conditions for most city dwellers.

Again, speaking to the popularity of the RAV4 hybrid variants, few cars can come close. The brilliance of the ‘self-charging’ hybrid system is it will save you fuel regardless of how you drive it.

The ‘self-charging’ hybrid system will save you fuel. (Image: Tom White)

But if you do pay closer attention there are further fuel savings to be had, as particular driving habits will allow you to extract even more time on the electric motors alone.

As this is an EV Guide review, I should point out here that while the Toyota hybrid system might be a prudent economical choice, it is not necessarily a better environmental one.

While you’ll burn less fuel, as you can’t charge this car any other way, it’s electrical drive features still carry an emissions burden. The 2.5-litre engine is only Euro 4 compliant, making it out-of-date on this front.

The RAV4 Cruiser hybrid AWD has a 55-litre fuel tank and can even consume entry-level 91RON fuel (again, great for the back pocket, less good for mother nature…).

Toyota continues to cover its range with a competitive five year and unlimited kilometre warranty, which extends to seven years for powertrain components if you continue to use genuine Toyota servicing.

The battery warranty also extends out to 10 years if the schedule is adhered to. Roadside assist is not included but can be added separately.

Servicing, as always, is a real strong point for Toyota. The RAV4 will need to visit the shop once every 12 months or 15,000km whichever occurs first, but importantly the capped price service program is astoundingly cheap, with the yearly average cost for the first five years of ownership working out to just $215. Wow.