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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2024 Toyota RAV4 Review
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 comes loaded with engine options and technology. We take a look at interior options, cargo space, and more in our review.
What’s New for the 2024 Toyota RAV4?
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is an SUV that aims to offer something for anyone. To that end it’s available with front or all-wheel drive, a fuel-sipping gas-only engine, a hybrid that gets up to 41 mpg in the city, and even a plug-in hybrid with 42 miles of all-electric range. Safety is a big focus for the RAV4 too and as such, it’s won an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
The Toyota RAV4 enters this generation’s sixth year with no significant changes. A new green paint is available but in terms of features, power, performance, safety, and the rest, it’s identical to the 2023 edition we review here.
2024 Toyota RAV4 – toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota RAV4 on Carsforsale.com
Carsforsale.com Score
8.25/10
Powertrain
Score
8.5/10
Interior
Score
8/10
Technology
Score
8/10
Value
Score
8.5/10
The Breakdown
Above-average fuel economy
Prime trim is fun
Classy cabin
Unrefined base engine
No fun to drive
Older tech
It’s time for an update
2024 RAV4 Specs
- 203 horsepower from base engine
- 184 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 11 available trims
- 37.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 69.8 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats folded
- Available 360-degree camera
- IIHS Top Safety Pick
- Two years of free maintenance
2024 Toyota RAV4 Powertrain 8.5/10
Toyota offers an interesting range of powertrains in the RAV4 and the one thing they all have in common is exceptional fuel efficiency. The base unit is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with no electrification at all. It makes 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The base engine nets 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
That power gets sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. All-wheel drive is available and even standard on trims like Adventure and TRD Off-Road. It also gets up to 27 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway.
Next is a hybrid version of that same 2.5-liter engine but this time it gets a pair of electric motors, a continuously variable transmission, and standard all-wheel drive. Toyota doesn’t quote torque for this engine but it does make 219 horsepower. Despite the added weight of the battery pack and electric motors it’s a little quicker to drive as well and it gets up to 41 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway which is outstanding.
Finally, the RAV4 Prime is the brand’s pricey but fun plug-in hybrid. It offers up to 42 miles of all-electric range along with a combined output of 302 horsepower. Only the Supra and GR86 are faster from 0-60 among Toyota vehicles.
In addition, the RAV4 Prime gets 38 mpg combined and can charge up fully in just 2.5 hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. Finally, it’s worth noting that the RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Interior 8/10
Those familiar with modern Toyota products will recognize the RAV4 cabin accouterment immediately. Function is the main factor and thus all controls are logically placed, easy to reach, and intuitive to use.
Lower-end models suffer from a bit more cheap plastic and a clearly downmarket design. Still, we really like the above-average comfort on offer from the seats and the clever storage spaces.
Upper trim levels offer a sunroof, leather-trimmed bits, and a great faux-leather upholstery that breathes nicely. Heated and ventilated seats are also available and adults can ride in any of the seats without discomfort.
Ride comfort is good too thanks to a cushy suspension and sound-deadening materials that keep road noise outside of the cabin. Notably, the base engine is still a bit too buzzy and can be heard and felt through the chassis.
In terms of storage, the RAV4 is a winner as it features 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row. That’s gigantic compared to so many rivals and avoids the needless compromise that a vestigial third row might impose. The RAV4 prime loses a little of this cargo space but is still good overall with 33.5 cubic feet in the back.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Technology Features 8/10
Toyota’s technology package on the RAV4 features some real highs and lows. Let’s talk about the good first. Every RAV4 comes standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Those are features that most buyers love and will use regularly today.
In addition, Toyota incorporates several USB ports into most trim levels so it’s easy to keep devices charged up. Finally, both of the two infotainment screen sizes (8-inch and an available 10.5-inch) respond quickly to inputs which isn’t the case with all rivals. On the safety tech side of things we can’t help but appreciate just how far Toyota has gone to offer a bevy of advanced driver aids as standard equipment. Lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more come free. The overall safety design is good too and won an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
At the same time, that brings us to some of the downsides of the RAV4. Some of those systems like the lane-departure warning are very touchy and will alert a bit too quickly in our opinion. On the tech front, both screens feel too small for today’s market. The graphics aren’t very attractive either but as we’ve already mentioned, they function fine. The last hiccup we’ll mention is the 11-speaker JBL sound system which is better than the stock six-speaker setup but not enough to add it as a standalone option.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Trims & Pricing
Toyota splits the Hybrid from the Non-hybrid in terms of some features. We’ll detail the differences here.
LE – $30,025
The base RAV4 has 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, cloth upholstery, an 8-inch infotainment system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, six speakers, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Hybrid buyers also get dual-zone climate control and alloy wheels.
XLE – $31,535
At this level, gas-only buyers get alloy wheels and dual-zone climate control too. In general, this trim comes with heated mirrors, keyless entry, two 120-volt household-style power outlets, a cargo cover, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a blind-spot warning system.
XLE Premium (Gas Only) – $34,425
This trim adds 19-inch wheels, LED fog lights, a sunroof, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, faux leather upholstery, and a power liftgate.
SE (Hybrid Only) – $35,770
The SE adds 18-inch wheels, projector-style LED headlights, a sport-tuned suspension, ambient interior lighting, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Adventure (Gas Only) – $36,220
This trim adds 19-inch matte grey wheels, fender flares, taller roof rails, selectable drive modes, and hill-descent control.
Woodland Edition (Hybrid Only) – $36,295
Consider the Woodland a step up from Adventure thanks to a TRD-tuned off-road suspension, bronze wheels, all-terrain tires, and the same taller roof rails.
Limited – $38,330
The Limited has 19-inch wheels, chrome accents, driver’s seat memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, a digital instrument panel, a 10.5-inch touchscreen, and 11 speakers.
XSE (Hybrid Only) – $38,735
This trim adds two-tone paint, faux leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 10.5-inch infotainment system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
TRD Off-Road (Gas Only) – $39,645
The most capable RAV4 comes with the same features as the Woodland but adds a 10.5-inch infotainment screen and changes out the bronze trim details and wheels for black ones.
Prime SE (PHEV) – $45,040
The base RAV4 Prime SE gets 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system, and six speakers.
Prime XSE (PHEV) – $48,910
The top trim features 19-inch wheels, a sunroof, paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, a 10.5-inch infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, faux-leather upholstery, and an 11-speaker sound system.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Overall Value 8.5/10
It’s hard to argue against the RAV4 as anything but a decent value for money. The lower-end trims come in at a decent price and even the very expensive RAV4 Prime is reasonably priced when compared to the rest of its rivals. In addition, Toyota offers two years of free maintenance on the RAV4 which is another bonus that few rivals offer. It’s included in some new car lease offers too. At the same time, it’s not without flaws.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 8.25/10
2024 Toyota RAV4 – toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota RAV4 on Carsforsale.com
Toyota did a good job with the RAV4 but it’s slowly falling behind the competition. We’d love to see it step back to the top of the class with improved features. The suspension could be tuned for better body control and we’d love to see Toyota go ahead and offer true four-wheel drive from one of its other platforms like the Tacoma.
2024 Toyota RAV4 FAQ
What does RAV4 stand for?
RAV4 stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with Four-wheel drive. This is a bit funny since no RAV4 comes with true four-wheel drive.
Are all RAV4s AWD?
Yes. AWD is optional on most RAV4s and standard on a few trim levels.
How much can a RAV4 Tow?
The Toyota RAV4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
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