Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review

The 2020 RAV4 Hybrid is carried over virtually unchanged from 2019, with the exception of Android Auto now being a standard feature. But, it’s still a vehicle to get excited about as it offers excellent fuel economy, peppy acceleration, and has a roomy cabin with lots of cargo space. Plus, it’s stylish and has a nice interior with advanced technology.

There are four different trim options with the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid. There are even more to choose from with the standard RAV4. SUVs.com test drove the sporty XSE Hybrid from Ardmore Toyota. There’s also the base LE, the XLE, and the range-topping Limited trims to choose from.

The standard RAV4 has a starting price of $25,850 and that increases to $28,100 with the base RAV4 Hybrid. The hybrid option gets excellent fuel economy numbers and so that makes it a highly attractive option. 

Continue reading below to learn even more about the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid!

The RAV4 Hybrid has a great, sporty exterior. You can tell it’s a hybrid by looking at its grille! That’s because the Toyota badging is blue, which is unique to the company’s hybrid models. There’s a selection of 17” and 18” alloy wheels. There’s also an available two-tone roof. While the RAV4 already has an aggressive, fun, and sporty look, the standard LED headlights and LED daytime running lights make it look even better. There are also available LED projector-beam headlights.

The XSE trim that SUVs.com test drove features 18” black-painted sport alloy wheels. It also comes with a standard two-tone exterior color with a Midnight Black Metallic Roof.

Modern LED taillights, an integrated rear spoiler, and dual chrome exhaust tips at the back of the vehicle help complete the RAV4 Hybrid’s look. There’s also a standard power rear liftgate, which can be upgraded to offer hands-free access. A low floor makes it also easy to load and unload cargo.

The 2020 RAV4 has a thoughtful interior. Standard equipment for the entry-level RAV4 LE Hybrid includes a 7” touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a rearview camera. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of advanced safety features comes standard with every model. We’ll detail more about more that below! Further adding to the modern feel of the RAV4’s interior is the Push Button Start.

Going up in trim level will get you fancier features and will also allow you to make some upgrades. For example, a 7” touchscreen comes standard on the base LE trim. However, a larger 8” screen is available as part of a few different upgrades. One of those 8” touchscreen packages includes Dynamic Navigation, as well. There are buttons alongside the touchscreen that you can use if you want. They do look a little bit outdated, but it’s nice to be able to use the buttons if you want to. There’s also an optional 7” Multi-Information Display with customizable settings that sits behind the steering wheel. It presents turn-by-turn directions, safety information, alerts, and more.

Up to five USB ports are available with the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid, one for each passenger. There’s also an available wireless smartphone charging pad that’s conveniently located in the tray below the climate controls. It’s a natural place to set your phone and is awesome to use! You can also set your keys there or other small items. There’s also a passenger shelf that’s almost hidden between the upper and lower dash on the passenger side. It provides another great spot to place some small items.

Other available upgrades include heated and ventilated front seats, a stunning panoramic moonroof, and an interior ambient lighting system. There’s also an available JBL audio system, which uses 800 watts of total power to drive 11 speakers in nine locations throughout the vehicle!

For a more unique looking interior, you might want to consider the RAV4 Adventure or RAV4 TRD Off-Road trims. Both of those are not available in hybrid form, though!

How about a digital rearview mirror or a Bird’s Eye View Camera? Those are two fancy features that are additionally available with the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid, and can also help keep you safe.

We can’t talk about an SUV’s interior without mentioning the cargo space it offers. The RAV4 Hybrid impresses with the amount of space it has in the back. What’s nice is that you get the same amount of cargo space as you do with the standard RAV4. The 2020 RAV4 Hybrid offers 37.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and that improves to 69.8 cubic feet of space when those seats are folded. That surpasses many rival hybrids! Don’t forget, there’s a hands-free power liftgate available to help make loading cargo as easy as possible.

The non-hybrid 2020 RAV4 comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 203 horsepower and is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Opting for the hybrid setup with the same engine working with two electric motors doesn’t add all that much to the cost of your RAV4 and gets you excellent fuel economy savings! It produces a combined output of 219 horsepower and it offers a peppier drive than the standard RAV4.

Working with with the RAV4 Hybrid’s electric powertrain components, the Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission creates the optimal way to get more power from less fuel. As for how impressive the RAV4 Hybrid’s fuel economy numbers are, the vehicle gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway! With figures that great, you can always take the scenic route if you want!

The Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive system, meanwhile, helps you feel confident behind the wheel of your RAV4 Hybrid. It uses a dedicated electric drive motor to automatically supply power to the rear wheels for instant improvement in traction.

The 2020 RAV4 XSE Hybrid that SUVs.com test drove features a special sport-tuned suspension. It makes for an even more dynamic and exciting ride! You get quick acceleration, but it’s also incredibly quiet because it’s a hybrid. It’s kind of the best of both worlds!

As for safety, every RAV4 comes standard with eight airbags and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. The suite of safety features is designed to help make every trip a safe one. It comes with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams.

Available safety features include Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automated Braking, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, a more advanced Bird’s Eye View Camera system, and a digital rearview mirror.

As for competitors, you might want to take a look at the Kia Niro, Ford Escape Hybrid, or the new Honda CR-V Hybrid.

If you’re considering a non-hybrid RAV4, then competitors for that include the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, or the Subaru Forester. If you need a little more space than the RAV4, you could always take a look at the Toyota Highlander!

The sporty RAV4 XSE Hybrid that SUVs.com test drove has a starting price of around $38,000. That number might surprise you and seem high for this compact SUV from Toyota, but you do need to keep those fuel savings in mind. Plus, you could always opt for the base version to make it more affordable. The base RAV4 Hybrid LE has a starting price of $28,100.

Of course, you could also opt for the non-hybrid version. The standard RAV4 LE has an even lower starting price of $25,850. But, you’ll miss out on the fuel economy savings of the hybrid.

Toyota vehicles are safe and known for being reliable, so that’s also important to consider when thinking about the RAV4’s solid value!

As always, be sure to test drive any vehicle you’re interested in purchasing.

With excellent fuel economy figures, the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid is certainly an attractive compact SUV option! Plus, it’s relieving that it doesn’t sacrifice on power, space, or style.

The hybrid model is actually more powerful than the standard RAV4. It offers peppy acceleration and the special sport-tuned suspension of the XSE Hybrid that SUVs.com test drove is a nice touch. The cabin is spacious, there’s lot of room for cargo in the back, and there’s plenty of advanced technology and safety features that come standard.

We gave the 2020 Toyota RAV4 an SUVs.com deal score of 81/100. Be sure to watch our YouTube video review of it!