Photo: Toyota RAV4’s Hybrid powertrain: a 2.5L engine and electric motors Finally, although the leather seats are comfortable on long runs, they failed to keep our backs cool on some admittedly very hot days. There’s no doubt that some class rivals have more stylish interiors. The SE Hybrid model is already well equipped but the test car came with the US$2,450 Advanced Technology Package, which includes niceties like a 360° overview camera, a premium JBL audio system, a nifty Gracenote cover art display and a very accurate predictive-traffic navigation system.įor me however the overall feel of the dashboard was a little dated with a definite familiarity to the switchgear, some elements of which have faithfully served Toyota for a decade or more. more than a Mazda CX-5 for example – and multiple folding rear-seat options give you some loading flexibility if the second row isn’t fully occupied.
The cargo volume is still good for the class however – around 5 cu. from a regular RAV4 by the battery pack’s intrusion into the trunk floor. The rear seat is especially impressive with good legroom and an open, spacious feel. The RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t want for interior space. Photo: Graham Heeps Toyota RAV4 Interior: do they hybrid batteries hog cabin space? The SE Hybrid’s 18-inch alloy wheels, fitted in our case with Bridgestone 235/55 R18 low-rolling-resistance rubber, look good, too, although this combination is not without its compromises, as we’ll see. The 2017 model has Toyota’s latest family face and some fashionable LED running lights, but it’s still unmistakably a RAV4, which is no bad thing. We spent a few days living with an eye-catching, Electric Storm Blue SE in the summer heat of Arizona and New Mexico. For 2017, Toyota added standard pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights to all models and introduced the SE as a mid-range Hybrid trim level between the XLE and Limited.
The current-generation RAV4 was introduced in 2013 but was facelifted for the 2016 model year. It’s a package that’s unusual for the class – the Nissan Rogue Hybrid being the notable rival – for now, at least. Those two strands came together at the beginning of 2016 with the launch of the RAV4 Hybrid. Phoenix, Arizona – Toyota was a pioneer in both petrol-electric hybrid technology and the compact crossover segment.
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