2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE - Review 2022

Buying a skilful mainstream compact crossover is a no-brainer, as the best-selling cars in the segment all offering an bonny combination of utility, loftier ground clearance and driver position, fuel economy, and lots of bang for the buck. Choosing among segment leaders like the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4 is difficult, since they offer just small differences in performance, features, and fuel economy. When you lot whittle it downwards to hybrids, notwithstanding, there'due south only one choice: the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Information technology has all the positive attributes of its traditional twin, along with several advantages. Plus it doesn't come at a big price difference: The RAV4 SE Hybrid we tested costs only $1,325 more than than the equivalent not-hybrid.

Pricing and Design

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes in four trim levels, all with a 125-horsepower, 2.5-liter, iv-cylinder engine. Information technology likewise has three electric motor-generators that create a full output of 194 horsepower. One electric motor powers diverse vehicle systems, some other drives the front end wheels, and the third powers the rear wheels, creating an all-wheel-bulldoze system that'due south channeled through an electronically controlled continuously variable manual (CVT). The nickel-metallic hydride hybrid bombardment pack that provides juice for the electric motors is tucked in the rear cargo area and is recharged via regenerative braking and the gasoline engine.

The base of operations model LE starts at $27,235 and comes with such standard exterior features equally 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic halogen headlights and daytime running lights, a rear spoiler with an LED restriction light, body-color exterior mirrors with turn signal indicators and blind spot mirrors, roof runway, a noise-reducing forepart windshield, and privacy glass on the rear side, quarter, and liftgate windows. Standard interior/convenience features include keyless entry and ignition, a backup camera with static guidelines, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and telephone controls, a fabric-trimmed six-way transmission driver seat and four-mode manual front passenger seat, power windows and door locks, and a 60/40 folding and reclining second-row seat.

Standard in-cabin tech includes a 4.ii-inch instrument console display and an Entune Audio Plus infotainment system with a half-dozen.1-inch touch screen. Audio is provided by a half-dozen-speaker audio system with CD/AM/FM/satellite radio, a USB port with iPod controls, an aux-in jack, and Bluetooth. Also standard on the LE trim is the Toyota Condom Sense suite of commuter assists that includes forward standoff alert with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic loftier beams.

The XLE trim starts at $29,130 and adds fog lights, a power moonroof with sunshade, a fill-in photographic camera with dynamic guidelines, and a leather-wrapped steering cycle. The Entune Sound Plus infotainment system adds AM/FM Hard disk radio with traffic and weather condition info, Siri Eyes Free vox recognition, and Scout app-based continued navigation capability.

The SE trim we tested starts at $32,185 and adds xviii-inch wheels, sport suspension, special exterior styling, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alarm, automated LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, a elevation-adjustable ability liftgate, SofTex vinyl upholstery, an viii-way power driver seat, heated front seats, an SE shifter, door sills, and floor mats.

Our exam car also had the $two,785 Avant-garde Technology Package choice with a surround-view camera with a Perimeter Scan feature, front end and rear parking sensors, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, and an 11-speaker/576-watt Entune Premium JBL Audio system with Entune App Suite, navigation, and a slightly larger touch screen. Standalone options include $395 for special exterior pigment and $90 for a cargo cover. With a $995 delivery process and handling fee, the final sticker price came to $36,450.

The top-of-the-line XLE starts at $34,130 and adds 18-inch blend wheels, front and rear parking sensors, chrome exterior trim, driver seat memory, an auto-dimming mirror, a SofTex-covered sliding center armrest, and a leather-trimmed shifter.

To our eyes, the 2022 RAV4 is the 2d best-looking compact crossover behind the Honda CR-V, and easily beats bland competitors like the Nissan Rogue and the Kia Niro. The special exterior additions to the SE Hybrid model, including an sectional front bumper with honeycomb front grill, requite it a trivial actress style.

The cabin is roomy and outward visibility is excellent. One downside is that the RAV4's hard plastic interior looks and feels cheap compared with some competitors, and there'due south no option to replace the SofTex vinyl upholstery with leather. Despite having to accommodate the hybrid battery, the vehicle's cargo room with the rear seats in place is ane of the largest in the class—and more than that almost every other non-hybrid CUV.

Infotainment Interface and Connectivity

Toyota's Entune infotainment system has long been one of our favorites. And the new Linux-powered Entune 3.0 that's in the 2022 Camry Hybrid will eventually roll out to all Toyotas and improves it even further. While the graphics for Entune 2.0 in the 2022 RAV4 expect dated compared with the new organisation, the combination of difficult buttons and an intuitive touch screen layout makes the interface easy to use. The home and apps screen icons tin likewise be rearranged so that the ones used most are readily available.

Nosotros besides like the Entune App Suite'south ample and no-cost deject-based connectivity that leverages your smartphone and data once the Entune app is downloaded and synced with the vehicle. Apps include Pandora and iHeartRadio for music, continued search via Yelp, and Facebook, OpenTable, MovieTickets.com, and more. While Toyota announced at CES that information technology will add Apple CarPlay in the 2022 Camry, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 doesn't have it or Android Car.

Some aspects of the pricey Advanced Applied science Bundle option are worth the extra expense, including the surround-view camera and its cool Perimeter Browse characteristic that provides a spinning view all effectually the vehicle. But the JBL audio sounds disappointing even at depression speeds, and more so when it has to compete with the RAV4's loud route and wind noise at highway speeds.

Operation and Conclusions

While the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid is designed for fuel economy and not operation (32mpg combined vs. 24mpg for the regular SE model), information technology has proficient acceleration, particularly in Sport mode, and is quicker than the standard RAV4 thanks to the instant torque provided by the dual electric motor.

The RAV4 Hybrid accelerates quickly from a stop using battery ability, simply when the engine kicks in in that location's an obvious jolt. The transition between regenerative and mechanical braking is likewise perceptible. For a crossover that weighs nearly 4,000 pounds, the RAV4 handles decently around curves even at moderate speeds, but tight corners reveal ample body roll.

ECO way adjusts throttle response and air conditioning output to increase fuel economy, but besides severely dampens dispatch. EV fashion is useless, since the car will run solely on electric power for only well-nigh a half mile and at speeds beneath approximately 25mph.

Despite a few downsides, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid builds on the attributes of its non-hybrid sibling, while adding better operation and fuel economy. And like all crossovers, it offers a crowdpleasing blend of utility, high ground clearance and driver position, and value. Plus, if you want a hybrid compact crossover, it'south your only choice. Thankfully it's a solid ane.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/review/19527/2018-toyota-rav4-hybrid-se

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