Toyota RAV4 long-term test: report 2

With plug-in hybrid power and plenty of space, the latest Toyota RAV4 could be the perfect SUV for a growing family – and we're putting that theory to the test...

Published07 October 2025

The car Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport Bi-Tone Run by Darren Moss, deputy editor

Why it’s here To show that plug-in hybrid power makes sense for a growing family, even when you can’t charge up at home

Needs to Provide comfortable family transport, lots of space for luggage, and keep fuel costs minimal

Mileage 1780 List price £49,245 Best price £45,595 Price as tested £49,530 Test economy 49.2mpg Official economy 282.5mpg

27 September 2025 – Holiday hero

I think there are few better ways of getting to know your new car than by filling it with people and luggage and heading off on a long trip. So with a late summer holiday to the seaside beckoning, I decided to do just that with my Toyota RAV4.

The boot of my RAV4 can hold more luggage than rival SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson and MG HS, and I was grateful for the extra space when it became apparent just how much we’d be taking with us. Still, after some creative Tetris-style packing we had everything in place, and the kids could relax on the rear bench without being hemmed in by clothes and bags – as they had been in the Cupra Formentor I ran previously.

On the motorway, I noticed that there was more wind and road noise from the RAV4 than in other family SUVs – and noticeably more than in the Volvo XC40 I ran some time ago. Still, we cranked up the stereo volume and focussed on the business of driving. This is something that the RAV4 is able to help with, thanks to standard-fit adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

The system certainly helped us to while away the motorway miles, and I thought I’d do my bit for the Norfolk countryside by using the car’s engine to re-charge the battery as we drove along. This resulted in some extra engine noise and a small drop in our journey fuel economy – but I was pleased to see my available electric range increase as we drove, so I could switch over to electric power when we neared our destination.

Norfolk’s country roads were excellent fun in the sporty Cupra Formentor, and it’s safe to say that the RAV4 didn’t extract the same feeling. This is not an agile SUV, and its bulk means that the Toyota can feel a bit top-heavy through corners. Plus, while the light steering makes the RAV4 easy to drive around town, it doesn’t give you a sense of confidence to push on like the Formentor did. Still, we arrived at our destination relaxed and comfortable – and with no sign of the lower back ache which I’d been expecting after a long drive.

All too soon it was time to return home, and this time my partner Sarah asked if she could tackle some of the drive. She commented that my RAV4 was very much a step up from the Honda Jazz she’s used to – both in terms of size and seating position.

All in all, then, the RAV4 may not have been the most exciting companion for our family holiday, but it carried us there and back in a comfortable, reliable and frugal manner. And really, we can’t ask much more of it than that.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here