Toyota RAV4 review

SUVs are all gas-guzzling planet-polluters, right? Well, not the Toyota RAV4; it pumps out less CO2 than most city-dwelling small cars. Nope, we're not pulling your leg; this relatively large SUV is one of the most efficient in its class according to official figures and didn’t disappoint during our scientific True MPG testing. 

That’s because the RAV4 is a hybrid, which means you fill it up with petrol in the normal way, but there’s also an electric motor to help share the effort, cutting fuel consumption in the process. You can have the RAV4 as a plain hybrid that charges up as you drive, or a plug-in (PHEV) that gives you the option to, well, plug it in, for a far greater electric-only range.

The RAV4 sits above the C-HR but below the rough-and-ready Land Cruiser in Toyota's SUV line-up. It's a five-seater and is roughly the same size as the Honda CR-V which, by dint of also being available in hybrid form, is the car it competes most directly with. If you need an even larger hybrid, we’d point you towards the excellent Kia Sorento. However, cast your net outside the world of hybrid SUVs and rivals also include the Mazda CX-5, the Peugeot 5008 and the Skoda Kodiaq – the latter three of which offer seating for up to seven.

But exactly how efficient is the RAV4? And, even if the figures do stand up to scrutiny, is the RAV4 a good car in other key areas? Click through the next few pages and we’ll furnish you with all the information you need.

And if you decide you're ready to buy, make sure you check out our New Car Buying service; you could save a four-figure sum on the RAV4 and loads of other cars without any awkward haggling.