Toyota's 2024 AWD RAV4 is the company's best selling SUV especially now with a hybrid powertrain

Toyota’s RAV4 has been the company’s best-selling compact SUV and has been made even better with the addition of a hybrid system. And who knows more about hybrids than Toyota where it all started with their iconic Prius Hybrid sedan. 

For 2024, RAV4 has a new addition with the outdoors-oriented Woodland Edition that joins the XLE, SE, XLE Premium, XSE and top shelf Limited.

We tested the RAV4 AWD Hybrid Woodland Edition that comes with what Toyota calls a “trail-tailored” suspension that’s a tad stiffer than the XLE’s. It also comes with a more chiseled exterior with bronze-colored alloy wheels and two-tone paint with our test car sporting a woodsy Army Green paint job. 

Although the Woodland is set up for off-roading, it’s mainly suited for mild trails as it only has 8.1 inches of ground clearance. But it can easily handle modest snow depths that we get here in the Snowbelt. 

RAV4 Hybrid’s interior is very functional with a low 19-inch step-in and soft long-wearing cloth seats that offer decent lumbar support. An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Cloud navigation, some voice control plus Wi-Fi Hotspot that are all initiated through a Drive Connect app. A rearview camera with 360-degree is standard. 

The vertical stack contains simple to use HVAC controls along with a burly gear selector for the CVT transmission that shares the space with a rotary drive mode switch for Eco and Sport modes. There’s also a separate EV switch for all electric operation over short distances. A large Trail Mode switch controls spinning of the drive wheels by simultaneously controlling AWD, brake and drive force systems. Toyota says it’s used when driving bumpy roads. 

Over on the digital speedometer, it’s enhanced with a driver information display for alerts, functions and features. A hybrid gauge where a conventional tachometer would be shows Power, Eco and Charge modes. Keeping the needle in Eco gives the best fuel economy. 

RAV’s back seat is equally as comfy as the fronts with seating room for two adults or three youngsters as the transaxle hump is low-profile allowing for a short-legged passenger. 

Back in the cargo area and with the rear seats upright, there’s 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 38.5 inches deep, 43 wide and 32 high. Flip the split 60/40 rear seatbacks and space increases to 69.8 cubic feet for 69 inches of cargo loading depth. Lift-over onto the cargo floor is also a low 26 inches. And beneath the cargo floor is space saver spare tire with tiny space around it to stow small items. The neat cargo mat, like the floor mats, have raised pine tree motifs to signify the Woodland edition. 

As a hybrid, the powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that generates 176-hp and 163 lb/ft of torque. With the addition of  two electric motors, one of which drives the rear wheels, RAV4 Hybrid has a total system output of 219-hp for EPA mileage ratings of an impressive 38 city, 35-highway mpg. So powered the RAV carries a tow rating of 1,750 pounds, or enough for a small utility or boat trailer. 

The combination of the hybrid system and CVT transmission moves the RAV’s 3,775-pound curb weight with ease. There’s certainly no want for power either from a standing stop to highway passing maneuvers. Handling too is good with a relatively tight turning radius of 36.1 feet that makes it easy to park in tight spots. And the ride is smooth and quiet on Falken 18-inch tires that are 8 inches wide. 

RAV4 Hybrid comes with a long list of safety features within Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 that includes pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert w/steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, blind spot monitor w/rear cross traffic alert and more. 

The only options on the RAV were the Woodland Weather package ($925) that includes heated leather seats/steering wheel and rain sensing wipers w/deicer feature, and two-tone exterior paint ($500) that took the base price of $34,695 to $37,470 with delivery. The roof paint job can be eliminated to shave $500 off the price. 
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RAV4 Hybrid was awarded a full five stars as an overall safety score, four for driver frontal crash, five for passenger; five for front/rear seat side crash, and four for rollover.  RAV4 also received a Top Safety Pick award from the Institute for Highway Safety. All top scores. 

RAV4 Hybrid is covered under a  3 year/36K miles new vehicle warranty while the powertrain is covered for 5/60K miles and the hybrid battery is warranted for 10/150K. Other hybrid components get 8/100K mile coverage along with 2/25K miles for complimentary scheduled maintenance. 

The least I can say is that the RAV4 AWD Hybrid is my next new car buy. I liked it that much.