It has been 21 years since the Toyota RAV4 made its North American debut, 16 years since the Toyota Prius hybrid car arrived, and 10 years since the Toyota Camry Hybrid was introduced.
And now, finally, there’s a hybrid version of the RAV4 compact crossover and to that I say “Yay!”
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is available only with all-wheel drive and in the upper-end, standard-features-rich XLE and Limited trim levels of the regular RAV4. Its base pricing, including a $900 destination charge, is $29,270 for the XLE and $34,510 for the Limited. These figures are only $700 more than the regular RAV4 in those trims, a remarkably reasonable amount compared to the premiums many customers often pay for hybrids.
A four-cylinder engine and high-torque electric motor combine to provide 194 horsepower for the RAV4 Hybrid. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, which is almost a full second faster than the conventional RAV4. The EPA’s fuel economy rating for the hybrid is 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
The power source switches back and forth from gas to electric to a combination of both as driving situations warrant, and this busy activity is imperceptible to the driver and passengers. Truly imperceptible, not just “nearly imperceptible” like some hybrid systems and certainly not “so obvious” like others.
The electric motor is transformed into a generator via regenerative braking, which captures the kinetic energy of the turning wheels when the brakes are applied, and stores it in the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery pack. It’s a brilliant component of the hybrid system but it does contribute to the brakes feeling a little spongy during hard braking.
A second electric motor sends power to the rear wheels to kick the car into all-wheel drive when needed in slippery situations. Under normal circumstances the front wheels are doing the work.
Design-wise, the five-passenger RAV4 Hybrid includes the same exterior styling updates given to the regular RAV4 for 2016, including a more pronounced fascia, new bumpers, and new rocker panels.
My tester was the Limited model, whose handsome and roomy interior is highlighted by two-toned leatherette (synthetic leather) upholstery, silver trim, and an orderly dash with a pleasing and intuitive combination of touchscreen and manual push buttons and knobs.
Toyota’s Entune Premium audio and navigation suite is standard on the Limited. Other interior standard features include a backup camera, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, reclining and fold-flat second row seats, and a Smart Key system with push-button start.
In addition to the Star Safety System used on Toyotas across the board, the RAV4 Hybrid Limited has Toyota Safety Sense, a package providing dynamic radar cruise control, steering assist, automatic high beams, and pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection. Blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sonar, and rear cross traffic alert are the remaining driver-assist technologies standard on the Limited.
Roof rails, a power moonroof, and a height-adjustable rear liftgate are three more desirable and useful standard features that make the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid an all-around great new addition to the Toyota lineup, the compact crossover market and hybrid vehicles in general.
2016 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID LIMITED
Base price, including destination charge: $34,510
Price as driven: $36,231
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
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