2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review – Roadshow

The Good All-wheel-drive comes standard in the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and it averages over 30 mpg. Toyota’s Entune Apps integrates online search and third party services into the navigation system.

The Bad The navigation system is not very aggressive about avoiding traffic, and Toyota does not yet support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Adaptive cruise control doesn’t work for stop-and-go traffic.

The Bottom Line Although the dashboard electronics and driver assistance systems fall behind the cutting edge, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid makes for an excellent all-around car due to its cargo versatility, all-wheel-drive, comfort and fuel economy.

For many drivers, small SUVs make for a perfect everyday vehicle, economical enough for commuting and offering more useful cargo space than midsize sedans, extending their use for weekend recreation. In fact, sales figures back up the rise of the small SUV on US roads, with Ford noting its Escape model as its second best selling vehicle.

Entering the scene in 1994, Toyota’s RAV4 pioneered its segment. Now this small SUV gets Toyota’s ultra-efficient hybrid drive system, making it a killer everyday vehicle. Consider its standard all-wheel drive, and you’ve just about hit perfection.

Although it isn’t a serious off-roader, I was impressed by the lifted nose of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, although faux skid plates under front and back are a bit much. The sides of the RAV4 Hybrid show similar sculpting to its bigger brother, the Highlander, but the narrow grille looks petite by comparison. Saddle-brown leather seating, in this Limited trim RAV4 Hybrid, gave the cabin luxury style.

Standard all-wheel-drive and fuel economy averaging above 30 mpg makes the RAV4 Hybrid a car for city and country.

Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Camry traits

Although the RAV4 Hybrid uses the same engine as the Camry Hybrid, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, it gets a more complicated hybrid drive system, adding a second drive motor to the rear wheels for all-wheel drive. And that comes standard.

Otherwise, the RAV4 Hybrid uses the same 245-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack as the Camry Hybrid, a little less sophisticated than the lithium ion battery pack in the new Prius. Toyota notes the overall drive system output of 194 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque for the RAV4 Hybrid, and fuel economy of 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The hilly roads of San Francisco and its environs took a toll on my mileage, as I didn’t break 30 mpg until I drove a an hour on a flat highway.

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As with other hybrids in the Toyota stable, the RAV4 Hybrid mixed its engine and motor power seamlessly as I drove. The car rewarded gentle throttle pressure with an EV icon lighting up on the instrument cluster, meaning it had entered electric drive mode, although the nearly 4,000 pound curb weight of the car made that lighted icon a rare occurrence when taking off from a stop.

More frequently I would see that icon light up when I held a steady pace on a flat road. On hill descents I was gratified by the needle on the RAV4 Hybrid’s power gauge entering the charge zone, as regenerative braking recharged the car’s battery and minimized wear on brake pads.

The RAV4 Hybrid also features driver-selectable sport, eco and EV modes, the first two sharpening or detuning the throttle. I’m not a fan of drive modes in a car like this, but they can serve to customize the car’s response for different drivers. EV mode drives the car under electricity only for as long as the battery can hold out, but even on a full charge that won’t be much more than a mile.

The lifted nose looks good on the RAV4 Hybrid, and would benefit approach angles if this car were a real offroader.

Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Comfort and quiet

Over some bumpy roads, the RAV4 Hybrid could feel a little bouncy, but most of the time the suspension delivered a very competent ride. While short of luxury, it felt very comfortable on most road surfaces, complementing its smooth ride with minimal road noise. Given the hybrid drivetrain, I rarely heard any engine noise.

Adding to the RAV4 Hybrid’s suitability for long highway trips, its electric power steering left a little play at center, a comfort zone where I needn’t constantly be adjusting input. When actually in a turn, the wheel assumed a more responsive character.

That steering is tied to a lane keeping assist function, standard with the RAV4 Hybrid’s Limited trim, actively preventing lane drift. Trying out the system on the freeway, I found its programming very conservative. Rather than keeping the car center in its lane, as with more aggressive systems, it only stepped in once my wheels were running over the lane lines. And when I kept a loose grasp on the wheel to allow lane drift, the car very quickly warned me to take a stronger hold on the steering.