2024 Toyota RAV4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Toyota tries hard to make the RAV4 look tougher than it is. Wearing a frown and grimace, it looks perpetually angry. The lower grey body cladding that’s a part of nearly every SUV recipe displays aggressive angularity, while dual exhaust outlets hint at performance that doesn’t exist. Upper trim levels wear fake front and rear skid plates, and there are two off-road-themed versions with more robust utility-style roof racks.

Our test vehicle was in the U.S. specification TRD Off-Road trim. (Note the TRD Off-Road was discontinued in Canada at the end of the 2022 model year. The Limited trim now tops the line-up, priced at $47,815 including fees in the gas-only version and $50,015 with the hybrid powertrain. The closest off-road oriented equivalent is the Trail trim, priced at $43,615 including the $1,930 destination charge and dealer fees.) The test vehicle did have a digital rearview mirror (offered on Limited trims in Canada).

You need not spend $50,000 to get a RAV4 in Canada. Across the gas-engine lineup, prices range from $36,215 fees-in for the LE to $47,815 for the Limited. Hybrids add two to three grand more, but they’re slightly more powerful and appreciably more fuel-efficient.

However, the more you budget for a RAV4, the nicer the interior will be. Everything about this SUV’s cabin reflects utility, from the full-width shelf running across the dashboard and robust door handles to the easy-clean surfaces and rubber-lined storage areas. If you want a more upscale look and feel, try one of the contrast-colour interior choices offered on select trims.

Toyota equips the RAV4 with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine making 203 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Translated, the powertrain’s numbers mean that if you want to access maximum motive force, you need to rev the engine hard.

In Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. An eight-speed automatic transmission delivers power from the gas engine. Multi-Terrain Select is also standard, equipping the SUV with Normal, Snow, Mud & Sand, and Rock & Dirt driving modes. Ground clearance varies from 20.6 to 21.6 centimetres, depending on the model.

Powerful for the compact crossover class, the RAV4’s normally aspirated 2.5-litre engine will chirp the front tires and cause a little bit of torque steer while the AWD system’s driveline disconnect gets its act together to transfer some power to the rear wheels. Unfortunately, it sounds loud and unrefined. Nevertheless, the excellent eight-speed automatic and the engine’s reputation for bulletproof dependability take the edge off.

As far as fuel economy goes, the gas RAV4’s official Natural Resources Canada fuel economy rating is 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The LE model is slightly lower at 7.9 L/100 km, and you’ll save some fuel by opting for a model with the engine stop/start feature. On the evaluation route, including the light off-roading and mud-churning, our test vehicle averaged 10.6 L/100 km. By comparison, the similar Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is rated at 6.4 L/100 km, so if you’re sensitive to gas prices, that might be the rugged RAV to get.

The point of a RAV4 is recreational activity, so the interior is all about practicality and utility. From the storage shelves, trays, bins, nooks, and crannies to the oversized rubberized control knobs, the RAV4 exudes purpose. But there’s nothing fancy about it.

Our test vehicle’s seats wear SofTex artificial leather upholstery, and the driver’s seat offers eight-way power adjustment. Heated front seats are standard in Canada, while ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats are exclusive to the Limited trim. A heated steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers come in just above the base model to complement the standard heated side mirrors. So equipped, the RAV4 is ready for just about anything Old Man Winter has planned.

We found the RAV4’s driver’s seat quite comfortable, and the perfectly shaped steering wheel rim is a pleasure to grip. Outward visibility is excellent, too, especially with the optional camera-based digital rearview mirror. You can easily carry four adults in a RAV4 and five when necessary. The rear seat feels a little too low and lacking in leg support, but the soft front seatbacks and good legroom and footroom boost comfort. The test model also had rear air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.

Open the power liftgate, and the RAV4 reveals a roomy 1,059-litre cargo area. Fold the seats down, and that expands to 1,977 litres of cargo space. Both figures are competitive for the segment.

Though the RAV4 is getting old, the infotainment system features the latest technology in the Toyota arsenal. It’s the Toyota Audio Multimedia system featuring a standard 8-inch and available 10.5-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and four different connected services plans.

Service Connect and Safety Connect are included free of charge for ten years, the latter equipping the RAV4 with automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling. Remote Connect is complimentary for three years, adding remote access to certain vehicle features via smartphone app, such as remote engine starting, door lock/unlock, and others.

Drive Connect requires a subscription from the start. It adds a cloud-based navigation system, a conversational digital voice assistant, and concierge services to the RAV4.

We’ve used this infotainment system in other Toyota and Lexus models, and when all of the connected service plans are active, it is a sophisticated setup. Generally, our complaints pertain to three things. First, the lack of a multi-panel Home screen where you can reference more than one thing at a time (e.g. navigation map, radio, and phone) causes unnecessary distraction. Second, the only way we found to exit Apple CarPlay in favour of SiriusXM was to use a voice command. Third, the light and delicate font can be hard to read on the white daytime background of the display.

Our test vehicle had an active Drive Connect plan, and the digital voice assistant performed flawlessly except for two problems. First, we could only hear the assistant’s voice when asking for a climate control temperature change. Otherwise, it was silent, and twisting the volume knob did not help. Second, when we said, “I need to go to a hospital!” the system did not parse its data set of medical facilities only for hospitals.

A JBL premium audio system is available for the RAV4, but our test vehicle didn’t have it. The standard speakers are decent, but nothing true audiophiles might find satisfying.

The test vehicle did have the available digital rear-view mirror, which uses a camera to give you a clear view to the back when the RAV4 is packed to the roof. It did not have the available panoramic surround-view camera with perimeter scanning, which may have prevented us from introducing the test vehicle’s chin to the terrain.

The 2024 RAV4 has Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), a comprehensive collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). In Canada, blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard equipment.

In use, TSS 2.5 is adequate. While driving on a two-lane highway with the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems on, the incessant beeping as the latter feature turned off and back on when rounding the road’s curves demonstrated the tech is better when used on straighter highways.

On a section of mostly straight highway with two lanes running in each direction, these two features performed better. The lane-centring assist was somewhat lazy about keeping the RAV4 exactly centred, but we don’t mind that because the alternative is constant steering inputs that can make the tech too intrusive. In moderate traffic, the adaptive cruise control smoothly managed distances to vehicles ahead. However, in cases where another motorist traveling appreciably slower than the RAV4 cut into the gap ahead, braking erred on the side of caution and, as a result, was typically too excessive for the situation.

Otherwise, aside from a handful of inaccurate lane-departure warnings, the TSS 2.5 system worked well.

Unfortunately, the SUV has lost its Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The organization has tightened restrictions again, and the 2024 RAV4 does not qualify. Check its chart, and you’ll spot a Marginal rating in the latest small overlap frontal-impact crash test and an Acceptable instead of Good rating in the latest side-impact test.

Those results are likely due to the current-generation RAV4’s design and engineering age, and they mean it’s time for an all-new version of the SUV ASAP.

If you’re buying a Toyota RAV4 and you’re planning to drive it for as long as it can last, then the most cost-effective choice is the hybrid model. It costs more upfront, but over the years, you’ll ultimately save money.

The RAV4’s complimentary trial subscriptions to connected services are generous, especially the one for the Safety Connect plan. This adds value to a RAV4 purchase, and the SUV’s longstanding reputation for reliability is also worth some peace of mind.

Overall, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 is a durable, multi-purpose tool for daily living. But it is starting to show its age, and the time has come for a redesigned, next-generation RAV4. If you’d rather not wait for one, consider the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-50, and Subaru Forester.

Note: Images show a US model.