2021 Toyota RAV4 review - the best hybrid SUV you can buy? | What Car? 

I disagree with a lot of what you say about this car. I drove the Rav4 2020 back in November 2019 on a 1,400 mile round trip from London to Scotland. I had the car on ECO the whole time and never felt under powered even going up steep mountain hills. There was bags of power. Unlike you, I found the engine noise very satisfying. Handling was excellent and the car always felt absolutely solid! The only thing that let this car down was the Media and SatNav (GPS) system. I think the outside is ugly but as I spent 99% of the time looking from the inside, I didn't care. Visibility was excellent and the reverse camera was one of the best I've used. The car "says" it comes with a SatNav but it's completely useless! DON'T WHATEVER YOU DO, RELY ON THIS FOR LONG DRIVES. It's clunky and laggy reaction is not the worst thing. The SatNav did not recognise half the places we wanted to go to. Moreover, coming off the A66 and onto the the A1(M) heading south, the SatNav froze and was completely useless. Had we been relying on this and not Google Maps and Waze on our mobile phones, we would have been in terrible trouble. Even when we stopped for an hour at a service station, when we got back to the car, it was still frozen, showing our position 60 miles back. When we reached London, it still thought it was in Scotch Corner! It wasn't until we came to give the car back the next day, did the SatNav magically return to life. Toyota ought to be totally ashamed and embarrassed by this Media system which feels like something out of the early 1990s.

Purchased one at the beginning of the year since then love the car.. Highly recommended

I literally watched this video for her.. not for the car.. her presenting style and accent, and her beauty.. she has won me..😍

That cat is all the attention this video need! Forget the rav4!!!

I have a 2020 XLE hybrid in the US and it has android auto and carplay. I use the Android auto, plug my phone in right away when I get inand when I start the car it starts right up on Android Auto. It works perfect and I really like the RAV4.

ive now done 90,000 miles in my 2020, never let me down average fuel consumption is 54mpg with the boot full of my work gear , I use android Auto for satnav linked to the built in system and it works perfectly, I'd defiantly have another one

Toyota really need to sort out the infotainment system, it let's them down on all models. Good review and what a lovely cat!

Generally fair, although the same old cliche of it being noisy when floored and not 'relaxing' show me any car that isn't noisy under full power! And no one should be too 'relaxed' when driving foot to the floor. Another plus is it has a spare wheel onboard (as long as you don't order the all glass roof). I agree the CR-V narrowly has the better ride and powertrain, handling is even. Toyota wins on BIK tax, cheaper lease rates combined. If I was buying private I would take the CR-V, if buying company car, Toyota. My RAV arrives soon.

is no one going to point out the adorable little cat

I only sat in one today having dismissed them as an oversized tank. However, since there is still no sign of the Corolla Cross arriving in the U.K. I am getting more tempted. The front of the C-HR (driving position etc) is perfect for me but I wouldn't want to subject anyone to the back seats.

I just bought this car, than newer model I’ll get it in September so I can get the new 70 plate I bought the Excel model meaning it’s got all the specs inside it ... I even have screen mirroring in it !

Rav 4 Mary Poppins Edition :)

Glad to see Rebecca Jackson back!, no rain can’t stop her to do an amazing review as always, used to follow her in another RU-vid car review channel :-)

I've ordered one - 2021 Excel model (AWD) with the premium pack & protection+ pack. I can't wait for June for delivery. That's three months from now.

Wow lots of haters in these comments 😔 Seems UK reviewers always give the Rav4 a tough review. As the world's top selling SUV it's obviously doing something right. I think this SUV has rugged good looks (like a baby 4runner), drive's very quietly in town and handles potholes & poor roads exceptionally well! A very practical purchase with good passenger & cargo storage, legendary Toyota reliability and resale value. I'd guess UK doesn't like this Rav4 as it's more expensive there. I paid $39,100 CAD all in for my Rav4 XSE hybrid (24,000 GBP).

absolutely stunning,and the rav 4 aint bad either

The beautiful tones of Rebecca's voice, I'm sure she could sell any car.

Wow lots of haters in the comments. Glad I live in Canada where Rav4 is much better received.

1:47 that panel jumping out doesn't really scream quality though.

The car looks beautiful, also as commented by someone else at "1:47 that panel jumping out doesn't really scream quality though. " It isn't the panel jumping out but a focusing issue of the camera/recording, as pointed out by another commenter. The Rav 4 looks stunning and is a very reliable car. Inshallah my next car lol

“We really like the look and feel and quality of these dials”. Shame the same couldn’t be said about the panels.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who saw the whole panel flexed when she said the quality of the dials @ 1:48.

Thankfully there’s been an apple update for airplay.. otherwise i wouldn’t consider this. Going to test drive it for sure

Toyota RAV4 superb looking car and mostly masculine , well done Toyota I’m using one

I thought the cat came with the car when it sauntered into the shot! 😂

Becca's back! Yay 🤗

definitely an upgrade from my 1998 camry

I just purchased the Hybrid XLE, a very nice car BUT not too happy about the Gas tank issue. I don’t know if it was mentioned here but the gas tank only allows about 11 gallons when it is empty. This is a flaw that’s annoying a lot of people me included it. I have called Toyota and they don’t have a solid answer yet, the only thing they did was asking me to take the car to the dealer so they can confirm the problem. When I went to the dealer I have to insist and ask for the service manager, the guy was denying he ever heard of the issue and told me they don’t do that type of services after spoken with the manager they agreed to do the services, and admitted I was not the only one showing up or asking about this issue. It’s not a big deal but Toyota is advertising that the vehicle can go for 570 miles with a full tank but that is not the case, mine when going around 400 but that’s because the tank only gets around 11 gallons. Other than that, a FINE vehicle.

She’s back...

*** Correction*** apple CarPlay and Android auto standard on all Uk models and has been for 2020 and 2021built vehicles. Previous builds can be updated to include it.

The RAV4 actually handles very well thanks to its stiff chassis … unlike the kodiaq which shuffles when going round low speed corners making u feel sick The RAV4 is much lighter too

Yet another reviewer who doesn't like or understand the concept of CVT transmission. We had it on our Civic hybrid, and now have it on our Yaris hybrid and our Lexus hybrid. In my opinion It works very well. Toyota DO now include Android Auto on the Rav 4. We also have it on our Yaris and it works very well. That's as long as your phone is fairly up to date and you use the correct lead. Above all, the RAV is more reliable than any of the other makes mentioned. I'm getting just over 53 mpg from my Rav4.

Best car to come on the market for a long time I must say from the reviews

i was expecting it to be not so comfortable - it only weighs 1600 kgs and has big heavy SUV wheels - the unsprung mass vs the total mass of the car. i was honestly hoping that the suspension makes up for that. my MY15 Auris hybrid still uses less than what Toyota says (3.6 l/100km at the pump). CVT doesn't bother me, on the contrary, when hearing other engines shift gears, i do find them underreved.

Germany has car play. Forgot to mention that all the safety features on the Toyota are standard in every trim level.

That cat was like......what's all this noise 😂😂😂😂.....oh it's only you. 😏

1:49 "We really like the quality and feel of these dials" maybe so but the whole of the fascia panel moved when you pressed the switch

Love the Cat ;),just sitting there soooo chilled ,great start.

Looks perfect! Can't say the same for the car though - now looks like a ford ranger copy.

She obviously prefers Honda to Toyota. When it comes down to build quality and reliability Toyota just has the edge. The Toyota warranty is far better though. All models now come with Android Auto, which is great for voice controlled navigation. There's nothing wrong with the infotainment, it works very well. In common with all other reviewers she doesn't understand how the CVT transmission works, so doesn't like it. We are getting just over 52mpg from our Rav4, which I consider pretty good.

🇸🇪Rav4 works great here in Sweden where we have cold Winters with lots of snow!

If the hybrid battery runs flat, does it still have AWD capability? Sounds like the engine only powers the front wheels?

Again Toyota no apple car play or android auto It’s 2019!!!!!!

I love the cat making a special guest appearance

Is it such a bad thing that you can't be messing with trying to mirror your phone while you're driving. I reckon Toyota have got it spot on, leave the f*#£ing phone in the glove box!!

If you’re looking for a company car under £40K with a big boot and slightly less obscene BIK rates the options today are extremely limited. Once the software upgrade is available this is a good option. Regarding style, I think it looks great... just wish it was available with 20” rims.

100% rav4 is the best and looks the best

You should update the part about the infotainment- Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Miracast are all included and free retrofits.

Make a comparison video of the new rav 4 and the Mazda x5

I've had the previous model for 3 years , just ordered the new one. have owned french cars, would never have another. Designed by people that hate engineers.

Hyundai Tuscon Highlander N line. I love your cat. So regal.

Hybrid cars are not designed to stay & doomed to fail. After all why carry two power train every where , pay two maintenance, pay for two fuels, two headaches only to achieve one objective !!! And yet damage environment as there is no Tomorrow...Total madness. I guess taxi drivers & those travelling more than 300 miles a day could benefit from Hybrid cars.

Infotainment has 1980 buttons perfer cx5 one knob on console. Buttons had to push not on cx5. In Daylight screen is faded hard to see screen daytime. Bright screen for daytime driving only on cx5. Failed Moose test dangerious. CX5 past moose test. Cx5 hugs the road. Mazda should make a hybred its way overdue.

Rebecca, you look more beautiful than ever!

I have now owned my RAV4 XLE HYBRID for all of 3 weeks. Sorry, if I rain on your parade, BUT I am NOT enthusiastic about this car. To start with, you pay for all sorts of options, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THEM REQUIRE YOU TO PAY A MONTHLY FEE TO USE THEM. THAT IS NOT MADE CLEAR DURING THE SALES PROCESS. There is a thing called SCOUT GPS LINK, the salesman was very vague on his description of that feature. After 3 weeks I am STILL NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT DOES. One thing I do know IT IS NOT A GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM. On that point in order to use YOUR SMART PHONE for navigation, you will of course incur DATA CHARGES ON THE PHONE WHEN NAVIGATING. BUT SCOUT GPS LINK IS FREE for 3 years, then TOYOTA CHARGES YOU $25 a year to use it. I did NOT find that out until AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR. Then there are the charges for other FEATURES like remote CONNECT. The information panel directly in front of the driver is VERY difficult to read in bright sunlight, you need to CONCENTRATE on it but that takes too much time and is dangerous. The same panel is a delight to read when I am sitting in the car in my garage but not in bright sunlight. So if I limit my driving to tours around my garage THINGS WILL BE FINE. Entertainment System is BLAH. There is more, much more. However now for the good news, my average fuel consumption IS CURRENTLY 37.5 MPG and climbing. The radar enhanced Cruise Control is great, the car slows and accelerates all on its own. Auto headlight dimming is AWSOME. Right now I am regretting trading in my 2013 Acura RDX, I should have spent the additional $8-9k and bought a new RDX. A FAR SUPERIOR CAR.

Ummmm, there is apple carplay and android auto is coming soon via a FOC software update......

"we really like the look and feel of these dials" The panel breaks apart...

Am I the only rolling after seeing this?!? 6:21 - 6:25 😂

Hi ! What better; rv4 or evoque?

Interesting how this is a "large SUV" in other markets where it is a compact SUV in the U.S. I think it would be fun to drive my Sequoia in the UK.

Insurance on hybrids has gone almost 45% up.

The cat is why this review is above the others.

That cat at the start tho

But this is a 2019 video with the 2021 Toyota RAV4!?

Best looking, definitely the RAV-4

CX-5 - very good looking car!

im interested in getting the cat - is he for sale

I got the 2.0 hybrid corolla (similar tech) and the avg gas mileage is between 40 and 45 mpg (~6.5- 7 l/100 km ) which is with normal motorway driving between 100 and 130 km/h (60-80 mph), which isn't great tbh. The RAV4 has a similar drivetrain, which is why I am comparing it to the Corolla. Only when I cruise at a steady 100 km/h for about 30+ km I get an avg of under 6 liters (47 mpg). It can also easily go over 7 liters per 100 km (less than 40 mpg) if you aren't careful. The Corolla actually trained me to drive very frugally (which is a good thing, i suppose) and even then it is worse than the 1.0 Tsi Polo, that i drove a lot quicker with. Even with slightly fast driving in a Volvo V40 T3 I got similar to better gas mileage than in the Toyota. And that isn't even considered a very frugal car. Basically if you do a lot of high speed motorway trips to work etc. don't get these cars. If in-town driving and low speed cruising is your thing, you won't find many cars better than these Toyota hybrids. Only in those situations I get 50+ mpg.

Err, we have Rav4 2020 hybrid (uk) and you can mirror your phone to the central screen

Lol the cat came for the review too!

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming to Toyotas in RHD markets with the latest Entune infotainment systems in 2020. Available as retrofit (including at no cost in Australia for the RAV4) for the 2019 Corolla, Camry and RAV4. The 2020 C-HR comes with it.

Is Australia getting the RAV4 Black Edition at all and if yes, when is it coming here? I see it is already launched in US and Europe and looks stunning.

Model tested is actually the Dynamic grade and not Design as stated in introduction.

As a massive car fan, your video was enjoyable, great style of presentation :)

A y UK owners experiencing trouble filling the fuel tank? Seems to be a major issue in the US.

Reports disclose that the 2019 and 2020 Toyota RAV4 hybrids have defective gas tanks that will not fill to full capacity. Viewers please check out RU-vid complaints about this problem. Major news networks reported that the car dealers are not informing customers about the defective gas tank before the car is purchased.

Is the cat standard as well?

For your well written and positive review I will definitely be buying one of these. Thanks. Oh and it is miles better in most areas than the other suv's as it really needs a big guy to to drive it😉

They should have used the Lithium Ion batteries found in the base Camry LE and not Nickel. Cost savings. Would have gotten about 4 more MPG. (USA) Should be KM in all countries.

It's nice to drive actually and quite fast

I love mine but the battery is always showing half full, is there a technical problem with the battery? No matter the length or style of my driving

All about Apple Car Play and Android Auto, blah blah blah, it is coming but I am looking forward to using the Mirrorlink of the Entune 3 system which gives as much if not more than the former. Why does no one know about this, ah, they really do not know the vehicle that well at all!!!!!!! I test drove the RAV for a day and have not driven a car that is better in this class, thus ordered and looking forward to getting mine mid October.

The Nigella of the car world 😍

See Rebecca, you CAN talk normally and not like the ‘computer says no’ character. A very positive thing, cos I could never get through one of your What Car reviews.

Interested to see which style is selling most..all electric or hybrid?

Connectivity is just a moment of time.....the Corolla is now also with android auto and co.

Andriod auto and Apple carplay will be installed as a free update to this car later this year. It's not an issue

So whats the point of the hybrid system if you cans go over 20mph for lets say 100mls

Yes it has a larger trunk but you forget to mention that it is not completely lie flat.

This video needs updating as they do all now have smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay etc)

Rebecca Jackson can review anything. I will listen.

Toyota just announced that there is going to be a mid cycle refresh for the RAV4 I wonder what they will change 🧐

You are the best dressed auto presenter on RU-vid.

Great video Rebecca 🇬🇧👍

Why the RAV4 in Australia have all matt finish black plastic trims around the car?

Why do I get the feeling she likes the Peugeot 5008? Don't blame her, I think it's a brilliant car.

Single speed auto? Seriously? It is a CVT, means infinite speeds

Won't stop me from buying 1

its almost as if no-one has ever driven a e-cvt ,its like playing a slot machine with gears also the infotainment is a decade old already

1:47 Rugged SUV? That dashpiece was popping out with a simple button 😅😭