Name: Toyota RAV4 (2019 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Toyota RAV4
Rating: 69.0

Summary

The Toyota RAV4 is a mid-size SUV/crossover, which is offered in the UK with either a petrol-electric regular hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain. This current generation was launched in 2019 and will be replaced by an all-new model sometime in 2026.

Over the last 25 years, the RAV4 has been one of the biggest-selling models in the world, and a pioneer for the current trend of car-based SUV-style vehicles.

The latest model is the fifth-generation RAV4, which was launched in early 2019. A plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4 joined the range in 2021.

The Toyota RAV4 has received generally good reviews from the UK automotive media and ranks several points behind the best in its class. It has been particularly praised for its practicality, low CO₂ and fuel consumption figures (with corresponding tax benefits for company car drivers) and comfort.

The new plug-in hybrid model has achieved higher scores than the standard hybrid model. However, all models have been criticised for high noise levels at motorway speeds.

As of June 2025, the Toyota RAV4 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 69%. It scores top marks for its low CO₂ emissions, and also gets good grades for its safety and reliability ratings. However, its running costs and media review scores are only average.

More Toyota Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £38,880 on-road

Launched: Winter 2018/19
Last updated: Summer 2022
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Toyota RAV4 is a compelling package. Its on-road performance is highly competent, and the economy and emissions will be particularly appealing to those coming out of diesel vehicles.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8.2 / 10

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The Car Expert

Andrew Charman

“he Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a practical family SUV that has a roomy cabin, plenty of standard equipment and an economical hybrid system, but alternatives have tech that’s easier to use.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

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Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Global best seller offers practicality and efficiency in equal measure.”
Author: Alex Ingram, Dean Gibson
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Model reviewed: PHEV
Score: 7 / 10
“From a technological point of view, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is an impressive achievement. This is a comfortable and refined plug-in hybrid SUV.”
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Score: 8 / 10
“The RAV4 is spacious, refined and well built, and while some rivals offer sharper handling, the Toyota counters with great comfort.”
Read review

Score: 7 / 10
“There’s much to like about the Toyota RAV4 – an excellent chassis, decent practicality, impressive efficiency and strong BiK figures. It falls down badly, though, in the sort of connectivity and smartphone integration that buyers are demanding.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“Plug-in hybrid option offers choice of a Toyota RAV4 with meaningful electric-only range and a surprising turn of speed when you need it.”
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Score: 7.4 / 10
“The RAV4 will appeal to many as a safe, reliable SUV with generous equipment levels, but there are some elements of it that aren’t up to the standards of its rivals.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Dynamic Premium
Score: 8 / 10
“The additional weight of the larger battery does mean you’ll notice some initial resistance when asking for changes in direction along with a tendency to run out of front-end grip. Thankfully, a host of electronic safety devices are included to help prevent the worst from happening.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Design 2.5 Hybrid CVT AWD-i
Score: 6 / 10
“There’s plenty to like about the Toyota RAV4, from its economical low CO2 hybrid powertrain to the impressive practicality, standard safety kit and near-faultless reliability record. It’s a shame that the disappointing infotainment system and unpolished hybrid powertrain let the side down.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: PHEV 2021
Score: 8 / 10
“There’s a real sense that Toyota went big with this RAV4 Plug-in. From its strong performance to its fantastic electric range, things have not been done by halves here.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The hybrid-only Toyota RAV4 will appeal to company car drivers and its striking design helps it stand out in a busy class.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Toyota RAV4 is a practical family SUV that has a roomy cabin, plenty of standard equipment and an economical hybrid system, but alternatives have tech that’s easier to use.”
Read review

Company Car Today

Model reviewed: PHEV
“Far from cheap, but the RAV4 PHEV is quick, good to drive and the running costs are good, thanks to the impressive range and efficiency of the hybrid powertrain.”
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Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid automatic Excel 2WD
“Striking but divisive looks make a strong first impression, but it’s the low emissions and running costs that have the biggest impact.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Dynamic
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s a Toyota so unlikely to ever go wrong, but the cabin plastics and average quality infotainment screen graphics are a bit out of place in a car costing this much.”
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Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid automatic 2WD Excel
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Toyota RAV4 is a much more appealing motor than its deadly dull, if extremely reliable, predecessors.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: PHEV
“The Toyota RAV4 PHEV is a formidable competitor in the quality SUV sector.”
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Fleetworld

Model reviewed: PHEV
Score: 8 / 10
“The RAV4 Plug-in is powerful, good to drive and offers welcome BiK savings.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Excel
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a big improvement on the last model, offering a genuinely efficient driving experience for a spacious SUV.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Efficient hybrid crossover available with two- or four-wheel drive. Spacious and robust interior. Very quiet and refined to drive.”
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“Long story short, it’s cheap for company car buyers, spacious, well made, decent around town, noisy on the motorway, clumsy to drive quickly, and not especially memorable.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.2 / 10
“Spacious SUV let down by unpolished hybrid powertrain”
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The Sun

“Toyota’s best-selling SUV is a big family motor, with emissions of just 100g/km and a host of new features to impress its loyal fan-base.”
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The Telegraph

Score: 8 / 10
“The RAV4 PHEV is a two-tonne hot rod.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 6 / 10
“With its existing hybrid systems, Toyota is making hay while the sun shines, capitalising on the demise of diesel.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: PHEV
Score: 8 / 10
“So far as unpretentiously sensible cars go, the RAV4 PHEV is right up there with the worthiest of them.”
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Model reviewed: Dynamic
Score: 5 / 10
“Toyota’s key strengths lie in the less tangible stuff: reliability, robustness and so on. The kind of stuff that’s hard to assess. But this new one does ride quietly and well.”
Read review

Score: 7 / 10
“Not much fun to drive, but as a financial and fuel-saving choice it really does take some beating.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: May 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 77%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of June 2025, the Toyota RAV4 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 46
Average repair cost: £805.14
Last updated: April 2025

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of June 2025, the Toyota RAV4 is above average when it comes to reliability with a score of 74%, according to extended warranty data provided by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This covers both the current (2019 onwards) model as well as earlier generations.

The average repair costs is about £800, which is obviously more than the cost of a used car warranty, so that’s worth considering if you own a RAV4 or are thinking about buying one.

The most common problems reported for the RAV4 are engine-related, which have an average repair bill of more than £1,000. Gearbox problems are also expensive, at more than £1,200, although not as common.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	49 mpg	C	48 – 50 mpg	B – C
Plug-in hybrid models	283 mpg	A	283 – 283 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	130 g/km	A	126 – 134 g/km	A – A
Plug-in hybrid models	22 g/km	A	22 – 22 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	46 miles	D	46 – 46 miles	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	29	C	25 – 45	B – D

Running costs on the Toyota RAV4 are quite reasonable, given that it’s a large seven-seat SUV. Fuel consumption is average for the regular hybrid although, as with any hybrid car, this very much depends on how carefully you drive it to get the most out of the electric motor. Likewise, you can get decent range from the plug-in hybrid’s battery if you drive carefully.

Fuel consumption and CO2 figures for the plug-in hybrid versions might look amazing on paper, but this is only because of how the EU/UK government lab tests are conducted. In the real world, there is no way you’re going to travel 283 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of petrol and some electricity.

Insurance costs are likely to be fair, based on the RAV4’s mid-level insurance group rating, but we don’t currently have servicing costs available for the RAV4. Most Toyotas are pretty reasonable in this area, however, so there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises.