2021 Toyota RAV4 Review

　　

2021 Toyota RAV4 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling passenger vehicles today. It's easy to understand why: This small SUV has a smooth ride, plenty of space for passengers and cargo, and many standard advanced driver safety features. No doubt the RAV4's long-running status — it debuted all the way back in 1996 as one of the first crossover SUVs — and Toyota's name recognition help too.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$124/mo  for RAV4 LE

　　RAV4 LE

　　LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $26,350 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $27,750 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $27,645 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $29,045 MSRPXLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $30,350 MSRPXLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $31,750 MSRPAdventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $33,455 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $34,880 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,280 MSRPTRD Off-Road 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,080 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　But this popularity doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. In fact, we rank a few other small SUVs ahead of the RAV4, including the equally popular Honda CR-V and the upscale Mazda CX-5. If you want a RAV4, we're more inclined to recommend the RAV4 Hybrid or the new RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. They are more powerful and easily justify their higher initial cost. Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth take on the 2021 RAV4.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the RAV4 drive? The RAV4 doesn't impress here, unfortunately. The engine is willing around town, and passing and merging are drama-free. But if you're in a huge rush, you might notice the engine's ultimately modest power delivery. In zzdcar testing, our RAV4 Adventure test vehicle needed 9.1 seconds to cover 0-60 mph, which is slightly slower than the class average.

　　Another gripe we have is with the steering, which is vague at the center point and doesn't have appropriate levels of feel and heft. As such, it's easy to misjudge your level of input. In better news, the RAV4's optional upgraded all-wheel-drive system includes rear-axle torque vectoring and more advanced traction control systems with selectable terrain settings and hill descent control. These systems, plus respectable ground clearance, give the RAV4 Adventure above-average off-road ability for a small SUV.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the RAV4? The RAV4's suspension is tuned to strike a good balance between control and softness. The body doesn't bound or float when you drive over bumps, and small to moderate impacts are absorbed without much drama. As for the front seats, they are nicely sculpted and padded appropriately, but the seat bottoms begin to feel flat on longer drives. The passenger side's lack of adjustment can also make it difficult to find a comfortable position.

　　At highway speeds, the RAV4 is generally quiet. The exception is when you hit the gas for a burst of speed, at which point the engine sound gets rather coarse. We do like the climate system's performance. Air distribution is ideal, with forward vents that can be closed off completely and vents for the rear seat.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The driving position, roominess, and ease of entry and exit are all good. But the RAV4 would score higher if the front passenger seat wasn't set so high or could be adjusted down. The driver's seat and steering wheel have a good range of adjustment, but tall drivers might want a smidge more of each. Outward visibility is praiseworthy.

　　The control layout is intuitive with large, easy-to-read labeling. The audio system and climate system controls are islands unto themselves, and everything else is right where you expect it to be. The big rubberized climate control knobs are nice too. Our only gripe is that the touchscreen is too far away from the driver. The tuning knob, in particular, requires a reach to twist.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The RAV4's interface has a mix of touchscreen and fixed buttons that are easy to learn without consulting the owner's manual. But even though the RAV4 is relatively new, the touchscreen's graphics look dated. The sound system works well enough, but it's nothing special. You do get standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. It's a good thing too since Toyota's native Entune software remains clunky.

　　The standard suite of driver aids is impressive. It includes adaptive cruise control that works down to 0 mph, automatic emergency braking, drowsy driver detection, automatic high beams, lane keeping assist and something called Line Tracing Assist, which is an active (but not hands-free) steering aid.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The RAV4's cargo hold is nearly the biggest in its class. You get 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 69.8 cubic feet with them stowed. The RAV4 is also easy to load thanks to a low cargo floor. Up front, the cabin has numerous shelves and bins to handle assorted road-trip paraphernalia. If you're planning on towing, certain versions of the RAV4 can pull up to 3,500 pounds, which is above average for a small SUV.

　　Parents with young kids will appreciate the RAV4. It's easy to locate and connect safety seats to the lower car seat anchors. Likewise, tethering to the three upper anchors is straightforward. Forward-facing seats and boosters fit readily, but installing a rear-facing infant seat on the passenger side will likely require scooting the front seat up. The too-high front passenger seat is the issue.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the RAV4 will get 27-30 mpg in combined city/highway driving, depending on the powertrain and trim level. We drove an AWD Adventure carrying three people, equipment and luggage for more than 7,000 miles. And over a variety of road and weather conditions, we averaged 28.6 mpg. Our best tank was 32.3 mpg and the worst was 25.6 mpg.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the RAV4 a good value? The RAV4 is well built inside, with nice layered materials and seams that are invisible because they're built into the styling. It has tactile touches such as rubberized grip surfaces on the interior door pulls and the radio and climate knobs. The RAV4's optional simulated leather upholstery feels soft and pliable, and the stitching is tidy. Toyota's warranty coverage is average, but you do get a generous two years/25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　Driving a RAV4 isn't a chore, but it's not particularly memorable either. It's at its best when you go with the Adventure or TRD Off-Road trim level. The advanced torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system, capable traction control system with multiple terrain settings, and styling that's a little more rugged help the RAV4 stand out a little more.

　　

Which RAV4 does zzdcar recommend?

The RAV4 in midrange XLE Premium trim gets our recommendation. It has enough features and interior upgrades to make it look and feel nicer than supporting models, and delivers it all at a sensible price.

　　

2021 Toyota RAV4 models

The 2021 RAV4 is available in six trim levels: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road and Limited. All come with a 203-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on most of the trim levels, and those offer all-wheel drive as an option. The Adventure and the TRD Off-Road come standard with an upgraded all-wheel-drive system that can enhance traction on loose and slippery surfaces.

　　The RAV4 LE trim may be the base model, but you still get a decent number of features that include:

　　LED headlights 7-inch touchscreen interface Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity Six-speaker sound system Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety features: Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the RAV4 and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Automatic high beams Traffic sign reader The XLE adds more convenience features such as:

　　Keyless entry and ignition Power-adjustable driver's seat Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Dual-zone automatic climate control Additional USB charging portsThe XLE Premium dresses up the RAV4 with:

　　Larger wheels Slightly raised suspension Sunroof Power liftgate Simulated leather upholstery (Toyota's SofTex) Soft-touch dashboard materialsThe Adventure trim goes without the sunroof and power liftgate but adds some off-road appearance and mechanical elements that include:

　　Fender flares Taller roof rails Selectable terrain drive modes Hill descent control 8-inch touchscreenThe TRD Off-Road trim gets the sunroof and liftgate back and adds more capabilities with:

　　All-terrain tires Off-road-tuned suspension Unique black trim elements and interior trimAt the top of the range, the Limited builds on the XLE Premium equipment list and adds:

　　Chrome exterior trim Heated front seats Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) 8-inch touchscreen Navigation system Premium 11-speaker JBL audio systemSome features are available as options on supporting trims. Other notable options are dependent on trim level and include:

　　Surround-view camera system Panoramic sunroof Heated steering wheel Heated and ventilated front seats Wireless charging pad

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2021 RAV4 Highlights

Trim: LEXLEXLE PremiumAdventureLimitedTRD Off-RoadLE

　　

Base MSRP	$26,350
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$124/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	37.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles