2022 Toyota RAV4

　　

2022 Toyota RAV4 Review

byBrent RomansSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　The Toyota RAV4 is consistently one of the best-selling vehicles on the market, and if you're looking for a small SUV, chances are the RAV4 is on your short list. Highlight qualities include a roomy interior, a smooth ride and easy-to-use controls. It's an SUV you can get in and drive without thinking much about it.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$125/mo  for RAV4 LE

　　RAV4 LE

　　LE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $26,975 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $28,375 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $28,445 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $29,845 MSRPXLE Premium 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $31,335 MSRPXLE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $32,735 MSRPAdventure 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $33,230 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $35,475 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,875 MSRPTRD Off-Road 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $36,915 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Toyota offers a wide range of trim levels for the RAV4, so there's a good chance you'll find the one for you. There's a wallet-friendly base model, a top-trim version loaded with all the features, and more in between. There's also the RAV4 Adventure, which has tougher exterior styling and a bit more off-road capabilities, as well as the TRD Off-Road, which adds all-terrain tires and special suspension tuning. These trims don't transform the RAV4 into a Jeep Wrangler, but they do give it more capability than most other small SUVs.

　　Our test team has found the Toyota RAV4 to be a respectable pick for a small SUV, but there are plenty of other great options to consider as well. These include the well-rounded Honda CR-V, classy Mazda CX-5 and value-packed Nissan Rogue. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our full evaluation of the RAV4's comfort, utility and more.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below