Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Test Drive Review

Date: 20 January 2016   |   Author:

Category: Off-roader P11D price: £26,195 Key rival: Ford Kuga On sale: January 2016 Equipment: 6 airbags, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, 7in touchscreen media system with satnav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, rear-view camera, automatic headlights and wipers, front fog lamps, electric-folding door mirrors, LED front and rear lights, electric tailgate release Engines: Diesel: 141hp 2.0-litre; Petrol: 149hp 2.0-litre; Hybrid: 194hp 2.5-litre and electric motor Trims: Active, Business Edition, Business Edition Plus, Icon, Excel Transmissions: 6-spd manual, 6-spd auto, continuously variable transmission automatic

Surprisingly, the diesel slashes 4p per mile from the equivalent hybrid's running costs, to 54.2ppm, with only a small BIK increase, to £180 per month for 40% taxpayers, which should mean a net saving for business users over a three-year, 60,000-mile lease.

The hybrid isn't the cheapest Rav4, but its appeal becomes evident on the road. Being able to run silently using the electric motor alone or alongside the petrol engine - now shrouded in extra soundproofing - the hybrid is very refined and easy to drive. Even when the petrol engine cuts in it remains hushed, providing surprising punch, especially after a few seconds of acceleration, when the automatic gearbox - which does without conventional gears - lets the engine rev higher.

The soft suspension, meanwhile, smoothes out bumps effectively, relaying little noise to the cabin. The flipside, however, is that the Rav4 rolls substantially in corners, with the economy-oriented tyres offering very little grip.

The responsive steering, though, gives the driver a good idea of how much grip is left. The interior offers plenty of space in both rows, with comfortable rear seats, which can be reclined, while the boot is reasonably sized, though slightly smaller than in non-hybrid models. It also feels more upmarket inside than before, with leather and suede trim across the seats and dashboard in our car, but this is undermined by numerous cheap-feeling materials strewn across the cabin.

Despite feeling much more expensive, the two-wheel drive BMW X1 sDrive 18d SE automatic undercuts the Toyota at 56.4ppm - thanks to much stronger residual values - with reasonable 40% taxpayer BIK costs of £190pm. Opting for a manual provides further savings of 3ppm, with BIK costs dropping to £170pm and economy hitting up to 68.9mpg. The manual-only Ford Kuga also costs just 53.2ppm in plush Titanium Nav trim.

Additionally, environmentally conscious users could save even more in BIK costs by choosing the plug-in Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid, which costs 59.6ppm - or substantially less if it is bought outright rather than leased, through receiving the Government's Plug-In Car Grant.

The hybrid Rav4 drives nicely and feels higher quality than its predecessor, while offering low BIK costs. However, fleet users can make substantial savings by opting for the diesel model or the more economical BMW X1.

Verdict The hybrid is appealing, but the diesel is cheaper, as is the Ford Kuga and BMW's posher X1				7/10
	Pleasant to drive and well-equipped, with low emissions cutting BIK costs		Pricier to run than diesel Rav4 and several rivals. Interior materials feel cheap

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