2025 Toyota RAV4 Review

Toyota’s RAV4 remains the best-selling midsize SUV in the segment, with the company rolling out a hybrid-only lineup spread across five variants that help to widen its appeal across a range of budgets.

The RAV4 has become synonymous with family-friendly motoring, though it’s been quite a while since the fifth-gen RAV4 hit the market, which begs the question of how closely its rivals have caught up and, potentially overtaken the segment’s giant.

For 2025, the Toyota RAV4 lineup enters Australia unchanged, both in terms of equipment lists and price tags, so let’s take a closer look at how the MY25 RAV4 range stacks up as a family-friendly medium-sized SUV.

Toyota RAV4 Competition

How Much Does the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Cost?

Prices for the MY25 Toyota RAV4 range kick off from $42,260 for the entry-level RAV4 Hybrid GX FWD and stretch out to $58,360 for the range-topping RAV4 Hybrid Edge AWD before on-road costs.

We’ll list prices for the full MY25 Toyota RAV4 lineup below.

• RAV4 Hybrid GX FWD - $42,260

• RAV4 Hybrid GX AWD - $45,260

• RAV4 Hybrid GXL FWD - $45,810

• RAV4 Hybrid GXL AWD - $48,810

• RAV4 Hybrid XSE FWD - $48,910

• RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser FWD - $51,410

• RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD - $51,910

• RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser AWD - $54,410

• RAV4 Hybrid Edge AWD - $58,360

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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What Features & Specs Does the MY25 Toyota RAV4 Have?

Toyota’s entry-level RAV4 GX range comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and picks up LED headlights and fog lights, dual-zone climate control, cloth upholstery with a premium steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and push-button start.

Stepping up to the RAV4 GXL range adds a set of 18-inch alloys finished in dark silver, as well as keyless entry, roof rails, rear privacy glass, a wireless smartphone charger, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a premium gear lever.

The RAV4 XSE range picks up 18-inch alloys finished in gloss black, a powered boot lift, heated front seats with SofTex upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and an infotainment upgrade.

Upgrading to the RAV4 Cruiser adds a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery with heated and ventilated seats, power-adjustable passenger’s seat, power-folding side mirrors, a digital rear-view mirror and ambient lighting.

Finally, Toyota’s range-topping RAV4 Edge lineup receives 19-inch alloys and SofTex upholstery.

Toyota RAV4 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Toyota’s entry-level versions of the RAV4 lineup, the GX and GXL come packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display atop the dashboard.

Toyota’s infotainment system offers DAB+ digital radio, AM/FM radio as well as Bluetooth connectivity and is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Buyers stepping up to the XSE or above, however, receive an upgraded 10.5-inch display that comes as a welcome addition to any tech-savvy buyer’s wishlist.

Those ticking the box on the RAV4 Cruiser range also receive an upgraded nine-speaker sound system courtesy of JBL.

All RAV4 buyers receive a 12-month subscription to the Toyota Connected suite of services, accessible via a smartphone app that offers everything from fuel and odometer readings, to vehicle location tracking, connected navigation and safety recall information.

Does the Toyota RAV4 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

It may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that Toyota’s infotainment system does not offer wireless smartphone connectivity for both major ecosystems.

Instead, Android users will need to BYO USB cable, because the RAV4 does not offer buyers wireless Android Auto, instead requiring a physical connection.

iPhone owners can breathe a sigh of relief, though, because the MY25 RAV4 range does indeed offer wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, it’s just a shame the wireless support doesn’t extend to Android Auto.

Is the Toyota RAV4 Comfortable to Drive?

The Toyota RAV4 is an extremely well-credentialed midsize SUV package, confidently ticking all the important boxes for a wide range of fleet and family buyers alike.

One of the most important things to note is that Toyota’s latest RAV4 range is a hybrid-only affair, which is a great thing when you’re behind the wheel.

Under the bonnet, the RAV4 range comes powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit paired with two electric motors that produce a combined 160kW of power in front-wheel drive variants.

Ticking the box on the RAV4 AWD range brings power up to 163kW, though Toyota does not specify torque outputs.

Off the line, the RAV4 is both eager and extremely smooth, with the company still asserting itself as one of the best in the game when it comes to hybrid powertrains.

Press your right foot and the RAV4’s electric motors are quick to respond, gliding you up to speed while the petrol unit kicks into life and helps to carry you further up the speedo.

While it’s certainly not a sports car, the RAV4’s hybrid powertrain kicks up enough power for all the overtaking you’ll ever need and, better yet, it does it with some serious refinement.

Around town, the RAV4 is absolutely fantastic.

The steering remains responsive yet light enough to throw the wheel around without working up a sweat, making light work of a three-point turn or while parking in cramped quarters.

Once you start picking up the pace and aiming at potholes, you’ll be pleased with just how accommodating the suspension package is, remaining soft enough to take the edge off bumps without excessive body roll while cornering.

This lends itself to a near-perfect balance of agile handling and comfort over a mix of bumps around the urban jungle.

It also gives the RAV4 confidence on rougher country B-roads, where it tackles corners with confidence and isn’t too phased by larger bumps that frequent a country road.

Ticking the box on Toyota’s AWD RAV4 lineup helps the front axle feel even more confident on looser surfaces and in wet conditions, though it’s not an essential upgrade, even if you’re living in the country.

On the highway, the RAV4 proves a wonderful place to kick back and chew up kilometres, remaining smooth and cementing itself as one of the best all-rounders in the midsize SUV segment.

Is the Toyota RAV4 Fuel Efficient?

As you might imagine, Toyota’s hybrid-only engine lineup for the latest MY25 RAV4 lineup means that it’s extremely fuel efficient.

In fact, the RAV4 remains one of the benchmarks for measuring fuel economy figures in the medium-sized SUV game, which is a pretty clear sign you’re making a safe pick if fuel efficiency is top of mind.

On a combined cycle, the RAV4 FWD is rated at 4.7L per 100km, while the RAV4 AWD range is rated at 4.8L per 100km.

Considering many of its hybrid rivals are sipping well above these marks, the RAV4 remains one of the most fuel-efficient mid-sized SUVs on the market.

• RAV4 FWD City Consumption: 4.8L/100km

• RAV4 AWD City Consumption: 5.0L/100km

• RAV4 FWD Highway Consumption: 4.7L/100km

• RAV4 AWD Highway Consumption: 4.8L/100km

Is the Toyota RAV4 Practical and Spacious?

While not too much has changed inside the RAV4’s cabin in recent years, it remains a mighty practical and incredibly user-friendly package that makes light work of a family of five.

Step inside and you’ll be pleased to find a tonne of headroom for even the tallest of drivers, while forward and side visibility is excellent thanks to a lofty roofline and large windows.

Base models pick up cloth upholstery with a premium steering wheel which does help to lend a more premium nature, while the XSE range picks up Toyota’s synthetic leather known as ‘SofTex’ and the Cruiser gets the genuine leather treatment.

Whichever upholstery you opt for, there’s no doubting the comfort of Toyota’s seats, even in base form, as well as the excellent ergonomics in the driver’s seat that make the RAV4 particularly user-friendly to get behind the wheel of, even for the first time.

The design itself is relatively unchanged from launch, but there’s a lot of truth in the adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ which works particularly well in the context of the RAV4’s cabin.

The dashboard contains physical shortcuts for the climate and media controls without overwhelming the eye, while all the switchgear picks up that solid, trusty Toyota feel.

Storage options in the front of the RAV4’s cabin include a beefy centre console that houses a tray behind the gear lever that doubles as a wireless charger in the right variant, as well as a large pair of cupholders.

The centre console also houses a folding armrest with additional storage inside, while the passenger picks up a decent-sized parcel shelf atop the glovebox and large bottle holders on either side of the cabin.

Move to the rear of the cabin and there’s more than enough real estate for adults to get comfortable.

This means the RAV4 makes light work of a pair, even a trio of kids in the second row thanks to an abundance of legroom, decent cabin width and a nice reclining second-row bench to lay further back on a long journey.

There’s also more than enough headroom on offer for adults to feel cosy but not enclosed, even with the panoramic sunroof in place thanks to the tall window line.

The RAV4’s second row doesn’t pick up a lengthy list of amenities, but it does offer easy access into the cabin to install child seats via the two pairs of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts hiding on the seatback.

The Toyota RAV4 rounds out its family-friendly package with a sizable boot measuring 542 - 580L, depending on the position of the rear seats and boot floor, while expanding to a massive load bay with the 60:40 split seats folded down flat.

All up, it’s difficult to land any firm blows on the RAV4 when it comes to practicality, a testament to its family-friendly design in practice.

Is the Toyota RAV4 Safe?

Toyota’s RAV4 range comes packed with a lengthy safety equipment list, with just one piece of safety tech reserved for higher-ranking members of the lineup.

As standard, the RAV4 boasts autonomous emergency braking with intersection assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and emergency steering assist.

You’ll also receive lane-keep assistance, traffic sign recognition, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, curtain airbags and lane-trace assist as standard.

Toyota does, however, reserve a surround-view monitor for the RAV4 Cruiser variants and higher.

Does the Toyota RAV4 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Toyota RAV4 range wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating, though this rating is set to expire in December, 2025.

The RAV4 scored its five-star safety rating after scoring the following marks during ANCAP testing:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 93%

• Child Occupant Protection: 89%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 85%

• Safety Assist: 83%

What Warranty Does the Toyota RAV4 Come With?

Toyota offers the RAV4 range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which adds two years to the driveline when it’s serviced on time within the Toyota network.

Buyers also pick up a battery warranty that can stretch out to ten years when it’s serviced in-house and according to the logbook.

Toyota offers five capped-price services for the RAV4 range, priced at $260 a piece, totalling $1,300 over the course of five visits to the service centre.

Service intervals for the MY25 RAV4 range stand at 12 months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota RAV4 Worth it?

The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling medium SUV for more than one good reason, cementing itself as one of the best in the segment and by far the most fuel-efficient.

With its incredibly smooth on-road manners, practical cabin, affordable ownership costs, decent equipment lists and a range of variants spread across different price points, there’s a RAV4 for almost every type of buyer.

The only significant chink in the RAV4’s armour is, in fact, its popularity- with waitlists proving lengthy for the most popular variants.

If you’re looking to skip the waitlist and get your RAV4 for the best possible price, reach out to one of our car-buying experts.

Five Toyota RAV4 Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 24-months additional driveline warranty when serviced in-house, on time

3. 4.7 - 4.8L per 100km combined cycle fuel economy (FWD vs AWD)

4. Five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2019)

5. 542 - 580L boot space