Toyota RAV4 - MPG, CO2 and running costs
The Toyota RAV4's clever hybrid tech makes for decent real-world economy, although insurance costs might be a little expensive
The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 is available with either self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. During our test of the former on mixed roads, including city and motorway driving, the RAV4 returned as much as 61mpg and didn't dip below 40mpg at any point. This correlates well with the RAV4’s official combined fuel economy figures of 48.7mpg for four-wheel drive versions, to 49.6mpg for front-drive models, both of which are considerably better than the Honda CR-V. CO2 emissions for hybrid RAV4 models range from 129-131g/km, depending on the chosen trim level.
|
Model |
MPG |
CO2 |
Insurance group |
|
Toyota RAV4 2.5 VVT-i Excel AWD |
48.7mpg |
131g/km |
30 |
|
Toyota RAV4 2.5 PHEV Design AWD |
282.5mpg |
22g/km |
36 |
|
Toyota RAV4 2.5 VVT-i Design 2WD |
49.6mpg |
129g/km |
28 |
Electric range, battery life and charge time
The RAV4 PHEV features an 18.1kWh battery that provides enough juice to cover up to 60 miles in urban environments, or 46 miles in mixed driving conditions, on electric power alone. Based on our experience during a long-term test, we could get over 40 miles of range (even in winter) without using any petrol. Our overall economy would put a diesel to shame – although the 64.7mpg figure we got was nowhere near the combined WLTP figure of 282.5mpg, and even then, that was from mostly urban driving and regular charging.
When it comes to charging the RAV4, it'll take two and a half hours to fully charge the battery using a standard 7kW home wallbox.
|
Model |
Battery size |
Range |
Insurance group |
|
Toyota RAV4 2.5 PHEV Design AWD |
18.1kWh |
46 miles |
36 |
Tax
Company car drivers will appreciate that this version sits in a low eight per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) band, which is better than the equivalent Santa Fe and Sorento plug-in hybrids. If you want to save money, you’ll need to look at an electric car like the Tesla Model Y, because that’s in an even lower tax bracket.
Insurance groups
The RAV4 sits in insurance groups 28 to 36, depending on trim level and which powertrain you go with. That’s lower than the CR-V, but quite a bit higher than rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq.
Depreciation
Our expert data suggests that the RAV4 will be a strong performer in terms of residual values. After three years and 36,000 miles of ownership, the hybrid SUV model should hold onto an average of 45-49 per cent of its original list price.
To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...
