Toyota RAV4 – What you need to know

The Toyota RAV4 continues to attract more buyers than any other SUV in Australia, topping the charts for the past several years.

Also the leading player in the best-selling mid-size SUV segment, the RAV4 has been regularly updated over the past five years since the fifth-generation model was launched in 2019 – including notable upgrades for the 2022 and 2023 model years.

Today, 13 variants covering five grades complete the 2024 Toyota RAV4 line-up, starting with the base GX, then comes the GXL, XSE, Cruiser and top-spec Edge.

Each grade is offered with a petrol or petrol-electric hybrid engine except the hybrid-only XSE.

Similarly, there’s a mix of front-wheel drive (2WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options across the RAV4 range, depending on the powertrain and trim level.

With plenty of models to choose from, let’s find the right one for you and your budget.

Entry into the 2024 Toyota RAV4 range starts $39,760 plus on-road costs for the for 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol GX with continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and 2WD.

The base-grade GX has the following standard features:
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Premium steering wheel and gear lever
• Air-conditioning
• Reversing camera with guidelines
• Hill start assist
• Cloth seat upholstery

Up to nine colours are offered on the Toyota RAV4, depending on the model, with premium paint attracting an additional $675.

A panoramic tilt-and-slide sunroof adds $1300 and is only available on the Edge petrol variant, and if you want a full-size spare wheel and tyre it’s a $300 option on GX variants.

All Toyota RAV4 models have the Japanese car-maker’s Safety Sense suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include lane departure alert and lane trace assist, speed road sign assist, automatic headlights with auto high beam and adaptive cruise control.

Recent upgrades to the pre-collision system, which is standard on all variants, includes emergency steering assist and turn assist that detects and alerts the driver to oncoming traffic when turning right, along with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

The digital reversing camera was also updated to deliver clearer images.

Electronic aids on all models include traction and stability control, hill start and downhill control assist, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors front and back, rear cross traffic alert, anti-lock brakes and trailer sway control. There are seven airbags, including dual front, front side, driver’s knee and front and rear curtain airbags.

For those with a young family, the Toyota RAV4 has two ISOFIX child restraint anchor points on the outer rear seats, along with three top tether strap anchor points.

Slide up to the Cruiser or Edge and you get the upgraded panoramic view monitor showing an underfloor view of the vehicle superimposed over the terrain it’s crossing.

The Toyota RAV4 has a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing in 2019.

Standard on GX and GXL Toyota RAV4 variants is an 8.0-inch infotainment screen operating the digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloud-based satellite navigation and Bluetooth streaming for phone and music.

The XSE, Cruiser and Edge feature a 10.5-inch screen and embedded sat-nav.

There is one USB-A port and four USB-C ports in all variants.

Toyota Connected Services (TCS) is also now fitted across the range, providing automatic notification to emergency services if a collision is detected – or via the SOS button. TCS can help locate the vehicle if it’s stolen, plus there’s multimedia connectivity, driving insights, remote connectivity and vehicle monitoring through the Toyota connect app.

If you want wireless phone charging, glide over to the GXL as a minimum, and if the six-speaker audio system in the GX, GXL or XSE doesn’t grab you, sign up for a Cruiser as a minimum for a premium nine-speaker JBL sound system.

The multi-information display and digital instrument cluster were recently improved, too; drivers of GX and GXL variants look at a 7.0-inch display while those in an XSE, Cruiser or Edge look at a 12.3-inch customisable display.

All Toyota RAV4 models have a premium multi-function steering wheel with voice recognition function and easy access to the display menus for the instrument cluster, along with Bluetooth phone and audio controls.

Also standard are power windows, power heated door mirrors, four cup holders, front door pockets, an overhead console, vanity mirrors and centre console.

Manual air-conditioning comes with the entry GX variant while dual-zone climate-control is standard in all other models. Rear passenger vents are fitted across the range.

Do you want selectable drive modes? You’ll have to spend up big as only the top-spec petrol-engined Edge offers Toyota’s ‘multi-terrain select’ system.

Are leather seats a deal clincher? You must stretch the dollars to the Cruiser as the GX and GXL make do with fabric trim while the XSE has ‘Soflex’ covering.

How about power-adjustable seats? This feature comes standard in the XSE with a 10-way power-adjust driver’s seat including lumbar support. What’s more, both front seats have a two-level heating function.

Take a step up to the Cruiser and you get heated and cooled front seats and two-position memory for the driver’s seat.

What about ambient interior lighting? The Cruiser has this along with a digital rear-view mirror and auto-folding door mirrors.

Is a sunroof important? Skip past the GX, GXL and XSE and stop at the Cruiser with its large standard-fit tilt-and-slide sunroof.

Do you want privacy glass? You only need to raise the budget to the GXL that brings with it roof racks, front mud flaps, dual oval exhaust outlets and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

If a powered tailgate is of interest, bypass the GX and GXL and head to the XSE.

The convenience of a two-level boot floor is yours in all models except the GX, and providing you haven’t ticked the optional full-size spare.

Helping light your way in all RAV4 variants are LED fog lights, LED daytime running lights and LED tail-lights. As for headlights, the petrol variants of the GX, GXL and Cruiser have auto-levelling parabolic LEDs, while projector LED headlights come standard in the GX Hybrid, GXL Hybrid, XSE and Cruiser Hybrid and both Edge variants.

Characterising the entry GX, GXL, XSE and Edge are body-coloured door handles, with the Cruiser having chrome handles.

The GXL and Cruiser are recognised by their premium bumper and grille, while the Edge stands out with its unique bumper design, wheel-arch mouldings and fog lamp surrounds.

Picking the XSE is easy thanks to its black accents on the door mouldings, door mirrors, wheels, bumpers and grille, plus the two-tone roof.

Light grey 17-inch alloy wheels adorn the GX variants, with dark silver 18-inch alloys found on the GXL. The Cruiser petrol wears 19-inch silver alloys, while the hybrid version has the same size in gloss black. Exclusive to the Edge are 19-inch machined alloys finished in matte grey.

All model grades in the Toyota RAV4 range are currently available with a petrol engine or petrol-electric hybrid engine.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine found in the GX, GXL and Cruiser produces 127kW of power and 203Nm of torque and is coupled to a CVT auto. Drive is to the front wheels only.

The 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain in the GX, GXL, XSE, Cruiser and Edge has a combined power output in 2WD variants of 160kW, climbing slightly to 163kW in AWD models. The petrol engine alone in the hybrid produces 131kW/221Nm, while the transmission is a CVT.

Exclusive to the Edge is a 2.5-litre petrol engine with 152kW and 243Nm. It’s connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption for the 2.0-litre petrol is 6.0L/100km, while the 2.5-litre hybrid is much lower – 4.7L/100km in 2WD guise, 4.8L/100km in AWD. The 2.5-litre petrol engine comes in at 7.0L/100km.

Based on the entry-level GX, the Toyota RAV4 measures 4600mm long, 1855mm wide and 1685mm high, resting on a 2690mm wheelbase across the range that allows for a spacious interior with decent legroom, headroom and shoulder-room over two rows.

Luggage capacity set to the lowest cargo floor level is 580 litres (excluding GX with a full-size spare), reducing to 542L when set to the upper level. The convenience of a 60/40-split folding rear seat also makes lugging longer items a breeze.

Braked towing capacity is only 480kg for the 2WD hybrid, rising to 800kg for 2WD petrol models. The move to all-wheel drive sees towing capacity increase to 1500kg on hybrid models as well as the 2.5-litre petrol.

The fuel tank capacity is 55 litres across the range.

The petrol-electric hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4 are hugely popular – often requiring a long wait for customers once they place an order – and are the pick of the bunch as far as we’re concerned.

The hybrid offers excellent fuel efficiency and useful performance for a reasonable $2500 premium over the 2.0-litre petrol engine in 2WD guise. But going from 2WD to AWD on each hybrid variant costs another $3000, which is steep.

So the RAV4 Hybrid has won me over, but not the cost of throwing AWD at it.

If my budget was tight, the RAV4 GXL Hybrid 2WD and its blend of features – including up-to-date safety and connectivity features – wins my hard-earned cash.

But with a bit more loosening of the purse strings and the heart leading the head in the buying decision, the Cruiser Hybrid 2WD would be my choice.

You have very nearly every feature found in the Edge and you save on the purchase price and at the bowser. Can’t beat that.

How much does the 2024 Toyota RAV4 cost?
GX 2WD – $39,760
GX Hybrid 2WD – $42,260
GX Hybrid AWD – $45,260
GXL 2WD – $43,310
GXL Hybrid 2WD – $45,810
GXL Hybrid AWD – $48,810
XSE Hybrid 2WD – $49,585
XSE Hybrid AWD – $52,585
Cruiser 2WD – $48,910
Cruiser Hybrid 2WD – $51,410
Cruiser Hybrid AWD – $54,410
Edge AWD – $56,230
Edge Hybrid AWD – $58,36
*Prices exclude on-road costs