2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review: A Canadian classic
By all accounts, the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 is the most successful version yet of this popular compact SUV. It offers multiple fuel-efficient powertrains, a universally appealing design, a family-friendly size, and Toyota’s legendary reliability. It’s no wonder this version of the RAV4 has been Canada’s top-selling non-truck passenger vehicle in every year since this generation launched for 2019. And as a bonus, this model happens to be assembled in Canada.
While nothing is confirmed as of this writing, a new generation of Toyota RAV4 is strongly rumoured to be on the way for 2026. With that in mind, let’s look at what may be the final model year for the fifth-gen RAV4 and assess whether you should buy now, wait for the new version, or consider alternatives.
Note this is a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review, meaning we’re focused on the conventional hybrid (or in Toyota terminology, a “self-charging” hybrid) as opposed to the gas-only version or the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). Key comparisons to the latter two powertrains appear throughout.
We drove the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid on our most recent visit to Windsor and Essex County, including Point Pelee National Park, which Toyota Canada loaned to us for evaluation. Have questions about the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid? Ask the automotive experts in our Facebook community!
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review: Pros and cons
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid pros:
- Easy and affordable fuel efficiency
- Great size for urban and suburban families
- Excellent long-term value
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid cons:
- CVT can be unpleasant
- Interior design is bland
- Wait times tend to be long
What competes with the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a hybrid compact SUV. Other conventional hybrids in the same class include the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, and Ford Escape Hybrid.
Size and exterior design
With an overall length of 4,601 millimetres, a 1,702-millimetre height, and a 2,690-millimetre wheelbase, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 is roughly on par size-wise with its competition. There’s only so distinctive a mainstream compact SUV can get in terms of styling, but the RAV4’s sloped headlamps and angled roof arches give it a slightly aggressive look that suits its demeanour. Given this design has been in play since 2019, it’s also aged very well.
Interior design
What’s arguably not aging so well is the 2025 RAV4’s interior. As its competitors have moved to dramatic ambient lighting and slick-looking single-pane screen housings, the RAV4 continues to sport a separate infotainment screen and instrument cluster, though the latter is now fully digital on higher trims.
This setup has its practicalities, though. The high-mounted infotainment system means the driver’s eyes stay close to the road, which reduces distraction. Plus, climate controls are still handled on a separate lower panel, including large and chunky dials with rubberized outsides that are easy to use even with gloves.
In most trims, the RAV4’s interior is functional, if a little bland. The RAV4 Hybrid Limited trim seen here is equipped with the optional beige upholstery, and this and the other available lighter colours help break things up visually. (Note that colour availability is changing throughout this model year, so some combinations may not be offered when you order.) I don’t enjoy shelves that are built into dashboards as I find they collect dust and clutter, but it’s a feature some owners appreciate.
Seat comfort
For my body type, the seat comfort in the 2025 Toyota RAV4 is average. The lowest height position is still a little high for my tall torso, and a longer bottom cushion for more thigh support would be helpful. My partner is shorter in the torso and he finds the seats much more comfortable, so your experience may vary.
With a rear legroom of 960 millimetres, the 2025 RAV4 offers less second-row space than most of its competitors, but there’s still plenty of room for averaged-sized adults.
How many car seats fit in the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid can accommodate two LATCH-equipped car seats in the second row’s outboard positions, or one in the middle position. To install three car seats, all of them would need to have a narrow profile designed for this purpose, and the middle seat would need to be secured with a seatbelt instead of the LATCH connectors.
How much cargo space is there in the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has 1,059 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. When those seatbacks are dropped, this space expands to 1,977 litres. This is the same amount of cargo capacity offered in the RAV4’s gas-powered models. This is more than what’s available in the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, which has 949 litres of cargo room behind the rear seats.
The Honda CR-V Hybrid has slightly less cargo space than the RAV4 at 1,028 litres, while the gas-powered CR-V has slightly more space at 1,113 litres. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid does slightly better at 1,097 litres, while the Kia Sportage Hybrid can accommodate up to 1,119 litres and the Ford Escape Hybrid is nearly equivalent at 1,061 litres. The figures for all these compact SUVs are larger than the average mid-size SUV and will be plenty for a typical family of three or four headed on a weekend road trip.
Infotainment and technology features
On its lower trims, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid come with an 8-inch infotainment system. Higher trims are equipped with a 10.5-inch screen, as seen in our Limited test unit. The functionality of both screens is nearly identical, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means unless you find the smaller screen creates readability issues for you, screen size doesn’t need to be a factor when deciding on a RAV4 trim.
Toyota offers several connectivity services, including app-based lock/unlock and remote start, service interval updates, stolen vehicle locator, and more. It’s important to note these services are subscription-based, and you’ll need to pay to continue to use them after the trial period expires. This is becoming par for the course across the industry.
Additionally, the Drive Connect service includes cloud-based navigation, access to natural voice-operated commands, and 24/7 access to an agent for real-time navigation assistance. On most trims, this service requires a subscription from the start of ownership.
The 11-speaker JBL audio system is a clear upgrade from the base six-speaker setup. A wireless charger is standard on the Trail and Limited trims and optional on the XSE, but this feature is not available on lower grades.
How much power does the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid have?
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 1.6 kWh battery and electric motors on the front and rear axles for standard electric all-wheel drive (AWD). Together, the engine and motors combine to create 203 horsepower. (Toyota Canada does not release official torque figures for hybrid vehicles. Other sources list the RAV4 Hybrid’s torque at 184 lb-ft.)
Does the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid need to be plugged in?
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a conventional hybrid (or a “self-charging” hybrid in Toyota terms). This means its electric motors and battery work to improve fuel economy, but it doesn’t need to be plugged in to optimize this as plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) do. However, the RAV4 Hybrid also can’t drive for meaningful distances on electric power alone like the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, which can travel for up to 68 kilometres without using any gas at all.
How long will a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid battery last?
Hybrids are proving to be some of the most reliable vehicles on the road. Consumer Reports named the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid among the most reliable vehicles overall in its 2025 study and states hybrids are roughly equivalent to gas-only vehicles with internal combustion engines in number of problems reported.
On top of its three-year, 60,000-kilometre new vehicle warranty, Toyota offers an eight-year, 160,000-kilometre warranty on hybrid-related components and a 10-year, 240,000-kilometre warranty on hybrid batteries. This offers assurance that the battery will be repaired or replaced if any problems come up within the first 10 years of ownership.
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid driving impressions
In most ways, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is very pleasant to drive. The electric motors help get it moving quickly from a stop, and the amount of power and its delivery are excellent for the class.
The main downside to the RAV4 Hybrid’s drivability is the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which has a droning quality to it and can make acceleration feel unnatural at times. However, it creates better fuel economy than what a geared transmission can offer, which many drivers will consider a fair trade.
Toyota offers two styles of suspension in the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid. In its L grades (LE, XLE, Limited), the suspension is somewhat more relaxed and compliant over bumps. In recent model years, the automaker has balanced these traits very nicely against controlling body roll, and more drivers will now find this style is their preference. The S grades (SE, XSE) have a tighter sport-oriented suspension for those who want a more dynamic feel. The gas-only Trail trim comes with a suspension tuned for light off-roading.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid carries fuel consumption averages of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.3 on the highway, and 6.0 combined. Our test drive produced an even better result of 5.2 L/100 km combined, including two long highway runs.
How much does a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid save on gas?
Natural Resources Canada’s 2025 Fuel Consumption Guide lists the annual fuel costs for the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited at $1,860. For the gas-powered RAV4, fuel costs are listed at $2,635 for the Limited. With a difference in fuel cost of $775 per year and a difference in up-front cost of $2,350, it would take three years for the RAV4 Hybrid Limited to make up for its higher price in fuel savings.
Other trims will produce slightly different results, but the short version is this: if you’re likely to own your RAV4 for five years or longer, the hybrid will save you money.
It’s not as easy to quantify whether a RAV4 Plug-in saves money over a RAV4 Hybrid. This depends entirely on how often you plug the PHEV in to take advantage of its 68-kilometre electric range. Now that federal and provincial rebates are either reduced or unavailable, the price difference here is roughly $12,000. PHEVs come with their own benefits such as even more power and a reduced carbon footprint, but you’ll need to weigh this against your own budget to make a decision.
How much is the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in Canada?
Pricing on the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts in Canada at $39,744 for the base LE trim, including the $1,930 destination charge and other fees but excluding sales taxes. The top-of-the-line Limited trim we tested starts at $50,764. A $50,000 compact SUV was out of the question just a few years ago, but this is now a normal price point for a top-trim hybrid.
Is the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid worth buying?
There are a few nits to pick in the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, particularly the droning nature of the CVT, though the fuel economy benefits make that worth living with. Overall, this is one of the best compact SUVs you can buy today, full stop. Its blend of usability, great fuel efficiency, reliability, and retained value go far to outline why this is Canada’s best-selling SUV.
And while no vehicle is tariff-proof, Canadian-built vehicles such as this one support our economy and should be more resistant to market fluctuations.
The biggest detriment for some potential buyers is the long wait times, which have spanned anywhere from months to years. If you’re sold on a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid but can’t endure the wait, consider the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid instead. It uses the same powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, and while it’s running into its own tariff-related challenges as of this writing, there’s a greater chance you’ll be able to find one that’s already on a dealership lot.
Should I buy a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or the next generation?
Check out our 2026 Toyota RAV4 review for more details. While it offers a handful of enticing new features, the fifth-gen RAV4 was also a winning formula. There also could be slight price increases with the sixth generation’s standard hybrid powertrain, but pricing has not yet been announced as of this writing. The 2025 RAV4 Hybrid looks good and is a proven performer, so don’t hesitate to buy now if this version has caught your attention.
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