Toyota RAV4 (2013 – 2019) Review

Toyota RAV4 (2013 – 2019) At A Glance

3/5

+Practical with a good boot and plenty of rear leg room. 2.5 hybrid with 2WD or 4WD available. Five year warranty. Proving very reliable.

-Not as satisfying to drive as some rivals. Interior materials aren't as good as a Mazda CX-5.

Insurance Groups are between 22–29
On average it achieves 79% of the official MPG figure

The popularity of the crossover has ballooned in recent years, but back in the 1990s, when they were still called 4x4s, if you wanted something compact there were only a handful on sale, one of which was the original Toyota RAV4. So Toyota has quite a history with family-sized SUVs, and it shows with the latest RAV4.

This model tows the line between crossover and full-sized SUV to great effect. It’s a very commodious car and there’s enough space for a family, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the back. Thanks to low cabin floor there’s no awkward transmission tunnel either so even the middle seat is useable.

The boot is large and has some neat, practical extras like a net for storing bits and pieces, cubby holes and seats that fold completely flat in one movement. In terms of practicality it's among the best crossovers, bettering the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan for overall space.

Toyota offers a choice of petrol or diesel engines but most buyers will go for the diesels. There’s a 2.2-litre with 151PS or a 2.0-litre with 123PS, the former of which is available with an optional six-speed automatic transmission and with 2WD. The only petrol on offer is a 2.0-litre Valvmatic with 152PS available only with Multidrive S CVT automatic gearbox and 4WD.

The least earth shattering engine was the entry-level 2.0-litre diesel, which emits a reasonable 127g/km of CO2 with 2WD and has official economy of 57.6mpg. 

Real MPG average for a Toyota RAV4 (2013 – 2019)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

79%

Real MPG

25–57 mpg

MPGs submitted

664

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Is the Toyota RAV4 easy to break into and steal?

"I keep reading about how easy it is to break into and drive away a Toyota RAV4 by removing the headlight and reaching the wiring. Toyota sales people claim to know nothing about this. Any idea what the situation is? I’d rather wait to get a car not so easily stolen. "
Unfortunately, there are a number of documented cases of RAV4s being stolen via what's known as a CAN Injection, where the vehicles CAN (or Controller Area Network) is tricked into thinking that a key is present due to bridging some of the wiring loom connections. Toyota in the UK does not confirm the situation but it has been widely discussed online. However, there are other models that are also prone to cyber theft thanks to cars relying more and more on online systems, with Land Rover models also prone to theft. Most car thieves are opportunists, which means a good old-fashioned deterrent such as a mechanical steering lock is a good idea.
Answered by Craig Cheetham

What is the best car for long term ownership?

"What is the best car to buy and hang onto for the next ten years? I’m looking for bombproof reliability and something that will bear wear and tear with grace rather than something I need to keep looking shiny and be overprotective off. Four-wheel drive would be a big plus and it needs to safely carry five tall people in comfort. Not worried about fuel economy as it would be a second car to a Mercedes Vito crew cab van. "
Toyota RAV4 or Lexus NX. Both are available with a 10-year manufacturer warranty if you keep them serviced within the Toyota/Lexus dealer network. The RAV4 is more workmanlike than the NX, but both of these cars have a strong reputation for build quality and reliability. You may also want to consider the Suzuki Vitara, which is easy to drive and dependable. For more information on the best cars for reliability, see the Honest John Satisfaction Index: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/honest-john-satisfaction-index-2022-results/
Answered by Dan Powell

What's the best small off-roader?

"I need a compact 4x4 with good fuel economy and lots of ground clearance for bumpy tracks. Good boot space would also be a plus. I'm thinking of buying a Toyota Urban Cruiser but would value your opinion. "
The Toyota Urban Cruiser was a slightly oddball car when it was new and time hasn't exactly been kind to it. On the plus side, it's quite a versatile car and ought to be very reliable. The Mazda CX-7 is a much bigger car and the 2.2-litre diesel engine isn't known for its reliability. We'd recommend a petrol Toyota RAV4 or Suzuki Grand Vitara.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What should I replace my Honda CR-V with?

"I'm looking for a shortlist of possible options for a used (up to 3 years old) replacement for an ageing Honda CR-V. The Honda has been very practical, but it is now over 10 years old and I would like to try something different. I would still like my wish list to include the best features of the Honda, including good reliability, high driving position, automatic transmission and large luggage carrying capacity, but as it will be used for mainly local journeys with occasional longer trips, I would definitely like much better efficiency, so a petrol/hybrid option would also be preferred."
The Toyota RAV4 is the obvious choice. Both the current and the last generation RAV4 came with a hybrid option that makes them very cheap to run and you don't need to charge them. Both versions are known for their reliability and are also spacious. The Lexus NX is another option but it's quite small, while the RX is big but expensive. If you fancy a plug-in hybrid – which I'd only recommend if you have somewhere to charge the car at home – I'd suggest the new Kia Sorento. You can get PHEV versions of cars like the Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, but they're more expensive and not as spacious. Reviews of all these cars, below: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/toyota/rav-4-2018/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/toyota/rav4-2013/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/lexus/nx-2021/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/lexus/rx-2015/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/kia/sorento-2020/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/discovery-sport-2015/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/x3-g01-2018/ https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mercedes-benz/glc-class-2015/
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions

What does a Toyota RAV4 (2013 – 2019) cost?