Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2013-2019) practicality & boot space
A spacious, practical interior and boot are key to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's appeal
| Length | Width | Height | Boot volume (seats up) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,605mm | 1,845mm | 1,675mm | 501 litres |
The RAV4 Hybrid doesn't impress as a driver's car, but claws some points back as practical, versatile family transport. You get a sense of this as soon as you get behind the wheel and notice that the high-set driver's seat provides a great view out, with good forward visibility to make manoeuvring less of a struggle. Rear visibility is a little more restricted, but there's a reversing camera and all-round parking sensors on hand to help.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid interior space, storage & comfort
The current generation of Toyota RAV4 is the biggest yet, with an interior that offers lots of headroom for those in the front and back. Up front, both driver and passenger seat have lots of adjustment, including height adjustment for the driver – who also gets powered fore-and-aft adjustment and a memory function on the range-topping Excel trim.
Rear legroom is generous, too, and the RAV4 has the unusual feature of reclining rear seats. It means those in the back should find it easier to relax on a long journey, although the range of adjustment is rather more limited than for the front seats.
There are several places where passengers can store essentials for use en-route, with a big central storage bin, door pockets in the front doors, front and rear cup-holders, seatback pockets and various voids in which loose change, sweets and keys can be securely stowed.
Boot space
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid boot space is slightly affected by the room, needed for a battery pack, with 501 litres of luggage room compared to 547 for the petrol model. That's enough to beat the 463-litre Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, but can't match the 561 litres of the non-hybrid Honda CR-V.
The rear seats can be folded flat with the boot floor, expanding total luggage space to 1,633 litres. The optional style pack adds roof bars, so you can increase luggage capacity by carrying a roof box.
Unusually, Toyota rates the RAV4 Hybrid as suitable for towing, with a maximum braked trailer weight of 800kg for front-wheel-drive models or 1,650kg with four-wheel drive – a boost that represents the difference between towing a small boat trailer and a large caravan or horse box.
