Pros & Cons

RAV4 Interior: Utilitarian

RAV4 Interior Quality

Build construction and fit and finish are the name of the game with the 2022 RAV4. The whole cabin feels solid, and most materials are of a good quality. Higher trims are a little more upscale, but the top-end RAV4 models still fall short of the luxurylike quality of some rival compact SUVs .

RAV4 Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The RAV4 comes standard with a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, and an 8-inch touch screen is optional. It’s easy to find your way through the menus, and there are large, clearly labeled buttons and knobs populating the rest of the center stack. However, those who prioritize the latest in-car tech may be a little disappointed at somewhat staid on-screen graphics, and the interface can occasionally lag in responding to your touches.

Standard infotainment features: a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a six-speaker stereo, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and a USB port
Available infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo, navigation, wireless device charging, four additional USB ports, and HD Radio
Other available features: a 7-inch digital instrument cluster display, a moonroof, a panoramic roof, a universal garage door opener, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, and a household-style power outlet.

RAV4 Cargo Space

You get 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the RAV4’s rear seats, making this Toyota among the class leaders in that metric. The second row folds flat easily, creating a wide and open maximum cargo area of 69.8 cubic feet. Lifting in big or heavy items is made a little more amenable because of a low load floor.

How Many People Does the RAV4 Seat?

The RAV4 SUV seats five people. The driver enjoys good outward visibility in most directions, and the cabin feels spacious around the front seats. You’ll want to upgrade to the power-adjustable seats for a better chance at finding a relaxing position. The seats themselves are generally comfortable but grow tiresome after a while.

Rear-seat legroom is ample, and there’s sufficient overall room for adults and taller people to relax on a longer trip.

RAV4 Performance: Easy to Drive

RAV4 Engine

The sole powertrain for the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is a 203-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Output is pretty high for a base engine in the class, and it results in generally satisfying acceleration.However, when you really step on the gas, the engine drones loudly and sounds unrefined. Transmission response is a mixed bag too: It prefers to be in higher gears for better fuel economy, and as such can hesitate to downshift when you need more power.

RAV4 Gas Mileage

The Toyota RAV4 gets up to an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which are great figures for a compact SUV . That’s for a front-wheel drive version; all-wheel drive trims range from about 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway down to 25/32 mpg city/highway.

Toyota also offers the more fuel-efficient RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime , a plug-in hybrid.

RAV4 Ride and Handling

This Toyota melds capable handling with a comfortable ride. While it’s not as light on its feet (or tires) as some other smaller crossovers, it takes turns with composure and exhibits little body roll. The suspension soaks up larger bumps in the road with ease, though a fair bit of outside noise makes its way into the cabin.

The RAV4 is capable of some light off-roading. It comes with up to 8.6 inches of ground clearance and available features like a front skid plate and hill descent control. The TRD Off-Road model boasts unique suspension tuning. There are several selectable terrain modes, and all-wheel-drive versions add a Snow setting.