The RAV4 and I have some history. Way back in 2006, my first car was a second-generation Toyota RAV4. With its all-wheel drive, extremely cute styling, and amazing practicality, it was a well-loved car. The only issue I had was the relatively thirsty engine.
Since the early 2000’s however, the RAV4 has slowly crept up in price and premium-ness. It found itself sitting closer and closer to the Camry in terms of pricing. It also got bigger—much bigger. Gone was the cute, squat styling of the first and second generations, replaced by a more angular design and a much larger, longer footprint.
This all came to a head with the previous generation wherein the RAV4 actually became a “RAV2,” being front-wheel drive only and not offered in all-wheel drive entirely.
Thankfully, Toyota Motor Philippines seems to have listened to the clamor of the people, and today’s all-new hybrid RAV4 in Adventure trim is a far cry from what the RAV4 had become. This new one doesn’t just return to its previous glory, but it exceeds it in almost every measurable metric. Read on to find out why we at Top Gear Philippines find that the current-generation RAV4 Adventure may just be one of the best cars at its price point.
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Styling
The RAV4 Adventure has a lot of presence, much more than the higher Limited trim does. In fact, I was actually surprised just how different both models look. The Adventure has a much more angular and rugged face, something that contrasts with the Limited’s more docile hybrid-first design. Looking almost like a Transformer, the Adventure also looks like it can very much handle an off-road trek, a look further emphasized by the roof rails and the blacked-out mags.
If you like your SUVs looking chunky and ready for a day off the beaten path, the Adventure will definitely appeal to you, as it does to me. I find that the angular side profile with black plastic fenders give it a macho appearance, while small touches like the blacked-out door handles emphasize details that need emphasizing in a trim called ‘Adventure.’
I love the way it looks, but I also see how the Limited’s more elegant design may appeal to others. The RAV4 looks good in both trims, but while the more expensive variant looks at home on the driveway of a nice posh hotel, the Adventure definitely lives up to its name and would be more at home at a campsite overlooking a mountain range.
Interior
Getting inside the RAV4 reveals that the exterior’s chunky cues are reflected in the cabin as well. Everything appears to have just that little more heft to it. Buttons are bigger and more angular, and the materials all around seem to be high-quality and highly durable.
The seats are very comfortable, offering a wide seating position and good legroom for both front and rear passengers. While it is a relatively upright driving position, we were pleasantly surprised by how high you sit over traffic. It gives the driver a commanding view for what should be a compact SUV.
Lastly, the trunk space is absolutely cavernous. Probably because of the slab sides of the rear area and flat door, you can fit a lot in this vehicle, including relatively tall items. This is helped by a low and flat load lip, which makes loading a breeze.
Engine performance
The RAV4 is only available with one powertrain option, and that is a 2.5-liter in-line-four with a full hybrid system. Outputting a combined 236hp and paired with an e-CVT, on paper, it seems like there’s nothing to write home about. In reality, it provides completely acceptable acceleration as well as amazing fuel economy. In mixed city/highway use, I averaged around 20.1km/L, and I wasn’t trying very hard to be economical.
This economy and performance are a far cry from the RAV4 of my younger days, as I do remember averaging about 6-8km/L from that 2.4-liter engine. While a lot of brands are going all-in on EVs and plug-in hybrids, the RAV4 shows what a very competent and mature hybrid system can really do: deliver amazing fuel economy and decent performance without having to worry about plugging in or changing one’s driving habits in any way.
If you want to dip your toes into electrification but you don’t want to change your habits or how you treat your car, a full hybrid like the RAV4 may just be your best option.
Ride and handling
The RAV4 has always been a good-handling SUV, and this one is no exception. It rides very well and is very comfortable in urban and highway use. It holds the road well enough during spirited driving, but as a daily runabout, it really does shine.
I was able to try it out on some provincial roads, and you really can’t fault it. The suspension and chassis soak up bumps with confidence, and it hides its mass much better than most vehicles.
Yes, it is not necessarily the most exciting or dynamic car, but for something that is surprisingly large on the outside, it handles and drives like a much smaller vehicle. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to try it out off-road, but as something that will likely be your daily commuter, it is very, very competent and comfortable.
Extra features
The extra features list of the RAV4 reads like a giant list of random codes: PCS, AHB, LTA, LDA, DRCC, DAC, SEA; but this goes to show that even in this Adventure trim, I can’t think of many features that this variant does not have. Most of the aforementioned acronyms have to do with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0. Generally complete, it allows the RAV4 to follow the car in front, as well as tracing the lane it is on when dynamic radar cruise control is active.
It also has a panoramic-view camera that makes for easier parking and maneuvering. Yes, this camera and the sensors can fire off in traffic, and it can be annoying, but this is not as bad as trying to park the RAV4. I guess in Japan, they don’t have parking attendants or security guards, but here in the Philippines, any good Samaritan helping you park will set off the pedestrian sensor and force the car to brake, all while you are just trying to park.
Toyota is far from the only offender here, as the same system plagues other brands and other models (looking at you, Hyundai), but still, I wish there was a way to program it or at least lessen the sensitivity, as in the Philippine context, it is a constant, jerky struggle just to park.
That being said, the RAV4 in this ‘base’ spec is almost feature-complete. Yes, you miss some nice-to-haves such as the heads-up display or panoramic roof, but if you did not know that these features actually existed in the higher-spec car, you would be fooled into thinking that this was the flagship of the model range.
Conclusion
The RAV4 Adventure is around P300,000 more affordable than the RAV4 Limited, but with the spec-sheets side-by-side, you would be hard-pressed to find a way to justify the larger expense. Yes, the Limited has a more elegant look and some features like a neat heads-up display, but to be very honest, the Adventure looks better, has all the features you actually need, and with that price difference, it makes so much more sense than the more expensive specification.
At P2,183,000, the RAV4 is not cheap. But when I look at it in the context of the modern Toyota lineup where it is now significantly less expensive than the Camry (at P2,677,000), suddenly, with all the features you get, this variant of the RAV4 may just have reignited my love for the nameplate and made up for the rather lackluster mid 2010’s version of the RAV4.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is exactly what the market needs, and it definitely shows why the RAV4 is currently the best-selling vehicle in the world. It is rugged, it is practical, it has awesome specs for the price, and it has a bulletproof and proven hybrid system. It is the car for most people.
SPECS: 2027 Toyota RAV4 2.5 Adventure HEV CVT
Engine: 2.5-liter gasoline I4 + dual electric motors
Transmission: e-CVT hybrid transmission
Horsepower: 236hp (total system output)
Torque: 221Nm @ 3,600-5,200rpm (ICE only)
Layout: All-wheel drive
Seating: 5
Price: P2,183,000
Score: 9.5/10
More photos of the 2027 Toyota RAV4 2.5 Adventure HEV CVT:
