2022 Toyota RAV4

Scored on the volume RAV4 Hybrid at 219 net combined hp, unchanged through the fifth generation's 2022 refresh. The gas model makes 203 hp and the RAV4 Prime 302 hp.

Toyota publishes no net combined torque figure for the hybrid, so the 2.5L engine's 163 lb-ft is reported, consistent with the rest of the RAV4 record. Real launch torque is higher with both electric motors contributing.

Multiple instrumented tests of the 2022-spec hybrid land between 7.1 and 7.8 s; the midpoint is used. Brisk for a mainstream compact SUV and quicker than the gas RAV4.

Toyota's hybrid system is smooth around town with near-seamless engine start/stop and good off-the-line response from the motors. Under hard acceleration the 2.5L four gets loud and coarse as revs pin — a recurring reviewer complaint on this generation.

The planetary eCVT never hunts and delivers seamless, shift-free progress; the downside is rubber-band drone when floored. Class-typical for a hybrid and smoother than the gas model's 8-speed automatic, which reviewers found occasionally clunky.

Every 2022 RAV4 Hybrid is rated at 1,750 lbs; the 3,500-lb rating belongs only to the gas Adventure and TRD Off-Road, a different powertrain from the one scored. Light-duty towing at best.

AWD is standard on every 2022 RAV4 Hybrid via the electric rear-motor AWD-e system with Trail Mode, and available across the gas lineup — including Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD with rear driveline disconnect on Adventure, TRD Off-Road and Limited. No low range or lockers.

The gas TRD Off-Road (TRD-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, 8.6 in clearance) and Adventure trims give the RAV4 genuine light-duty credibility, but the hybrid sits at 8.1 in with Trail Mode only. No low range, lockers or real skid plates — capable on gravel and snow, not a rock crawler.

For 2022 the RAV4 offers three distinct powertrains: 203-hp gas (FWD or AWD), 219-hp hybrid (AWD), and the 302-hp RAV4 Prime plug-in with 42 mi EV range. That covers more ground than most compact rivals, though there is no full EV RAV4.

EPA rates the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 40 MPG combined, the volume configuration; every hybrid is AWD.

EPA city rating for the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid AWD; the hybrid system's biggest advantage is in stop-and-go driving.

EPA highway rating for the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid AWD.

Computed from the EPA combined rating and Toyota's 14.5-gallon hybrid fuel tank; one of the longest ranges among compact SUVs.

EPA's published annual fuel cost for the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid AWD at its current fuel-price assumptions.

Runs on regular 87-octane unleaded with no plug-in requirement; self-charging hybrid needs nothing beyond a gas station.

The 2022 RAV4, including the hybrid, carries a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, unchanged across the fifth generation (XA50, 2019+).

The 2022 RAV4 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick (not TSP+), applying only to trims with LED projector headlights. Good in driver and passenger small overlap, original moderate overlap, original side, roof strength and head restraints. Under IIHS's later, tougher tests it rates Acceptable (updated side) and Marginal (updated moderate overlap, rear occupant).

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on every trim. It includes Pre-Collision with pedestrian/cyclist detection, Full-Speed-Range Dynamic Radar Cruise, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Auto High Beams and Road Sign Assist. On the hybrid line, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard from the Hybrid LE up, while gas LE buyers have to option it.

IIHS rated the 2022 RAV4's standard front crash prevention Superior for both vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian. TSS 2.0 adds low-light pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, but no IIHS nighttime pedestrian rating is published for this model year, which caps the score.

BSM and RCTA are standard on the hybrid trims. These systems only alert the driver and do not brake. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (via Parking Support Brake) is optional on upper trims only, and there is no Safe Exit Assist on the 2022.

Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist come standard via TSS 2.0. Reviewers describe the lane centering as functional but prone to wandering, and it needs well-marked lanes, so it trails Honda's and Hyundai's systems of the same period.

Full-Speed-Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with stop-and-go is standard on every trim and pairs with Lane Tracing Assist for basic highway assist. Reviewers find it capable, but it brakes conservatively and its gap management is less polished than the best rivals.

No hands-free driving system is offered on the 2022 RAV4. Both LTA and DRCC require the driver's hands on the wheel.

For 2022 the RAV4 gained LED projector headlights, which IIHS rates Good, while the gas LE's LED reflectors rate Marginal. The volume hybrid XLE gets the Good-rated projectors, and Automatic High Beams are standard on every trim.

Visibility forward and to the sides is good thanks to the upright greenhouse. The thick C-pillars and small rear window limit the view over the shoulder. A backup camera is standard, while the Panoramic View Monitor is limited to upper trims.

IIHS rates the 2022 RAV4's LATCH hardware Good+, which includes extra LATCH positions. The rear doors open wide and the rear bench is roomy for the class, although fitting three seats across is tight.

Two-row compact SUV seating five across every 2022 RAV4 Hybrid grade.

Published without-moonroof figure used per framework; moonroof-equipped grades drop to 37.7 in.

Adequate but not generous front legroom for the segment.

Tall, boxy roofline gives rear passengers generous headroom.

Competitive rear legroom, slightly behind the CR-V's class-leading figure.

No third row offered on any RAV4; it is a strict two-row, five-seat SUV.

Hybrid battery under the rear seat costs almost nothing; cargo bay is mid-pack for compact SUVs.

Large for a compact, though small against the all-SUV band.

Useful dash-width shelf, deep console bin, rubberized trays and two-level cargo floor; nothing class-defining and no meaningful onboard power on the hybrid.

Front seats supportive for most, power driver seat from XLE Premium; rear bench reclines and is roomy.

Composed but on the firm side; sharper impacts are felt more than in CR-V or CX-5.

Engine gets loud and droning under acceleration and road noise is noticeable at highway speed.

Dual-zone climate and rear vents standard; heated seats/wheel via XLE Premium Weather Package, ventilated seats only on Limited.

The 2022 RAV4 Hybrid opens with the LE at $29,575 plus $1,215 destination, with AWD standard on every hybrid; the gas-only LE FWD undercut it by roughly $2,600.

The XLE is the volume RAV4 Hybrid trim (Edmunds' cost-to-own baseline uses it), at $31,045 plus $1,215 destination; 2022's supply shortage meant many buyers paid dealer markups above this.

Edmunds projects $6,283 maintenance plus $2,239 repairs for the 2022 Hybrid XLE while CarEdge-class data runs about $3,900–$4,000, so a blended ~$5,800 is used; ToyotaCare covers the first two years of scheduled service.

The RAV4 Hybrid is among the strongest-holding compact SUVs; Edmunds' 2022 projection ($12,866 depreciation on the XLE) is more conservative than iSeeCars' observed 25.2% five-year loss, so a blended ~67% is used.

Toyota's 36-month/36,000-mile basic coverage is the segment floor; Hyundai and Kia offer 5 yr / 60,000 mi.

The headline powertrain term is the class-minimum 5 yr / 60,000 mi, though hybrid-specific hardware is covered 8 yr / 100,000 mi and the traction battery 10 yr / 150,000 mi (from MY2020).

ToyotaCare covers factory-scheduled maintenance for 2 yr / 25,000 mi with 2 yr unlimited-mileage roadside assistance, plus trial Safety Connect/connected services — better than the no-maintenance CR-V, short of multi-year premium plans.

$32,260 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (67% retained, or about $21,614) leaves about $10,646 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $16,446 in total.

By 2022 the fifth-generation RAV4 Hybrid was in its fourth model year with its early bugs worked out; Consumer Reports rates the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid's reliability well above average and J.D. Power scores it in the 80s, and the 2022 RAV4 later earned a J.D. Power dependability award for its segment.

Toyota has sat at or near the top of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings throughout this vehicle's life and stays in the upper tier of J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study, with multiple segment awards each year.

The 2022 RAV4 Hybrid carries a handful of campaigns, all software or component fixes rather than powertrain failures: a broad stability-control software reflash, a small passenger-seat occupant-sensor recall, and a 2025 panoramic-view-monitor display campaign. The serious DC/DC converter fire-risk recall is confined to the RAV4 Prime, not the hybrid scored here.

The volume hybrid pairs the 2.5L A25A-FXS Dynamic Force four with Toyota's planetary e-CVT and a NiMH (AWD-e) pack — a hybrid architecture with a long high-mileage record in RAV4, Camry and taxi-fleet Prius service. The notable fleet issue for this generation's hybrid is corrosion of the underbody high-voltage cable connector in salt-belt regions, a warranty item rather than a core-drivetrain failure.

The XA50 cabin is rugged and well screwed together with soft-touch dash inserts and chunky, durable switchgear, but reviewers note plenty of hard plastic on door panels and lower surfaces and an older-feeling design next to the CR-V and Tucson.

Assembly consistency is a strong suit by the fourth year of the generation, with few panel-gap complaints; scattered owner reports of dash/headliner rattles and wind noise keep it short of the top band.

Toyota's roughly 1,500-store US dealer network is among the densest of any brand, and hybrid service is routine at every Toyota dealer given two decades of hybrid volume; service-satisfaction scores sit near the mass-market average.

As America's best-selling SUV, the RAV4 has abundant OEM, used and aftermarket parts, and RepairPal places its annual repair cost well under the compact-SUV average; hybrid-specific components are widely shared with other Toyota hybrids.

2022 is the last year of the Entune 3.0 head unit; the 10.5-in screen arrived only for 2023.

Entune 3.0 keeps physical knobs and a simple layout but has slow, dated graphics and clunky native software.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard but wired only on every 2022 grade; wireless arrived with the 2023 system.

Basic command-style voice; native navigation only on upper trims/packages, so most owners use phone projection.

Six-speaker base audio is average; the 11-speaker 800 W JBL is a worthwhile upgrade but limited to an XLE Premium option and the Limited.

Analog gauges flanking a TFT multi-information display; no fully digital configurable cluster until the 2023 update.

The Entune 3.0 head unit has no meaningful over-the-air vehicle or feature updates.

Toyota app offers lock/unlock, locate and remote start via Remote Connect, which is a trial then a subscription; no digital key.

The 2022 update added USB-C ports front and rear; Qi wireless charging from XLE Premium.

Smart Key proximity entry and push-button start on XLE and up; hands-free power liftgate only on upper grades; no phone-as-key.

Backup camera standard; parking sensors with Parking Support Brake and the Bird's Eye View camera on upper grades/packages.

Color HUD available only on the Limited via a package, not on the volume trims.

Wide-opening rear doors, roomy rear bench and IIHS Good+ LATCH make car-seat duty easy; 37.5 cu ft cargo takes a stroller with room left.

NHTSA 5 stars and IIHS Top Safety Pick, with TSS 2.0 standard and BSM/RCTA standard on Hybrid LE and up; updated side and moderate-overlap tests are weaker.

Rear vents, USB-C and reclining rear seats help, but engine/road noise and a firm ride limit long-haul comfort; luggage space with four aboard is fine.

Hybrid pulls away silently on electric power and the eCVT is smooth in traffic; full-speed adaptive cruise standard eases stop-and-go.

41 MPG city on regular fuel and Toyota's low maintenance costs make it one of the cheapest compact SUVs per mile.

Compact footprint and 36.1-ft turning circle; good forward view but thick rear pillars, with surround camera only on upper grades.

Hybrid tow rating is only 1,750 lbs; useful cargo bay but not a work tool.

Proven Toyota hybrid system with strong long-term reliability, but a car-based crossover not built for abuse.

Cargo tie-downs, roof rails on most grades and washable floor mats, but no meaningful onboard power or work-oriented upfit ecosystem.

About 580 miles per tank and standard adaptive cruise/lane tracing reduce fatigue, offset by engine drone and road noise.

Standard electric AWD with Trail mode and 8.1 in clearance handle gravel and snow well; low hybrid tow rating limits toy-hauling.

60/40 folding rear seat, two-level cargo floor and roof rails; 69.8 cu ft max but rear seats don't fold perfectly flat.

TNGA-K platform gives secure, predictable cornering with modest body roll, but it is not as engaging as a CX-5.

Accurate and reasonably weighted but numb, typical of the segment.

Regen/friction blending is well judged with a predictable pedal; instrumented stops are average for the class.

Seamless engine stop/start and EV-to-hybrid transitions with brisk 219-hp response; eCVT flares revs under hard throttle.

Silent at low speed, but the 2.5-L four becomes loud and coarse under load, a common criticism.

Tight turning circle for a compact SUV aids parking and U-turns.

Upright commanding position with chunky, well-placed physical climate knobs; some reach to the touchscreen and thick rear pillars.

Quicker than most rivals in a straight line, but noisy engine and numb steering keep it an appliance.

Every 2022 RAV4 Hybrid includes AWD, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (adaptive cruise, lane tracing, pre-collision with pedestrian detection), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the new-for-2022 LED projector headlights and USB-C ports; the base LE still uses a 7-inch screen and cloth seats.

At about $32,000 for a 219-hp AWD hybrid returning 40 MPG combined, the RAV4 Hybrid delivered strong capability per dollar — the hybrid premium over the gas model was small — though 2022 dealer markups eroded the real-world value.

Six hybrid trims (LE, XLE, SE, XLE Premium, XSE, Limited) span about $30,800–$39,300, alongside gas trims and the RAV4 Prime PHEV — one of the widest compact-SUV lineups, though every hybrid is AWD-only.

The RAV4 was America's best-selling SUV in 2022 with roughly 400,000 units, and the hybrid was the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the US.

Toyota's reputation for reliability and hybrid leadership gives the RAV4 Hybrid a loyal following and drives its class-leading resale.

During the 2022 chip shortage the RAV4 Hybrid had months-long waitlists and commonly sold at or above MSRP with dealer add-ons; incentives were essentially nonexistent.

The XA50 generation launched for 2019, and 2022 brought a mid-cycle facelift (LED projector headlights, new wheels, USB-C); the platform is current but the infotainment had not yet received the larger-screen update that came for 2023.

Widely recommended for efficiency, practicality and resale and an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but reviewers usually ranked the CR-V Hybrid or Mazda CX-5 ahead on refinement and driving feel.