Review: 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE

For our return trip up north, I requested the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE for a number of reasons. I have driven it a few times for some real-world big-city jaunting about, but I wanted to see how this SUV would perform on an extended family road trip. Because it is the first of September in the Midwest, we loaded up our suitcases with a week's worth of fall and summer clothes and headed out. One of our few brief stops was the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota. I had stopped there two years ago while on my way to an outdoor adventure, and I wanted to return. We will be rolling through Austin again soon, so we plan to make another stop in order to spend more time and take many more fun pictures.

There are so many quick fun facts to share from the tour, but I will mention only a few. Wow, how times and food portions have changed! When SPAM was first released, one 12ounce can was considered the right size to feed a family of five. It was also designed to allow you to slice off a piece that would fit perfectly on a piece of bread. SPAM was an important food ration for soldiers during WWII, and the equivalent of over 133 million cans of SPAM product fed both soldiers and civilians. The U.S./Mexico border is almost 31million SPAM cans long, Mt Fuji is 45,740 SPAM cans tall, and Big Ben in England is 1,163 SPAM cans tall.

Impressions

The RAV4 easily performed as advertised. At some points of the trip, we were able to get as high as 40 mpg which included a trip through the mountains of Northern Arkansas that lead into Branson, Missouri. And, by the way, RAV4 is an electronic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) that gets 40 mpg. It is truly a no-compromise compact SUV. It was nice going 430-450 miles and only having to put in 10 gallons of gas. Depending on pump price, that was $21-23.

On the trip home, we drove directly into 18-20 mph sustained winds with gusts of up to 25 mph at times for approximately eight of the eleven hours of the trip. The new RAV4 is very sporty looking; and while most trucks and SUV's do not boasts aerodynamics as a strong suit, the RAV4 hybrid never felt underpowered at any time. It chugged right along mile after mile like a champ giving me all the power I needed to easily flow interstate speeds with the other gas vehicles. The total round-trip 'travel' hours in the RAV4 totaled roughly 28 hours altogether. That is equivalent to a trip from Dallas to Boston ... don't ask how I know. Not once did we get out of the vehicle feeling stiff, sore, or achy. For me, this trip only proved what I thought about the potential of this all wheel drive hybrid. It most definitely checks a lot of boxes. I definitely recommend a test drive for people considering a mid-size SUV.

Specifications

Engine: 219 combined net horsepower 2.5L Dynamic Force 4-cylinder
Torque: 184 pound-feet
Transmission: Electronic Continuous Variable Transmission (ECVT)
Color Shown: Blueprint/Midnight with Black Metallic roof
Wheels: 18" 5-spoke black painted sport alloy
Sound: Premium audio with 11 JBL speakers (optional)
Fuel: 41/38/40 (mpg city/highway/combined)
MSRP (starts): $38,250
MSRP (shown): $37,699

Learn More

For more information or to test drive a 2020 Toyota RAV4 for yourself, stop by a local dealer or visit:
Toyota | RAV4 Hybrid

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 36,000 in the U.S. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 30 million cars and trucks at our 9 manufacturing plants, 10 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021. To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.