Pros Daring exterior design, well-equipped cabin, available hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Cons Goofy push-button shifter, no volume knob, no high-performance model offered.
Pros Smooth ride quality Plenty of standard tech and safety features for the money Roomy interior and comfortable front seats Long warranty
Cons Sluggish acceleration from the regular 2.5-liter engine Touch-style center stack controls can be distracting to use Hybrid can't match rivals on fuel economy
Pros Premium cabin Roomy seating and cargo space Many standard safety features Composed ride and handling
Cons Distracting touch-sensitive buttons with optional infotainment system
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is the meat-and-potatoes crossover for many buyers; the RAV4 Prime supplies the all-electric range.
Pros Performance plug-in hybrid Great exterior looks Wide customization possibilities Standard active safety features Good all-wheel-drive systems
Cons Interior is compromised Prime priced prime near $40,000 Buzzy base inline-4 Small-ish rear seat
Toyota has made only one change to the RAV4 for the 2021 model year: Blizzard Pearl replaces Super White on the color palette. A plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime joins the lineup, and the hybrid model gets a new XLE Premium trim; we review the two hybrid models separately.
Pros Truckish good looks, car-like road manners, driver-assistance features are standard.
Cons Spartan entry-level model, engine moans and groans, top trims can be pricey.
No significant changes for 2021.
Pros Quiet interior and comfortable ride quality Abundant cargo and passenger space Easy-to-use controls
Cons Lackluster power from powertrain Uncomfortable front passenger seat Vague steering
