Why settle for just one 2019 Toyota RAV4 review when we have collected all of the UK motoring publications reviews into one handy place? After being invited to test-drive our new Toyota RAV4 in Barcelona, the national motoring press has had its say. Scroll below to see who said what about our latest car.
Toyota RAV4: Autocar
“That hybrid powertrain is usefully potent and more than capable of dispatching overtakes with little bother… Around town, it makes for smooth progress, particularly when running on electricity alone.”
Click here to read the full Autocar review
Toyota RAV4: Auto Express
“There’s much to like about the new Toyota RAV4 – an excellent chassis, decent practicality, impressive efficiency and strong BiK figures… As comfortable family transport, it should find plenty of customers, particularly among those choosing their next company car.
“We also tried a four-wheel drive edition on some pretty badly rutted and muddy terrain. It acquitted itself well – enough to persuade us that this RAV4 has more than enough ability off-road… There’s no discernible pay-off in on-road performance either.”
Click here to read the full Auto Express review
Toyota RAV4: CAR
“Producing a medium-sized SUV that’s somehow new and different from the rest may seem like an impossible task in today’s market, but Toyota has had a damn good go.
“There’s plenty to like about the RAV4, from its economical low CO2 hybrid powertrain to the impressive practicality, standard-fit safety kit and near-faultless reliability record.”
Click here to read the full CAR review
Toyota RAV4: Motoring Research
“The steering has a meaty directness and the car turns in keenly, gripping hard and cornering with composure, particularly if you chose the 4WD version. Double wishbone rear suspension, a lower centre of gravity and a 57% stiffer chassis all help here. Crucially, such relative dynamism doesn’t come at the expense of ride quality. Supple, measured damping smoothes out all but the largest potholes and ruts.
“The new, fifth-generation RAV4 is faster, roomier, quieter, more efficient and better-equipped than the car it replaces… Its triple-whammy of bold styling, a satisfying drive and hybrid tech makes a compelling argument for choosing [one].”
Click here to read the full Motoring Research review
Toyota RAV4: MSN
“This new RAV4… [has] been the recipient of a serious rebirth, aimed at making it a true alternative to the most popular petrol and diesel SUVs in driving dynamics, interior ambience and cost of ownership.
“We tested the all-wheel-drive RAV4 on a short off-road course, more challenging than anything most owners will put it through. It should be able to cope perfectly well with the occasional muddy lane or steep driveway. As for road handling… it’s up there with some of the best competitors. The RAV4 handles directly, without too much body roll. Decent grip levels and a late-acting ESP system actually make it quite fun in the corners.”
Click here to read the full MSN review
Toyota RAV4: Top Gear
“Its design is all about facets and creased octagons… No one’s going to be scared by it, yet you’ll find interest and distinctiveness if you look.
“Actually it’s more of an SUV than a crossover… The black lower-body cladding and wheel arches are all part of SUV semiotics. A ‘Trail Mode’ button in the centre console activates a brake differential and different ESP strategy. It might just get you out of a slightly more challenging off-road hole than before.
“As a family wagon, it is… appealing. It’s roomy, comfortable and nice to be in. And as a financial and fuel-saving choice, it really does take some beating.”
Click here to read the full Top Gear review
2019 Toyota RAV4 review: What Car?
“The RAV4’s trump card is the potential for exceedingly low running costs. Company car users will find the benefit-in-kind rates very enticing, with CO2 emissions as low as 102g/km – far better than anything in the class.
“Private buyers are looked after, too, with what are predicted to be gold standard resale values. And while overall fuel economy is unlikely to match the best diesels, we managed a respectable touring figure of around 48mpg; and if you live in the city, that’s where hybrids are notoriously frugal. More than ever, that’s why the new Toyota RAV4 shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Click here to read the full What Car? review
All information is correct at the time of publishing.
Ordered a new RAV4 in March for June delivery, now been told it will be in October. No help from Toyota as now I will not have a car for 3 months. Poor customer service and I wish I would now have ordered the GLC.
Hi Darren,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry to hear that you feel this way and that you are experiencing this very inconvenient situation. We are experiencing extremely high demand on our vehicles at the moment and are trying to ensure that everyone gets their vehicles delivered. Please feel free to to contact our customer relations team if you would like to:
https://www.toyota.co.uk/contact-us/
We are sorry again about this delay. Thanks.
Hello
Hmmm wait or cancel … I do not know what I will do?!!!!!!!.
I ordered a new RAV4 in May for August delivery, I was informed that could be extra one/two months delay or can come early depending of situation. Yesterday I been told it will be in February 2020. Is it a final date ? No one know ……
I can understand one or two months delay but 4-5 months is a lot.
Looking forward…..
1. Is it right that customer have to order a new car 8-9 months earlier.
2. What will happened when I will find a different car in next 7-8 months just before delivery, can I change my mind?
If one site can changing delivery date, Do I also have the option to cancel my order at any time without any consequences.
3. What will happen to the deposit, at the moment the deposit works in favor of the dealer / Toyota.
4. If we will decide to wait these 8 months, can we expect from dealer/Toyota any extras due to delay e.g Floormats or anything ?
Hi Maciej,
Thanks for getting in touch and we are extremely sorry to hear about this and the inconvenience it has caused you. We would advise for you to contact our Customer Relations Team with this information, as they are in the best position to assist you further. You can find their contact details via the following link:
https://www.toyota.co.uk/contact-us/.
Thanks.
Why is it that Apple CarPlay is available on the RAV4 in some markets, but not the UK? I appreciate you plan to add it ‘sometime’ but it seems strange that it’s not there in the first place if it’s already on versions of the car worldwide.
Also, why is the digital rear view mirror not on the UK models? It seems like a great innovation.
Hi James,
Thanks for getting in touch. Although we can’t comment on other markets, we can confirm that Apple Carplay is currently being worked on for the UK market. Thank you for this feedback regarding the digital rear view mirror, we will pass it on to our Product Team. You can see full specification of the new RAV4 here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/rav4/specs-and-accessories
Thanks.
I’m aware of the spec… I’ve bought one and waiting for it to arrive! Also not asking you to comment on other markets, but why the UK market isn’t getting these features at launch. It, to some extent, feels like the UK is getting a raw deal. I see you’re now charging for solid white paint, which was free several months ago!
Hi James
How long you have to wait for your car if you do not mind to tell me please.
When I ordered mine, I been told that I have to wait 2 months but after week time was extended to 8 months ?
Thanks
Suggestion for Toyota, is 2019 …..
Three important things for the drivers RAV4 not available on the UK market, they are not even available as an option but available in other models around the world.
1. Apple Carplay
2. Wi-Fi charger
3. Digital rear view mirror
Future………
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch and for this feedback. We will pass this on to the relevant team.
Thanks.
WHY OH WHY OH WHY ARE RAV 4s being sold in the UK with no spare wheel, no space saver wheel and no space saver wheel available to purchase from any Toyota dealer. If you get a damaged sidewall or blow out you need full recovery – its utter madness and incompetent
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. The 2019 RAV4 comes with a spare wheel, however if you choose the panoramic roof option on the Excel and Dynamic grades, a tyre repair kit replaces the spare wheel.
I purchased brand new Rav 4 new shape.after 4 weeks i opened the passenger side door and closed it back and boot lid glass smashed itself with pressure.car was parked on my drive way for 2 days and it was rainy day so i don’t see heat as a pressure cause .Toyota customer services refused to cover this under warranty but assumed it could be a minor chip etc which i don’t believe at all.However I believe the that toyota will have more cases soon
Hi Jamal,
Thanks for getting in touch, we’re very sorry to hear about this issue. We would recommend having it looked at by your local Toyota Centre to try and establish what happened. If the issue is seen as a mechanical fault caused by a manufacturing defect, it will be covered under the warranty.
If you are unhappy with the response from our customer relations team please feel free to seek additional advice via this link: https://www.themotorombudsman.org/
Thanks.
The Car is great, the SatNav & Media console is atrocious.
Taking my RAV4 in to check Radio & SatNav
DAB Radio Reception
I have found that on many days radio reception has been such that:
• I have not found a single station in the past two months where it has not dropped the signal
◦ Signal drops even when the vehicle is parked
◦ On an eight mile route to/from work the signal is interrupted 20+ times for 10 seconds to a couple of minutes
◦ On a drive to and from North Wales (~ 250miles each way) I experienced the same poor reception after changing to the local stations on the journey
◦ On the day I took the car in for somebody to see the problems it couldn’t tune into any stations when parked at the Toyota dealers car park. On a short ride ~ 10mile she signal dropped on all stations and also dropped when stopped at roundabout
◦ Occasionally there are days where the station doesn’t drop often, but these are exceptions and not too often
• In the two months I’ve had the car I’ve not been happy with the reception ever.
SatNav Accuracy, quirky keyboard & random behaviour
System forgets / resets settings
• Set direction to show forward direction, behaviour changes part way through journey and starts showing the map in a North heading so the SatNav starts showing the route heading down, left or right rather than always up in the direction heading (as set). This also happens after the heading is set after setting destination
• Zoom set to near, on route it changes the setting after I’ve set the zoom, why?
• On entering a postcode it’s not possible to enter letters and numbers from the same keyboard, requiring selection of keyboard 3 times to enter a single postcode.
• Can’t update map or application
• I never had any issues with DAB radio in my Suzuki Vitara
SatNav accuracy
The pointer on the screen bears no resemblance to where the car actually is, examples;
• SatNav indicates speed camera in 40yards, when in fact I’m by the speed camera, out by 40 yards. SatNav says reached Speed Camera after passing by ~ 40yards
• SatNav indicated to turn off bypass in 400 yards, the road signs indicate a junction in 100 yards (assume it must be next one), so 200 – 300 yards past the junction the SatNav says turn left – I’ve passed the junction. The next junction is 500 yards and obviously not the right one
• EVERY turn is indicated AFTER the junction, difficult with multiple junctions
• On entering a roundabout the SatNav says approaching a roundabout in 50m when actually on the roundabout.
• SatNav jumps to correct itself when left or right turns made which would put the pointer in a field. Obviously knows there’s an accuracy issue and constantly adjusting itself based on assumption I’m following the road. I’m guessing if I went in the field it would be happy and show me on the road.
Compared to my phone the SatNav is ~ 40m out, see photo’s of Rav4 SatNav and GPS position on my phone:
(pictures)
Car parked on my drive, SatNav shows car ~ 15m left on road
(pictures)
It appears as if the Toyota satnav resolution is 1 decimal digit whereas my phone (and all I’ve ever used) are to 3 decimal places. This probably explains the inaccuracy due to resolution. No software what so ever can ever compensate for the poor resolution of the GPS chipset.
I’m guessing the 150yd & 176yd on the Toyota are it’s accuracy estimate because that’s about how wrong the pointer on the SatNav was!
What is the accuracy of GPS?
The United States government currently claims 4 meter RMS (7.8 meter 95% Confidence Interval) horizontal accuracy for civilian (SPS) GPS. Vertical accuracy is worse. Mind you, that’s the minimum. Some devices/locations reliably (95% of the time or better) can get 3 meter accuracy.
• I never had any issues with accuracy of SatNav in my Suzuki Vitara or any low cost SatNav or mobile phone app or google, Waze, OpenStreetMaps, etc…
SatNav usability
• The SatNav isn’t as easy to use or as accurate as a cheap £50 SatNav or the free SatNav’s available on < £100 mobile phones where I have access to World Wide maps which are updated daily.
• Having to change the key 3 times to enter a simple postcode is not good
Touch & Go Multimedia System
System forgets/resets chosen settings:
• Internet account & password lost, cannot access Toyota site for map & application updates
• MyApps shows none available, what's it for?
The only use of the SatNav screen is a good place to mount a suction base to hold my phone.
When will Toyota FIX/upgrade the SatNav to be competitive with a £50 free standing SatNav?
Hi Steve,
Thanks for getting in touch and we’re sorry to hear about the issues you’re experiencing. We are keen to help resolve this for you and have emailed you to request further details so we can progress this with our customer relations team.
Thanks.
I just bought my new rav4 that I have had for about five weeks, I notice some bird droppings on the bonnet that that appeared about an hour after washing the car, I washed the droppings off within the hour when I noticed that they have left permanent marks on the paint, I tried a little light polishing, this did not remove the marks, surely being a new car this should not happen. I had a word with a friends son whom is in the bodywork repair business, he thinks it is a fault with the car lacquer, has anyone else had this problem, my brother also has a rav4 and his is always getting cover in seagulls droppings and has never had this problem.
Hi Brian,
Thanks for getting in touch and we’re sorry to hear about this issue. Due to the nature of the issue, we would recommend visiting your nearest Toyota Centre as they will be best placed to assess the car in person and make any recommendations. You can find your nearest Centre via this link: https://www.toyota.co.uk/forms/forms?tab=pane-dealer
Thanks.
I already did and they were not very helpful, after spending £38.000 on a new rav4 if this is what Toyota call main dealer after sales service, this will be the last Toyota that I will purchase from Toyota. I was about to change my partners car to a new Toyota, I will now purchase another brand of car. Very poor service from a main Toyota dealer. Never never again…
Hi Brian,
Thanks for getting back in touch. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and have emailed you regarding opening a customer relations case on your behalf, to help investigate this further.
Thanks.
I had same problem. It’s very bad after sale services. I have to call 7 times 7 days in a row to update my RAV4 order. Very very bad services, one you put deposits you are trapped.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch and we are extremely sorry to hear about your experience. in order for us to investigate this further, we have emailed you regarding opening a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
Hi Toyota,
In June I picked up my new RAV4, totally love the car, but not too happy with the “addition services” that I purchased at the time of collection. ie tyre / gap / smart etc.
Recently I had a tyre blow out, not having a spare tyre, I called the Toyota assistants. I had to wait 2 &1/2 hours for a tow vehicle , it was a Friday evening so they took the car to my home then collected from my home 3 hours after the arranged time on Saturday afternoon to take the car to Listers. We had to order the tyre, as none in stock. The car was finally ready for collection on Monday evening 72 hr after the blowout and no car for the weekend. Listers did a great job of liaising with me, but I still had to pay £199 for a new tyre whilst awaiting for the claim approval which I bought through Listers.
I have asked Toyota if I could purchase a spare tyre kit for my RAV4, so that at least I could change the tyre and quicken up the whole process, (as a single women with children this was a long and painful experience) but Toyota have come back and said that there is no spare tyre accessories for the Rav 4. Why can I not bye a spare from Toyota ???
Hi,
Thanks for getting in touch. Congratulations on your new car, and thanks for choosing Toyota.
We’re really sorry to hear that you experienced a puncture, and for the time it took to get it replaced. If you’d like to make a complaint about this, we’d be happy to put you in touch with our customer relations team.
Regarding a spare wheel – unfortunately only certain RAV4 models are available with a spare wheel; the rest have a tyre repair kit. We don’t have a spare wheel accessory available for the RAV4 at this time, but we’ve passed your feedback to our product team. Thanks.
That’s so wrong because the rav4 comes fitted with a space saver spare wheel as standard. Go to your local deal get them to order you the space saver fitted in the boot of there demonstrator car and a hack and wheel brace they will be listed as separate items in the parts system . There my not be a lot but you will bevabke to order the different bits to make up a kit. I had to do this on Peugeot 3008 .
In this day and age when break down companies are advising that they cannot meet the current demand of call outs because manufactures are choosing not to fit spare or emergency wheels in cars. It’s crazy
I will never have a car without ever again I was left stranded up a hill with 3 passengers in the countryside at 430 pm on a Sunday afternoon.no way to get home, took the break down 4 hour to come out there universal spare would not fit as it was awd car.so had to wait for a flat bed truck which could not take the passengers because he only had insurance 3 people plus driver. So it look 8 hours inn the Sunday.
He comes back Monday morning to find could not get get a tyre till Tuesday. I am disabled so car is my life line. After that I have never had a car without.even if it’s meant looking boot space
What’s going on at toyota i ordered my Rav4 on 1/7419 to 5 month wait time now get E mail sayinh might be June 2020 or later, why are you to customer. I now will bevwituoutva car come November I you will not let me cancel then order even tho you Toyota have broken the delivery times ibwas told 5 to six months max not 11 or 12 months
This is just not good enough. You expect me to loose money to cancel an order when you are making huge changes in delivery time you should allow me out because you Toyota should not besellihg things you cannot supply car a car in time scale scale promised. I feel miss lead by you and your dealer you need tomputva notice on linebtonsay you cannot deliver for 12 months customers need to be told the truth.
Hi Keith,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry to hear about this and for the inconvenience this may have caused. Regarding this, we have emailed you so we can find out more information and open a customer relations case on your behalf, in order for us to investigate this further with our team.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Ordered my AWD Rav4 in April, was told expected delivery 15th August, nothing no information or explanation, just false dates every two weeks, two weeks ago was told the car is with the dealer and should be delivered to me by the end of that week. Phoned dealer they confirmed they have my car but its blocked by Toyota UK today still nothing. this its the worst experience i have ever had ordering a car. what is going on?
Hi Steven,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry to hear about this and have emailed you in order to find out additional information. This will allow us to investigate this further by opening a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
Hi you are not alone. Ordered our rav4 in April to be told we would have it in September to be told in April it would be 24th october to 8th November to be told yesterday that’s not for definite now!!! What is going on at toyota we keep being told by our dealership Toyota are telling them nothing… 3 weeks until we are meant to get it this time and it’s meant to be coming from Canada surely they would know for definite by now. They are treating customers appallingly.
Hi Ashton,
We are disappointed to hear this. Demand for RAV4 has far outstripped supply, hence the long waiting times for some models. We’d recommend contacting our customer relations team to discuss your experience further. You can do that by calling 0344 701 6202.
Thanks
I have had the same problem. Ordered my Rav4 FWD Dynamic back in April and I have been given a date for October to start with. Then I was told December and now I’m being told late January at the earliest. This is appalling service and I am not holding my breath. I am now considering cancelling my order as Toyota are falling short of acceptable customer service by along way. They let you order without warning you of the long delays on orders.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are sorry to hear about this. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details so that we can open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.