I am not sure what it is about them, but it seems like compact crossover buyers these days love rugged dress-up and long for outdoor adventures. Offerings like the Mazda CX-50 Meridian and Subaru’s Wilderness lineup were arguably among the first to perfect this formula for the mainstream market, and now the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland is getting in on the action.
The current fifth-generation RAV4 been going strong since debuting back in 2018, and its sharp styling has remained fresh to this day. We have always liked the rugged and chiselled look of the RAV4, and this Woodland trim adds more flair with unique 18-inch bronze wheels, roof rack cross bars, and gloss black styling elements. For 2024, Toyota has introduced a new Army Green colour exclusive to the Woodland, taking that overland vibe one step further.
Last year, the RAV4 received a new infotainment system and redesigned instrument cluster display, and the tweaks carry over into 2024. We enjoy the durable and utilitarian cabin with rubber knobs and decent-sized buttons for easy navigation while on the fly, and particularly loved that the buttons for the heated steering wheel and heated seats stay in the ON positions after every trip. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard, and the RAV4 can connect to two phones via Bluetooth at the same time. Differences inside the Woodland over the standard RAV4 include the dedicated rubber floor mats and cargo tray, and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area.
Don’t let its small footprint fool you, the RAV4 is actually quite roomy inside. There is plenty of space for four adults, and can even fit a fifth adult in the middle without too much difficulty. The seats are nicely padded but the seatbacks are a bit flat for long trips, which is a common shortfall in this segment. We enjoyed the abundance of sunlight from the big side windows, as well as the accommodating 1,059 litres of cargo space with the seats down. To our surprise, the RAV4 Hybrid can tow up to 1,750 pounds — useful for a small trailer or watercraft.
All RAV4 Hybrids are powered by a 2.5-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system. This powertrain produces 219 horsepower and gives RAV4 Hybrid enough shove to move about without too much hesitation anywhere. Power delivery is particularly suited for stop-and-go driving, as the electric motor often picks up the initial acceleration before handing the baton over to the gas engine.
This setup is not without its disadvantages, though, and I will focus on two. First, the changeover from electric-to-gas is quite abrupt and noticeable, with the available EV mode operational only if you feather the throttle or at speeds below 30 km/h, whichever comes first. Second, the inline-four engine sounds rather noisy and unrefined, especially when you are cruising at highway speeds. The good news is that both of these shortfalls can be solved by opting for the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid — it has a usable electric-only range of 70 kilometres and offers a more refined experience overall — if the Woodland dress-up isn’t a hard requirement.
The Woodland trim also adds a dedicated TRD Tuned Off Road suspension setup for additional capability over the regular models. Though we did not get the opportunity to try this RAV4 Woodland out on the trails, we did enjoy the sportier feel and the confident road manners that come with it. The regular setup was a bit too soft for our liking and this hits the sweet spot.
Fuel economy is rated at 5.8 L/100 kilometres in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 6.0 L/100 km combined, closely matching our observed numbers for the week. While it is a bit unusual to see a gasoline-powered car reporting higher fuel consumption on the highway, hybrids generally prefer stop-and-go traffic and it confirms to us where the RAV4 Hybrid is more at-home. These figures also make the RAV4 one of the more fuel-efficient crossovers in the market today.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 is on board all RAV4 models, regardless of powertrain. This includes driver assists such as adaptive cruise control, Lane-Tracing Assist, Pre-Collision system with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, and automatic high beams. These features are instrumental in helping drivers feel assured behind the wheel and we are glad to see the full suite offered across the lineup. Speaking of the lineup, the RAV4 starts at $33,150 for the base, gas-only LE AWD, and the hybrid powertrain is another $2,800 on top of that. The Woodland package is an add-on to the XLE AWD trim, carrying an as-tested total of $42,740.
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland combines a rugged appearance with an efficient hybrid powertrain, making it a unique proposition for buyers in the compact crossover space. It sort of competes with everything, from the Subaru Forester Wilderness to the Mazda CX-50 Meridian, to greener-but-not-quite-off-road options such as the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson hybrids. There is a lot to like in the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland, making it a solid choice even if you are not longing for the great outdoors.
