Toyota RAV4 review

It's a lot like the Hilux pickup. By which we mean chunky, and likely to give off the sense that the car's shadow is plunging entire villages into darkness as you pass through them.

The blocky centre console houses a fair few physical buttons (including some for the climate control, and one to change the drive mode). The dash is crowned by a new 12.9in infotainment screen.

Said screen is apparently running Toyota’s Arene software platform for the very first time, and we’re told that it’s “four times faster, with eight times more memory” than the previous generation. Unfortunately, many of the graphics still look like they’re from the mid-2000s and the navigation display is so basic it’s not always easy to follow a route. Floppy disc updates, anyone?

The 12.3in digital dial screen is also pretty complex, with a number of different fonts, displays and an overload of information. Thankfully you can mostly ignore it if you’ve gone for the Excel or GR Sport trim, because both of those come with a clear head-up display.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard too, so you can simply link up your phone and (mostly) forget about Toyota's software shortcomings.

Is it comfortable in there?

Well, there’s seating for five, and up front you get soft chairs with a choice of fabric, Ultrasuede, synthetic leather or full-fat leather based on the trim level. There’s plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel to get settled, and the dial display has actually been lowered by 40mm for a better view out.

Back seat passengers get plenty of leg and headroom, and large windows keep it fairly bright and airy despite the choice of either grey or black upholstery. A massive panoramic roof is optional on the Design and Excel trims, while the GR Sport can only be specced with a smaller sunroof over the front seats. Strange.

All RAV4s in the UK get heated front seats and a heated steering wheel though, while the poshest Excel trim adds both ventilation to the fronts and heating in the rear. That one also gets two wireless chargers and some more powerful 45W USB-C ports to rapid charge your smartphone.

How’s the GR Sport inside?

Not sure you’ll be mistaking it for the cabin of the new GR GT supercar any time soon, but you do get some red accents, a special Gazoo Racing steering wheel and a combination of synthetic leather and suede-style upholstery. There are also aluminium pedals and some special knee pads on the sides of the centre console for comfy cornering.

Has it got a big boot?

It does! With the rear seats in place there's 672 litres of room back there (including space for charging cables under the floor), which is slightly more than you get in a Honda CR-V PHEV and a whole supermini’s worth more than the plug-in Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid. It’s not quite as large as the Kodiaq iV’s, but Skoda rarely lets itself be beaten when it comes to loadspace.

Of course, the back bench can also be folded flat to unlock up to 1,690 litres of room if you fill the RAV4 right to the roof. All versions except the entry-level Icon get an electrically opening boot with a kick sensor, and we’re told the detection area has been expanded to ensure you’re not waving your feet around like Billy Elliot while carrying the weekly shop.