I got my high school diploma with an average grade of 10.56 out of 20. Passing grade was 10, so I graduated by the skin of my teeth. My exam papers were of the same quality as most cars that are on the Australian best-selling list: just good enough to do the job, but could definitely do better. The RAV-4 (who sits at the top of this list) is, however, a much more polished project. It isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t leave the teacher thinking his student did the bare minimum to graduate. In other words, Toyota does not insult their customers by giving them the bare minimum; they overdeliver as much as possible.

The Toyota RAV-4 hybrid is a car designed for people who don’t know anything about cars; they just want their vehicle to “do everything they need”. It will certainly do so, but I must admit, it does it in a much more civilised manner than I expected.
I didn’t want to feel anything positive about the 2023 Toyota RAV-4 hybrid. I have never appreciated any hybrids from the Japanese manufacturer before, I always preferred the non-hybrid variation of their models. It might sound a little nit-picky, but the reason I couldn’t enjoy driving them was because of the sensation the brake pedal gave me (caused by the regenerative braking). But in the 2023 version, this problem is inexistent, allowing me to focus on all of the other facets of the car rather than feeling irritated about the driving sensation.

As you can see, the RAV-4 isn’t the little AWD do-it-all it was before, it has grown up in every way. It’s bigger inside and out, and overall it is more refined than it once was. The ruggedness of the interior it once possessed has been traded for sleek and up-to-date upholstery. The basic drivetrain is now a complicated hybrid layout, and the simple AWD is replaced with an intelligent, computerised, multiple-mode-switching system. The cabin is comfortable to be in, the seats hold you upright and high over the road, and nothing seems out of place or too cheap to be there. It drives well, thanks to a supple and comfortable suspension set-up, that is carefully calibrated to not compromise body control. It has precise steering, a throttle pedal that isn’t too light, and more importantly (for me) a brake pedal that feels natural and intuitive.
With a fuel economy of 4.9l/100km (49 MPG), the RAV-4 also happens to be one of the most ecological SUVs you can buy. Toyota, unlike me in high school, has done as much research as possible to figure out the best way to answer the biggest dilemma in today’s automobile world: How to obtain the lowest emissions possible. Unlike the rest of the manufacturers, the governments, and the vegans, Toyota doesn’t believe that the electrification of their fleet is the answer. Rather, it’s hybrid technology, and later, solid-state batteries. I shall give you this paragraph from a blog I follow, The Thrill Of Driving, that expresses exactly my point of view on the matter:

“Toyota […] remains as calm as Mount Fuji, simply stating that in total, hybrids achieve greater emission reductions than trying to supply the whole world with EV’s does. I haven’t verified their numbers but my intuition, combined with the fact that they are after all not only the world’s second-largest company, but also Japanese, tells me they’re right.”

Now, sure, I might be embellishing the RAV-4 a bit, but it’s because I can’t stop thinking about the Mazda 3 while I’m writing this. The 3 was, at the time I tested it, in the top five best-selling cars in Australia (where I tested it), and the RAV-4 is THE top-selling car right now. They are not the same type of vehicle and are not at the same price point, therefore they don’t attract the same clientele. But they are equally as popular, and yet, they don’t deliver the same attention to detail. It annoys me, actually. In some ways, I feel betrayed by Mazda; angry by the lack of effort they put into their car; frustrated by the knowledge that they can definitely do better and yet didn’t; saddened by the fact that they sold a below-average quality automobile to their customers, intentionally. I probably feel a little like my professors felt, when they read my exam papers…
But on the flip side, I rejoice to see that some manufacturers, like Toyota, are still willing to make cars that are comfortable, economical, and more importantly drive well, for their clients that clearly couldn’t tell the difference.
Most people who drive a Mazda 3 are happy with their car, but I know it isn’t a good car. I also know that the RAV-4 is a good one.
So what does that knowledge give me?
Well, in some ways, it gives me hope. Hope for the future of hybrid automobiles. Thanks to Toyota’s hard work, it looks more ecological and comfortable than ever.

Max,

TL;DR
Nothing wrong with this car.