After a crazy weekend over significant price hikes of almost every kind of fuel, everyone, especially vehicle owners were left in a state of desultory.
Leaving the political side of things, this is likely to have a significant impact on the car market as the demand for hybrid cars is predicted to go through the roof.
Keeping that in mind, we will be talking about the Toyota Rav4 hybrid, one of the most reliable compact SUVs in the market available right now.
Despite the RAV4's existence for the past 30 years, Toyota didn't release a hybrid variant until the 2016 model year. In comparison to the standard RAV4, the RAV4 Hybrid delivers higher power, better fuel efficiency, and the choice of an XSE trim level.
The top SUV models in the market like the Toyota RAV4, provide the power and the fuel-efficient boost of electric motors as the industry steadily pushes toward complete electrification.
The most attractive aspect of the vehicle is its mileage, the hybrid version of it is indeed way more fuel efficient compared to its competitors giving a range of 16 to 17 kilometres per litre depending on whether you’re driving in the city or on the highway.
Long-time users of the model say these vehicles are solid in long hauls and despite their size, the passengers inside never feel cramped.
The RAV4s have always been a good-looking vehicle to me, and I can say that on behalf of most people confidently, but from 2016 onwards Toyota seems to have taken a design route to attract the older crowd.
Nevertheless, it's still a very attractive car.
The SUV has a stronger presence thanks to its standard two-tone paint, which is especially attractive when combined with a black roof, black 18-inch wheels, and black mirror caps.
The XSE's more prominent wheel arches, distinctive front and rear fascias, and unique body side mouldings all contribute to its sporty image.
Performance
The RAV4 Hybrid XSE has sufficient power.
The electric motors will give you a solid push off of a stop before the gas engine engages to give you an even greater boost.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 163 lb-ft of torque and 176 horsepower.
Electric motors connected to the engine deliver 118 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels while producing 54 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque for a total system output of 219 horsepower.
As a result, the RAV4 Hybrid has comparable power to other small SUVs, making it a good cruiser.
The e-CVT transmission performs admirably and reacts to throttle inputs rapidly, though the engine groans a bit too much if you really push the pedal to the metal, but that subsides as the vehicle gains more speed.
Comfort
In general, I liked the interior design of the RAV4; the climate control knobs are made of a special gripping substance, and the 8.0-inch screen is positioned above the dash, right in front of the driver's line of sight.
However, the materials' quality could have been a little higher.
The rubber that has been sewn onto the dash feels harsh in person but looks great in photographs.
The leather on the steering wheel isn't very soft either.
The RAV4 also proves its versatility; after folding the second-row seats, an adult bicycle can be carried with ease.
We loved that the rear seats could be folded from either the cargo compartment or the second row and that the wide tailgate opening made it simple to load and unload big items.
With fuel prices going up, and although mainstream SUVs and crossovers are more efficient than ever, the hybrid provides a nice opportunity to save more money at the fuel pump.
Plus, the RAV4 Hybrid doesn't sacrifice any interior space and comes standard with AWD.
The price of the vehicle is a bit on the higher side as it is likely to set you back almost around Tk70 lakh with registration and other fees.