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2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE: compact crossover with sporty attitude

Published 1:30 am Friday, May 4, 2018

I’m certainly not in a position to know for sure, but I suspect the secret sauce regarding the longevity of certain vehicles is their ability to appeal to a large cross-section of buyers and then adapt.

Casting a big net — to throw a cliché your way.

Toyota’s RAV4, the original compact crossover, with more than two decades of experience under its belt, rolls out the “Adventure” grade in 2018, giving the model six trim levels: LE, XLE, Adventure, SE, Limited and Platinum. And a hybrid with four trim levels: LE, XLE, SE and Limited.

My tester was the Hybrid SE, which is the athlete in the family.

The hybrid features a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and paddle shifters for the six-speed automatic transmission. The sporty attitude carries on with LED headlights and taillights and exclusive front bumper with honeycomb grill design.

The sporty, upscale theme continues inside with SofTex-covered seats featuring a power-adjustable driver’s seat and contrast stitching, and a choice of two interior colors: black or black and cinnamon, along with a black headliner, black A&B-pillar covers, sport floor mats, door sill protectors and gunmetal gray trim. The SE’s instrument panel features twin dials with red illumination and red pointers, along with a gauge cluster and standard 4.2-inch color multi-information display.

Choosing the RAV4 Hybrid brings both added power and higher fuel efficiency – a sweet deal. Hybrid grades come equipped with an electronic on-demand all-wheel-drive system with intelligence (AWD-i). My tester was powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. A second, independent electric motor drives the rear wheels when needed to help maintain optimal traction.

Driver-selectable operating modes let the RAV4 driver set the mood on the road. With Eco mode selected, RAV4 optimizes powertrain operation to help maximize fuel economy. Sport mode delivers sharpened shift timing, throttle response and steering feel

The hybrid SE seats four adults with room to spare, and five in a squeeze. The rear cargo space is large enough to fit full-size golf bags, and the rear seats fold flat when more storage space is required. I achieved 33 miles per gallon in a week’s worth of city/highway driving.

Every trim level comes equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure with steering assist, automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, hill-start assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear backup camera and rear cross-traffic alert.

An optional advanced technology package was included in my ride ($2,785) and adds a parking sensor, premium JBL audio system with 11 speakers, navigation system with app suite, predictive traffic and Doppler weather overlay, XM satellite radio, USB port for iPod connectivity, Bluetooth and even Siri.

And, to provide hybrid owners with an extra sense of security, hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

Base Price: $32,185

Price As Driven: $36,450

Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.