The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was the electrified member of the fifth-generation RAV4 family and one of the most significant compact hybrid crossovers of its year. Toyota redesigned the RAV4 for 2019 — the model switched to the GA-K version of Toyota’s New Global Architecture — and split the launch into two phases: gasoline models went on sale in the United States in December 2018, and the hybrid grades followed in late March 2019. Gas pricing began at an MSRP of $25,500, while the hybrid line started at $27,850.
For buyers, the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid mattered because it paired standard all-wheel drive with a large efficiency advantage over the gas model, and because Toyota added a sporty hybrid grade for the first time. This article covers the release date, the powertrain, the fuel-economy figures, the trims and the practical details, all drawn from manufacturer statements and published test data.
Release Date and Availability
The fifth-generation RAV4, model code XA50, was revealed in 2018 as a 2019 model. In the US, the gasoline grades reached dealers in December 2018 and the hybrid grades arrived in late March 2019. Every US-market 2019 RAV4 Hybrid was sold with all-wheel drive; front-wheel drive was not offered on hybrid models. The hybrid was also not available in the off-road-oriented Adventure trim, which remained a gas-only grade with its own grille, suspension and interior treatment.
Production of the fifth-generation RAV4 ran from late 2018 and, in the US, the family continued largely unchanged for several model years before a 2021 facelift. Toyota builds the RAV4 for North America at its assembly plants in Georgetown, Kentucky, and in Woodstock and Cambridge, Ontario.
Exterior Design
The redesign gave the RAV4 a squarer, more truck-like appearance that drew comparisons to the Toyota Tacoma pickup. The wheelbase was stretched by about 1.2 inches while overall length shrank slightly, and ground clearance rose by roughly 2.3 inches, to 8.4 inches on lower trims and 8.6 inches on versions with larger wheels. The hybrid shared this body with the gas model and was distinguished mainly by its badges and its wheels rather than a bespoke design.
Powertrain and Performance
The 2019 RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). Two electric motors worked at the front axle while a third powered the rear wheels, providing standard all-wheel drive without a mechanical driveshaft to the rear. The gasoline engine contributed 176 hp and 163 lb-ft on its own, and total system output was 219 horsepower.
Performance was a pleasant surprise. Despite weighing about 156 pounds more than the equivalent gas model, the hybrid used its additional electric torque to accelerate harder. Car and Driver measured a 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds for the hybrid, versus 8.0 seconds for a 203-hp gasoline RAV4 Adventure it also tested. Reviewers described the hybrid as noticeably peppier off the line than the standard RAV4.
Fuel Economy
Efficiency was the hybrid’s headline advantage. The EPA rated the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid at 41 mpg city, 38 highway and 40 combined. A front-drive gasoline 2019 RAV4 was rated 26/35/30, and gas all-wheel-drive models were rated 25/33/28 (the LE AWD managed 27/34/30). That put the hybrid roughly 10 mpg ahead of the gas model on the combined cycle, an unusually large gap for the class.
Independent testing broadly supported the EPA figures. Car and Driver recorded 37 mpg on its 75-mph highway test and an observed mixed-driving average of 32 mpg — about nine mpg better than a non-hybrid RAV4 in the same test.
Trims and Prices
The 2019 RAV4 Hybrid was offered in four trims, all with all-wheel drive. Pricing spanned $27,850 to $35,850 before options, placing the hybrid about $800 above an all-wheel-drive gasoline model in comparable trim.
| Trim | Starting MSRP (2019) | EPA combined |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid LE | $27,850 | 40 mpg |
| Hybrid XLE | $29,650 | 40 mpg |
| Hybrid XSE | $33,850 | 40 mpg |
| Hybrid Limited | $35,850 | 40 mpg |
Interior, Technology and Safety
The hybrid shared its cabin with the gasoline RAV4. A 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a six-speaker audio system anchored the dashboard on the LE, while higher trims moved to an 8-inch screen with available navigation. Android Auto was not offered on the 2019 RAV4, a frequent criticism in reviews. Dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a power liftgate and leather or SofTex upholstery appeared as trims rose.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 came standard on all 2019 RAV4s. It bundled forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keep assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and road-sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on the LE and standard on higher trims.
Dimensions, Cargo and Practicality
The hybrid matched the gas model’s packaging almost exactly, so it gave up little in practicality for its efficiency.
| Specification | 2019 RAV4 Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Length | 180.9 in |
| Width | 73.0 in |
| Height | about 67 in |
| Cargo volume (rear seats up) | 37.6 cu ft |
| Maximum cargo volume | 69.8 cu ft |
| Seating | 5 |
How It Compared
Within the compact crossover class, the RAV4 Hybrid stood out by combining standard all-wheel drive with a 40 mpg combined rating. Its closest hybrid rival, the Honda CR-V Hybrid, did not reach the US market until the 2020 model year, leaving the Toyota with comparatively little direct competition in 2019. Car and Driver titled its review “The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Is the RAV4 to Have.” Two related pages are the 2019 Toyota RAV4 SE Hybrid Review and the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE Release Date, Price and Specs.
