2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid v Honda CR-V e:HEV v Nissan X-Trail e-Power Review

Hybrid models now account for nearly 40 percent of all medium size SUVs sold in Australia. The largest hybrid seller in the country, Toyota, has even recently made the bold move of discontinuing the sale of non-hybrid models in 9 of its models, including the RAV4 – the nation’s best-selling SUV.

With hybrid take up of midsize SUVs burgeoning, we expect buyers to start cross shopping the dominant RAV4 Hybrid with some of its key rivals. Honda and Nissan have been keen on a slice of the hybrid SUV market for a while now, but their latest hybrid SUV offerings are the most promising yet. The Honda CR-V e:HEV and Nissan X-Trail e-Power are the ones to check out for anyone looking to explore beyond the RAV4 Hybrid. And we have gathered them here for a comparison review.

Pricing

Toyota has a sprawling line-up for the RAV4 Hybrid, which spans across 4 grade levels starting from the base GXL and to the top-spec Edge. On test was the RAV4 Edge Hybrid which is priced at $58,360 plus on-road costs.

In contrast, Honda is only offering one hybrid variant in its CR-V range. Available in range-topping guise, the CR-V e:HEV RS costs $60,400 drive-away and was the model tested here.

Not quite as many variants as the RAV4 Hybrid, Nissan offers its e-Power hybrid tech across 3 trim levels of the X-Trail, from the mid-spec ST-L to the upper spec Ti and Ti-L models. While the latter variant would be the more equivalent rival to the RAV4 Edge Hybrid and CR-V e:HEV RS, the X-Trail ST-L e-Power was the only model available from Nissan at the time of testing so we just had to run with it. The ST-L e-Power is priced at $50,490 plus on-road costs. For clarity the top-spec Ti-L e-Power costs $58,990 plus ORCs and is used to compare specification.

Specification

The range-topping RAV4 Edge Hybrid and CR-V e:HEV RS are both comprehensively equipped. For a farer specification comparison, the top-spec X-Trail Ti-L e-Power is used.

Below compares key features of each model. The X-Trail Ti-L comes out on top when it comes to overall equipment generosity, with it the only model here to feature premium Nappa leather seat upholstery, rear seat heating, tri-zone climate control and head-up display. It also has the largest infotainment screen size at 12.3-inch and alone in featuring active noise cancellation. Its digital instrumentation cluster is the most customisable with the option of a map view.

That said, the RAV4 gets ventilation for the front seats which is not fitted to the other two models. However it’s the only car here with no power adjustment for the front passenger seat.

Interior comparison:

Safety wise all models are almost equally matched in terms of key safety features. The CR-V is the safest car here with 10 airbags including knee airbags for the front occupants and side airbags for the rear.

Interior

The RAV4 is the oldest car here and it’s not surprising that the interior is starting to look quite dated compared to the newer CR-V and X-Trail. A mild update earlier this year introduced a larger centre touchscreen and digital instrumentation, but that’s not enough to match the Honda and Nissan in terms of presentation.

The vibe in the Toyota is also the least premium, with the bright orange interior accent of the Edge variant radiating more adventurism than elegance. That said, you can get rid of the orange highlight by opting for the Cruiser variant.

Both the CR-V and X-Trail have much more modern and upmarket interiors than the RAV4, with higher quality feel on the materials. The CR-V has the best tactile feedback on its knobs and buttons which add to the expensive feel, while the X-Trail centre opening console storage lid is akin to those in luxury cars and offers better usability. Both SUVs also have ambient mood lighting which the RAV4 doesn’t.

Space and practicality

Being mid-size SUVs, all three models offer good space for the family. By an insignificant margin, the CR-V has the roomiest cabin especially in the back seat. Rear leg and knee room is the most generous of the lot. It also has the flattest floor in the rear with a low centre hump.

The X-Trail is narrowest car here and this results in slightly less shoulder room in the back seat than the other two. However, leg room is slightly more than in the RAV4.

Both the CR-V and X-Trail have rear doors that open up to almost 90 degrees, making rear seat access easier. For families needing to strap in little kids on child seats in the back, this will certainly help.

The CR-V has the largest boot capacity at 581L, though only by whisker of the RAV4’s 580L. With the rear seats folded the CR-V’s boot space expands to 1636L which is just behind the RAV4’s 1690L. The X-Trail has the smallest boot size here at 575L. It’s expandable to 1396L with the rear seats down.

Performance

All three competitors use hybrid setups that are quite different from each other. The RAV4 Hybrid combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors – one at the front and another at the rear, effectively giving all-wheel drive. It’s a series-parallel hybrid system, meaning either the engine or electric motors can drive the wheels independently or both can power the wheels together. However, the rear wheels are electrically driven only, hence Toyota calls its electric AWD ‘e-four’.

The X-Trail e-Power uses a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine that is also supplemented with a front and rear electric motors. Unlike the Toyota, it’s a series hybrid system where only the electric motors provide the drive, the engine is used solely as a generator to charge the batteries and never drives the wheels directly.

The CR-V’s e:HEV system is again different to the other two. It uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine and single electric motor combo which drives the front wheels only, making it the sole front-wheel drive model here. It’s also a series-parallel hybrid system similar to the RAV4 with the differences being the engine can generate electricity for the electric motor to drive the wheels (without using battery) or the engine can directly drive the wheels.

Both Nissan and Honda use lithium-ion battery for their electric motors while Toyota is still sticking to old Nickel Metal Hydride battery. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is employed in both the Toyota and Honda while the Nissan doesn’t need one as the engine never directly drives the wheels.

Driving Impression

Like the powertrains that are setup differently in each of the three competitors here, the way they drive is distinctive as well. In the RAV4, because the engine and electric motor driving ratio is optimised based on driving conditions, the engine cuts in quite often to provide power as necessary. Granted, the transition in and out of engine power is impressively seamless and not disrupting at all, resulting in a smooth and relaxing drive.

Under heavy acceleration or when driving uphill, the engine does make itself known as you pile on the revs to get things moving. Other than that, it’s generally very quiet, but it does have the most audible whine during regenerative braking – the process of harvesting kinetic energy from braking to recharge the battery.

The X-Trail delivers the most EV-like driving experience here. Not surprising given the wheels are driven only by the electric motors. It has the sharpest and most linear throttle response, akin to a full EV. During normal driving it’s the most quiet and refined as well, until the engine – which is essentially a generator – kicks in from time to time or during times of high power demand to recharge the batteries. It’s not unpleasant sounding per se but you know when it’s fired up and when it’s switched off. It’s not the most discreet.

The CR-V drives like a cross between the RAV4 and X-Trail. In city or suburban driving the CR-V relies mostly on electric power. On the freeway it switches to engine power for most of the driving which is just fine as engine power is usually more efficient than electric power during high speed cruising. Because of this more simplified hybrid approach, the frequency of engine cutting in and out is less in the CR-V compared to the RAV4 which results in a less fuzzy and more refined drive.

The Honda also has the sportiest CVT tuning here and by that we mean a CVT with stepped ‘ratio’ to mimic that of a conventional torque converter automatic, eliminating the ‘rubber band’ effect so fondly known of CVT. It’s activated in Sport mode or during hard acceleration to give a feel of connectedness for heightened engagement. During normal driving, the CVT operates discretely in the background to optimise efficiency.

All three SUVs are competent handler, with good body control through the bends and plenty of traction – and amazingly this includes the front-wheel driven CR-V. If we were being thorough, the RAV4 has the best ride and handling balance as well as the most comfortable ride.

The X-Trail and CR-V ride smoothly as well but the feel is a little tauter and sportier, if that’s what you prefer.

In terms of fuel use which is an important criteria in this segment, the RAV4 is the most economical on paper with a rated combined average of 4.8L/100km, followed by the X-Trail at 5.5L/100km and CR-V at 6.1L/100km. Interestingly, the tested real-world figures are completely the opposite, with the CR-V being the thriftiest at 5.7L/100km, followed by the X-Trail at 6.0L/100km and RAV4 at 6.3L/100km. While the Toyota and Honda are happy with RON91 regular unleaded fuel, the Nissan prefers RON95 premium unleaded.

Verdict

Let’s get one thing straight. The RAV4 Hybrid, X-Trail e-Power and CR-V e:HEV are no doubt three of the best hybrid SUVs in the segment. All three models are very equally matched in terms of comfort, practicality and driving feel. So, it’s all down to the little details and hybrid performance when picking the winner.

The RAV4 has the most dated interior here and the once benchmark hybrid powertrain is now feeling a little less polished compared to quieter and more refined systems in the X-Trail and CR-V. That said, ride comfort and the longevity of a proven hybrid system remain strong points of the RAV4.

The X-Trail boasts the best and most comprehensive cabin tech of the lot packaged in a modern interior. The EV-like hybrid powertrain is great to drive and it feels the most powerful.

The CR-V e:HEV may be lacking all-wheel drive but that’s about the only thing that it lacks. Its hybrid powertrain offers the best drivability and efficiency, matched by a distinctively sporty driving feel. The cabin isn’t only the most spacious but also feels the most upmarket and refined. Lastly, it’s the best looking SUV in this company, at least in our eyes. And that’s why the CR-V is our pick of the bunch.