Some cars just don’t feel comfortable with a caravan behind them, and unfortunately the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of them.
It never felt settled at motorway speeds, a nervousness that became worse whenever a crosswind was blowing. And the Al-Ko ATC sensors on the caravan picked up some side-to-side sway when slowing down.
With the 2.5-litre petrol engine and the electric motors working together, the RAV4 accelerates well, going from 30-60mph in 12.7 seconds. However, there’s a lot of noise under hard acceleration.
The Toyota’s stopping distance puts it towards the bottom of this class, taking 12.2m to stop car and caravan from 30mph, even on a dry track.
In everyday driving, the RAV4 rides comfortably. It’s at its best around town or when driven gently, allowing electric power to do much of the work and so keeping engine noise to a minimum.
There’s plenty of space for passengers inside, and the boot proved big enough for all our caravan holiday luggage.
With a price tag of just under £34,000 the Toyota isn’t cheap, but the five-year, 100,000-mile warranty and Toyota’s reputation for reliability offer peace of mind. In Excel trim there’s lots of standard kit, including 18-inch alloys, leather trim, and satellite navigation.