The safe weight limit that a vehicle can pull is determined by its towing capacity. It's important to exercise caution when towing because exceeding the limit can cause the trailer to sway and potentially lead to loss of vehicle control. Traditionally, heavy-duty pick-up trucks and SUVs are the go-to options for towing, but surprisingly, the Toyota RAV4 might be suitable for your towing requirements. In this article, we'll delve into the towing capacity of the RAV4 and provide other essential details you should know.
In general, the Toyota RAV4 has a towing capacity of between 1,500 to 5,487 pounds, depending on the year and trim level.
Toyota Rav4 Towing Capacity By Year
Year | Max Unbraked Towing Capacity | Braked Towing Capacity From | Max Braked Towing Capacity |
2023 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 480kg | 1500kg |
2022 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 480kg | 1500kg |
2021 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 480kg | 1500kg |
2020 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 480kg | 1500kg |
2019 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 480kg | 1500kg |
2018 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1500kg |
2017 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1500kg |
2016 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1500kg |
2015 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1500kg |
2014 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1500kg |
2013 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 500kg | 1900kg |
2012 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 1500kg | 1900kg |
2011 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 1500kg | 1900kg |
2010 Toyota Rav4 | 750kg | 1500kg | 1900kg |
Toyota Rav4 Towing Review
When towing a caravan, not all cars are created equal, and unfortunately, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid falls short in this regard.The RAV4's instability at motorway speeds is particularly concerning, especially when dealing with crosswinds, as indicated by the nervousness it exhibits. Furthermore, when slowing down, the caravan's Al-Ko ATC sensors detected some sway from side to side.
The RAV4's 2.5-liter petrol engine, when combined with the electric motors, provides adequate acceleration, taking only 12.7 seconds to go from 30-60mph. However, the noise it generates under hard acceleration can be rather deafening.
In terms of stopping distance, the Toyota is towards the bottom of its class, taking 12.2m to come to a halt from 30mph, even on a dry track.
Under normal driving conditions, the RAV4 provides a comfortable ride, especially when driven gently around town, enabling the electric power to do most of the work and keep engine noise to a minimum.
Passengers will appreciate the ample space inside the car, and the boot has proven to be large enough to accommodate all our caravan holiday essentials.
We've provided in-depth data of the towing capacities for every RAV4 model year and trim level below.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the towing weights provided on this website are accurate, we always recommend checking the vehicle log book (V5) for the official towing capacity. We accept no responsibility if the towing weights provided on this website are incorrect.
Car Make & Model | Max Towing Weight - Unbraked | Max Towing Capacity - Braked |
---|---|---|
Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i (129 kW/175 PS) (2019, 2020, 2021) | 2000kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i Automatic (129 kW/175 PS) (2019, 2020, 2021) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid 2WD (160 kW/218 PS) (2019, 2020, 2021) | 800kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid AWD (163 kW/222 PS) (2019, 2020, 2021) | 1650kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (225 kW/306 PS) (2021) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (fuel) (136 kW/185 PS) (2021) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i (129 kW/175 PS) (2022, 2023) | 2000kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.0 VVT-i Automatic (129 kW/175 PS) (2022, 2023) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid 2WD (160 kW/218 PS) (2022, 2023) | 800kg | |
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid AWD (163 kW/222 PS) (2022, 2023) | 1650kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (225 kW/306 PS) (2022) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (fuel) (136 kW/185 PS) (2022) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (225 kW/306 PS) (2023) | 1500kg | |
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (fuel) (136 kW/185 PS) (2023) | 1500kg | |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) (panoramic Sunroof) 2.5L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 Speed Automatic | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) 2.5L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 Speed Automatic | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GXL 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) FSS + Navigation Hybr 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) FSS + Navigation Hybr 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GXL (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 XSE (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GX 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2023 Toyota RAV4 GXL (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2023 Toyota RAV4 XSE (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) (panoramic Sunroof) 2.5L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 Speed Automatic | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) 2.5L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 Speed Automatic | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GXL 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) FSS + Navigation Hybr 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) FSS + Navigation Hybr 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GXL (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 XSE (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GX 2.0L, Unleaded Petrol | - | 800kg |
2022 Toyota RAV4 GXL (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2022 Toyota RAV4 XSE (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L (Petrol/Electric) | - | 480kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2021 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) 2.5L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2021 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) (panoramic Sunroof) 2.5L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) NAV 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) NAV 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid NAV 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GXL (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GXL (2WD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2021 Toyota RAV4 GXL (AWD) Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) Hybrid | - | 480kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (AWD) Hybrid | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD Hybrid | - | 480kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Edge (AWD) (panoramic Sunroof) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD (panoramic Sunroof) | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid | - | 480kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) Hybrid NAV | - | 480kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) NAV | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) NAV | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX (AWD) Hybrid NAV | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD (nav) | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD (nav) | - | 800kg |
2020 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD Hybrid | - | 480kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (4x4) 2.2L (Diesel), 6 SP AUTO | - | 550kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser (4x4) 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser AWD Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD 2.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD (panoramic Sunroof) 2.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX (4X4) 2.2L (Diesel), 6 SP AUTO | - | 500kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX (4X4) 2.2L (Diesel), 6 SP MAN | - | 500kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX (4X4) 2.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | - | 1500kg (1.5t) |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD (nav) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD (nav) 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD Hybrid (nav) 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 480kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX AWD Hybrid 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 850kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GX AWD Hybrid (nav) 2.5L, Hyb/ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 850kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GXL (2WD) 2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO | - | 800kg |
2019 Toyota RAV4 GXL (4X4) 2.2L (Diesel), 6 SP AUTO | - | 550kg |
If you're planning to use a Toyota RAV4 for towing, it's important to note that every model comes with some level of towing capability. To determine the towing capacity of your RAV4, refer to the owner's manual for specific details.
If you know you'll be towing larger items, I recommend checking out the Adventure and TRD models as they have the highest towing capacities among all RAV4 models, up to 3,500 pounds.
However, if you require a higher towing capacity than what the RAV4 can provide, you may want to consider other Toyota models such as the Highlander, Tacoma, 4Runner, or Tundra which are better suited for heavier loads.
If you know you'll be towing larger items, I recommend checking out the Adventure and TRD models as they have the highest towing capacities among all RAV4 models, up to 3,500 pounds.
However, if you require a higher towing capacity than what the RAV4 can provide, you may want to consider other Toyota models such as the Highlander, Tacoma, 4Runner, or Tundra which are better suited for heavier loads.