It doesn’t entirely make sense to review the 2020 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid through a performance lens, yet here we are.

In the spirit of full transparency, your author – that’s me – spent 10 years at an ad agency that exclusively services the Toyota account. And towards the end of that stint, it was drilled into my head that the current-gen RAV4 XSE Hybrid is damn-near a sports car, ready to haul your bikes while taking on your favorite mountain road. And if that last line sounds like it came straight out of a Toyota brochure, well, that’s because I wrote way too many of those things. Old habits, and all that…

Anyway, now that I'm free from those corporate shackles, I can finally experience the cars I tried to sell all of you. And despite what a bunch of clients and strategy people told me, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid ain’t no sports car.

The RAV4 is a sensible machine, able to do everything just well enough while not being terrible at anything, either. It’s the kind of car you can recommend to your spouse’s grandmother, knowing full well that the car won’t grenade on grandma, and therefore won’t grenade your marriage.

And if you get into a RAV4 XSE Hybrid expecting only the above, your expectations will be met and then some.

But let’s get back to that performance lens. The current RAV4 Hybrids are the most powerful RAV4s yet, with 219 net horsepower coming from the gas and electric motors. The front wheels do the bulk of the driving duty, with electric motor in the rear adding thrust and traction only when needed. While there is no official data on the RAV4’s performance metrics, various tests have shown the hybrid to be about a second quicker in the 0-60 run than standard gas models.

But all that stuff can be found across the entire RAV4 Hybrid lineup. So to set the XSE version apart, Toyota has equipped it with a sport-tuned suspension – denoted by those bright blue shocks. Visually, the our RAV4 XSE Hybrid tester stands out thanks to its “murdered out” package, which includes gloss-black 18-in. alloy wheels, black badges and various black exterior trim pieces. All told, it’s a fine-looking machine, looking more like a Tacoma than it does a Corolla.

The cabin gets the sporty treatment as well, with the front SofTex-trimmed buckets getting slightly more aggressive side bolstering, blue contrast stitching and unique fabric inserts. In the dash, digital gauges surround the large, full-color multi-information display and put key driving info front and center. As for the rest of the cabin, it’s standard RAV4. Fit and finish feels above par for the segment, and though the design is kind of bulky, it’s laid out in a way to help things feel more driver-centric.

So it’s a hybrid that looks good. But when you want to unleash your sporty side by knocking that gear-select lever to “S” and twisting that drive mode select knob to sport, oh, does the RAV4 get annoying.

Blame the CVT. When everything is set to normal, it’s fine. But with those sport toggles activated, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid would rather groan than perform, and we mean that literally. These settings put the engine in an ugly part of the powerband, where you just get this “ugggghhhhh” noise as it sends extra vibrations and harshness though the steering wheel and gas pedal.

Sporty handling? Not here. Push the RAV4 XSE Hybrid and it will start scraping the door handles as it understeers, leaving us wondering when the added rear traction from the AWD will kick in. And a week in, we’re still waiting. But that’s because, no matter how it’s marketed, the RAV4 is not and will never be a performance car. It’s wonderful commuter, and a great family car. And when viewed as such, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid shines.

That suspension isn’t sporty, but it’s compliant and does a wonderful job of soaking up road imperfections. And if you keep that gear selector in D, the cabin of the RAV4 is quiet and serene, letting the JBL sound system fill the inside with the sounds you choose. Space? There’s plenty here, with generous head and legroom for back-seat passengers, plus a sizable cargo area. Throw in standard features like dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and Apple CarPlay, and you’ve got a family cruiser that’s truly nice to spend time in. Best of all, it’s a hybrid that really does return about 40 mpg combined.

But here’s where our pragmatic side kicks in. Our specific 2020 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid tester carries an MSRP just shy of $40,000. Yes, it’s got some nice extras, but do we really want to spend the premium for a sports package that isn’t that sporty? No, we don’t. But we can get that same powertrain without the athletic pretense in the XLE, which starts at a much cheaper $28k. And when it comes time for this writer to trade in his own, last-gen RAV4 LE, don’t be surprised if it’s the XLE Hybrid that takes its place. What can I say? I'm still hungover from drinking the company Kool-Aid.

Highlights	Description
Engine	2.5-liter inline 4/Permanent Magnet Synchronous electric motors
Horsepower	219 combined net hp
Torque	163 lb-ft @ 3600 - 5200 rpm
Transmission	CVT
Suspension, F/R	MacPherson strut/Sport-tuned Multi-Link
Brakes, F/R	12.0-in. vented discs/11.1-in. solid discs
Wheels and Tires	18-in. alloy, 225/60R18 high-performance tires
Curb weight	3755 lbs.
Overall length	180.9 in.
Overall width	73.0 in.
Overall height	67.0 in.
Wheelbase	105.9 in.

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