Talk to me about the Rav4

Currently own the 2007 Tacoma, a 2014 F150 and a 2009 Honda Fit. Both trucks are crew cab 4X4's. My wife and I are both retired and looking to trade the Honda, maybe both the Honda and Tacoma for something to travel in. Needs decent fuel mileage, but enough room for some camping gear. We've done several long trips with the Tacoma until it was semi-retired. Done a few in the Ford, but that was with kids. With just the 2 of us it's time for something smaller.

AWD would be nice, but I'm not 100% sold that I have to have it. We want something that is suitable for dirt forest service type roads. And even though it doesn't snow a lot here in GA we have found ourselves in snow on previous trips where the 4X4 trucks came in handy. But in my experience front wheel drive does pretty good. The Honda has been great for running around town or short trips, but not what I want for longer road trips.

Right now I'm leaning toward keeping the Tacoma, but depending on how much I can get for it may do a 2 for 1 trade. But it is sometimes it is nice to have a 3rd vehicle. And while Rav4 is what I'm leaning toward Subaru isn't completely out of the picture yet. How does the Rav4 AWD system compare to Subaru? Is it a similar system. My brother had a Honda Pilot with AWD that operated much differently. I wouldn't want that type of system.

 

I may be wrong on this (so double check) . I am pretty sure that The RAV-4 can have a drive system very similar to the Subaru's , but only on a couple of models -the Sport and the Limited.
This was the case the last time I looked closely at the options available.
We have a 15 Outback with the "Symetrical AWD system " including X-Mode. It is incredible on snow. Subaru is 16-18% owned by Toyota, so there are a lot of parts and ideas being shared.

Here is a link to Toyota's brochure that shows these features --They call it "Dynamic Torque vectoring" NOTICE --they say it is "available" -That means to me it is a option.

https://www.toyota.com/rav4/rav4-features/

 

SWMBO has a 2016 RAV4 AWD. I would not take it on most of the forest service roads in our area. The ground clearance is approximately 6", IMO totally inadequate. Not sure if the Subaru is any better. For reliability concerns I will not consider a lift kit. The Tacoma is a much better choice.

 

Our Standard equipped 15 Outback has 8.7 " of clearance. Not sure what the specs are on the 2020 RAV4. They should be in the same link I posted above.
The 20 RAV4 is a TOTALLY new design over what you are speaking of!

 

Thanks for the tips. I'm at least a couple of months out on this, but I'm watching incentives. Looks like there are already some good deals and they may get better by summer.

 

Of all the shoebox monstrosities that has become the SUV market, the new Rav4 adventure has to be one of the better looking ones out there.

For a road tripping vehicle with some off pavement capabilities - Subie Outback, no question.

 

I think the number one Question in your mind should be -- Do you need/want a truck - if so get the Tacoma (or something similar. If you want a very nice riding and light off road passenger vehicle - get the Subie, RAV4 or something similar. Very impt. -- Shop around and after deciding what class of vehicle you want -- drive everything you can find/ afford in that Class

 

Subaru uses a longitudinally-based AWD system and most Subarus are full-time AWD. The RAV4 is FWD-based and has a transverse engine. Most power goes to the front wheels, and the back wheels kick on as needed. The RAV4 AWD system would probably be more similar to the Pilot's than any Subaru's. Both should be fine on the road, but the Subaru should be superior off-road for sure.

 

The "available" Toyota torque vectoring system (AKA optional) is new in 2020 for the RAV. Given this --also it is only available on The "off road " and the "limited" models

 

Many years with Toyota including my wife's RAV 4.
Having recently test driven an Outback I have to say it's got it all over the the little toyo grocery getter.

 

8.7" ground clearance is inadequate for most of the forest roads in this area. My off road uses require the abilities of the Tacoma--low range, 4WD and a more rugged undercarriage than the standard grocery getter. Maybe the forest roads in the east are more forgiving.

 

Both 4X4 trucks are staying, the Honda Fit is being traded for something that can be used when true 4X4 isn't needed.

I've traveled all over the western states multiple times and have navigated forest service roads in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, some of them in the Honda. I've hunted both New Mexico and Colorado during bad weather months. In dry weather it isn't that hard. I'm quite confident the RAV 4 with AWD will get me where I need to go, at the times of year I'll be going.

But I'm looking for something more comfortable on long trips than the Honda with better fuel mileage than the trucks. No reason to wear out a $50,000-$60,000 truck with excessive miles when a $25,000-$30,000 Crossover SUV will do the job and get double the fuel mileage. I'd still drive one of the trucks for hunting trips during the fall when those forest service roads are covered in snow, or snow melt mud.

Subaru is still under consideration, but the closest dealer is 70 miles away and not many local mechanics will work on them. Toyota is easy. I'm also considering the Highlander. A 4-Runner is overbudget and doesn't offer me any real fuel mileage advantage over the trucks I have.

 

One disadvantage of almost all CUV AWD systems is that they usually use clutch packs or some other wear part to absorb the jolt of power transfer between wheels when the traction control system kicks in. The typical "soccer mom," that these vehicles are targeted at hate any sort of feedback from the AWD system, they want it to always feel smooth as butter. If you use one of these systems on a loose surface constantly those components tend to wear out fast. That's why all the farms around here that have a Subi don't keep them past 100K. They are excellent vehicles but they need a lot of work after 100K of gravel travel if that's what you're planning.

 

My wife has the '05 Sport Rav 4. It's coming close to 200k and still going strong. We change the oil and tires as needed. I changed the headlights. Still runs great.

 

I bought my wife the 2020 Rav4 in December. She loves it and so do I. It's the FWD (we don't need AWD in Texas). Nevertheless it gets the job done for us. Front neighbor bought a Subaru outback. Really nice vehicle from the inside, and more spacious.However, I am sold that Toyota is as reliable as they come and I want my wife to drive a reliable vehicle.

 

Have you considered a Grand Cherokee? I had a one as a rental for a week to road trip in. Probably the best road trip vehicle I have ever driven. Handles curvy mountain roads great, and can still do off road trails. The deals on them right now are really good too since they are about to change generations in a year or two. The current generation has been around for so damn long I think they probably fixed any bugs or issues by now.

You can option 4lo if you need it, or else you only get 4hi.

The Rav4 is great, but it's a little too car-ish for me, plus I don't like the sound it makes, sister had a camry with the same 2.5 motor, it sounds eh.

 

Still researching. I could probably get by with FWD instead of AWD and save $5,000 or more. For what I'll do most of the time FWD will probably be fine. And I will still have 2 trucks with 4X4 for those times when needed. The ground clearance difference isn't as much as I'd initially thought. The RAV4 is 8.4" vs 8.7" for Subaru vs 9.4" for a stock Tacoma.

I'm still not fully understanding how the Toyota AWD system works. Subaru I understand, but apparently Toyota has 2 versions, one is shift on demand if I understand correctly and it isn't available on all models. Not sure if that is an advantage or disadvantage compared to Subaru.

I don't need AWD here in GA, but we have done several long road trips in the past traveling and camping across the country. Mostly in the mountain west in the past, but now that we're retired want to see New England and get farther west. Most of these miles are on the road, but we've encountered snow multiple times in May and June at higher elevations. And we need to travel on some pretty rough dirt and gravel roads to reach some trailheads or campgrounds. AWD wouldn't hurt.

In the past I've driven one of the trucks or a full size SUV with 4X4. When we were taking the kids the room was an asset. But now that it is just 2 of us the trucks are really overkill. The only times where they were needed were hunting trips where the snow was deep and where it had melted so was the mud. The same roads during summer months were easily passible in anything with decent ground clearance and careful driving.

 

I have a 2019 RAV4 Limited AWD with every option including the lane and pacing assist. Only dislike is the 4 cyl engine. It is under powered if you really get on it.
Out the door for $34,500 after taking the rebates

 

The 2020's have the "available" different drive train.

 

I have a 2018 Rav 2wd and really like it for what it is (in my case a commuter and grocery getter). I have heard some people dislike the new gens transmission. I went with the previous gen due to it being pretty tried and true. Have you considered a Ridgeline? I hear they drive great, are well made, and have a more robust 4wd system then the rav.