Hybrid or not

We just got back from a 1500 mile road trip with our 2024 Rav4 Hybrid. It drove amazingly well, and we averaded around 40 MPG and the ride was amazing.
I was averaging around 41.5 - 42 MPG in the city.

I can highly recommend the little RAV4 hybrid. It's an amazing little ride.

 

I think are are talking about the plug-in hybrid and not the regular hybrid. The regular hybrid's EV range is basically zero. I'm with you that less complicated is better. Where I'm not with you is that the non-hybrid is less complicated. The genius of the Synergy system is it's simplicity. As non-hybrids have become more complex with more features everyone hates, the hybrids look better and better.

As for DIY maintenance, the hybrid battery filter is beginner level and replacing the coolant for the power electronics loop is no more difficult than replacing the engine coolant. Replacing the hybrid battery is doable. I'd much rather do that than replace a CVT or automatic transmission. There is basically no chance you'd ever need to replace the eCVT since there's very little to go wrong. The engine maintenance is basically the same. The one area where you are completely correct is the braking system. It is complex, but at least the rotors and pads last far longer on the hybrid.

 

another nice speech
you better get one then

i would never buy a rav4 in any model

 

Any of you rav4 owners off-road with them past forest service roads?

 

No and I don't expect it to be great. I see mine as an on road car with AWD for snow.


Here's one test that shows it's off-road abilities. Ok for what it is. Not an off-road vehicle though.

https://youtu.be/Vdjb8CrAA6w?si=XA56V-ggu_rchHoN

 

Picked up my new RAV 4 Hybrid today !

 

I mean I don’t expect it to be an overlanding rig, but with the eibach lift and some AT’s it seems like it could be a fun little impromptu easy trail/DD vehicle lol

 

Company I work for has two 2017 Tacomas along with a 2018 and 2020 Rav4 hybrid. No issues at all with either of them, 2018 is at about 160K and 2020 about to hit 105K, the trucks have 190K and 260K each. The hybrids definitely pick up and go pretty well, I've had to stop myself using either of them often because the acceleration is so smooth and quiet vs the trucks that I end up going 15-20 mph faster than I mean too consistently haha. My boss complains neither one gets the stated gas economy, but he also drives with a lead foot going 15 over the speed limit constantly. One of the Rav4s also has a roof rack that is sapping some high speed fuel use and running Falken AT Trails for winter snow and spring mud isn't helping either. AWD is nice because unlike a 4wd truck I don't have to worry about my staff knowing when they need to turn 4wd on/off.

 

Probably would be good for easy trails. Bonus they look good with AT.

 

I think everyone gets that. What you don’t seem to get is that all your complaints (other than I don’t want one) aren’t based in fact or real world experience. All these guys are doing is explaining how your preconceived notions are wrong, not trying to tell you to go out and buy one.

 

We did with a lifted 21 and it tore off the entire under carriage covers, was pretty exposed.

It's decent, but not rugged.

 

No skid plates?

 

Front had it, but the entire undercarriage is covered in plastic, and it was ripped off.

In the end, its still a car chassis.

 

Hybrid or regular? If hybrid, how close did you get to ripping the power cable for the rear motor off?

 

It was a standard model, I dont think we would have taken the hybrid out, as you mentioned the rear power unit is pretty low.

Most of the damage was center near the canister.

 

95 pct of Tacomas don't off road and 5 pct of rav4s do.

 

Nice, Good luck with it. I have had 2 in that same color. My daughter now has my old 2018 RAV4 Hybrid and I have a RAV 4 Prime. Solid vehicles and nothing more than an oil change ever 10K miles. I previously had a 2007 Prius which met it's demise in an accident at 162,000 miles with nothing ever done to it beside maintenance. There are YouTube videos from Weber State University on hybrid workings. Check it out.

 

Yeah my brothers Prius with effectively the same power train/battery/hybrid setup ran 100,000+ and the battery he ended up figuring out how to do himself.
Absolutely 0 ever went wrong with that car; it just drove, no matter what, no matter when.

Everyone has opinions on here for sure, but the only way I could drop 40k+ on a new ride was to go by the evidence before purchasing.
Going to a few people who not only had RAV4s currently or in the past, as well as my brothers real world experience with the power train, really helped to collect some data about what the long term ownership would actually be like.

I purchased our RAV4 in the end based off of those experiences + of course other facts and reviews from people I didn't know, as well as a few folks who were not happy with their purchase.
At the end however, most of those reasons, like not enough room, not a truck, little true off road prowess did not really apply to my needs.

Each to their own, but after all that, it still shook out that the RAV4 is the best little vehicle of its type/in its class. The rest boils down to personal opinion.

 

Here is 121miles of flat interstate driving with cruise set to 75.