Toyota RAV4 Fails Moose Test, People Advised “To Not Buy the Car”

Teknikens Värld is a motoring publication known for its moose tests, and the latest victim comes in the guise of the RAV4. The fifth generation entered production in November 2018 for the 2019 model year, and thus far, the sales figures are admirable for every market where the compact crossover utility vehicle is sold by the Toyota Motor Corporation.

But here’s the kicker.“Until Toyota corrects the error, our advice is to not buy the car.”Teknikens Värld says so, and the RAV4 moose tests in the following video serve as bulletproof evidence.

Registration number PEG 23L was put through its paces for the 11th issue of the Swedish magazine, and the first sign that the handling isn’t up to snuff was the maximum speed measured. 68 km/h (42 mph) is shy of the 70 km/h limit, and “the behavior was really bad with strong skid tendencies.” Another problem was the ESP, which engaged too late.

Following the spring tests, Teknikens Värld had another go with GDT 87Y at 23 degrees Celsius versus 10 degrees. In warmer weather, the RAV4 goes up on two wheels, bounces sideways, skids severely, and so forth.“Much effort and great hassle” is how these guys describe the second car’s moose tests, and as it happens, the top speed stays put at 68 km/h.

When pressed about the matter, Toyota gladly replied that the fifth-gen RAV4 passed all internal tests including the ISO 3888-2 without giving an explanation of the poor performance. Nor did the Japanese automaker said a thing about rectifying the issue or whether it can be corrected only through a software update of the electronic stability program.

This isn’t the first hiccup from Toyota as part of Teknikens Värld moose testing. The Hilux exhibited this behavior in 2007 and 2016, and the second time around, the Swedish dealer network “spread incorrect information and pure lies about what had happened.” Big yikes, don’t you think?

On the upside, the Hilux was eventually updated. The new software for the ESP completely suppressed the tendency to flip over during the moose test, and given time, we’re keeping our fingers crossed the RAV4 will be treated to a similar rectification.



Here is a Mopar to compare too.

 

The rav4 doesn't handle like a Porsche 911! What is this blasphemy!

 

It's still on 4 wheels that's a pass in my book.

 

If it passes ISO 3888-2:2011 then who cares what some motoring publication test it cooked up says? ISO standards are certified to for a reason.

 

A lot of older people/young adults/teens buy/drive the Rav4. I bet the handling scares the living Jesus out of them. End Result wet knickers or maybe even a roll over.

 

I’d bet everyone’s hugely overweight “overland” Tacomas would fail worse but that hasn’t stopped anyone yet.

 

Top heavy, no sway bars, lifted...

There's a few sharp on-ramps that I have to pay attention to around here. 3 wheel motion on the I-15 isn't a welcome feature.

 

Who gives a fuck what these Euro snobs think about handling? They'd probably recommend 4 wheel independent suspension and 4 inch ground clearance for a Wrangler

 

Well sure you can see it like that till one of your own is injured or dead. Back in the days Mercedes did the right thing.

https://europe.autonews.com/article...7/mercedes-a-class-moose-test-crisis-recalled

for the folks that are new to Euro Testing.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_test

 

Gotta love Amerika.

 

Of Course there is always the 2 wheel Drift.

 

I can also tell you from first hand experience of living with tons of moose the chances of you swerving like that to avoid it and not going off the two lane road with no shoulder is very slim. That’s also counting on the moose not moving at all and just hanging out in the predictable spot where you’re expecting it to be and then executing the maneuver you’ve practiced many times over in the exact same way. Even if you manage to swerve around the moose the frost heaves, broken pavement or gravel road will still probably toss the car out of control.

 

Totally agree with your statement in the real world things are different. However my post was just an FYI for people that have the new Rav4 or thinking about it buying one. The 4 was high on our daughters list to replace her 16 Jeep Renegade but after she watched the Moose Test she will pass on the Rav.

Moose test
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


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The evasive manoeuvre test (Swedish: Undanmanöverprov; colloquial: moose test or elk test; Swedish: Älgtest, German: Elchtest) is performed to determine how well a certain vehicle evades a suddenly appearing obstacle. This test has been standardized in ISO 3888-2.[1]

Forms of the test have been performed in Sweden since the 1970s.[2] The colloquial and internationally better-known name for the test was coined in 1997 by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung after the Swedish motor magazine Teknikens Värld together with the TV-show Trafikmagasinet flipped a Mercedes-Benz A-Class in a test ostensibly made to measure the car's ability to avoid hitting a moose.

In reality, the test is rather constructed to simulate, for example, a reversing car or a child rushing out onto the road.[3][4] This is because it is more likely that the moose will continue across the road than remain in place or turn back, making it more advisable to brake hard and try to slip behind the animal than to swerve in front of it.[5]

Test specifications[edit]
The test is performed on a dry road surface. Traffic cones are set up in an S shape to simulate the obstacle, road, and road edges. The car to be tested has one belted person in each available seat and weights in the trunk to achieve maximum load.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_test

When the driver comes onto the track, they quickly swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid the object and then immediately swerves back to avoid oncoming traffic. The test is repeated with an increased speed until the car skids, knocks down cones, or spins around. This usually happens at speeds of about 70–80 km/h (45–50 mph).

 

They should have to conduct that test with a starbucks in their hand on 4 hours of sleep and baby shark on blast through the speakers. That moose'd get cut off at the knees 10/10 times.

 

Told you things are different in the real world.

 

Seems like you’re more likely to be rear ended or T-boned than have to dodge a moose... it didn’t flip, or look too crazy unstable. Maybe slow down in known moose crossings?

 

Almost hit like 16 pronghorn the other day. Driving down the road to get to camp, sun setting directly ahead of me. Saw the big buck dash into the sagebrush and thought I was clear. Turns out all those sagebrush bushes on the shoulder (that were really more just dark silhouettes) were yearlings.

Sometimes life just happens. Scandanavia and AK and the like, the entire place is a known moose crossing. Whatcha gonna do?