True or false? A RAV 4 with AWD is a more capable off road/all terrain vehicle than a 2WD Tacoma.

True............However.........

There is a difference between stop and start driving, and stop........shut the vehicle off from 5 to 20 min, then move on to the next stop, rinse and repeat driving.

The latter does nothing but drag MPGs down, since the hybrid battery is not a full EV battery. While it charges very quickly, the battery also runs low very quickly. When you park for more than 5 min and then start out driving again, the hybrid battery is not charged enough for the EV system to take over or even assist, even at speeds below 25 MPG, so the engine then kicks in and it drags down the MPGs.

Hell, if I did just traditional stop and go traffic driving I very well may be in the 45 MPG club!

 

It is also killing on freeways and in the mountains.
I'm in Banff, Canada and drove Rav4 Hybrid straight 11 hours from Seattle. Refilled once and still scooting around the that refill.

 

In 10 inches of snow? RAV4.

In nearly any other offroad scenario? Tacoma.

 

They do really well in the mountains I've noticed. We took my fiance's to North Carolina an drove for about an hour and a half on less than a gallon. Couldn't believe it.

 

/thread

 

RAV4 AWD. I would prefer a AWD over a 2WD for any wet weather condition.

 

Clearance is the key and knowing how to pick the right line.

 

Sweet car! Fleetwood -Brougham- per chance??

 

I can tell you from experience that a 2WD Tacoma is absolutely useless in the snow. My son has a 4WD Tacoma and it is great in the snow. I sold the 2WD Tacoma and purchased a 4WD Tacoma.

 

If you put five, 70 lb sand bags in the bed, you'll be fine in the snow in 2WD unless it's maybe a blizzard and you have crappy tires. Six bags is even better, and in any snow depth or snow storm in 4WD, you'll get up the hills, through the snow banks left by the plows at the end of the driveway or the side street you need to take, and up to the hunting camp in an early fall storm.

.

I hope I never have the opportunity to learn if the Anti Roll-Over control system really works too.

 

I have both a 2WD Tacoma and an AWD rav4 hybrid, both with dedicated snow tires and use both in snowy conditions. No comparison whatsoever. Want a new 4x4 Tacoma but too hard on fuel and out of my price range so buying a second rav4 hybrid to replace the Taco and dusting off the old utility trailer for times I need to lug something around.