What will follow my Tacoma?

Now in the Winter Doldrums in the Pacific Northwest and my mind starts to wander . . .

Normally I drive my vehicles around 7 years or 100K miles. My existing 2017 TRD Sport DCLB is coming up on 5 years and has about 73K miles. I'm thinking about my next vehicle and want one with a smaller carbon and physical (outside dimensions) footprint. Don't think I need a pickup anymore, so I'm thinking about an SUV. With a couple of exceptions, I've driven Toyotas since 1987 because of their reliability and resale value.

Here's what I would be looking for in rough order of priority:
1) SUV appreciably shorter than my truck
2) Hybrid power plant getting 35-40 mpg's
3) Good reliability and resale
4) AWD
5) Room for 4 full size adults or more (e.g., 3 adults, 2 dogs, and hunting gear for a long weekend); rear seat legroom in my Tacoma is too tight for my golfing buddies
6) Decent ground clearance (my offroad adventures are getting tamer by the year)
7) Under $50K

I have a somewhat uninformed bias for Toyotas, Hondas, and Subarus; but I would consider other manufacturers except Detroit's Big Three. Having minor surgery on one of my feet in a few days and will be unable to drive for a month. This will prevent me from making any impulsive car purchases for awhile.

I would appreciate any constructive input on which vehicle to choose.

 

Sounds like you want a Hybrid Rav4

 

Ill be honest, Look at the 2023 Honda CR-v Touring edition with Turbo. Its not hybrid and my not be what you think you looking for but if I spark your interest at least I can say i helped. I'm normally getting 30-33 MPG on my 2017

My 2017 CR-v Touring has better electronics and features then the 2022 Prius Prime and my 2021 Taco Pro.

 

If you’re an avid hunter you’re making a mistake going with an SUV. If you just take a weekend hunting trip a few times a year invest in some plastic sheeting and you’ll be fine but I made the same mistake going with a sequoia before my Tacoma and let me say that was the worst vehicle buying choice I could of made. I’d have been better off staying with my WRX [car] and putting my downed animals in the trunk vs having them in the passenger compartment on long drives home with the heat blasting trying to warm myself and dry my boots.

I’m an avid hunter, I typically tag out on whitetail before gun season then spend the rest of the season getting my buddies tagged out. Again if you just take a trip or two a year you’ll probably be fine with tarps / plastic sheeting but just mentioning my experience as something to think about being a hunter in an SUV.

 

2022 or 2023 Ford Maverick. Does soft roading well, AWD doesn't come with a hybrid, but the 2.0 Turbo is fun, and the FWD can be optioned with a hybrid. The 4.5ft bed would work great for your hunting gear.

Alternatively, consider a Rav4 prime. Hybrid, 306 hp (!!) and 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. Gets north of 40 MPG, has enough clearance for some dirt roads and the like.

 

Sounds like you might be in the market for a Hybrid RAV4 if it fits your size needs. I've been debating picking one up for my daily driver as I commute 75miles a day for work and drive 2000mi+ a month for work trips....would love to be racking up the miles on that @40mpg+ and give the Tacoma a break. Hopefully we see a Hybrid 4runner in the next few years, I wouldn't mind something a little bigger.

 

Yep, Rav 4 Hybrid. I see that it gets something like 90 mpg in town. The regular Rav 4 impressed the hell out me also. I don't know what motor options they have but I was in my wife's Edge ST and I was having to get up on the wheel to keep up with a Rav 4 through the mountain pass down to El Cajon.

 

Certified Pre Owned BMW X5 40E plug-in Hybrid.

Get it with the platinum warranty.

 

I would hang on to your 2017 until the next generation 4Runner comes out.

 

Venza

 

Yeah make sure you have a warranty, my Buddy has one and it is in the shop more then it is not.

 

If you need to tow the Rav4 hybrid may not be a good choice. I had one and traded it in on the taco so I could tow my Honda Goldwing and some gear. Also, you will be giving up some cabin space comfort.

 

I would hold off a few more years. I believe the money being thrown at EV battery tech lately is going to pay dividends in the near future. We have a '15 Subaru that we would like to replace but are holding for now.

 

I'm probably getting a Hyundai IONIQ 5 soon to hold me over until my Rivian R1S reservation comes up in 2023. AWD electric SUV with decent range and exceptionally fast charging will make the transition to electric pretty easy for me... the free charging for 2 years also helps

 

I use to load dead deer into the back of my Volvo station wagon; not good!

 

If you’re worried about a carbon footprint buying new is the worst thing you can do. Even driving a pre- emissions vehicle is better. Also, there’s even more environmental damage done by the production of electric vehicles than our gas counterparts.

 

Yeah, but the EV quickly undoes the damage with its operating emissions. Assuming you get 20mpg in your Tacoma, it would only take 2.5-3 years of driving a brand new electric car to offset its production emissions.

This video is great at giving the technical details behind the math:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2IKCdnzl5k&t=1s&ab_channel=EngineeringExplained

 

Pilot is by far the better of the SUV options.

I’ve driven the Forester/Outback, RAV4/Highlander, and the CR-V/Pilot and the Pilot is honestly far above its competitors in space, comfort, ride/drive quality, everything. I love Toyota (4x4s) and Subaru (AWD) but there’s really no contest after driving them all and reading everything I could consume.

If you’re still wanting a bed maybe cross shop the Pilot and Ridgeline as they’re the same cabin, more than enough room for adult seating front and rear (they’re like a space ship compared to some competitors) and the brand new ones don’t look as bad as the old ones haha.

100% will always have Toyota 4x4s around. Need them for what we do. But we may work a Pilot into the lineup once kids are running around in a few years. Great vehicle.

 

Subaru Wilderness checks a lot of boxes -
AWD, Transmission Cooler, Tow package, Clearance, Reliable, Comfortable, good resell value.

9.2 inches clearance, skid plate, AT Tires, full sized spare, ... the thing looks good... starts at $32k.

If I didn't own a 2017 Forester this would be high on the list for the wife...

https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/wilderness.html

 

The other day I saw Hyundai's Santa Cruz on the road. Reminded me of Subaru's "pickup" from many years ago. Turbo 4 banger, all wheel drive, small but functional bed, 4 doors, low bed wall height, reports of reasonably good mpg. Even has locked under bed storage though you'd have to remove everything from the bed from the looks of it to get at that storage. Not perfect but not bad either. If I was in the market for an el camino like vehicle, I'd consider it as well. No reports of its off-road abilities but likely in line with the Santa Fe. Certainly worth considering it if you're considering Subaru. I don't see Toyota developing such a vehicle as long as the Tacoma remains in production and, frankly, I believe it would be a terrible mistake for Toyota to do away with Tacoma.