I disagree with the reviewer. For the average every day driver of one of these SUVs/CUVs, the Rav4 fits the bill very nicely and is every bit as "exciting" as say the CRV or the Escape.
It's an electric cvt, unlike the rest and it does a great job. For fast acceleration switch to the sport mode and shift manually starting in 4th. My 160lb weight allows for a 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds.
I do feel that this vehicle is a tremendous value. The Lexus NX300h with i-AWD goes for about $46,000.00 dollars. They share the same drive train. Certainly, the interior quality and more pleasant touches will not be the same. But, I can only purchase what I can afford. Now I can play more Polka music! Thank you Toyota!
Rear vent diffuser works fine. Who cares about a hard plastic, You are not seated on it. Great all around. Does everything well. I traded my GLK350 for this one.
i prefer the dash on the rav4 than those soft touch dashboards. In Texas it gets really hot during summers and you will have very nasty melting dashes like the ones on Nissans and Dodge after about 3 to 4 years on those cars.
Different cars serve different purposes. My Rav is my dependable, comfortable, winter/crappy weather, great gas mileage vehicle. My vette is for fun. Don’t knock that Rav for it’s intended purpose which it excels at.
I have a 2008 RAV4 which at 210k miles has been a great vehicle for me and not easily replaceable even with the current RAV4s. Why? For its size and efficiency (avg. 26mpg), it has a cargo area that is perfect for throwing in my wheelchair without having to disassemble it and with room to spare for my service dog to lie. I don't have to sacrifice passenger space for any of this. And I still have room to store items in the under compartment because the spare tire on these previous models is on the outside of the rear door. The current RAV4 models (gas and hybrid) do not have the same usable space. Partially because they have eliminated the sliding rear seats that provided extra space in back. Unfortunately, Toyota has sacrificed "Utility" to give priority to the electronics and gas mileage. One thing I continue to like on the RAV4 is the tailgate, which is lower, and it's flat with no lip. No other car I've tried has this or the equivalent cargo space. The RAV4 is not a fancy car as stated by the reviewer, but it sure has been a lifeline to my independence as a wheelchair user..
I own this vehicle for about a month. I can tell this is a honest review. Coming from a Beemer 328i, I also totally understand what the final words mean. Well done!
Great points and attributes on the RAV4 Sam. Do the other hybrid models carry the same battery warranty as the Prius. I understand the Toyota hypnosis the befalls on us and you are on point with the simplicity of the reliable purpose Toyota serves. I have came close to purchasing another Toyota several times until I close the door and think "that is the same noise my microwave makes when I close that door". On the upper side, I remember when my parents purchased a 1983 Tercel two door with the one option - a/c. No power anything and we were bantering on about how the the car will not last long and all the plastics interior will fall off onto the floor. 150,000 miles later, two teenage divers tests, several trips across country, one clutch and front struts we realized the complete opposite had proved us incorrect. Yes they are darn reliable.
you should really do some homework on suvs than buying one just because it's a 'popular' brand, not to sound mean. people buy this and a corolla because it's only 'popular', and not because of its performance. the Subaru brand has AWD standard that makes it a working suv that is truly meant to go off road. then you also have the Mitsubishi Outlander GT AWD that has off road performance to choose between snow, mud, and sand. this rav4 is underpowered and just a too basic
I must disagree the Reporter as well, the acceleration in sport with the 4wdr will bring a very awesome performance, my Rav4 brings in KILOMETRES from 0 to 100 Kilometers not miles if you select the 5th gear , 6,7 Seconds and the "normally" known 8,3 seconds are either really decent fast. But compared to an power gasoline especially stinky harmful v6 diesel german grab engine, this Toyota hybrids are truly amazing little race cars, because up to 76 miles in a hour we was trying out a race with a over 400nm 222Hp Diesel on the motorway here in Germany and the Rav4 was beating my diesel suv so extremely that I understand now that 3 engines aren't "yust" more resilient but as well very much powerful so a diesel engine needs to start a battle against this Rav4 to atleast 300Hp from the manufacturer to mess with this 200Hp Toyota Hybrids otherwise no chance to hold that race. That's I learned. And hart plast is especially for a extremely long lifetime very important. And indestructible. And that's a big reason, to buy not this weak crapy VW Audi ect...ore some weak fords escapes. And I be now with my second hand 2017 Rav4 very very happy every one like even this fresh powerfully hightec look . And my wife have the awesome hybrid Rav4 2020. Its differ but after all not miles better but the 4wheel system is better and a little more capsuling from the wheels is if you drive slow to hear but my 2017 engine is definitely not so much to hear and to feel in the steering wheel and pedals, but after all the acceleration is quite the same unless the prime and my consumption is a lot better than the guy here claims. But...its report is fir me great, because of the testing on off road. To see that the rear axle part will definitely do something. Great I'm happy. And this one have that very valuable solid metal Magnesium head cover not plastic cover like my wifes one....extremely reliable Greetings Jay
i agree with you Sam about Toyota...great value with legendary reliability...something though I would want to get up early for a spirited drive in? Not so much...Toyota used to have great driving cars..Celica...MR2..now its about the dollar. Keep up the great work.
Hi John Brown, what do you mean? Is the MPG depending of driving style that much? Or in the UK you are getting a different "edition" of RAV4? I am highly interested because I am just about to buy a RAV4 hybrid...
Toyota has lost me as a customer, partly through the corporate choices made recently. The RAV 4 EV that preceded this machine was a Tesla drivetrain hobbled by Toyota to not use fast charging. It could have been great. Instead they have doubled down on the Gas using Hybrid strictly based on style marketing. Then they tout the Marai Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that is a waste of automotive research. Now this vehicle has two major flaws beside the traction issue you noticed. SUV's, popular though they may be through marketing magic, are high center of gravity vehicles with poor aerodynamics. It may be more car like, but the car it is like is the 1950s vintage body-on-chassis(pickup truck type) that has been somewhat improved by modern suspension improvements. It gets 1950 VW mileage too, even with the hybrid drive. It has a roof rack to further add drag to the mileage decrease made by that more aggressive front styllng. You may think the standard RAV 4 is the better buy with no hybrid drivetrain, but for practical drivers not sold on having the latest and greatest sold to them every few model years I, as a long time Prius driver will say that the Hybrid is better for this reason: It will save on brakes with its regen doing a lot of the work. That traction battery probably helps keep the weight lower for better handling, and the engine will last longer not turning all the time. Every reciprocating engine has just so many piston excursions up and down it can take in its lifetime. To illustrate my point, let me tell you about my niece who got sold the same Hybrid Honda sedan that got Honda sued by a woman whose complaint was that it got poorer mileage than its plain gas equivalent for more money up front. What that woman did not know, was that even Honda's rather mild hybrid saved its engine a lot of wear. My neice told me that they have over 400,000 miles on that car and it still was getting good mileage. Hondas have good engines, no doubt, but it would be rare, I think, for one to last that long without the on-off hybrid system, that also boosts acceleration without stressing the engine so much.
Tomas Nordin I've seen across the web 44mpg seems to be the norm. He mentions he got 33 which equals 40mpg or around 5.5l/100km. For an SUV with 200bhp and relatively lots of torque anything over 40mpg is a win. A big win.
As someone mentioned below, this SUV is pointless. I mean why still building a so called SUV with a ground clearance that is getting reduced generation after generation to become closer to a car. And then its AWD system is just symbolic. What else remains in the UV... The new CRV is getting the same treatment by Honda I believe... (Both can only count on reliability reputation)... As for the look and feel, ummm no comment... :) I have a Mitsubishi Outlander 2016, one year already and very pleased with it. It offers great value for money as a family vehicle for everyday's streets and the trails as well... I was glad I did not go for this one or the CRV... My Outlander has at least a descent AWD system and enough ground clearance to make it a valid utilitarian / crossover... This Rav4 did not decide yet if it will become sooner or later a bulky car or a minivan...
I don't like this suv. there is nothing there that makes it pop. no chrome, no defining lines, just a big blob of plastic. rav4 and crv is very basic. no rear wheel drive and hardly AWD. these are more or less a waste of money because they are not as much functionality to this. the Subaru brand itself has AWD standard, Ford Escape (2017) has more of a bolder look, Jeep builds suvs that are meant to have fun with, and even my 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited has rear wheel drive with high enough ground clearance even as it's 3 years old. also the new Mitsubishi Outlander GT has different off road performance. this rav4 and other Japanese suvs built like this are just for a typical person or family that doesn't do anything outdoors and just goes to the market to buy milk. these are mostly underpowered with just looks going for it kinda. waste of money to be honest given there is more better quality and better performing suvs out there. if you don't see yourself going out and just riding the road and driving a few miles a month then buy this.
I disagree with the reviewer. For the average every day driver of one of these SUVs/CUVs, the Rav4 fits the bill very nicely and is every bit as "exciting" as say the CRV or the Escape.
It's an electric cvt, unlike the rest and it does a great job. For fast acceleration switch to the sport mode and shift manually starting in 4th. My 160lb weight allows for a 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds.
I do feel that this vehicle is a tremendous value. The Lexus NX300h with i-AWD goes for about $46,000.00 dollars. They share the same drive train. Certainly, the interior quality and more pleasant touches will not be the same. But, I can only purchase what I can afford. Now I can play more Polka music! Thank you Toyota!
Rear vent diffuser works fine. Who cares about a hard plastic, You are not seated on it. Great all around. Does everything well. I traded my GLK350 for this one.
i prefer the dash on the rav4 than those soft touch dashboards. In Texas it gets really hot during summers and you will have very nasty melting dashes like the ones on Nissans and Dodge after about 3 to 4 years on those cars.
Different cars serve different purposes. My Rav is my dependable, comfortable, winter/crappy weather, great gas mileage vehicle. My vette is for fun. Don’t knock that Rav for it’s intended purpose which it excels at.
I have a 2008 RAV4 which at 210k miles has been a great vehicle for me and not easily replaceable even with the current RAV4s.
Why? For its size and efficiency (avg. 26mpg), it has a cargo area that is perfect for throwing in my wheelchair without having to disassemble it and with room to spare for my service dog to lie. I don't have to sacrifice passenger space for any of this. And I still have room to store items in the under compartment because the spare tire on these previous models is on the outside of the rear door. The current RAV4 models (gas and hybrid) do not have the same usable space. Partially because they have eliminated the sliding rear seats that provided extra space in back. Unfortunately, Toyota has sacrificed "Utility" to give priority to the electronics and gas mileage. One thing I continue to like on the RAV4 is the tailgate, which is lower, and it's flat with no lip. No other car I've tried has this or the equivalent cargo space. The RAV4 is not a fancy car as stated by the reviewer, but it sure has been a lifeline to my independence as a wheelchair user..
I own this vehicle for about a month. I can tell this is a honest review. Coming from a Beemer 328i, I also totally understand what the final words mean. Well done!
the hybrid does 0-60 in about 7.4 seconds the normal rav4 does it in about a rather high 8.7 seconds
Great points and attributes on the RAV4 Sam. Do the other hybrid models carry the same battery warranty as the Prius. I understand the Toyota hypnosis the befalls on us and you are on point with the simplicity of the reliable purpose Toyota serves. I have came close to purchasing another Toyota several times until I close the door and think "that is the same noise my microwave makes when I close that door". On the upper side, I remember when my parents purchased a 1983 Tercel two door with the one option - a/c. No power anything and we were bantering on about how the the car will not last long and all the plastics interior will fall off onto the floor. 150,000 miles later, two teenage divers tests, several trips across country, one clutch and front struts we realized the complete opposite had proved us incorrect. Yes they are darn reliable.
In some states the battery and hybrid related hardware warranty is 8 years/100,000 miles. Some states it is 15 years/150,000 miles. Prius is the same.
you should really do some homework on suvs than buying one just because it's a 'popular' brand, not to sound mean. people buy this and a corolla because it's only 'popular', and not because of its performance. the Subaru brand has AWD standard that makes it a working suv that is truly meant to go off road. then you also have the Mitsubishi Outlander GT AWD that has off road performance to choose between snow, mud, and sand. this rav4 is underpowered and just a too basic
Mm
I must disagree the Reporter as well, the acceleration in sport with the 4wdr will bring a very awesome performance, my Rav4 brings in KILOMETRES from 0 to 100 Kilometers not miles if you select the 5th gear , 6,7 Seconds and the "normally" known 8,3 seconds are either really decent fast. But compared to an power gasoline especially stinky harmful v6 diesel german grab engine, this Toyota hybrids are truly amazing little race cars, because up to 76 miles in a hour we was trying out a race with a over 400nm 222Hp Diesel on the motorway here in Germany and the Rav4 was beating my diesel suv so extremely that I understand now that 3 engines aren't "yust" more resilient but as well very much powerful so a diesel engine needs to start a battle against this Rav4 to atleast 300Hp from the manufacturer to mess with this 200Hp Toyota Hybrids otherwise no chance to hold that race. That's I learned. And hart plast is especially for a extremely long lifetime very important. And indestructible. And that's a big reason, to buy not this weak crapy VW Audi ect...ore some weak fords escapes. And I be now with my second hand 2017 Rav4 very very happy every one like even this fresh powerfully hightec look . And my wife have the awesome hybrid Rav4 2020. Its differ but after all not miles better but the 4wheel system is better and a little more capsuling from the wheels is if you drive slow to hear but my 2017 engine is definitely not so much to hear and to feel in the steering wheel and pedals, but after all the acceleration is quite the same unless the prime and my consumption is a lot better than the guy here claims. But...its report is fir me great, because of the testing on off road. To see that the rear axle part will definitely do something. Great I'm happy. And this one have that very valuable solid metal Magnesium head cover not plastic cover like my wifes one....extremely reliable
Greetings Jay
Your last bit......
That is what 99% want from a car.
Good Review. Very thorough without being boring.
i agree with you Sam about Toyota...great value with legendary reliability...something though I would want to get up early for a spirited drive in? Not so much...Toyota used to have great driving cars..Celica...MR2..now its about the dollar. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Triple H.... im going to buy my mom this
I have Rav4 2016 regular gas under 30k miles, should I trade in to a hybrid one Rave4? Any advise please?
My first response on test drive was DASH TOO HIGH. Don't like sit low effect.
The fastest rav4 huh, lol. "How does it go..." Started flooring it at 55 i bet.
Well Ray I am not buying another suv, just enjoying Sam's review but hey I would buy a Corolla, love the looks and decent stats of the 2016 S model.
i live in phx and have been to the apache trail, what other good roads or back roads would you recommend i take my mazda3 to cruise on sam
I like the reviewer style - this is a good video
How is the road noise
good evening my rav 4 camera is not functioning where can i bye please sugest me
Toyota dealership
IN THE UK WE ARE GETTING 53 MPG TO 54 MPG AT THE MOMENT
Hi John Brown, what do you mean? Is the MPG depending of driving style that much? Or in the UK you are getting a different "edition" of RAV4? I am highly interested because I am just about to buy a RAV4 hybrid...
It feel like a car? You don't say
Toyota has lost me as a customer, partly through the corporate choices made recently. The RAV 4 EV that preceded this machine was a Tesla drivetrain hobbled by Toyota to not use fast charging. It could have been great. Instead they have doubled down on the Gas using Hybrid strictly based on style marketing. Then they tout the Marai Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that is a waste of automotive research.
Now this vehicle has two major flaws beside the traction issue you noticed. SUV's, popular though they may be through marketing magic, are high center of gravity vehicles with poor aerodynamics. It may be more car like, but the car it is like is the 1950s vintage body-on-chassis(pickup truck type) that has been somewhat improved by modern suspension improvements. It gets 1950 VW mileage too, even with the hybrid drive. It has a roof rack to further add drag to the mileage decrease made by that more aggressive front styllng.
You may think the standard RAV 4 is the better buy with no hybrid drivetrain, but for practical drivers not sold on having the latest and greatest sold to them every few model years I, as a long time Prius driver will say that the Hybrid is better for this reason: It will save on brakes with its regen doing a lot of the work. That traction battery probably helps keep the weight lower for better handling, and the engine will last longer not turning all the time. Every reciprocating engine has just so many piston excursions up and down it can take in its lifetime.
To illustrate my point, let me tell you about my niece who got sold the same Hybrid Honda sedan that got Honda sued by a woman whose complaint was that it got poorer mileage than its plain gas equivalent for more money up front. What that woman did not know, was that even Honda's rather mild hybrid saved its engine a lot of wear. My neice told me that they have over 400,000 miles on that car and it still was getting good mileage. Hondas have good engines, no doubt, but it would be rare, I think, for one to last that long without the on-off hybrid system, that also boosts acceleration without stressing the engine so much.
Go back to an horse old timber. ☺
A+++
Some car Magazines here in Sweden been complaining about the fuel consumption.Way too high for a hybrid vehicle.
Try to find a SUV hybrid with better MPG.
the ee3333
Tomas Nordin I've seen across the web 44mpg seems to be the norm. He mentions he got 33 which equals 40mpg or around 5.5l/100km.
For an SUV with 200bhp and relatively lots of torque anything over 40mpg is a win. A big win.
👍
As someone mentioned below, this SUV is pointless. I mean why still building a so called SUV with a ground clearance that is getting reduced generation after generation to become closer to a car. And then its AWD system is just symbolic. What else remains in the UV... The new CRV is getting the same treatment by Honda I believe... (Both can only count on reliability reputation)... As for the look and feel, ummm no comment... :) I have a Mitsubishi Outlander 2016, one year already and very pleased with it. It offers great value for money as a family vehicle for everyday's streets and the trails as well... I was glad I did not go for this one or the CRV... My Outlander has at least a descent AWD system and enough ground clearance to make it a valid utilitarian / crossover... This Rav4 did not decide yet if it will become sooner or later a bulky car or a minivan...
nice Nissan rogue!!! sad all the Japanese brands copying everyone else.
I don't like this suv. there is nothing there that makes it pop. no chrome, no defining lines, just a big blob of plastic. rav4 and crv is very basic. no rear wheel drive and hardly AWD. these are more or less a waste of money because they are not as much functionality to this. the Subaru brand itself has AWD standard, Ford Escape (2017) has more of a bolder look, Jeep builds suvs that are meant to have fun with, and even my 2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited has rear wheel drive with high enough ground clearance even as it's 3 years old. also the new Mitsubishi Outlander GT has different off road performance. this rav4 and other Japanese suvs built like this are just for a typical person or family that doesn't do anything outdoors and just goes to the market to buy milk. these are mostly underpowered with just looks going for it kinda. waste of money to be honest given there is more better quality and better performing suvs out there. if you don't see yourself going out and just riding the road and driving a few miles a month then buy this.
The front of this SUV is so ugly it broke my phone!
yeah right...thats the only thing i dont like its so mean
Haha I know, I actually bought it but the front is the part I don't like. I wish they'd made it look normal. The Lexus front grill is also super ugly!