Why no hybrid RAV4?

Lola'05 · 07-02-2006, 07:37 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jeromep @ Jul 2 2006, 07:24 PM) [snapback]280267[/snapback]</div>

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Ford is in their second year of Escape Hybrid production (and headding strongly into their 3rd year) and of any of the worldwide auto manufacturers, Ford, GM and D/C are not in a financial position to build vehicles with build or mechanical issues they have not done their best to anticipate and eliminate before production.

It is a lot less expensive to eliminate as many potential problems before production than after. The 05 Escape Hybrids have had a very successful run and the 06 is doing well also.

You would see plenty of Escape Hybrids on the road right now if Ford had their own internal tooling to build the hybrid related components themselves. However they outsource many of the hybrid components from some of the same manufacturers that Toyota sources their components from and as such Ford is a second filddle buyer compared to the "home team".
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You almost sound like you or a family member are a Ford employee. You have to understand that it was early '05 when I was looking for a new car. The local dealer- where I also bought the Exporer- isn't the greatest.
I had previous experience with Honda. That was great. In fact my daughter is still driving that '89 Civic, starts every time she turns the key. Have no idea what the mileage on that car is now. Thought I would try Toyota this time. I really do LOVE my Prius.

deh2k · 07-02-2006, 07:54 PM

How about the Highlander Hybrid? In fact, I know a nurse that drives one and she likes it a lot.

Lola'05 · 07-02-2006, 07:57 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deh2k @ Jul 2 2006, 07:54 PM) [snapback]280290[/snapback]</div>

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How about the Highlander Hybrid? In fact, I know a nurse that drives one and she likes it a lot.
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That is out of my price range.

clintd555 · 07-02-2006, 09:06 PM

Yea the Highlander is too big and I'm not willing to spend that much on a vehicle.

larkinmj · 07-02-2006, 10:36 PM

The new CR-V is coming out later this year. From the spy photos, it looks pretty sleek- more rounded that the 1st and 2nd gen CR-V. And the word is that it will be offered as a hybrid.
There is also a new Highlander coming out this year, and it is also going to be an esthetic improvement over the current vehicle, based on spy photos. But the HyHi costs over $40K and only averages (from what I've haerd) in the high-20s for MPG.
A hybrid RAV4 might be an incentive for me to buy another SUV. The conventional RAV4 gets decent mileage so a hybrid should get at least in the 30s. And it now has an optional 3rd row seat (albeit small.) But I have not ever heard any rumors of a hybrid RAV4.

darelldd · 07-02-2006, 10:56 PM

Maybe Toyota isn't doing the Rav4 hybrid because it would then be obvious what a big step backwards it is from the Rav4EV they made ten years ago???

While I have no experience with the latest (huge!) models of the Rav4, I can tell you from direct experience that the Prius is a WAY more practical configuration of vehicle than the 1st gen Rav body that I have. More passenger room, and about the same cargo room. Better turning radius, better handling, blah, blah. The only thing better about the Rav configuration is WAY better visibility.... oh, and taller cargo area. Other than that, the Prius excells in every other way I can think of as far as "configuration." I won't get into the whole gas vs EV thing.

Drift Motion · 07-03-2006, 02:16 AM

man i would love that too
the 06+ RAV4 Sport is pretty sexy
but i hope if they will ever come out with a hybrid model, i dont want to see liek a price tag of like 30k...like the highlander..

daniel · 07-03-2006, 08:22 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jul 2 2006, 07:56 PM) [snapback]280365[/snapback]</div>

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... I won't get into the whole gas vs EV thing.

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WE WANT EVs!

EricGo · 07-03-2006, 09:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drift Motion @ Jul 3 2006, 02:16 AM) [snapback]280416[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

man i would love that too
the 06+ RAV4 Sport is pretty sexy
but i hope if they will ever come out with a hybrid model, i dont want to see liek a price tag of like 30k...like the highlander..
[/b]

Check out the pricing of the HyCam vs the other Camrys. It is impressive. You will have to dig a bit into the packages to really get a gist of how inexpensive the HSD option has become.

hobbit · 07-03-2006, 09:22 PM

I would caution that a hybrid powerplant, while it certainly helps
FE and boosts fun factor, is not the magic bullet -- per my recent
experiment, http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1302
I was still doing 45 - 50 mpg in a Prius *without* using its hybrid
capability. One must also take driving technique into consideration.
.
_H*

07-02-2006, 10:36 PM	#15
larkinmj Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,996 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 6	The new CR-V is coming out later this year. From the spy photos, it looks pretty sleek- more rounded that the 1st and 2nd gen CR-V. And the word is that it will be offered as a hybrid. There is also a new Highlander coming out this year, and it is also going to be an esthetic improvement over the current vehicle, based on spy photos. But the HyHi costs over $40K and only averages (from what I've haerd) in the high-20s for MPG. A hybrid RAV4 might be an incentive for me to buy another SUV. The conventional RAV4 gets decent mileage so a hybrid should get at least in the 30s. And it now has an optional 3rd row seat (albeit small.) But I have not ever heard any rumors of a hybrid RAV4. __________________ Mike Larkin http://www.myspace.com/deadbluessociety

07-02-2006, 10:56 PM	#16
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 5,336 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 18 Thanked 44 Times in 32 Posts Friends: 12	Maybe Toyota isn't doing the Rav4 hybrid because it would then be obvious what a big step backwards it is from the Rav4EV they made ten years ago??? While I have no experience with the latest (huge!) models of the Rav4, I can tell you from direct experience that the Prius is a WAY more practical configuration of vehicle than the 1st gen Rav body that I have. More passenger room, and about the same cargo room. Better turning radius, better handling, blah, blah. The only thing better about the Rav configuration is WAY better visibility.... oh, and taller cargo area. Other than that, the Prius excells in every other way I can think of as far as "configuration." I won't get into the whole gas vs EV thing. __________________ -= Darell the EV Nut =- * EV Pages * Prius pages * PLEASE avoid sending me PMs!

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07-02-2006, 07:54 PM	#12
deh2k Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 239 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	How about the Highlander Hybrid? In fact, I know a nurse that drives one and she likes it a lot.

07-02-2006, 09:06 PM	#14
clintd555 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 253 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	Yea the Highlander is too big and I'm not willing to spend that much on a vehicle.

07-03-2006, 02:16 AM	#17
Drift Motion RMS13 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena/Riverside, CA Posts: 178 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	man i would love that too the 06+ RAV4 Sport is pretty sexy but i hope if they will ever come out with a hybrid model, i dont want to see liek a price tag of like 30k...like the highlander..

07-03-2006, 09:22 PM	#20
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 3,630 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 216 Times in 118 Posts Friends: 0	I would caution that a hybrid powerplant, while it certainly helps FE and boosts fun factor, is not the magic bullet -- per my recent experiment, http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1302 I was still doing 45 - 50 mpg in a Prius without using its hybrid capability. One must also take driving technique into consideration. . _H*