Toyota to launch 2016 Rav4 hybrid at New York Auto Show

No way. Toyota just redesigned Rav4 less than 2 years ago. They did it right: Brought out a nice Rav4 with (finally) flip up hatch, then 2 years later a hybrid option. They'll sell these hybrid Rav4's. It's a nice looking CUV.

 

The thing is - it's kinda bothersome that for all the folks that look for a nice ... lighter suv (which the rav used to be) ... and yet the Rav has become quite the pig. Part of efficiency ... especially in city driving is not having to slog along with nearly 2 tons of vehicle - just to get up to speed between red lights. ok, it's not quite that bad ... but I think peeps understand that small is easier sometimes. Not only accelerate ... but to maneuver as well.
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I'm willing to bet research has shown a little more space was needed to accomodate 5 passengers decently in Rav4. 2 generations ago, I think the Rav4 was pretty small and it probably didn't fit 5 American size folks very well.
Think of it this way, many people who would have otherwise got a Highlander maybe found the Rav4 to fit their family well.

Was just thinking of the origianl Rav4 EV. Yeah, that looks pretty small from the outside. Vehicles seem to be getting a little bigger over time. But there are still smalls and sub-compacts out there for those who've just gotta have a tiny car. Not the direction I'm looking.

 

Light-weighting is called the 'virtuous cycle.'

Bob Wilson

 

I don't think the extra weight is exactly vicious, but the rav4 has gotten chunky
2001 Toyota RAV4L Road Test – Review – Car and Driver
Car and driver complimented toyota for not adding the bloat adding only 100lbs in the revision of the cute ute to 3140lbs

The latest revision pigged it out to 3455 lbs, a full 10% more weight than the gen II. Switch out the conventional for hybrid parts and it will come in at around 3650 lbs. This is a lot less than the highlander but a good 20% more than a prius liftback.

A ground up electronic 4wd hybrid (or hybrid + plug-in model) CUV could probably concentrate more on rolling resistance and aerodynamics. I don't know whether you come in much lower weight wise, but if you build it for high seating position and snow and mud traction and towing you probably get a better hybrid. No reason to even pretend people are going to use it like a jeap off road. Still toyota has paid for the R&D and parts. Why not put them in the RAV4. Sure it may cannibalize the highlander hybrid, but those figures are awful anyway.

 

you know I think I got it confused with the rav4 -E which if you can find one they where about 40k they where not sold or leased in the midwest

 

If it is no AWD then it's kind of a pointless exercise IMO, esp. if it's more expensive than the AWD gas model. The "4" in "RAV4" means 4WD after all.

If there is no AWD hybrid then we might just buy a 2015 gas model RAV4, or perhaps a competitor's model.

 

The Lexus NXh has 4wd and is on the same platform, so I'm pretty sure they will just transfer those parts, I mean it will make them cheaper on the Nxh so why not.

 

It's too little too late. There should have been a RAV4 Hybrid for the last 5 years, not having to wait until 2016!

There needed to be a plug in option of the RAV4 at the very least, not just a normal hybrid. We have the Outlander PHEV here and the BMW X5 xDrive40e coming out later this year.

Toyota are doing some strange things of late. Where's the gen4 Prius? Not even a sniff of it and the gen3 is well overdue.

 

I agree, but I was just noticing the leaks made no mention of AWD. I guess they can't leak everything though.

Well, I'd rather say better late than never. Actually, the timing works well for us. We hadn't considered a RAV4 until this year, since before now we weren't really in a stage in life that made it as desirable.

As for a plug-in RAV4, we personally are not really interested in one, unless the pricing is really, really attractive, and I say this as an owner of a Plug-in Prius. I suspect Toyota will increase the number of plug-ins in their lineup eventually, but perhaps not for this generation.

 

Now you're talking. Hold out for the Mitsubishi Outlander. they have a plugin version that's coming very soon to the U.S. shores. Funny, Toyota said they won't make such an animal claiming it would be too expensive. Hate to see Mitsubishi prove them so woefully wrong. As it already stands worldwide, every plugin Outlander that Mitsubishi can deliver gets snapped up.

Well yea - Toyota brought folks expectations to what they are today. They're already shouting "hydrogen" this, & "hydrogen" that .... and it won't be available to the masses for at least 10 years if ever.
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ok i'll give you that one ... Toyota doesn't always toot their horn ... and yes - the hydrogen hoax goes back before Toyota jumped on the hoax bandwagon. My hydrogen memory/age must go back a couple more decades than you






.

 

And boy are they. They really can't make enough of them. The pricing here in the UK/Europe is that you can get an Outlander PHEV (base model) for the same cost of a PIP.

One initially thought that Toyota were at the forefront of plug ins and hybrids and lead the way. With the lacklustre PIP and now the Mirai, you really have to question Toyotas directions.

The Outlander PHEV and BMW i3 are selling like hot cakes here. Both manufacturers just can't keep up.

 

Any relative numbers?

Bob Wilson

 

I'm still baffled how can Mitsubishi sell a 12kwh plug-in hybrid car at that price, without a loss!

 

..... and yet they are selling at their current pricing. So help me with this;
why would I buy a small suv hybrid, for the same price (likely) that I could get a small plugin suv?
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