Hybred Rav 4?

With the Highlander, the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner etc. that use hybred technology to help a little with milage but mostly with power, I would like to see a SUV with more emphasis on better milage. Any news of something comming down the pike?[/size][/b]

I would've rather seen a Hybrid RAV4 before a Hybrid Highlander. Oh well.

Now that you can get a 3rd row seat in a RAV4, I would gladly get rid of my wife's Pilot for a hybrid RAV4. The Highlander hybrid is too big and too expensive.

If they made a Hyrbid Rav4 we would trade the Prius in on it in an instant. The Highlander is too expensive. The Escape and the Mariner are too crappy.

A hybrid RAV4 is a natural progression from the RAV4 EV and the RAV4. The only problem is that people will want to occasionally tow something - towing is not suitable for the current hybrid models.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doug @ May 9 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]438318[/snapback]</div>

That very something came down the pike in 1996. Rav4EV. 130mpg (of gas equivalent). Seems we can't manage to do that eleven years later.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ May 9 2007, 03:12 PM) [snapback]438585[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the Rav4EV would have been the natural progression from the Rav4 and then a hybrid. It just happened that the EV came before the hybrid, and now we're headed backwards.

There is absolutely nothing about a hybrid system (or EV system) that would prevent towing - if it were designed for it. The Prius is not supposed to tow NOT because it is a hybrid. It isn't supposed to tow because it simply wasn't designed for it. All of the PHEVs that Prof Any Frank has built at UCD have greater towing capacity than the gas versions that they were built from.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(1x1 @ May 9 2007, 09:59 AM) [snapback]438330[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure there would be that much difference. The Rav4 has gotten pretty bloated in the last couple of years.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Acelin @ May 9 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]438595[/snapback]</div>

From a size standpoint I agree, my point is about cost. Fully loaded the Rav 4 costs about 8k less than the Highlander.

So, okay Toyota, bring on the RAV4 Hybrid that can tow a trailer. People still drive SUVs and mega pickups because they feel a strong need to be able to transport large bulky objects and tow things. Seems a major niche that Toyota can fill.

I'm about to buy an 08 Rav4 and I'm so bummed that it offers none of the high tech sweet gadgetry of my Prius. I feel that even though the Rav comes highly rated and recommended, it's not as smart as the Prius. Where will I monitor my gas usage and however will I adjust to spending so much more on gas..?

I want the AWD for thesnow and tow features, but..come on Toyota, you get a hybrid Rav out the door and you'll have at least one return customer!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ May 9 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]438561[/snapback]</div>

Aren't the Escape and Mariner hybrids using cloned Toyota Hybrid System drives (which Ford cross-licensed with Toyota) that are very similar to what was used in the Prius?

Here in my area I see a lot of FEHs being used as NYC taxi cabs. Those must be pretty tough to withstand the kind of abuse a cabbie would heap on it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JustLurkin @ Sep 22 2007, 01:43 AM) [snapback]516093[/snapback]</div>

I took a serious look at the Escape hybrid. Despite the Detroit 3's denial of Consumer Reports importance, I put a lot of faith in their data. The 2008 Escape hybrid has some flaws, even while getting high marks in a lot of areas. Most noticeable is that body integrity (Seals, weather stripping, loose interior trim, air and water leaks, wind noise, rattles and squeaks) actually got worse from 2007 to 2008. That's significant enough for me to give it a pass; I'm not buying something with that kind of problem. The other issues are that it doesn't come with stability control and the hybrid Escape engine is noisy at freeway speeds. The reliability is rated good compared to RAV4's and Highlander's "excellent" rating and depreciation for the Escape hybrid is good compared, again to the Toyota entrys' "excellent".

I know two people who have Escape hybrids and one gets 31 and the other gets 32 mpg. True, you get a $3000 tax credit for buying an Escape hybrid but I don't believe that that's a good enough reason to ignore the other issues. Also, there's at least a two month wait for it so good luck with that. You're better off with a new RAV4 V6 which gets 32 mpg without hybrid technology. The RAV4 V6 scores an 83 with CR compared to the Highlander hybrid scores 86 but CR says that if your main interest is mileage, the HiHy would disappoint you. The Ford Escape doesn't have a CR overall score so I can't compare it in that way to the RAV4.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Sep 26 2007, 11:51 AM) [snapback]517938[/snapback]</div>

Tell me where you come up with 32 mpg with a v6? What position do you hold for Toyota?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Sep 26 2007, 09:51 AM) [snapback]517938[/snapback]</div>

I find it hard to believe that the RAV4 V6 would get anywhere near the MPG of the Escape hybrids in everyday driving.

For reference, Consumer Reports' overall mpg findings:

Rav4 4cyl, 23; Rav4 6cyl, 22; Escape hybrid, 26; Highlander hybrid, 22; Prius, 44.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Sep 26 2007, 01:09 PM) [snapback]517955[/snapback]</div>

yes, well, CR insists that they could only get 44 out of a Prius. I guess it depends on how one drives a specific vehicle. "Everyday use" is a relative term, isn't it? Besides, buying a new RAV4 is worth it anyway, knowing how it pisses off Detroit 3 guys like malorn. Thank you, Danny, for the Ignore option.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Sep 26 2007, 12:24 PM) [snapback]517968[/snapback]</div>

Jack, where did the 32 mpg v6 rav4 come from? What position do you hold with toyota?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Sep 26 2007, 12:26 PM) [snapback]517970[/snapback]</div>

He's probably in the driver's seat.

Malorn, Maybe a new thread would be appropriate, where your fan base will be more likely to find you.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(M. Oiseau @ Sep 26 2007, 12:32 PM) [snapback]517973[/snapback]</div>

Mr "Dodge", a very convenient moniker by the way, threw out a figure with much confidence and I would just like to know where in his research in CR he came upon such a figure?