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2019 Rav4 Hybrid review with periodic updates

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by royrose, Apr 20, 2019.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what do you mean by auto stop in both directions?
     
  2. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Up date on our Rav4 Hybrid: Still getting over 40 MPG average after more than 2500 miles. We still have the issue of the clock reverting from 12 hour to 24 hour display. Pump filling issue was originally thought to be due to an overly conservative reserve but further experience has concluded that gas pumps shut off early (inconsistently), so I am filling to the second click rather than past practice of stopping on first click. No a big deal to me but some people are upset about this.

    Overall, we are very happy with it. I'll bring it in for the first free service sometime next month and ask about the minor issues.
     
    alanclarkeau and Mendel Leisk like this.
  3. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Maybe just get used to 24hr clock - I usually set things to that anyway - after having my home A/C working 12 hrs out of phase because I read the little "dot" marking PM wrong.

    I find my PRIUS is more sensitive to some pumps turning off early than previous cars - I now have a mental note of a few individual pumps to avoid - or I fill to the 2nd click if they're the only ones available.
     
  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    @royrose - you've had your RAV4 for about 2 months now - how are you finding the comfort of the car - seats mainly. Are they better or worse than PRIUS?

    Also, how have you adapted to the layout/ergonomics - with central instruments, higher seating position etc?

    And - the ride?

    thanks.

    (PS - what colour is it - have you posted a photo?)
     
  5. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Alan,

    The Driver's seat is comfortable and fully adjustable including having a power lumbar support ( in our Limited trim level). For the front passenger, Toyota has been criticized for not offering a power seat and not even a manual height adjustment. It is set rather high as is typical for SUVs. The first thing we did when a new Rav4 got to a local dealer was to see how my wife and I fit in all seats. Fortunately we were both comfortable but I know that if she could my wife would lower the passenger seat. So, given the lack of passenger seat adjustment, it's try before you buy.

    That said, I would say the seats are more comfortable than my old Prius.

    The ride is excellent and the added power of the rear electric motor is noticeable and nice to have.

    As far as the instruments, I am one that likes the Prius layout with all instruments in the center but I have adjusted to the dashboard in front of me. The central tablet like screen can be customized to show up to 3 windows of audio, map, phone and/or hybrid system info. I would like to have Android Auto which we don't have (yet?). In some ways the Prius has better MPG tracking options.

    And the mileage continues to impress. Just returned from a 136 mile round trip from our home at 6300 feet elevation up to 7300 feet, then down to Denver at it's mile high 5280 feet, then back home later the same day. Overall displayed MPG 45.6. Amazing for an SUV.

    There are a couple of pics in the third posting in this thread but here are a couple more including the passenger's seat and the displayed MPG. By the way, that's 14,000 foot Pike's Peak peeking into the clouds in the background.

    IMG_20190615_105227679~01_LI.jpg

    IMG_20190615_105311953~01.jpg IMG_20190615_105350308.jpg IMG_20190615_105112101_PerfectlyClear~01.jpg
     
    #45 royrose, Jun 15, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2019
  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Thanks. Stunning scenery.

    "THE" Pikes Peak? - I don't suspect that a TOYOTA will ever keep up with VW's electric record!!!
     
  7. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    While your at it, could you give us more interior photos.................I really like this vehicle!
     
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  8. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Yes, THE Pikes Peak. The hill climb is 2 weeks from today. I read that VW is not entered this year, so maybe no new record.

    I'd be happy to comply. What in particular would you like to see?
     
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  9. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Basically the Whole interior, like you would be previewing it.
     
  10. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    great photo! that kind of mileage is really spectacular. are you driving in a special way to get such great fuel economy or just normal?
     
  11. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    It helped that there is a lot of congestion and they are working on adding an additional lane to a long stretch of that highway so I wasn't able to go very fast.

    I don't hypermile per se but I have driven a Prius for 10 years, so, by habit, I am light on the accelerator and coast up to stop signs and even down gradual declines.

    My wife is the principal driver of this vehicle and gets around 40 mpg by "just driving it", so Toyota did a really good job with this generation of hybrid.
     
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  12. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    that's great to hear!
     
  13. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    "Have you noticed the clock or seat heater issues that I described above?"

    On our 2019 Limited Hybrid the only issue we've noticed is the clock. Even though we've set it for 12-hour mode, it returns to 24-hour mode at random times. There are actually two clocks and the other clock is fine. Odd, but not concerning.

    As far as we can tell, we have no problems with the seat heaters or coolers, AC, transmission, door locks, rear door or side view mirrors. However, we've noticed that a reflection from the dash trim obscures the driver's side mirror. We wanted to like the digital rear view mirror but can't - it forces your eyes to re-focus and is, therefore, distracting and difficult to use.

    BTW, our (i.e., my wife's) mileage is much better than expected, averaging in the mid-40s. She recently got 47.0 mpg on a 50 mile (+/-) trip across town. We are very pleased with this purchase.
     
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  14. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Try removing the setting to update the clock via GPS. I did this a while ago and haven't seen the 24 hr clock return. "Time will tell.";)
     
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  15. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    I think we had this discussion on Rav4World. I and others on that forum have removed that setting and still get the clock reverting to 24 hours. So to me it is a mystery why you clock has not reverted.o_O
     
  16. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    Thank you for the suggestion.

    I turned off the "update clock with GPS" setting and, two days later, was back in 24-hour-clock mode.

    Not a problem, just curiouser and curiouser.
     
  17. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Ditto, mine stayed put for a couple weeks then reverted again. Gremlins.
     
  18. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Lets see if my signature file now displays 40 MPG average as it should as I learn to ignore much of the power increase from the Prius v that the Rav4h has.

    Quality good. Only thing I've found that doesn't seem to work is the foot under the rear bumper to open the tailgate feature. Works 2 times out of 10.

    Worst feature, passenger seat comfort says my wife. Drivers in the limited is really adjustable in lots of ways but passenger is manual.

    Because the features vary by country and trim level, you'll see widely varied opinions and likes/dislikes.
     
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  19. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I read that you're supposed to make a "kicking" motion with your foot. I turned off this feature on mine cause I cannot have it opening unintentionally.
     
  20. thefranchise713

    thefranchise713 Junior Member

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    I had the kick motion liftgate on my last car. Usually triggered OK when I needed it, but it also would go off randomly in the cold and wet. I eventually reprogrammed the car's modules to ignore the input, it didn't have a user configurable trigger to disable it. Awful feature I wish I could order an SUV without.