Does the Tundra Hybrid give you the confidence to buy a 2026 RAV4?

Can you comment further why your dislike for CVT? I am evaluating also the '26 Kia Sportage Hybrid in the SX Prestige trim which is a 6-sp automatic transmission.

 

Toyota Hybrids do not have CVT’s. They use what is called an eCVT which is the stupidest f-ing name in history since it’s nothing like the traditional CVT. No belt at all. All it does is confuse people into thinking it’s some belt type of CVT.
Plagiarism begins - “It utilizes a planetary gearset and two electric motors to achieve a continuously variable gear ratio, eliminating the need for traditional gears, clutches, or torque converters”.
Bottom line is they have proven to be insanely reliable.

 

You do realize that the Tundra “hybrid” and the RAV4 hybrid are two totally different animals. Both hybrid systems work totally different.

 

Both planetary gear and cone/belts can be types of CVTs. They are just different designs to achieve the same goal of continuos infinite ratios to improve fuel economy. Just because most early CVTs were belt/cone based does not make that the only design..

Each theoretically should be more reliable than a regular transmission. History has not proven that to be the case. The history of eCVTs is shorter to judge reliability across various vendors. But that is the future of CVTs given there is no real way to rid the belt/cone design of it continuous droning they people hate

 

I am sorry for sidetracking the thread a little, but since it was brought up:

You pay a penalty for buying a more fuel efficient car with more expensive tech?! This is ultra deflating.

 

We drove the RAV4 hybrid but it felt way small on the inside plus not many ways to adjust the seat for a bigger fella like me. We went with the Honda CRV Hybrid Touring Sport- it gets mid to high 30s and has a BOSE stereo which is vastly superior to the JBL. Get what you want but with all the taxes they have added to Hybrids it really is not worth it.

Good Luck.

 

Yes.

 

KY does for Hybrid or Electric

 

There’s some great technology and advances being made in vehicle design these days, I’m a little old school and traditional regarding vehicle design in the name of mileage numbers and EPA requirements.
I bought a 3rd gen non hybrid Tundra because I’ve always bought and trusted Toyota as far as longevity and reliability is concerned… will this new Tundra be as trouble free and reliable as every other Toyota I’ve owned ? Probably not, but I think Toyota is still doing better than other manufacturers along with Honda.