Wife looking at a new Rav4, Anything to be aware of?

Covid has changed our commuting situation and wife has two cars. An old Kia Sorrento on its last legs and a Chevy Bolt. Bolt has been fine but really doesn't have a long range and she no longer commutes 90 miles a day, so it's not really needed.

Looking at all Rav4 models.
I'm researching currently and haven't found anything to problematic. I'm just wondering if anyone currently has a newer model and any issues to be aware of? All I really see is that the Venza, Highlander and Rav4 are all on the same motor platform now. I know the early Subaru CVT transmissions were problematic. From what I can find the CVT in the Rav4 is stellar but the 8 speed is the problematic one.

Looking at a 2021.

Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

 

Most of us here deal with the 4R's as other vehicles but there may be 1 or 2 with Rav 4's. I'm wondering if they have a forum. I think @MTRock has a newer one.

Here you go....there are a few Rav4 owners here.....https://www.tundras.com/threads/wife’s-new-rav4-or-my-tundra.62362/#post-2239382

 

We looked at a new RAV4 but we got more value out of a used Lexus NX for same.

 

Wife looking at a new Rav4, Anything to be aware of?



Anemic power delivery unless you use both hands and wring the engine's neck.

 

I certainly haven't felt our 2012 Rav4 is underpowered. I mean, it's a small SUV with a 4cylinder so I'm not sure why anyone would expect it to haul ass. It has plenty of pep to merge onto the highway when needed.

Anyways, @NoRcptn I doubt you'd be disappointed with a Rav4. There is a reason it's Toyota's #1 selling vehicle. Go test drive a few to see what you think.

 

We had one for 6 months, traded it in. It was gutless to say the least.

 

Maybe the new ones are underpowered? Strange comments. Not sure why anyone would expect a ton of power from a small 4cyl SUV. Buy a Highlander.

 

Perhaps the disconnect is attributable to perspective. I shall attempt to elucidate.


A question regarding the attributes of a 4 banged vehicle is lodged upon a forum dedicated to a model, built by the same manufacturer, of a V8 dominated vee-hickle.

Based upon where various feet are placed (perspective) the RAV is A: gutless or B: quite economical to own and possessed of an adequate drivetrain.

 

The new Hybrid Rav4 are pleasantly punchy. Toyota has a stellar record on hybrids, I have been considering a RAV4 Hybrid or Sienna Hybrid. 35mpg+ in the city seems pretty reasonable to me. I love my truck but the $100+ fill ups are getting old.

 

We got my wife a 2020 Rav 4 same time as my 2020 Tundra. She averages 35 MPG combined and the 2.5 4cylinder puts out 200HP. Like any smaller displacement engine you have to get above 3K rpm to get anything out of it but it's happy to do it. Obviously compared to our 5.7 it's anemic, but it sips gas rather than chugs it like our trucks. Overall she is very happy with it. I'm 6'5" and I can drive or ride in it if needed.

In the small CUV class that it's in I can't think of anything i would rather have. Don't like the CVT feeling in the Honda and Subaru, Nissan is junk, not a fan of the Domestic offerings. Mazda maybe, but the 1 dealer near me is HORRIBLE so there is that.

 

The RAV4 prime is Toyota's second fastest car from 0-60 mph, behind the BMW Supra.

 

Bought the wife a Rav 4 Hybrid back in Dec, it has 12k miles on it now, no issues. The feature packaging on the models was a little strange, so definitely shop carefully for the options you want.

No complaints about power. First toyota after 3 honda pilots, she was looking for better economy and didn't need the cargo room / 3rd row of the pilot anymore. In the pilots she was averaging 21 mpg, in the Rav4 she's averaging 38 on similar drives which blows my mind. I don't love driving it but to be honest I wasn't crazy about the pilots either. My only real complaints would be that the driving tech while "modern enough" feels a little clunky, and it has a fair bit of wind noise for what otherwise is a pretty quiet car. Seats are stiff but not a deal breaker. I do care about powertrain and driving feel, but the gas/hybrid transition is nearly seamless, and at 38 mpg I can get over the CVT feel compared to a traditional auto transmission.

A friend compared the rav4 hybrid to the ford escape hybrid and chose the escape for the much-higher wow factor of the dash and infotainment.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with a RAV. Test drive it and make sure you are okay with the power. It's not a race car, but it is not advertised as one either.
If you want bigger, for not a whole lot more money the Highlander is a great option also.

 

I am going against the consensus here…but the new generation and the last generation are not underpowered in any way. Are they a 5.7 nooo… I commute in a 2018 and my dad owns a 2021. Nothing wrong with even one. The 2021 definitely feels more peppy.

I have no problems doing 70 in the mountains. Yes it does rev a little more than a V6 but that’s to be expected. The 0-60 are fairly comparable to a 5th gen 4Runner. I have zero complaints but I respect that fact that it’s an AWD economical winter friendly vehicle.

The Highlander is great but is much less efficient.

 

Your answers never seem to disappoint me.

 

The leaky roof comes up seems more so on adventure/trd models w grab handle roof rail but other models reported it. But i think its more case by case. Some other minor ones; loose side mirror or lurching fwd at slower speed (have no clue what that is). Im pretty happy with mine. I think theyre in high demand now like tacomas. Seeing some used ones listed higher than when I purchased. So far no issues I like it so far.

https://www.rav4world.com/threads/2019-roof-rack-leak.305629/

 

we dont have many issues with rav4s. if i were buying one for a daily commuter, the hybrid is great. maintenance on them is way less than any gasser, brakes last longer, and the fuel mileage is awesome. change the filters and tires pretty much for the first 100k miles.


the hybrid CVT is not the belt based CVT your use to, and in 7 years of working at the dealer, i have yet to see a hybrid transmission get replaced.. theyre bulletproof. the 8 speed we've had a few issues with them. but theyre not terrible... other than the fact theyre always shifting

 

yea but the primes are 50k to start last i checked... eek

 

You could be eligible for federal and state tax credits that can bring the price down.

 

possibly. indianas credits are.. meh. but theyre nice. i've driven one. its freaking fast for a rav. but its not much faster than the 3rd gen rav4 v6.

 

not to mention the prime does have more maintenance than a standard hybrid. the A/C system needs to be recharged every 80k since its used to also cool the battery on the prime

 

That is interesting.

 

it was in our product launch tests. im sure no salesmen mention it, but technicians know about it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXFipAaMEQI&ab_channel=TheCarCareNut

this explains it last chapter the freon maintenance is mentioned

 

I'm looking at the rav4,highlander and sienna, the base rav4 prime is 40k then you should be eligible for a 7500 tax rebate. The only issue with the base you don't have the super charger option which cuts charging time by about half. But 40 miles on pure electric would be perfect for my wife's commute

 

personally the new highlander would be one i'd avoid. they're plagued with wind noise issues

 

all electric or all gas but thats just me. 2s in 1s more hassle to deal with

 

I've been looking around on the toyotanation site and there seems to be a lot more post of issues on all other toyotas than this tundra site. Lots of complaints about filling the gas tank too. That may just be on the hybrids.

 

hybrid only issue caused by 2 engineers not talking to each other, theres a fix toyota does for free to remedy that

 

Loved my RAV4, it has plenty of power... but then again it is a 2010 V6. Haven't been able to drive it for years, though, since my daughter "stole" it.