I'm looking at the Prius Gen 4, to replace my 2010 Prius Gen 3. My wife is pushing me towards the RAV 4 Hybrid, which would replace both the Prius Gen 3 and our 2003 Subaru Forester. So I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with the new RAV 4 Hybrids. I noticed that it would be possible to get the new safety equipment on them same as the new Prius. Any and all comments would be welcome, both on Prius vs. RAV 4 and on RAV 4 generally.
It seems like you'll be better off with the RAV4 since you're replacing your Forester (I'm assuming you "off road"). If you don't need the space or off-road capability, go with the Prius Gen 4. You can't really go wrong with either, except the RAV4 doesn't get Prius-level MPG. I haven't driven the RAV4 Hybrid, by the way.
Well the RAV4 won't beat your Forester on off-road capability but if you're just needing AWD for snow or light gravel roads, the AWD-i system will work just fine. I drove the RAV4 Hybrid Limited (so it had the 18" wheels). It rode fairly stiff (the XLE on the 17" might be a bit more comfortable). It drove fine and like most Toyota hybrids, it's a bit noisy under full throttle. However, visibility is great and so is the seat position. It's not too high or too low. I'm fairly tall and I had lots of room. The RAV4 is the best seller (after the Corolla) in Canada. Doesn't matter which major city I'm in, I see lots of them of various generations.
Thanks! We won't be doing serious off-roading, but we are planning to move to Washington state, so snow and gravel roads are a likelihood. Are all of the Prius' new safety features available on the RAV 4 hybrid, or just most of them?
TSS-P, BSM and RCTA are available on the RAV4 Hybrid. The only thing I'm unsure of is whether the DRCC in the RAV4h is full-speed like th Gen 4 or operates above 25mph like the Gen 3. The RAV4h does not have a HUD or S-IPA or ICS but it does have PanoramaView and Bird's Eye View camera.
S-IPA = Simple Intelligent Parking Assist. Toyota seems to waver between that and APGS (Advanced Parking Guidance System). APGS is what Lexus calls it. ICS = Intelligent Clearance Sonar. This is the set of 12 sonars that the car uses to detect if you're about to hit something at slow speeds and stop the vehicle or warn you. (Basically smarter parking sensors) Video describing ICS' Drive-Start control Video describing ICS' parking support and S-IPA (at that time, called IPA2)
Did you drove it off roading? Haven't seen any off roading review, except the following. Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid Is an All-Wheel-Drive Beast | Outside Online
I've just bought a Prius (well, ordered not delivered yet), but I was seriously tempted by the RAV4 hybrid. I test drove it and was really impressed despite all the motoring press writing it off. It is spacious, has excellent visibility, and I thought it drove fine. I liked the back seat and boot space and the fuel economy is good for a car in its class. However, I live in the UK with busy, congested roads and the size was both an advantage and disadvantage for me. Although I live in a city (squeezing into very tight parallel spaces is the parking norm) my commute is across narrow country roads and the scourge of SUVs doesn't really help (except on the occasional day of snowy weather.) The fuel economy, while good for its size, is nothing on the Prius and the AWD is basically awful; totally pointless (some proper winter tyres would make a much bigger difference) and your Subaru would handle incliment conditions much more successfully. The HSD is nothing like as smooth as the new Prius, but it still drives ok, but the safety kit isn't as good, and in the UK at least, the spec levels are ridiculous, (sat-nav standard in lower trims but not the highest trim???). Overall, I liked the RAV4, but in the UK there are countless crossover SUVs to choose from and the RAV4 probably isn't the best. The Prius, on the other hand has the best hybrid system you can buy and safety and tech levels that are best in class. It is also cheaper to buy, run and service. All that being said, the RAV4 is good looking and the Prius (and I feel I can say this since I've just bought a 4 and currently own a Gen 2) is ugly as all hell.
Instead of Prius Gen 4 and/or Rav 4 hybrid, may be you can view this link G’s PRIUS α and PRIUSα プリウスアルファ カスタマイズラインナップ | トヨタモデリスタ
