19 Rav4 Hybrid

No - there is no petrol AWD model. That, too could be a reason for more demand for Hybrid.

That said, I read a while back that most small-medium SUV buyers are now only opting for FWD - gives the same look, in most cases the neighbours won't know if it's FWD, AWD or 4WD - and that the vast majority of SUVs are city cars, never venturing off the tarmac.

The EDGE model is a more "hard-core" AWD, not quite a 4WD, but moreso than the Hybrid AWD.

 

The Aussie prices I quoted in #98 aren't drive-away prices. Add ~$2000.

My local dealer's website shows 4 2WD Cruisers in stock and some GX and GXLs - though that's often fiction:

 

Still the belief here.

The hybrid has more power and another 250 pounds of tow rating here, which would be about another 500 under your trailer regulations. If the Edge is like our Adventure, it will have the highest tow rating.

The Lincoln MKZ(?) hybrid was sold at the same price as the base engine for the traditional model. Sales weren't 50:50, because people opted to pay extra for the V6 with AWD. So it could be a big draw even without off road use, and I wouldn't consider Toyota's hybrid AWD system for such. Going back to towing, if Toyota follows past FWD hybrid SUVs there as they did here, the FWD Rav4 hybrid won't have a tow rating of anything.

Posted prices in the US are just MSRP. Manufacturers and dealers don't include delivery, taxes, registration, and whatever BS fees the dealer adds. Europe includes at least the taxes, so the numbers aren't directly comparable.

 

Well thinking about getting one of these guys. Took an LE for a test spin last weekend and was very impressed with the power. Would not have guessed a hybrid.

Getting one, specifically a Blizzard Pearl, XSE is tough. Ordering with the package (Weather Package) seems to be the only route. I was even going to fly down to the states and drive one up to make a mini-vac out of it. But thinking ordering is the best route.

Has anyone had one for a bit and formed an opinion?

 

I haven't driven one - but the local test-reports reckon that the hybrid drives better than the petrol - more usable power. No hybrid in my local dealer when I looked a couple of weeks ago - but I'll check soon again.

 

Dealer in Colorado Springs lists an XSE in Blizzard Pearl/black interior with weather package and carpeted mats as "in transit". Dealers here are giving moderate discounts. It's a nice drive from here to Alaska.

 

Yes, I originally wanted to take my son on an adventure to the Grand Canyon and pick up a XSE on the way. But things are getting too hot down that way now so we might put off till next spring. Or just put the adventure off and have the dealer here order one up... decisions decisions decisions... Most West Coast dealers are selling at MSRP at this point.

 

I suspect our dealers are the same - will be no negotiations - ie full price - as there is a 3-4 month wait for orders. I'll wait for 6 months and reassess how things are - they often have deals at the end of calendar year - if there are cars in stock by then.

Or keep Samantha.

 

When the production in Kentucky comes on board in 2020, there will be plenty of hybrids to go around. Until then, demand will still outpace supply

 

Ours all come from Japan - but I guess they will be sending less to USA. Which end of 2020?

 

They should come from Canada and Japan right now. But once Kentucky is on board, Canada shipments will be gone for sure. They'll only have enough capacity to fill their own market.

 

^^^
At present the North Amarican cars with the panoramic roof are coming from Japan. Those without it come from Canada, and can include the adaptive headlights. Moon roof and adaptive headlights are mutually exclusive.

 

My east coast dealer was well below MSRP for a Canadian built car. No need for dealing, just asked the price. 20 day wait for an ordered not in stock unit. Done entirely by email. CarMax Laurel Md

 

With our daughter's 4wd Pilot, there's 3 additional fluids that need changing. The rear differential in particular is a hassle, and comes up on the Maintenance Minder fairly regularly. The proprietary fluid is not cheap either, and comes in large containers that leave you with awkward amounts left over.

That said, the AWD Rav4 is additional electronics only?

 

Axle and diff gearbox too, MG3 of course. Pretty sure that's all in a single box. I don't see any maintenance listed in the manual, ever.

I found this video, but I'd guess the drive unit has changed in the 2019.

 

1. There are dealers who will go under MSRP.
2. Demand is high, supply low.
3. Even my dealer just raised his best price by $500.

I drove mine 350 miles last night home. I had driven up in a V-6 Avalon. My normal car has been a Prius v. Just so you know my frame of reference.

My car was a 2019 Rav4h Limited with every option. Not cheap. But so smooth and quiet and and powerful. It almost drove itself once I got all the electronics figured out. Amazed me how many I had working by the end of the trip just by fooling around. Lane keeping, check. Adaptive cruise control, check. Multi-function display, almost all options discovered. Paired with a 5 year old droid, check. I was never conscious of it being a hybrid.

My biggest problem is how to pack all the stuff I had accumulated in the v into the Rav. The v was amazing for all the places it had to store stuff. The Rav not so much. It is the little things in the v like 3 cup holders in the front and 2 glove boxes I'll miss.

Now to delve into the 700 page basic reference manual and see what I missed. And get some more miles on it so I can get a feel for the MPG.

Very pleased.

 

Sounds good. Fill it completely and then try for MPG - for some reason, my last 3 or 4 cars gave spurious readings on the first tank if I didn't do that.

The Manual - good bedtime reading, helps get to sleep quickly. But I got mine read in about a week. There is an online version too - with 740 pages, it's good as well as you can "search".

 

^^^
The tank average display in the Rav4 is pretty accurate. Maybe 1/2 - 1 MPG higher than calculated.