2019 Rav4 Hybrid review with periodic updates

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

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  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Here’s a video that shows the cargo area.



    Here’s a screenshot of that video.
    92049884-503A-4345-B79A-945B94EF0B5D.png
     
    #101 Tideland Prius, Dec 28, 2019
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  2. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    ^^^
    That video doesn't tell us anything about the interior space, since they didn't fold the seats down. Battery is in/under the seat, so if the seats don't fold more or less flat its a clear step backwards from the 19/20 models.
     
    #102 rdgrimes, Dec 28, 2019
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    OMG 300 HP muscle car I don't think so for us, but could be a hit..
     
    #103 wjtracy, Dec 28, 2019
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    If only one of us were at the auto show reveal to take detailed notes....

    :(
     
    #104 Tideland Prius, Dec 28, 2019
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  5. tzx4

    tzx4 Active Member

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    Here's a cold weather report for you. I have a new 2020, Michelin xIce tires that they say are LRR. I live in the Colorado snow belt.
    So far, 39.13 by the odometer, pump gallons, and calculator method. This includes lots of miles on snowpack, and power demanding steep interstate grades, not to mention temps in the 7-40 degree F range. Looking forward to warm and dry road weather MPGs, should be noticeably better.
    Best tank: 44mpg.
    Best short trip, 9 miles: 45, 50, and 55 cruise between home and the gas station with zero elevation changes, 57mpg according to the dash display.
    Best slightly longer trip, 12 miles: 55 cruise and a 500 foot elevation drop, 71mpg according to the dash display.
     
    #105 tzx4, Jan 17, 2020
  6. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Well, it's over a year since I got my Rav4 hybrid and we are still very happy with it. Overall mpg around 40, often better and, of course, somewhat worse in winter.

    We, like many owners have a problem with the gas tank. Pumps shut off about 2 gallons before full. To get even close to fill you have to trickle more gas in very slowly. Also, apparently the reserve, when the dash says DTE is zero, is more than the specs say it is. Those two issues combined and people who get uncomfortable when the low fuel light goes on get much less range per tank than expected.

    The good news is that Toyota, as of 2 days ago, has acknowledged the problem and committed to a fix of 133,400 vehicles! Presumably, the tank will be replaced once they have distributed them to dealers (no date for that yet, it is in the customer notification phase".

    recall.png
     
    #106 royrose, May 31, 2020
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    My hunch: they won't replace the tank, instead it'll be some mod to the "fuel sender gauge". Because that's a lot of gas tanks. But who knows.
     
    #107 Mendel Leisk, May 31, 2020
  8. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Who knows for sure. I'm sure Toyota wants to do the least expensive fix possible, but they are saying that the fuel gauge problem is due to variation in the tank shape. Then there is the issue of gas pumps shutting off early. I'm not sure that the fix that they are planning will take care of that. Truth is that for me it is a bit of an annoyance but doesn't interfere with drivability, so not a biggie.

    I'm just glad that they are acknowledging a problem and will do something about it.

    Edit: I read more of the document. If the defect is confirmed in a given vehicle, they will replace both the tank and fuel sender unit.
     
    #108 royrose, May 31, 2020
    Last edited: May 31, 2020
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  9. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Lets not give Toyota too much credit for finally admitting a problem after 11 months. Any sensible manufacturer would be reading online and print media and responding before every review or comparison to another vehicle cited this problem.

    How many sales has this cost them? How many buy-backs? Is the eight figure million dollars in repair costs worse than the bad publicity for the bottom line? Wouldn't it have been better and cheaper to know the problem 8 months ago and thus have many fewer vehicles produced with the problem?

    My guess is 3 hours labor at $100 (or whatever the dealer reimbursement rate is) plus $200 in parts for 133k cars adds up to ~$67,000,000
     
    #109 mikefocke, May 31, 2020
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