A few weeks ago, Im in a purple 2016 RAV4 compact crossover marveling that Toyota outsells almost the Mazda brand. My bottom line for this RAV4 read like this:
Why sal es of the RAV4 so high when there are more fun options out there? The reasons can be found in its strong value proposition, a smooth ride which journalists often complain, including regular maintenance and Toyotas reputation for reliability.
The 2016 RAV4 is not going to light many souls on fire, but it gives the average CUV buyer more of what they obviously want.
Except economy or energy performance.
This is where the first full hybrid compact crossover from Ford Escape Hybrid has abandoned five years ago comes in.
What about the hybrid Subaru XV Crosstrek, you ask? It is a mild hybrid in truth, offering meager fuel economy gains and an EV mode at low speeds that rarely engages. It is also a subcompact wagon / hatch lift, not a compact crossov er.
Because we have recently released a test gasoline RAV4 alone, I will not re-cover existing floor. Click over the review RAV4 2016 to the basics and then come on back to the low-low hybrid.
Powertrain
Toyota took a mix-and-match approach when developing the hybrid system for their compact crossovers Toyota and Lexus . They used the engine and transaxle of the Camry Hybrid, electric rear axle of the midsize hybrid RX and created a unique battery that matches the back seat. The battery does not reduce the loading capacity of three cubic feet CUV, but the remaining 35.6 cubic are still 30 percent higher than the segment average.
The heart of the system is a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, good for 150 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. The front deck-wheel drive employs a single planetary gear and two motor / generators to power bump to 194 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque.
While Lexus Hybrid offers the NX with Traction choice front or four wheel drive, motivation, four-wheel drive is the only option for the hybrid RAV4. The rear axle Power is rated at 67 hp and an undisclosed amount of torque, but does not change the total system hors epower 194. If the full 67 hp is required at the rear, the first 44 are provided by the 1.6 kWh nickel-hydride battery and the balance comes from the motor units / generator under the hood, but the total is 194.
Despite a curb weight of almost two tons mark, fuel economy easily tops the US segment of compact crossover at 34/31/33 mpg (city / highway / combined).
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the choice of the hybrid system is rooted in a desire for common parts with other Toyota and Lexus models - and the result is something of a crossover unicorn. If Toyota has opted for a system based on the Prius fuel economy probably would have been fantastic, but the performance could have been on the painful end of slowness.
Using the average size gives the hybrid RAV4 close to first class performances 0-60 mile per hour in 7.1 seconds. Its just a hair behind a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ford Escape or Kia Sportage. At the same time, he gets the best fuel economy in the segment, outperforming the combined EPA rating of 1 mpg in our testing. This is an improvement of 50 percent compared to the petrol model and even a bump on effective but very slow, 2.0-liter Mazda CX-5.
E nter a corner and the difference between hybrid and non-hybrid RAV4 is lower than that of the hybrid Camry and Camry. The two main reasons are the tires and the weight balance. Toyota does not rotate tires 235/55 R18 Limited for the low rolling resistance rubber, and the battery slot moves the weight back.
For reasons not fully explained, the hybrid is actually an inch above the ground that the non-hybrid. Although the basic design is common suspension, the springs of the hybrid have been modified to support the additional weight, different weight balance and an increased height, resulting in a turn a little less polished. The small road imperfections are transmitted more easily in the cabin the last RAV4 we tested. If you want something plusher, opt for XLE - he wears tires 225/65 R17 which gives it a bit more padding
So what do you want Toyota miracle transmission cost. ? A surprisingly reasonable $ 700 on a comparable or XLE Limited AWD with ($ 2.100 more than a model front-wheel drive). This means that a hybrid AWD RAV4 is about the same price as a comparable front wheel drive equipped Honda CR-V, while offering more performance, more traction and superior fuel economy. The hybrid is also just a tad more expensive than a 1.6-liter or 1.6-liter Ford Escape Hyundai Tucson .
So the hybrid RAV4 is faster and more effective than regular RAV4 does not compromise cargo space or remove the spare wheel and lists for a reasonable price. Whats the catch? Depending on your needs, the AWD system might be a problem.
The non-hybrid RAV4 can send almost 100 percent of engine punch to the back, under certain conditions, with a locking center coupling that can be controlled manually under 25 mph. The Hybrid, on the other hand, has a maximum theoretical 65/35 split power (front / rear) and the "seat of the pants" feeling is more like 80/20 because of the way the system works. Because there is no mechanical link between the front and back, it does not remove torque how a "regular" AWD can.
the difficult thing to s get used to is the way it is on snow, ice or mud. When the computer engages the electric motor at the rear, the front wheels and the rear wheels are not necessarily rotate in synchronization. Logical, because it there is no mechanical link. Unlike a conventional AWD system, the brake freewheel before spinning has no impact on the amount of power going to the rear. This means that you have to resist the urge to throttle back if what you really need is to push back.
Despite the different feel, the AWD system hybrid RAV4 is more than capable of allowing you to bypass the checkpoints snow chain pesky on your way to Tahoe. The hybrid model is not as capable as the non-hybrid AWD RAV4, but it is eminently more capable than a two-wheel drive vehicle and is all 99 percent of crossover buyers will ever need.
Starting at $ 28,370, the hybrid is obviously not entering negotiations in the compact crossover segment. However, when you consider that you need to get a Subaru Forester XT or Ford Escape 2.0L Ecoboost to reach the speed of the fastest route, the case seems better. Hybrid XLE is only $ 1,000 more than the AWD 2.0 liter Ecoboost Ford Escape cheaper despite more equipment, and it is actually $ 00 less than the turbocharged Forester.
If youre wondering at this point why not XLE and Limited -hybrid exist too ... The non-hybrid RAV4 poor performance and disappointing fuel economy. The Hybrid, on the other hand, leads in both areas while offering a large space for loading and reasonable price of the vignette. Curiously, because of the design of the Toyota hybrid system, it is also likely to better the regular RAV4 when it comes to the only characteristic they most Toyota buyers :. reliability
If youre shopping for a XLE and Limited RAV4, pay $ 700; you will not be disappointed.
Toyota has provided the vehicle, insurance and a tank of gas for this review.
Specifications as tested
0-30 mph: 2.7 seconds
0- 60 mph: 7.5 seconds
1/4 mile: 15.6 seconds @ 88 mph
