Toyota RAV4 (latest model)

[Guzzilazz]

Hi All,

Although my PCP isn't up for another 18 months, I'm looking around at other options (the XC40 has been an excellent tug, but solo fuel comsumption is unacceptable - at the best 36 mpg on mixed roads), and one of the options is a new RAV4.

However, the spec appears "stupid". When I bought the Cabrera, the out of the showroom nose weight was 150kg, and bothe the Alko hitch and most nose weights are around 100kg. I managed to get the Cabrera down to that by loading stuff under the end bed. The RAV4 nose weight is either 60 or 75kg, depending on who you believe, and there would be no way to get the van down to that.

I'd appreciate any real life new model RAV4 expereinces please?

Many thanks

 

[Woodentop]

Which RAV4? Diesel, hybrid petrol, what - there is considerable variance.

 

[Guzzilazz]

The only option available is Petrol Hybrid

 

[otherclive]

Which RAV4? Diesel, hybrid petrol, what - there is considerable variance.

I don’t think any model Toyota is pure ICE apart possibly from pick ups or Land Cruiser.

 

[Buckman]

I don’t think any model Toyota is pure ICE apart possibly from pick ups or Land Cruiser.

Probably why the Landcruiser is selling so well with apparently a 2 year waiting list?

 

[otherclive]

Probably why the Landcruiser is selling so well with apparently a 2 year waiting list?

Have you seen the pictures and reviews of the new Landcruiser. Reverted back to its “boxy” style and with a range of powertrain options. Looks designed to take on the Defender off road too. Check out Autoexpress website if interested.

 

[Buckman]

Have you seen the sits and reviews of the new Landcruiser. Reverted back to its “boxy” style and with a range of powertrain options. Looks designed to take on the Defender off road too. Check out Autoexpress website if interested.

It has always had the boxy style, but not in thsi country. We only gte the Chelsea type posh Landcruiser in the UK. The proper Landcruiser is a very rugged car.

 

[Guzzilazz]

Interestingly, no one here appears to be towing with a RAV4... Perhaps that answers my question ...

 

[Guzzilazz]

I asked Toyota... Basically, "sorry mate,it is what it is"... That's off the list then

 

[Buckman]

I asked Toyota... Basically, "sorry mate,it is what it is"... That's off the list then

It would be interesting to know what you asked them?

 

[Guzzilazz]

I copied pretty much what I wrote here - it was less specific in terms of the van, but focussed on the load on the towbar... It wasn't clear whether the constraint was the towbar, or the chassis.

I haven't got a copyof the web form...

This is the response :

"Hello Larry

Thank you for your email regarding the RAV4 Hybrid.

I am very sorry but we can not adjust the load capability on this vehicles tow bar, Toyota GB are unable to perform modifications to any vehicle or advise on taking our vehicles away from manufacturing specifications.

I apologise for this and thanks for getting in touch with Toyota.

Kind regards"

 

[otherclive]

Manufacturers are making sure that their model range is such that they don’t incur penalties when the legislation requires a makers total sales output meets a specified level of emissions. If they exceed that level then each car sold will incur an additional charge, or fine. So companies see sales of pure ICE have to be offset by lower emmision vehicles. Small ICE may continue but increasingly large ICE need other model sales to offset their emissions. Companies such as Toyota if wanting to sell new ICE Landcruisers need low emission models to compensate. Hence JLR‘s problem……they don’t do small models.

 

[trevormonty]

Tow rate is limited by complete hybrid drivetrain. To be fair tow market is very small. For every RAV4 sale lost to Sportage because of limited tow rating, RAV4 will take another 5 Sportage sales because it is more economical car. Most SUV owners never tow but they do care about mpg.

 

[Buckman]

It is a vehicle we would consider as a second car at a later date due to its reliability record plus the 10 year warranty.

 

[Guzzilazz]

One of the things that has become apparent in this "look round" is that the number of vehicles that meet a 1500kg (ish) trailer weight is rapidly diminishing, especially in the under £40k bracket.

 

[Buckman]

One of the things that has become apparent in this "look round" is that the number of vehicles that meet a 1500kg (ish) trailer weight is rapidly diminishing, especially in the under £40k bracket.

This may probably lead to an increase the price of some second hand ICE vehicles?

 

[Gafferbill]

.....I decided to replace my much loved 22 year old 170000 mile Nissan Terrano.
I run two vehicles one of which is a 1.4 litre diesel Ford that consistently returns 65mpg and is £30/year tax.
The choice to look for I came up with for the Towcar, was a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe around 2016 pre Addblue model.
Just bought a 2016 Santa Fe that has covered 49000 miles.
Couldn't justify a similar new vehicle which would be £50000!

Snap Hutch

 

[Bluetonic]

Just bought a 2016 Santa Fe that has covered 49000 miles.
Couldn't justify a similar new vehicle which would be £50000!

Good choice, hope you enjoy it.
A few more toys than our 2014 version. But it's the best tow car we have ever had

 

[xtrailman]

The only option available is Petrol Hybrid

Hybrid is a low 70kg.

 

[Hutch]

Good choice, hope you enjoy it.
A few more toys than our 2014 version. But it's the best tow car we have ever had

Just hit 89k in our Santa Fe, 2014 auto 5 seater, fantastic carrying space under the boot area. Still get 40 plus mpg solo on the motorway 30 ish towing. Milton Keynes local , 28ish.
20k service intervals. But if we tow heavily change the oil at 10 k. .

 

[Buckman]

Just hit 89k in our Santa Fe, 2014 auto 5 seater, fantastic carrying space under the boot area. Still get 40 plus mpg solo on the motorway 30 ish towing. Milton Keynes local , 28ish.
20k service intervals. But if we tow heavily change the oil at 10 k. .

When I read the above, it makes me feel chuffed. Solo with the Jeep I get about the same however towing it drops down to about 23mpg which is not bad for a 3l engine towing 2000kg.

 

[Bluetonic]

Just hit 89k in our Santa Fe, 2014 auto 5 seater, fantastic carrying space under the boot area. Still get 40 plus mpg solo on the motorway 30 ish towing. Milton Keynes local , 28ish.
20k service intervals. But if we tow heavily change the oil at 10 k. .

Due to my daughter and her friends totally messing up transport to and from Leeds festival this weekend I have been seeing 44 mpg on the two motorway runs I had to do in not messing about mode. And the 7 seater option came in handy as my wife came to keep me awake on the emergency retreval run at 3 am Sunday morning

On topping up the tank I think it's more like 46 mpg so pretty happy with that

 

[Oscarmax]

We tow with a 2023 Suzuki Across PHEV it is a Toyota RAV4 PHEV, we tow a 2016 Swift Conqueror 480 1500kg nose weight 70kg.

It is an excellent tow car good fuel consumption, very stable despite the low nose weight, as a comparison it all ways including towing it is better than our Ford Kuga Powershift 2 litre diesel

 

[Guzzilazz]

With a van that I have trouble getting the noseweight down to 100kg, 60-70kg is useless to me...

 

[Oscarmax]

Sorry I missed that, our caravan is also nose heavy the only way to reduce the nose weight is to let the wife a freehand with the wardrobe, which she seams to do quite well, the front locker is virtually empty, the awning over the axle.

For the last 3 years we have been towing with a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV it was slight unstable on the rear end.