The 2019+ RAV4 Thread

4472 Views 88 Replies 35 Participants Last post by tejlab, 4 d ago

MandatoryOutsidePossum

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

It's the world's most popular compact SUV by a hearty margin. It comes in gas, hybrid, and EV versions. It's cheapish. There are luxury trims and trims you can wheel on the Rubicon. It can tow 3,500 lbs. It's reliable. It has a decent aftermarket. It even looks good. There's a reason you see them everywhere.

But what does TCL think of it?

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61 - 80 of 89 Posts

Sporin

· #61 · 13 d ago

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Sorry Officer

· #62 · 13 d ago

Once my wife gets bored of her Crosstrek, the hybrid will be on the short list. The Crosstrek was just too good of a deal to pass up Pre-pandemic

VarianceVQ

· #63 · 13 d ago

I'd be willing to take the MPG hit of the Woodland versus other hybrid trims for the looks though the part about not being as well-equipped is a downer.

Jimmy Russells

· #64 · 13 d ago

10% MPG hit just from tires? Is it like the Wilderness models that have steeper gearing?

Sporin

· #65 · 13 d ago

What you do get in the Woodland Edition is a melting pot of form and function. The TRD Off-Road lends its 18-inch bronze alloy wheels wrapped in 225/60R-18 Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail 01A all-terrain tires. The Woodland Edition also borrows the TRD's springs, dampers, and bump stops. Otherwise, this RAV4 gets a few mild aesthetic tweaks, including a roof rack and mud flaps, as well as a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area.

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver
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Marc Urbano|Car and Driver
Fuel-Economy Hit

The RAV4 Woodland Edition, unfortunately, takes a hit to its fuel economy, which poses an existential threat, as that undercuts a major reason to buy a hybrid in the first place. But, if you want your hybrid bedecked in roof racks and higher-rolling-resistance tires, a sacrifice must be made. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the Woodland's 32-mpg result was a full 5 mpg below that of the last RAV4 hybrid we tested and 3 mpg below its EPA estimate, which is specific to the Woodland.

Sporin

· #66 · 13 d ago

Toyota likes to tout that the gasser RAV4 TRD gets its "best" AWD system, but it's still fairly unspectacular in that regard. That said, it will certainly handle almost anything the average RAV4 buyer needs.

Our 2016 gasser is really fantastic on snowy, icy winter roads with snow tires.

Jimmy Russells

· #67 · 13 d ago

Sporin said:
post #65

Damn. I wonder how much of a difference the roof rack makes.

adrew

· #68 · 13 d ago

VarianceVQ said:
I'd be willing to take the MPG hit of the Woodland versus other hybrid trims for the looks though the part about not being as well-equipped is a downer.

The Woodland has dumb-for-offroading (IMO) 225/60-19 tires. If I planned on lightly off-roading one of these, I would just get a regular one and put some ATs on the 17-inch wheels. Maybe not KO2s, but KO2s do come in the OEM 225/65-17 size (they have some D-rated ones that don't weigh a ton).

It would be more capable and probably end up cheaper than jumping to the outdoorsy trim.

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Sporin

· #69 · 13 d ago

The lightest, 3-peak winter-rated AT would be perfect on a stock RAV4. It's not like you are going rock crawling.

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Stradguy93

· #70 · 12 d ago

Here is question for TCL, why is the RAV4 the end all be all, but nobody gives a second look to the Venza?

jettag60

· #71 · 12 d ago

For the limited, how are the faux leather seats? really just unappealing after sitting in nicer cars

mittencuh

· #72 · 12 d ago

Stradguy93 said:
Here is question for TCL, why is the RAV4 the end all be all, but nobody gives a second look to the Venza?

There are 7 Venzas near me, the cheapest is $36,200 (and the next cheapest is $41,000). There are 77 RAV4s near me, and plenty in the low $30s. Oftentimes there aren’t even Venzas on the lot, and especially lower XLEs. I do quite like the Venza and think on paper it’s fantastic. Toyota just seems to make the RAV4 much more accessible.

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Stradguy93

· #73 · 12 d ago

mittencuh said:
There are 7 Venzas near me, the cheapest is $36,200 (and the next cheapest is $41,000). There are 77 RAV4s near me, and plenty in the low $30s. Oftentimes there aren’t even Venzas on the lot, and especially lower XLEs. I do quite like the Venza and think on paper it’s fantastic. Toyota just seems to make the RAV4 much more accessible.

I guess I figure most people are buying used since buying new is a waiting list in a lot of cases. I have a fair amount of Venzas near me on the second hand market for a decent deal. All the reviews I have watched mention the Venza being a "mini Lexus" in build quality, etc and the same underpinnings as the RAV4. If you're not buying a budget Rav4, seems like a Venza is the better choice, but I am not everybody.
Not sure if the utilitarian appearance is the draw, or the name recognition for the RAV4.

RAVatar

· #74 · 12 d ago (Edited)

adrew said:
The Woodland has dumb-for-offroading (IMO) 225/60-19 tires. If I planned on lightly off-roading one of these, I would just get a regular one and put some ATs on the 17-inch wheels. Maybe not KO2s, but KO2s do come in the OEM 225/65-17 size (they have some D-rated ones that don't weigh a ton).

It would be more capable and probably end up cheaper than jumping to the outdoorsy trim.

View attachment 290277

I went ham on our RAV4, dropping 2 full inches from the OEM 18s and fitted balloon size 235/70 16 Terras with KO2s. It was overkill, especially for FWD but I'll be damned if there was so much sidewall on that wheel that my wife never curb rashed a single time in 4 years.

That car was great. I'd do it all over again with a TRD Off Road today.

View attachment 290326

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adrew

· #75 · 12 d ago

2

Every once in awhile I'll bump the curb with the right rear when making a tight turn out of a parking lot - yeah, nothing happens. My brain sometimes falls back to the 5-foot shorter Yaris in certain situations, haha.

I saw this in Colorado a few years ago

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dromanbujak600

· #76 · 6 d ago

Venza Hybrid is the RAV4 worth buying.

100% made in Japan. Incredible build quality, fit and finish. $36.5k starting.

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adrew

· #77 · 6 d ago

4

dromanbujak600 said:
Venza Hybrid is the RAV4 worth buying.

100% made in Japan. Incredible build quality, fit and finish. $36.5k starting.

Some RAV4s are made there

At my local dealer

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Sporin

· #78 · 6 d ago

The Venza is really nice, they seem to be pretty scarce on lots though so prepare to put down a deposit and wait for an allocation you like.

dromanbujak600

· #79 · 6 d ago

adrew said:
Some RAV4s are made there

At my local dealer
View attachment 292553 View attachment 292554 View attachment 292555 View attachment 292556

The Toyota's with the J-vin are the really good ones since they are made in Japan.

I have a '17 RAV4 which was made in Japan and it feels like a Lexus compared to my mom's '15 Rav4 which was made in Canada, I think? The '17 has no rattles, squeaks, and it just feels tighter and quieter at the same time.

We recently backed out of a new Corolla Cross as according to our sales person was being held at their new factory down in Alabama due to some quality control issues. Who knows. Maybe the dealership simply sold it to someone who was willing to pay a markup or a friend of a sales manager.

New Venza has a 1 year wait according to the dealership we talked to. Only dealership in my area that doesn't do markups.

adrew

· #80 · 6 d ago

Interesting they have huge wait lists - early in the pandemic they were one of the slowest-selling Toyotas, like the secret hybrid.

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