What's your opinion on the Rav4 Hybrid?

November 30, 2020

Hi forum members,

I am currently looking to purchase a new car as I am putting my old Huyndai hooptie to rest. I am looking to get an SUV since this year due to the lockdown I have been going on hiking and camping trips around the state a lot and so I'd like to get an adventure car as I am planning to make more trips in the future. My main priorities are that the car is fuel efficient, maintaining and fixing it is pocket friendly, that its a good car and can last me a long time as I plan to keep it for years and years, and that I can take it anywhere even up in the mountains where the road might get a little rough (I am not talking very rough and rocky off-roading terrain though). With the research that I have made, I have settled on the Hybrid Rav4 and ever since I have, I have been obsessed with the car, how it looks, its MPG, and all, but I am still hesitant. So I wanted to hear your personal opinions and experience.

Is the Rav4 Hybrid a good car? Is it a good investment? I don't particularly have a specific budget. Between 20K-25K is good and I have come across Rav4 Hybrids priced in this range.

Also, I have never owned a hybrid before, so how does the Rav4 Hybrid operate? does it use gas first and then once fuel is out it switches over to electricity? is it the other way around? do I have to get a charging a charging station and charge the car?

Thank you so much in advance for all the information!

November 30, 2020

Which model year are you looking at, they are very different between the generations.

November 30, 2020

the 2016-2018 models. I love the 2019-2020 models but at the moment they are outside my price range.

December 8, 2020

I recently got a 2021 RAV4 XLE Hybrid and these are my thoughts. Excellent gas milage and with the trail mode, I haven't had any problems up in the mountains as of yet. The Hybrid models get extra HP (I believe mine is 219) and it's enough to get me around. Based on my experience so far for the 2021, it runs off of Battery below a certain number of RPM's and MPG, then switches over to gas from there. It also uses the electric power for takeoffs (all Hybrids for 2021 are AWD). The front wheels are powered by gas and electric and I believe the back wheels are powered by only electric.

But if you're looking for a reliable vehicle that gets good gas milage and can do some off-roading (obviously not boulder crawling), I'd put my money behind the RAV4 Hybrid any day. My next upgrade that I want to get are some All Terrain Tires and maybe a slight lift so I can get around more places. But for now, the stock tires work surprisingly well and the AWD with Trail Mode gets the job done.