New purchase

[Billy Bean]

I am looking to order, and get eventually when supplies improve, a new Rav4. Can any owners give a guide to their feelings of ownership, good points, not so good points, etc. 

Cheers

[ernieb]

You need to be more specific as to which model your interested in buying, HEV, PHEV.  There are reviews and comments a plenty on this forum so I’m sure you’ll get help. It might be useful to define what your usage is going to be, work, social how many miles per year etc.

[Yugguy1970]

I have a design, HEV, 2wd.  

I like my design spec and for me the extra cost of the excel wasn't worth it.  The only thing I would have been bothered about was lumber support but I sorted that with a 6 quid mesh support from eBay.   Others though do like the more upmarket leather interior from the higher specs.

The design isn't much more than the icon tech and gets front parking sensors which for me was worth doing.

I love that the cruise and safety tech is across all trim levels, I use radar cruise quite a lot and it still makes me giggle with the car speeding up and braking on its own.

The car can cruise effortlessly at motorway speeds, when full of people and luggage and still return very good mpg.   For me again, I didn't need the power of the PHEV, not for the 8/9k more it costs.

One thing though, I have 2wd and it's fine when dry but in slippy conditions I find it can struggle to get power down from a standstill, and I'm not a racer.   I would consider awd next time.

[Flatcoat]

Are you looking to order now or order when supplies improve? 

[philip42h]

I suspect that pretty much all of us who drive the current RAV4 hybrid - HEV or PHEV - would agree that it is a great car - it does exactly what it says on the tin and does it very well and reliably. And that's all you really need to know ...

But it is, of course, built to a budget so it doesn't have all the premium (and not so premium) features that other marques have; you don't get all the options available on all the grades (there's a limited choice) and Toyota do have a delightful habit of hiding some buttons away in hard to see places. But there are 'complaints' about all of this littered across the forum.

[Billy Bean]

2 hours ago, Billy Bean said:

I am looking to order, and get eventually when supplies improve, a new Rav4. Can any owners give a guide to their feelings of ownership, good points, not so good points, etc. 

Cheers

Looking at comments I need to be a bit more specific. I'm looking at the Dynamic self charging hybrid. I drive a mixture of local and long distance and regularly carry German Shepherd dogs. I am not bothered about fuel consumption, can't see the point in fretting about cost. If I want to go somewhere, I will go. The one area where I can't seem to get a definitive answer is about a spare wheel availability. 

[Billy Bean]

42 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

Are you looking to order now or order when supplies improve? 

I want to keep my existing car through the winter, so would be spring onwards. Not to worried about lead times. 

[ernieb]

There is room for a spare even if they are not supplied as standard, even with the PHEV which has the larger Battery.

The car is a joy to drive, sure footed in the AWD version and comfortable. As has been said the style is more towards the utilitarian than luxurious but what included is solid. The HEV technology is probably the best on the market with the transitions between ICE and EV seem less. The Navigation/Head Unit is basic and on the slow side if you are used to a more modern system, that said I use Android Auto and it’s rock solid, works as expected.

Best bet take a test drive, get a set of keys and take a few hours to see how you feel.

Lots of help and support on this forum.

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, Billy Bean said:

The one area where I can't seem to get a definitive answer is about a spare wheel availability.

The current Dynamic comes with black painted 19" alloys and a Tyre Repair Kit. It [probably] comes without jack or wheel brace.

There's plenty of room in which to install an aftermarket space saver spare under the boot floor. If you take that option you will want the get the tools as well. Look for kits by Road Hero or KOM on the web as well as pictures etc. from those on this forum who have installed such kits.

Edit: The Icon and Design grades come with a temporary spare and no TRK.

[Billy Bean]

Thanks all. 

Odd there is a spare wheel on Icon and Design but not Dynamic. Do they think that Dynamic drivers are immune to blowouts. 

[Stopeter44]

Just now, Billy Bean said:

Thanks all. 

Odd there is a spare wheel on Icon and Design but not Dynamic. Do they think that Dynamic drivers are immune to blowouts. 

It's to do with homologation, I wouldn't be surprised. There's a variation from a standard weight that is allowed, and certain options add a lot of weight, such as a panoramic roof. For example in France, the next top of the line Yaris has a spare wheel, unless you opt for the panoramic roof.

[philip42h]

2 minutes ago, Billy Bean said:

Thanks all. 

Odd there is a spare wheel on Icon and Design but not Dynamic. Do they think that Dynamic drivers are immune to blowouts. 

No, it's believed to be a weight thing ... replacing the spare with the TRK saves a bit of weight and keeps the emissions down to within the level set at homologation.

[Yugguy1970]

That's exactly what I said a while back,why I have one but the Excel etc don't.  I want a spare, tyre weld is pointless.

[ColinB]

I went for an Excel as I found the electric seat adjustment allowed me support under my legs, I'm quite tall and an accident left me with a fractured pelvis making longer journeys in my then C-HR uncomfortable. For me the Dynamic is more about style, Excel comfort. I've only had my RAV4 since late October plus a bit of the dreaded Covid has meant that I've only driven 350 miles so far, but I'm still happy with my choice so far. A 240 mile trip to Cornwall for the New Year will confirm how comfortable the seats really are.