FWD/AWD Hybrid Rav4 - daily performance

[moggio53]

14 hours ago, Rav Rob said:

I would not go back to a FWD car again, I got an AWD after a day of hell many years ago getting trapped in Merthyr Tydfil in horrific snow and an eventual, often life risking 7 hour trip home. My car at the time had reasonable momentum but too many people lost momentum on slopes forcing me to lose mine, then getting restarted was near impossible. Anything with AWD whatever the tyres, was able to get going again OK. After that I have only had AWD, 4 vehicles in a row.

But a lot of emphasis is put on snow and more important is day to day driving, when I test drove the RAV4 I had a FWD and currently had an AWD Outlander PHEV, I was surprised at how easily the RAV spun the wheel on take-offs the Outlander wouldn't have. When my AWD RAV arrived I was pleased to find it as good as the Outlander, capable of faster launches at damp busy junctions without any drama, tons of traction.

AWD is a benefit I enjoy every day, every trip. 

Trapped in Merthyr Tydfil is certainly horrific!!

Ive got the 4x4 and find it can really zip into a roundabout safely which my previous sportage certainly couldn't do. As an aside I didn't plan to get a 4x4 but this what the garage had and it looked good and had a low mileage - I certainly dont regret buying it even with some of the build quality issues

[Cyker]

35 minutes ago, J2024IE said:

havent had any wheel spin even in wet conditions

Well clearly you just aren't trying hard enough!   

[J2024IE]

12 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Well clearly you just aren't trying hard enough!   

well when driving a hybrid,  its recommended for gentle acceleration

[Nick72]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

Haha, no wonder my Mk1 Yaris D4D felt so powerful - It had 170Nm of torque and weighed probably 600-700kg less!!  

 

More torque from diesels generally speaking.

[ColinB]

I bought a FWD Excel RAV4 back in October '21, I did consider the AWD version but couldn't justify the extra cost. I was happy with the fuel consumption, which averaged 47mpg on mainly short journeys, mid 50s upwards on a longer journey, that I was happy with. It would scrabble for grip coming out of junctions a bit too easily for my liking, even in eco mode, but couldn't justify the cost of new tyres. Solved this by recently changing to a Yaris Cross that has adequate power (130 version) and 60mpg consumption - still miss the RAV4 though... 

[Nick72]

12 hours ago, ColinB said:

I bought a FWD Excel RAV4 back in October '21, I did consider the AWD version but couldn't justify the extra cost. I was happy with the fuel consumption, which averaged 47mpg on mainly short journeys, mid 50s upwards on a longer journey, that I was happy with. It would scrabble for grip coming out of junctions a bit too easily for my liking, even in eco mode, but couldn't justify the cost of new tyres. Solved this by recently changing to a Yaris Cross that has adequate power (130 version) and 60mpg consumption - still miss the RAV4 though... 

Looks a nice car. I'll probably head that way eventually, when I no longer need nor can justify a big car.

[TonyHSD]

Ok, I was wrong about the awd-I and I think it is indeed helpful and can make the car drivable where fwd only might not be.
Here an example from another country awd-I system. I have no information about torque or bhp so can’t compare both systems but in practice they might work similarly. 😊👌

 

[PeteB]

I must admit when I was choosing my RAV4 AWD I was very impressed by what some YouTubers were putting them through (including deep water and rocky roads [see video] I would never contemplate!) and the fact that the car could brake a single spinning wheel to divert all power on that axle to the wheel with grip.

It does give me confidence that, whilst no guarantee, I would stand a better chance of getting home if conditions conspired to catch me out, as has happened a few times here in Norfolk over the last 10 years.  Combined with the All-Season tyres is better still.

 

[Nick72]

It works well. Even better on good grippy tyres.

I've done woodland trails, steep muddy grassy banks, farm tracks, snow and ice narrow bendy mountain roads, steep up and down hill mountain roads in 6 inches of snow, etc.

Never had a problem, not even on summer tyres, but got CC2s now for more insurance.

Absolutely could not have achieved the above with FWD.