Hybrid Rav4 On It's Way

[duncerduncs]

Saw THIS report on Autocar's website a couple of days ago. It mainly mentions the Auris Hybrid that is coming towards the end of the year, but does have something to interest us...

"The hybrid Auris launch will follow the arrival of the new Prius this month, and will in turn be followed by a hybrid RAV4."

If it comes with the same power train as the Prius (98bhp engine and 80bhp battery) then it'll be a bit slow!

If Toyota fit the Battery pack to the 2.0 Valvematic engine, then it will have 238 bhp

Will anyone buy it?

[local hero]

Saw THIS report on Autocar's website a couple of days ago. It mainly mentions the Auris Hybrid that is coming towards the end of the year, but does have something to interest us...

"The hybrid Auris launch will follow the arrival of the new Prius this month, and will in turn be followed by a hybrid RAV4."

If it comes with the same power train as the Prius (98bhp engine and 80bhp battery) then it'll be a bit slow!

If Toyota fit the battery pack to the 2.0 Valvematic engine, then it will have 238 bhp

Will anyone buy it?

TBH Duncs it would take a lottery win before i would even contemplate a new car, having said that, if i had spare cash, i keep noticing ads for the new Lexus 4x4 is it the 450h? which seems to tick all the right boxes 300bhp, reliability, luxury, + economy + a lift up tailgate, no idea what they cost as it is clearly beyond my means, but yes i would consider a Hybrid rav, were i ever to be in the meerkat for a new car.. PS will it have a spare wheel?

[Phoenix999]

Saw THIS report on Autocar's website a couple of days ago. It mainly mentions the Auris Hybrid that is coming towards the end of the year, but does have something to interest us...

"The hybrid Auris launch will follow the arrival of the new Prius this month, and will in turn be followed by a hybrid RAV4."

If it comes with the same power train as the Prius (98bhp engine and 80bhp battery) then it'll be a bit slow!

If Toyota fit the battery pack to the 2.0 Valvematic engine, then it will have 238 bhp

Will anyone buy it?

I don't get your idea that a similar power train to the Prius would be slow = 178bhp

Using your maths it says the 2.0 valvematic engine has 158bhp

If I had a choice I would go for 178bhp

[Plutus]

I won't buy another one until the spare wheel problem is sorted.

[duncerduncs]

I don't get your idea that a similar power train to the Prius would be slow = 178bhp

Using your maths it says the 2.0 valvematic engine has 158bhp

If I had a choice I would go for 178bhp

It would seem that the Autocar story is full of mistakes!

The Prius has a 98bhp engine and a 60kw Battery, giving an equivalent total of 136bhp. With the batteries added I imagine the Rav4 to weigh in around the 2000kg mark, 136bhp wont get you very far!

[Davrav]

I won't buy another one until the spare wheel problem is sorted.

It's where to put the spare batteries you need to worry about ;)

Presumably MrT will use experience gained from the Lexus RX400h in any hybrid RAV. I'm sure I read somewhere, or was told, that Toyota intend to offer a hybrid option for all models by 2011.

[Dippy]

For me personally, not if they don't do a diesel hybrid (I don't know if that's technically possible).

If I understand hybrids correctly, they work on batteries up to about 30mph then engine after. As we live in a suburb, 2 miles from a motorway, and we almost always use that motorway to go anywhere else, the Battery would barely get used - then I'd just be paying big petrol bills all the time.

Can imagine batteries are great if you live in or near a big city - but for those in the country, where most roads are 50+, it makes no sense.

[DaronB]

Its a little more complex than that Dippy , the engine can also switch off when coasting or going downhill when the engine is not needed , it also regenerates energy from braking to recharge the batterys , if you look at the mpg figures they are almost the same for urban and highway driving , the new Prius can achieve over 70 mpg on the motorway and did if you read the blog from the Toyota guys who were driving it round England to show in shopping centres , I think they were getting 77 mpg !! The biggest bonus is in town driving though were most cars mpg drops significantly the Prius doesn't as the petrol engine can be switched off for long periods when stuck in traffic or waiting at traffic lights etc.

My parents have a Prius 2 and the petrol engine switching off and on is almost seamless , most of the time you wouldn't even notice , they are a fantastic car , even their Prius 2 averages around 50 mpg or more all the time , I just ordered a new one for my wife for August delivery , they have really done a great job on the new one , sleek body design , beautiful interior , heads up display , solar roof , over 70 mpg town or motorway and no road tax , once you drive one you will really appreciate it :)

Diesel hybrid should be possible but maybe with the diesel engine being more noisy the switching between engine and electric would be more noticable.

[Mereside]

My wife had the Prius 1 and after 94k trouble free miles hammering up and down the motorways with her job it averaged 52-53mpg and she never gives a thought to economy. She now has the Prius 2 and that is slightley less economical but faster and handles better. It has 30k on the clock and the only problem she has just mentioned is a squeaky brake.

They are the easiest cars to drive with auto, climate etc.

I have also driven the Lexus LS600h for a couple of weeks and the Lexus LX400h and have to say that they are a doddle to drive as well returning good economy for their size I got 30mpg in the LS600 and 34 in the RX.

I love my Rav4 T180 for the performance and all round ability as I have to use it for work and do mild off road work.

If there is a hybrid Rav4 I will certainley consider one if I can afford one as I do now prefer an auto with all the queue's I get in. The economy and performance should be better than the T180 and with petrol being cheaper that will be a bonus.