I use to drive a Subaru STI so I am familiar with how a capable AWD system does in the Canadian winter. Got the 2019 XSE since June and for sure the system isn't as capable but it is pretty damn good for what it is. It has constantly surpassed my expectations of what a inferior system is like. Considering i'm averaging about 47mpg (50mpg highest so far) in a car that has lots of space, awd and cost around the same as other crossovers this car is a beast.
All terrain (more aggressive) tires for off roading would help but I also think just lowering your tire pressure would actually do wonders. Looks like you had about 30 psi or higher which is normal road psi. I've gone off roading w/ my family and my brothers always air down to about 10-15psi for off roading then air back up for the road to about 35-40psi. This rav4 hybrid is pretty sweet! If you mainly need the interior space and great mileage and do very occasional off roading for camping, hiking, etc, then it's perfect. Great review.
Mr Douthit, thanks for a detailed review. One of reasons I bought this car and model was seeing how it did with you on the mountain trail. I have discovered one thing that you might find interesting - yes the Hybrid lacks the Descent Control the petrol adventure model does. But it does have something that can help. In drive mode you can shunt the mode selector to the side and pick the virtual gear set that the drive considers itself to be in. If you shift this down to S1 then the car will limit it's downhill speed to effectively the top of what first gear would do. Agreed it isn't as nice as picking a speed and the car just maintaining it. But if you need to control the speed to allow more time for attention to the steering on the trickier bits it does help.
Because of this review. It’s one of the reasons I just bought a RAV4 AWD hybrid Limited trim. The model 1 step above that was tested on this video. Thanks 😉👍
I have a 2011 RAV4 and deeply falling in love with the new hybrids. I'm hoping the next 5 years will show their longevity. For now I'll just have to play the waiting game.
What really matters for me is to know how the hybrid can do in winter conditions. I never go off-road trails or stuff like that, if you want to, buy something else. The mpg is impressive, XSE looks good
It's actually really good, even when fitted with a good all season tire, but felt better with all weather tires. Normal drive like normal with minimal slip and trail was more on top of stuff when on ice and snow. Texas snow and ice.
Loving my RAV4 Hybrid! Never bought it to do off-road, I have my truck for that. Incredibly impressed with it so far and look forward to seeing how it will do in our cold snowy Canadian winters.
Have you had a chance to drive it in snow, deep snow, ice yet? Can you provide some real world information about stability, uphill, or getting out of parked situations?
I actually expected less from RAV4 Hybrid, since the previous model had no power at all on the rear excel. It was nice to see that now its even powerful enough for an over-steer. It didn't do very good there on rocks when it came to diagonal elevation, but seems like the rear motor was strong enough to give it a good push, if both rear wheels were on a ground.
Read power looks pretty good in this video. Biggest cause of wheel spin are the factory eco-focused tires. Put some AT tires on and traction with improve greatly!
@@James-rd9mo On this video it does even better than CRV with the conventional AWD (even though CRV is also Hybrid): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q43fj4tPmDQ.html
I thought about this video when I encountered a reasonable grade dirt road yesterday in Utah. My XLE hybrid 2019 went right up it with no problems and I went at least one mile making turns navigating washed out parts of the road etc. I don’t question you had issues, but you don’t stop on a hill. Just keep moving a little faster than you were driving and you will be just fine. Lowering the tire pressure for rocky terrain like you were driving makes a huge difference. An experienced off road driver is just as important as the automobile. If you are a passive driver you will get stuck.
An AWD Limited/SE trim RAV4 is my actual dream car. I’ve gotten pretty close so far with a ‘17 RAV4 XLE FWD. They are very practical, reliable, and fun when you want them to be.
I think Toyota is one of the best car companies out there in terms of reliable and not been to expensive. I come from a family of Chevy, GMC and ford owners, trucks, suvs. I’m the first of my family to ever own only Toyota products and I don’t think I’m ever going to switch. I own a 2013 4Runner and a 2011 rav4 limited. I always preferred cross overs and suvs over sedans because I’m 6 foot and I feel like sedans are way too low to the ground.
I actually just bought this same model last week right off the lot and it wasn't even the model I was shopping for but it just stood out and I'm so glad I got it.
thank you so much! As a new 19 Rav4 Hybrid owner, I was trying to understand the differences. I had an 18 Lexus NX300h and I was sold, but this little guy is very solidly comparable, without the extra 10K for the Lexus brand.
Bless you for making this video! Helps calm my nerves a bit. I just bought a 2020 Rav4 Hybrid and I haven't experienced winter yet. We really need a snow and ice video!!
Shawn P yes hope Toyota is watching and they make some software modifications because the rear axis isn’t working like Toyota show on all videos and presentations! Is way to week!
Great review. I'm disappointed with it's traction. I really thought they would at least make the rear drive lockable being that it's separate from the front drive
No snow and ice in the Pacific Northwest this time of year. We do what we can with what we have. If you look at our videos from a few months ago you’ll see several snow videos.
sgcole111 We don’t usually get any usable driving snow around here until after Thanksgiving. Note that we do feature the RAV4 in winter tires on snow in our Toyota AWD Explained video. If you haven’t watched that one yet, you should.
Thanks for showing the limits of what this Rav4 can do, in terms of climbing the uphill gravel path. I am past my youthful days and only occasional do this off road stuff so this SUV seems to fit well for my purpose as I mostly drive on paved roads but need that off-roading capability when I am a bit adventurous. For me good cars should be able to help us explore the less trodden places. Will get this car in a few months. Subsribed and liked.
Usually it takes me weeks of watching a channel before I subscribe....but u know where this is going....I subscribed to you on the the very first video I watched on your channel. Good job. Very detailed, clear, and relevant information provided in a pleasant manner. Thanks.
Great reviews. I live in Canada so sometimes packaging is different but generally the same. One thing I would like is to know is if android auto is included. You always mention airplay but not everybody has apple products (85% of the world doesn't in fact) Keep up the good work. Love the real world awd tests. Agree with James snow and ice is important here in the great white north.
Number of people buying a Rav4 Hybrid as a rock-crawler: zero. Number of other sub-$40k vehicles on the road that can make it up this trail, do 0-60 in 7.5 secs and score 40+ mpg: also zero. Which is why he's likely saying it's one of his favourite crossovers on the market. I think it's as close to a game-changer as I've seen in a while... a truly singular vehicle of which there is no direct competition. That's why i bought one, anyway. ;-)
Great review sir...have the previous gen 2016 Rav4 Hybrid...still not broken in only 43K miles. No complaints with my decision, thou the new one looks mighty nice!
My dad has a 2011 rav4 LE with 125k miles. He bought it when it had 12k miles. I drive it when I can get my hands on and I love the cross over vibes. I can’t even imagine how this new rav4 feels to drive..
My opinion that reviewer did not discover full off-road potential of the vehicle, because obviously wheels would spin, but he remove power from wheels and roll back.
That’s going to be tough, but be on the lookout, i got the hybrid xle trim model for 31... missing some aesthetics but the hybrid performance is there.
I really hope Toyota will take notes. the rav4 prime have a very powerful motor. Toyota can program the rear motor to engage more aggressively to mimic power send to the rear wheels. that will be fun
Great review! . Before purchasing this model, and because of this video, 4 Michelin CrossClimate SUV tyres were mounted on my unit. Still waiting, here in Spain, for Android Auto; 2019 units have to be updated, but who knows the date due to the COVID19 lockdown. Thanks for your videos, they're great!
We had a fun time pulling a Rav4 out of a sound bog, in Anza Borrego State Park, in our Jeep Compass trailhawk. It was a fun opportunity to use our traction boards, trail shovel, and tow strap.
Did you buy a 2019 or 2020? I'm hitting dealers this Saturday and the next two Saturdays for a 2020 Hybrid Limited; best deals are made at the end of the month; they want to make their bonus by making their quoter. Mr DJ of Cat N Mr DJ - Filipina American Vloggers...
I got a Woodland edition (that wasn’t available at that moment) and the more agressive tires are making a huge difference off-road. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still an soft roader. But for my personal use (snowy winters and trips to the cottage), it does just fine.
I'm glad you showed the bottom of this I didn't know it had all that plastic air deflection underneath it's good to know for people that do their own oil changes
On cars with a this sort of electronic traction vectoring using braked wheel methods, slip has to occur for a surprisingly long time before kicking in, you seemed to back off as soon as it slipped possibly negating it. I think you need to keep just a light slip going for far longer before the software wakes up and kicks in. Not good for tyre wear but you have to live with it to get you moving when stuck. The time limit for how long before the car realises your going nowhere and intervenes is set pretty long.
It may sound crazy, but I swear my rav4 hybrid performed better off-road. I had mountain climbing on trail similar to this one, the main problem was clearance. I hit some stones several times, thankfully didn’t damage the car. Also it was even harder to go downhill, i had to constantly apply brakes. They started smelling like hot ironing device. But I never had the problems like here. Oh, I didn’t use trail mode, all the time I was in sport mode. My tires were dedicated Bridgestones summer tires.
Great review. Nice to get the perceptions of a reviewer who drives the way I do! I appreciate that no changes were made to boost offroad prowess, you showed how it performs as equipped. Thank you~ *subscribed Update- my 2020 limited hybrid will be built in Japan October 31. Panoramic sunroof equipped is built in Japan, adaptive headlights is built in Canada. Can't have both at this time.
3:00 it all starts very well, because the rear wheels are working, just look at the front of the car - it lifts up when starting that is, the rear axle drives the vehicle.
Great video. Would love to see the honda crv hybrid, Subaru forester hybrid and even the outlander phev on that same stretch of test trail. Interior on this rav 4 looks so clean crisp and modern. .. keep the good videos coming....
I test drove the hybrid and man, they are zippy. Still, I purchased an XLE Premium AWD, which only comes with a gas engine. The better traditional AWD system mixed with the available features and package upgrades for this trim makes it comparable to the XSE Hybrid but for $3,000 less (instead of the usual $800 less for the gas model). Also, it’s the only trim that, along with the Limited, comes with 19 inch rims and has 8.6” ground clearance.
As a 2020 XSE hybrid owner I’d like to point out that the RAV4 does indeed still suffer from “ping ponging” while trying to stay in its lane. Also there is no active TPMS display so you have no idea what your real-time tire pressure is.
The vehicle is really a "soft-roader", not a heavy-duty off-road vehicle. Which is fine given the vast majority of owners won't be attempting steep rocky trails. Maybe ski trips or snow-day errands will be the extent of it. The high ground clearance is for better visibility while commuting. The aggressive styling is for marketing purposes.
Great review thank you from the uk I have just taken delivery of RAV 4 Excel AWD yesterday . Yes you are right 99% of owners will not go on hill climbs like that . Here in the uk 7 months waiting list for the RAV4
I have an R4P, and the lane assist is more annoying than helpful. The one you're testing seems to be doing way better. Mine basically gets fooled by any cracks in the road, mistaking them for lane stripes. It often ends up following the wrong lines, and pushes and pulls all over the lane... ping ponging, as you say. It causes me more stress than it relieves.
This is not a jeep so why drive it like one? I bought a new 18 RAV4 XLE hybrid and love it. Since I bought it, I have never moved it from the regular drive mode. The hybrids with the rear motor is for wet pavement and light snow conditions. It provides stability when roads are slick.To be honest I consider the "trail, sport and eco" modes to be "gimmicky." Again if you want to go off road other than a regular dirt or gravel road, but a jeep. By the way the price of this thing is outrageous. With this kind of money you have a lot of choices in the marketplace. Again love my 18 RAV4 hybrid.
@@ftdRaw Very true. And Toyota in their advertisements promote the RAV4s off road capability (when properly equipped of course). The occasional off road use is fine (visiting a campsite, etc) but if I wanted a "real" off road capable vehicle this would not be it.
He was trying to demonstrate the vehicle's limitations and capabilities...can't really do that without pushing things a bit. This review was far more revealing than some flat dirt road or grassy field that basically any vehicle could navigate without issue.
Toyota should have included a Trail Cam feature along with the Trail Mode on this Rav 4, an approach camera and possibly even a departure camera would be helpful. It's obvious over the rocks and up the hill this Rav 4 is ill equiped tire-wise to tackle this sort of terrain.
You can get a 360 bird view in addition to obstacle closeup ones (both views shown side to side in split screen). It automatically shows up on the central display when reverse is engaged, but it can be switched manually from a button located on the left lower panel of the dashboard (where automatic headlights control, heated wheel, and some other assistance can be controlled). In addition, there are several view mode, and you can manually orient the view direction. Not sure it's available on all trims, but it should be there on the XSE, since it seems quite similar to the Lounge and Collection trims we have here in France. Mine is a Lounge with Premium option pack.
Dom Jr the RAV4 TRD off-road will just have a off-road tunes shocks. Otherwise, it’s the same vehicle. This channel shows that AWD system in both the hybrid and normally aspirated RAV4’s doesn’t do too well offroad. Maybe Toyota intended for this so people will continue to buy the 4Runner for off-road.
An Electric Drive system similar to the Chevy Volt would be best. This way the motors provide 100% of the torque even when moving ahead slowly. The problem w/ gasoline engines is that they provide lots of power at the high end of the power band and very low torque all the way through. A lot of these trails need a vehicle that can roll across slowly vs the drivetrain which is made for skipping along at higher speeds.
Having seen the RAV4 hybrid being tested off-road in Europe I think tyre choice was the biggest reason for the problems on the trail. It’s more capable off-road than this video implies.
@@NoeSantos Looks like out of these three, the fun, drivers car is the cx-5. Everyone has their own criteria and I don't think there is a clear favorite.
@@wind7sailor very true . . . both Subaru and Mazda have similar True Cost to Own factors . . . but the Forester Sport does come with cloth seats which would be alot better in my desert region than the similarly equipped CX-5 with leather seats (although they are ventilated perhaps).
@@NoeSantos It comes down to what works for each person. The Cx-5 with turbo has the most power (250hp)and handles better, but is more cramped inside. The Forester Sport has the best interior room and visibility, plus Subaru AWD and it offers unique trim accents on that sport trim. It's a nice car, but has the slowest engine (182hp). The Rav-4 hybrid splits the difference and offers the best gas mileage about 40mpg from its 219hp hybrid engine and trim levels to appeal to a wide range of buyers from the base, sport, adventure, TRD (2020), and all it's hybrid trims. All are great options, it depends on what you're looking for.
Epic good review, thank you sir! I chose the brand new Camry Hybrid utilizing the exact same hybrid, engine and powertrain! What you mentioned about the overall day to day experience, cruising, smoothness, quietness and great ride quality, that same thing is even better on the Camry! I even dare to say that the build quality of the Camry is way better, the Rav is a bit squeaky and has a lot of hard cheap plastic, especially in the trunk area, you might check it out for a comparison video. Cheers!
The Camry is a car this is a crossover some people like being up high and off the ground more easier to get into than a car then sliding down into one and when you hit your first pothole you'll wish you had that higher up vehicle
Such a great review!! Love this car and definitely want it as my next car. By any chance do you know when the RAV4s and the other Toyotas will be getting the army green color like the Tacoma or Tundra?? I absolutely love it!
It boils down to what you like. The XSE is better looking with a lot of high tech while the Limited more practical and luxurious. Your good to go with either one you choose.
Hey great video, glad I find u. Now for the car. Hybrids are great cars but I think they have not grown enough for off-road even soft road. I love this new Rav but if I need to drive on terrain like that daily or weekly the non hybrid version 4wd will be way better.
I don't expect the rav4 to be as capable off road as a Subaru or Jeep... but can I count on the rav4 hybrid to handle Midwest winters better than a regular FWD car (like a Corolla or Camry)? I'm thinking about trading in my Camry. This Rav4 hybrid seems to do everything well: great gas mileage, good cargo capacity (with seats folded down), Toyota reliability, decent acceleration, etc.
ET Nem You will for sure love the new RAV4, I have the 2019 XSE, heated seats, panoramic sunroof, weather package, etc. my highest mpg I have averaged 51, I do drive a lot*. Most of the time I average 47 mpg. You will definitely love the car. If you want the hybrid your gonna have to wait since there is a high demand for them. There is a waiting list.
@@JJustinXu Thanks for the response. My Camry hybrid has 91k miles. By the time I hit 150k in a few years, I bet I can probably get a good deal on a used 2019 or 2020 Rav4 hybrid. I think I'm gonna wait because I'm still pretty happy with my Camry. MPG is averaging about 41 for me. Not bad. Thanks!
To be correct it has no regular cvt, Toyota Just calls it e- cvt because normally nobody understands what a planetary gear solution is what it technically has. which doesn't change what you are referring to as this e-CVT also has the low torque problems but this is solved by the electric motors which deliver the complete torque they have with the first revolution they make
Tires! Toyota needs to give buyers tire options for basic off-road needs. The RAV-4 has come a long way and even with a TRD model offered Toyota still needs a better tire option. We have an 04 RAV-4 and it was pretty easy to make it a better off-road vehicle just adding simple A/T Tires, a simple no brainer idea for Toyota. ☮
The problem is in logistics. The default ones are ok for most users, that's wht it's like that. Would love the option to upgrade them and downgrade the rim size. I just bought new tires from day 1 and sold the original ones. Not ideal, but this eay I drive on the tires that suit my needs
