Should I trade 4R ORP for a Rav4 Hybrid ?

[bzizzi]

I looked at a Rav4 Hybrid specs on the Toyota website, the mpg rating is pretty tempting, the big question is would I be happy with a Rav or have extreme remorse, I really don't tow with the 4R. I have a 2018 GMC 2500 Duramax to tow my toys but the 4R is incredible off road and I do haul my bikes on the hitch with a rack.The Rav does have a hitch option. Anyone here have both vehicles to tell me how they compare.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

RAV4 is an urban crossover suv so you give up much on the off-road capabilities to get better mpg. If you need a commute car for mileage, sounds like you need 3 cars.


Oil is a commodity and prices won’t always be this high as the profit incentive to increase production when prices are high is strong.

 

[honda250xtitan]

RAV4 is an urban crossover suv so you give up much on the off-road capabilities to get better mpg. If you need a commute car for mileage, sounds like you need 3 cars.


Oil is a commodity and prices won’t always be this high as the profit incentive to increase production when prices are high is strong.

three?? lol you can buy a whole lot of fuel for the cost of the third car plus registration/insurance etc.

 

[jim4runnerny]

I have both.. 2019 Rav4 Hybrid Limited (not plug-in) and 2020 Runner Limited. They are both excellent vehicles, but completely different.

The RAV4 is my wife's and she loves it.. she has all the features (360 camera, digital review mirror, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, etc.). Great gas mileage, really big inside, pretty quick. Fits two kids and two 40lb dogs when needed. We can use it for skiing, etc. Great all around vehicle.

I like it but much prefer my 4runner. You can tell the RAV4 Limited is a fancy version of a cheaper car, where the 4runner feels much more substantial. The ride in the RAV4 feels much harsher that my 4runner also. I don't find myself driving the RAV4 when both are in the garage, even with high gas prices. But, wife loves it.. she has no regrets at all about it, and she has disliked some previous cars.

Really your choice.. both great vehicles depending on your needs.

 

[fkheath]

I looked at a Rav4 Hybrid specs on the Toyota website, the mpg rating is pretty tempting, the big question is would I be happy with a Rav or have extreme remorse, I really don't tow with the 4R. I have a 2018 GMC 2500 Duramax to tow my toys but the 4R is incredible off road and I do haul my bikes on the hitch with a rack.The Rav does have a hitch option. Anyone here have both vehicles to tell me how they compare.

I have both a 2018 4Runner and new 2021 RAV4 hybrid I got last August. I love both for their intended purposes.

No way can the RAV4 do the off roading I do in the 4Runner. But in the summer, I was getting 46 to 47 MPG on the hybrid, twice the gas mileage of the 4Runner. Winter mileage goes down to 39 to 40 MPG due to the colder temps.

I tow an ATV on a utility trailer with the 4Runner easily. Don't know what other toys you have or how big/heavy they are. The RAV4 has a lower towing capacity than the 4Runner, so you are limited there.

 

[mscot]

We have both - Rav4 Hybrid and T4R ORP-KDSS. They are really two very different vehicles with different purposes.
The Rav4 is great for around town and hotel road trips - it's a more comfortable driver. It's not made to go offroad but there is a non-hybrid Offroad model that I can't speak to - I assume it's basically a Subaru type set up. I assume when you say you put your bikes on a hitch rack you're referring to bicycles and not motorcycles. If so, the Rav4 can easily handle that.
The 4Runner is larger so better for road trips not focused on hotels but quite frankly drives like shit - and it's not b/c it's a truck platform. I've driven loads of full size trucks that drive and ride better than the T4R. I would have probably bought the GX if not for the stupid rear door.

Rav4
Positives:
- More fun to drive around town. It's zippy for a CUV.
- Decent, comfortable modern interior
- Decent modern head unit
- We average 35mpg around town (where it's used 95% of the time) and we do not try to milk it. I have a lead foot.
- Decent power given the size for mountain passes

Negatives:
- The stock tires are garbage despite being Michelins - really loud at only 17k miles.
- I mention ^ b/c the tires really highlight how poor the sound deadening is in the car. Toyota just sucks at this. This is my only real complaint.
- meh sound system despite it being the best available option at the time
- I wish we could have bought the prime in 2020 but Toyota dragged their ass at getting them into dealers.
- Not a ton of room in the trunk area. Fine for a family of three for a weekend snowboard trip but not for all the crap we'd haul to a campground.
- Engine is still under stress going fast on mountain passes. Can not believe they put this engine in the Highlander - dumb move Toyota.

4Runner
Positives
- Large enough for a family of 3 to do pretty much whatever trips you want to take.
- Tough interior - I have hauled landscape and building materials
- decently comfortable Interior - I've driven it from Denver to Atlanta by myself in two days then turned around and driven back 2 days later.
- Roll down rear window for lumber
- Can go "anywhere" - do anything.
- Relatively customizable

Complaints
- As I said, it drives poorly compared to other BOF trucks
- Very poor sound insulation
- Inadequate engine/transmission combination - especially at altitude
- Pathetic head unit / sound system (we have a 2017 ymmv)
- I get 17.5 mpg now that I have OEM size Michelin Defenders on it.

 

[02SE]

Only you can decide if trading the 4Runner for a Rav4 hybrid is a good decision for you.

 

[Captain Spalding]

I have both.. 2019 Rav4 Hybrid Limited (not plug-in) and 2020 Runner Limited. They are both excellent vehicles, but completely different.

Hi Jim. Did you take that picture just to pose on this thread? Did you wash your cars just so you could take a picture to post on this thread? The thought of it makes me smile because it’s something I would have done. :-D

 

[bzizzi]

Thanks all, that was enough good input to make me want to keep my 4R.
Like I said, for heavy lifting I still have the GMC Sierra 2500 diesel Crew Cab.
The GMC actually gets better mpg (23) on the highway than the 4R. Only problem with the Sierra is the mammoth size but nothing beats it when hooking up the RV
and heading up a mountain camping.

 

[Predatorsniper2005]

Prime

 

[jim4runnerny]

Hi Jim. Did you take that picture just to pose on this thread? Did you wash your cars just so you could take a picture to post on this thread? The thought of it makes me smile because it’s something I would have done. :-D

Haha, pic was taken last summer when I was drinking a beer admiring my nice clean cars and a job well done. It is 35 degrees in NY today and everything is still brown so my story holds up.

 

[J.A.]

I have both as well and have some info on the 2019 Rav4 Adventure on my site. Like the others said, each is great for its intended purpose. If your concern is mileage, I suggest to wait for the 6th Gen 4R to see if the Hybrid model becomes available.

Ultimately there is no comparison to the 4R and for myself would get only go with that (the 4R) if the choice were only between those two vehicles (though if you added a Tesla Model X to the mix the answer might be different but the prices are worlds apart).

I bought the Rav4 when the new model came out to be my wife and daughters primary vehicle. I really like it, its a great value for that, and the Adventure model has some nice sportiness and the ability to have NO sunroof. But I wouldnt get it for myself as my only vehicle after driving 4Runners for 23 years. Would love to have a Lunar Rock 4R sitting next to the Rav4.

 

[Blackwatch]

I ordered a 22 4Runner a few months ago and considered the Rav4 hybrid. I drive about 22,000 kms/year to and from work and another 13,000 kms on days off. I figured I would save about $3500/year in gas at today's prices if I drove a Rav4 hybrid. If I bought an old Corolla just to commute in, which gets the same mileage as a Rav hybrid, I would save about $2200/year in gas less registration and insurance so probably save $1500 a year running an old Corolla back and forth to work and the 4Runner on days off.
Now I have to buy a second car so probably $4500 with tax leaving me with 3 years before I break even on the gas savings. Then there's potential repairs on the old car.
If I had chosen the Rav hybrid I would save roughly $300/month in gas. Drive a 4 cyl crap box back and forth to work and drive a new 4Runner on days off saves me $125/month 3 years from now.

For an extra $150-$300/month I will drive a bigger, safer vehicle. This is how I came to terms with the crappy gas mileage and the price of gas. Everyone has a different budget and cushion for extras.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

three?? lol you can buy a whole lot of fuel for the cost of the third car plus registration/insurance etc.

Bro, I own 4 and that is not enough. Use the right tool for the job. Cost of fuel is immaterial to me. Maybe you should focus on improving your financial status?

 

[DallasTRDPro]

I looked at a Rav4 Hybrid specs on the Toyota website, the mpg rating is pretty tempting, the big question is would I be happy with a Rav or have extreme remorse, I really don't tow with the 4R. I have a 2018 GMC 2500 Duramax to tow my toys but the 4R is incredible off road and I do haul my bikes on the hitch with a rack.The Rav does have a hitch option. Anyone here have both vehicles to tell me how they compare.

I thought about it for a brief moment. Even inquired, but the savings in gas for me would have been less than $50/month and it still wouldn't be a 4R. Maybe at $15 per gallon.

 

[Akkording]

Bro, I own 4 and that is not enough. Use the right tool for the job. Cost of fuel is immaterial to me. Maybe you should focus on improving your financial status?

C'mon Cutthroat, that's a low blow

 

[honda250xtitan]

Bro, I own 4 and that is not enough. Use the right tool for the job. Cost of fuel is immaterial to me. Maybe you should focus on improving your financial status?

lololol i daily a 6.7 f250 on 35's. is that good enough for you? i just think its silly when gas prices go up everyone starts doing the "i gotta trade in or buy another car" then a year later gas is back down to normal prices.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Only if it’s a prime


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[dubveeT4R]

Rav4 Prime to 4R

I sold my '14 SR5 around one year ago and bought a Rav4 Prime. I am now going to sell the Prime and get back into a 4R. The Rav is a decent vehicle, but it's smaller than the 4R, and does not handle road imperfections as well. It doesn't have any real off-road chops. The fit and finish inside is not on par with the 4R. I can't comfortably sit in the back and change clothes/hang out because the hatch opening is so small. The rear seats are more cramped. I could go on.

The Prime was attractive to me because of the tax credit (now gone), and the mix of efficiency and power. Plus, it has better NVH levels than any other Rav. But ultimately after a year, I'm taking advantage of the upside-down market (selling it for $8k more than I paid for it), and getting a ORP w/KDSS at MSRP.

 

[lunar_t4r]

the 4runner has spoiled me. rode in an XLE rav4 yesterday and wow you feel everything. all the little road imperfections. my ORP rides like a lexus in comparison. i debated getting a rav for the wife, but i may have to look up a class after experiencing that. welp.