Is Toyota RAV4 Hybrid a good SUV for long distance driving?
QUESTION
Hi John,
I currently have an excellent but aging 2001 Toyota Tarago which I will use as a trade-in, although I’m not expecting much for it; age is starting to show on the old girl.
I’m considering the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid because of its extended range and potential power, and I like Toyota. The Tarago has a 75 litre fuel tank and a very good range on the open road, which is an important aspect for me.
My question is about range and power of the Hybrid over the Petrol version. Is the 2.0 litre petrol RAV4 powerful enough and does it offer enough range, or should I get a 2.5 litre Hybrid for the extra power and range?
Sounds silly as I read it back but there it is. It's a big decision which will last for many years to come.
Thanks,
Paul
WHAT HYBRID VEHICLE ARE YOU SHOPPING FOR?
Hyundai IONIQ 5 EV - full launch, price & specification details >>
2021 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid: the definitive review and buyer's guide >>
2020 Subaru Forester hybrid review & buyer's guide >>
My AutoExpert AFFORDABLE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
If you’re sick of paying through the neck for roadside assistance I’ve teamed up with 24/7 to offer AutoExpert readers nationwide roadside assistance from just $69 annually, plus there’s NO JOINING FEE
Full details here >>
Check out my Olight discount! These flashlights are awesome and Olight supports this channel.
Get 12% off your order using the code AEJC here: https://bit.ly/3zF5hCQ
ANSWER
Hello Paul,
Thank you for your RAV4 Hybrid 2WD enquiry.
Generally this is a good all-purpose choice. Ideal application is urban-type traffic mainly, with open-road excursions thrown in. Reason being the electric side of the hybrid system is less able to do mad energy management voodoo on the open road - but it rocks in stop-start city-type traffic.
On performance: 160kW (total) peak power is more than enough. (Just for laughs: the first Commodore - 1978 VB - with the ‘big’ 5.0-litre V8 engine - made a maximum 114kW off the showroom floor. True story.) In fact, you only need about 30kW to punt a medium SUV down the highway on the flat at 110km/h.
As for range: The 2.5-litre engine uses a thing called the Atkinson (combustion) cycle. Basically it’s a valve timing hack (which delays the closure of the inlet valve to after BDC). This hacks the compression-to-expansion ratio and boosts thermal efficiency, at the cost of maximum power delivery. (This is why, for example, the Mazda 2.5 atmo engine makes more power and torque than the Toyota engine - just talking about the internal combustion bit. Mazda doesn’t use Atkinson.)
So, you’ll probably get about 5.0-6.0 litres per 100km on the open road if you drive gently enough. There’s a 55-litre tank, so you should get 900-ish kays to a tank on the open road, and probably about the same in the ‘burbs, where the driving conditions demand more energy, but where the electric side of the hybrid system can contribute more to motive power and increase overall efficiency.
In short - it’s not a red-hot performance machine, but it goes okay and delivers good fuel economy and range. Perhaps it’s a good idea to consider the new (2nd Gen) Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - which, unlike the RAV4 hybrid, has plug-in (mains recharging of the battery) and therefore has a bigger electrical side and can operate as a standalone EV for a few tens of kays, under light loads, around town.
Hope this helps.
John Cadogan
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING A HYBRID OR EV
Should I buy a hybrid car or SUV in 2022 and beyond? >>
Answering your electric vehicle questions (after 10,000km in a Kona EV) >>
12 things I've learned after driving an electric car 9000km >>
LIVESTREAMS
Don't forget to join me for my 'Ask Me Anything' Q&A livestreams on YouTube (Sydney time).
Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the bell icon to get an alert you every time I go live.
More reports
The all-new Kia Tasman 4X4 dual-cab ute is finally coming to Australia in mid-2025. The covers are off, too. Here’s everything we know so far