2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

While it’s never easy saying good-bye it’s inevitable with our long term fleet.  And that’s where we’re at with the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The 219-horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 and Toyota Hybrid System… makes daily commuting both peppier and more economical. The rear mounted electric motor supplied quick and smooth all-wheel drive abilities for the almost 17-thousand miles we traveled over 9-months. CVT noise is not as noticeable as some… and we’re happy to have a real shifter as opposed to buttons or rotary dials. While there were mixed reviews on the seats, fuel economy was impressive at 38.6 miles per gallon. We continued to have issues filling the tank up completely, which did cut into distance between fillips, but it barely took away from our driving enjoyment.

Our time with this RAV4 Hybrid has come to an end and I really do think we’re going to miss this one…maybe as a road trip car most of all. Its highway comfort, it’s brisk acceleration and above average fuel economy will be tough to replace.

There are a lot of choices among compact crossovers. But, with its fresh design, added capability, and effective use of electrification, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the small-ute to beat, and our Drivers’ Choice!

With Thanksgiving now in the rear-view mirror, that means we’ll soon be dealing with winter weather here in the Mid-Atlantic.

This 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid should be up for the task, as all RAV4 Hybrids come with all-wheel-drive; thanks to its powertrain arrangement, which makes the wheels on the back go ‘round with a rear-mounted 40-kW electric motor.

An electrically-assisted naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter I4 handles the power for the front wheels; and over 9,600-miles, the setup has delivered an impressive for an SUV 38.4 miles-per-gallon.

It’s a no-brainer that this is the best looking RAV4 over its 5-generations; certainly the most rugged, as well. But, the real highlight so far in 4-months of drive time, is the new RAV’s highly refined driving experience.

After a few recent highway trips, we’re noticing that if you stop for gas when the fuel gauge is reading a ¼-tank, the most you’ll be able to put in is a little over 7-gallons. It seems the gauge is a bit pessimistic as the tank actually holds 14.5-gallons. Something we’ll keep an eye on over the coming months.

Another 3-thousand-miles have passed by in our 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid…. bringing the total now up to almost 13-thousand miles in just 6-months.

The 219-hp 2.5-liter inline-four and Toyota Hybrid System II… generate impressive gas mileage… although driving in eco mode does seem a bit sluggish. We’re now averaging 39-point-2 miles-per-gallon.

Now that winter weather has settled in we’re seeing the benefits of all-wheel drive… courtesy of an electric motor on the rear axle. But beyond that this compact crossover offers comfortable seats and a great ride… just two more reasons we expect this to continue to be a popular choice in our Long-Term fleet.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has just joined our long term fleet. The 2.5-liter inline-four and Toyota updated hybrid system produce a combined 219 horsepower. Like the Highlander Hybrid, the rear axle electric motor brings on quick and smooth all-wheel drive. 

“Toyota has been making hybrids for some time now and it shows in this RAV4. The system operation is seamless and it’s quicker than you might think, which is nice on the highway. Also nice is the fact that the engine doesn’t sound buzzy at 70 MPH.”

Wheelbase is up more than an inch over the previous RAV4, and the battery pack is under the rear seats. So, it’s very roomy inside. Actually, nearly as roomy as the original Highlander!  We’ve only put 13-hundred miles on it… but already we’re seeing 39.7 miles per gallon, and that’s heavy on highway miles. So, summer outings should prove to be frugal ones.

Our 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has now racked up almost 4,000 miles during its first two months with us. Many of those miles were added on long road trips… so we’ve had some real quality time behind the wheel. The 219 horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 and Toyota’s Hybrid System combine with an electric motor on the rear axle for all-wheel drive… resulting in excellent power for passing and pulling away from tailgaters… with only modest CVT noise. Out on the highway it is very stable… never getting blown around by passing big rigs. 

While it is comfortable overall… the seats are getting mixed reviews among our drivers. The console provides a good amount of storage… and we appreciate having a real shifter… as opposed to buttons or a rotary switch.

So far the infotainment works well… but we’re already spoiled by personal assistants in other brands, so we wish the voice control was more extensive here. While Hybrid fuel economy doesn’t often shine brightest in highway travel, at 37-point-3 miles-per-gallon we have no complaints. We’ll see if that number rises as more routine daily duties take over.

Our 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is proving to be a popular addition to our Long Term fleet. Another 34-hundred miles have passed by…. bringing the total now up to 73-hundred miles in just 4-months.

The 219 horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four and Toyota Hybrid System II combine with an electric motor on the rear axle for all-wheel drive…the combination works well for short trips around town and on longer journeys. 

It’s also versatile… which is probably another reason it’s always in demand.

“We’ve put enough miles on the RAV4 to truly appreciate the seamless hybrid operation. However, we have noticed that when coming to a stop, the artificial hybrid noises sound a bit like police sirens. But, the JBL audio system’s stellar sound quality usually masks it.”

We’re now averaging 39.7 miles-per-gallon… which is definitely one of the high points for this compact crossover as we head into the fall and winter driving seasons.