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Toyota is set to debut a hybrid RAV4. I’m not sure what’s taken them so long.
With the Lexus NX using a 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder paired with an electric motor, moving that drivetrain to its platform-mate, the RAV4, was an obvious choice. In the NX, it produces 200 hp while returning 33/30 mpg city/highway. Perhaps we’ll see slightly better numbers in the RAV4?
11 Comments on “New York 2015: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Debuts...”
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I have a conspiracy theory. I believe that when Ford and Toyota signed their cross licenses agreement. Part of it was that Ford could not make a hybrid CUV the size of the Highlander and Yota couldn’t make one the size of the Escape. Also Ford could not have direct competitor to the Prius or at this point to the Avalon. Ford is expected to have a direct rival next year for the Prius, while the Edge and Taurus will not get this power train for awhile.
This and the Corolla hybrid seemed like obvious conclusions
I still think Toyota should use the name “Prius” as a separate brand and lump all the hybrids under it, with more distinctive styling and stuff. I would love a 200HP Prius Sport for my wife.
The Prius is essentially the Corolla Hybrid.
They didn’t sell this because they could get people to buy Highlanders and RX400h’s for more money. Now that they’ve saturated the high-margin, they’ll move lower. Hence this and the Prius C.
I’d like to see a hybrid Sienna, personally.
@psarhjinian – I agree on the hybrid minivan sentiment. I’m puzzled by the lack of a hybrid minivan to date? What would be the financial reason not to offer a hybrid minivan (volume?). What would be the technical reason to not get hybrid into a minivan? I’d be curious to know the theory behind the absence of hybrid tech in a minivan. I am still enamored with small minivans like Mazda 5, what would have been the Grand C-Max, and other European versions and would love to see hybrid in those.
Typically when a gas-only model is converted into a hybrid, the batteries end up awkwardly imposing on the trunk. I think developing a hybrid minivan would necessarily reduce or eliminate some of the things that makes minivans so great – foldaway seats and underfloor storage.
The minivan market is smaller than that of sedans and probably has similar margins. IIRC the CUV market is at least quadruple that of minivans, and is need of fewer incentives. Small minivans have all but exited the US market, recently having sold worse than station wagons. Toyota does have a smaller RHD Estima hybrid, now in its second generation: http://toyota.jp/estimahybrid/
One thought: the first 3 generations of RAV4 had a hinged rear door and no bumper for rear-end collisions where a big battery would sit, so no hybrid.
There are no technical reasons against a Hybrid Minivan, Toyota has been selling them in japan for over a decade. They offer 6 right now on the Japanese Toyota site.(Estima, Vellfire, Voxy, Esquire, Noah and Alphard.) It is purely a financial reason.
33/30 is a perfectly fine fuel economy rating. I would prefer something like 33/35 but whatever. The Prius lineup is focused on maximum efficiency, the rest shouldn’t be stuck on that type of implementation. Good performance and good economy is a great combination for a larger segment of the population.
Japanese and Europe Spec Prius V has a 7 seater option. we’re just too damn fat in North America
Are electric motors powerful enough to move a 2 ton North American “Mini Van”?
Isn’t that why the Highlander, Escalade, MB Bluetec or any other Hybrid tech on Large vehicles, a fruitless endeavors?
They simply do not return the great MPG.
When we see”hybrid” we think over 45 mpg… right?
but it’s because the electric motors are pushing small little compacts cars (prius V. 3200lbs rav4 3600lbs) and CUV’s?
I have 3 kids, and now have an Odyssey (4400lbs BEFORE stroller, carseat and other crap). I would love to see it return better City MPG. If the can reduce the weight by 1000lbs… they wouldnt even need electric motors to get over 30mpg.
now, on the other side of the scale..
if they make a FT86/FRS/BRZ hybrid, instead of all this “lets turbo it” talk like it’s 1994…
then I’ll have to dip into my kids college fund for a Japanese poor man’s i8
I wish Kia would hybridize the Sportage with the Optima Hybrid drivetrain. It should drop right in.