Topic: First Drive: 2019 Toyota RAV4

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I read that the price differential in US is only $800 for the equivalent Hybrid.  If it's close to that here, why wouldn't you go with it.

My step-daughter wants to replace her 2013 Tucson as it is showing signs of aging rapidly.
Looked into what kind of deals are available on the '18 RAV as I know the new one is just around the corner.  Answer is nada, zip.  All they had (as of 2 days ago) was $1,000 cash back, which goes bye bye if you finance, and 0% financing up to 36 months.

Now the cover is off the new one, and Black Friday...now waiting to see if any carrots get dangled.

It seems that Toyota doesn't often offer incentives.

I see you have a 2018 Tundra?  There is a $8,000 incentive on them right now, $3,000-$4,000 from dealer and another $750 bonus from Toyota.ca means close to $13,000 off.  Just depends on the model I guess.

Yeah, I got all those incentives.  I did say that Toyota doesn't often offer incentives.

[dkaz]

^^^ I'm in a 2018 Trail right now (loaner car) and I have to say, it kinda seems like a useless trim package.  You get some plasticky bits on the outside that actually just cheapen the overall look of the vehicle.

There is nothing that actually makes the RAV more off-road worthy.  Skip the Trail Package.

Unless you want to tow up to 3500 lbs.

Can the hybrid tow?

In 2018...

All gas models except Trail package: 1500 lb
Trail package: 3500 lb
All hybrid models: 1750 lb

[BWII]

Ewww... Not my style for sure.  At least the Corollas look good.

[Dante]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

[Fobroader]

I just read the Facebook post of this article....my god, the stupid, it burns!!!

[tpl]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

I am waiting for the Toyota Canada website to catch up to 2019...only 36 days away.

From the details so far it looks as if it would a really great vehicle for me...if they added about 50 bhp with a turbo. If they did that it would still be cheaper than another Q5.


But I am not at all sure if I want a reliable Japanese car for myself!   

[greengs]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

I am waiting for the Toyota Canada website to catch up to 2019...only 36 days away.

From the details so far it looks as if it would a really great vehicle for me...if they added about 50 bhp with a turbo. If they did that it would still be cheaper than another Q5.


But I am not at all sure if I want a reliable Japanese car for myself!   

They already have a few 2019 models on Toyota site, I don't calendar year is why Rav4 isn't up yet.

[Dante]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

I am waiting for the Toyota Canada website to catch up to 2019...only 36 days away.

From the details so far it looks as if it would a really great vehicle for me...if they added about 50 bhp with a turbo. If they did that it would still be cheaper than another Q5.


But I am not at all sure if I want a reliable Japanese car for myself!   

I DO want a reliable SUV for long term ownership (preferably Japanese) but I'd like more power too - what you said or better off a N/A small V6, but we all know that's not going to happen. I kind of made peace that I will have to live with an I4 going forward and having said that, Toyota's is the best I can get (I prefer N/A vs turbo for the long haul).

Now exploring the value proposition. With Trail being my definitive choice, I'm trying to figure out what's included in the $38.7K but it seems like I have to wait few more weeks until it comes to the dealerships. I only hope things like sunroof and JBL sound are optional and they have some sort of Cold Weather Package with heated rear seats, heated wipers, etc.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

I am waiting for the Toyota Canada website to catch up to 2019...only 36 days away.

From the details so far it looks as if it would a really great vehicle for me...if they added about 50 bhp with a turbo. If they did that it would still be cheaper than another Q5.


But I am not at all sure if I want a reliable Japanese car for myself!   

How boring would life be if you weren't visiting your dealer every 3 months or so for some sort of warranty item...Gosh, it would be unbearable. 

[Niklasky]

It looks much cooler than the outgoing 2018 model.

As for the heated steering wheel, it is a must in my book.

The Mazda CX-5 I test drove a while back only had the 3 and 9 o'clock positions heated. It seems kind of cheap, but hey...

[tpl]

Did anyone come across full Canadian specs for the RAV4?

I am waiting for the Toyota Canada website to catch up to 2019...only 36 days away.

From the details so far it looks as if it would a really great vehicle for me...if they added about 50 bhp with a turbo. If they did that it would still be cheaper than another Q5.


But I am not at all sure if I want a reliable Japanese car for myself!   

How boring would life be if you weren't visiting your dealer every 3 months or so for some sort of warranty item...Gosh, it would be unbearable. 

Actually it is every 6 months for a recall!

We have one reliable Japanese car already.   


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ArticSteve]

Now exploring the value proposition. With Trail being my definitive choice, I'm trying to figure out what's included in the $38.7K but it seems like I have to wait few more weeks until it comes to the dealerships. I only hope things like sunroof and JBL sound are optional and they have some sort of Cold Weather Package with heated rear seats, heated wipers, etc.

You might get everything but the JBL.  Toyota has always reserved that for the top trim.  In this case the limited.

[Dante]

Now exploring the value proposition. With Trail being my definitive choice, I'm trying to figure out what's included in the $38.7K but it seems like I have to wait few more weeks until it comes to the dealerships. I only hope things like sunroof and JBL sound are optional and they have some sort of Cold Weather Package with heated rear seats, heated wipers, etc.

You might get everything but the JBL.  Toyota has always reserved that for the top trim.  In this case the limited.

The Adventure models used for the press event in California had JBL so it is at least available. Also from the pictures, it seems there are two kinds of upholsteries (both SofTex): plain and perforated. I believe the perforated comes with the front heated/cooled seats option. No word if rear seats are heated with front/cooled option.

In the US, the price difference between base and loaded Adventure is about $4,500 based on the prices published by C/D. Unless Canada gets more kit as base, the loaded Adventure could be well over $40K.

[Weels]

Unless Canada gets more kit as base, the loaded Adventure could be well over $40K.

I'm gonna guess the loaded RAV will be +/- $500 of whatever a full-load CRV is

[Dante]

Unless Canada gets more kit as base, the loaded Adventure could be well over $40K.

I'm gonna guess the loaded RAV will be +/- $500 of whatever a full-load CRV is

The Adventure is second to last highest trim and, like you said, it's aligned with the CRV EX-L price wise at just over $38K including freight (at least for CRV).  However the question is if all desirable features are included in the price or do I still have to top it up with another package to get what I want - heated rear seats for example. The said CRV trim has them.

[ChaosphereIX]

I love the aspirational naming of the trim levels. "Adventure" to the local Wal-Mart parking lot?

Almost on the level of Hyundai or Volvo. Like "Indulgence" or "Dynamic" or "Excellence"

At least it isn't lying, like "Limited" - limited to what?

[Dante]

I love the aspirational naming of the trim levels. "Adventure" to the local Wal-Mart parking lot?

Almost on the level of Hyundai or Volvo. Like "Indulgence" or "Dynamic" or "Excellence"

At least it isn't lying, like "Limited" - limited to what?

There is a RAV4 Limited too....

[ChaosphereIX]

I love the aspirational naming of the trim levels. "Adventure" to the local Wal-Mart parking lot?

Almost on the level of Hyundai or Volvo. Like "Indulgence" or "Dynamic" or "Excellence"

At least it isn't lying, like "Limited" - limited to what?

There is a RAV4 Limited too....

well damn

[chignectohead]

The hybrid and regular 2.5l Dynamic Force engines are different, not the same as the author of the article claims - not awake at the press conference perhaps. The hybrid one runs Atkinson cycle all the time and loses about 25 hp over the regular one. The electric motor makes up the difference to 219 hp. When you add the third electric motor in the rear for hybrid AWD, one wonders what total system power is then ...

https://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/14384561

or from media.toyota.ca:

"The combination of a very high compression ratio (13:1 on gas models, 14:1 on HV models, which uses Atkinson cycle), D4-S fuel injection (combining direct and secondary port injectors), high-speed combustion, VVT-iE intelligent variable valve-timing and ultra-low internal friction yield a maximum thermal efficiency of 40 percent. That remarkable figure is among the highest in the world for a passenger vehicle engine (41 percent for the RAV4 HV), exemplifying Toyota’s leadership in fuel efficiency technology."

Also, where does Toyota claim the engine is specially tuned for the RAV4 compared to the Camry?

The criticism of the new pure gas engine has been noise and coarseness at higher revs - it went direct injection in this iteration, with the usual port injection as well being Toyota.

[dkaz]

I just read the Facebook post of this article....my god, the stupid, it burns!!!

Because Facebook comments. Forums tend to be a more exclusive crowd of folks who use their brains to communicate, even if we do have different opinions on things.