We drove 6412 miles last summer in our 2020 RAV4 Limited Hybrid - from Michigan southwest to San Diego, up through NV, OR, ID, WY, MT, SD, MN, WI, Upper MI & back to Kalamazoo... averaged 37.2 mpg with speeds up to mid 80s! Comfortable seats & ride!
6:03 the traction battery adds weight to rear and lowers the center of gravity. It improves handling and stability so that’s why it feels more stable than a non hybrid (also applies to other hybrid model Toyotas). Subaru’s drivetrain layout also allows for lowered center of gravity because the engine is mounted down low slightly in front of the front wheels. That’s why you see a lot of their models with front overhang.
thanks for this down to earth real world review. seriously thinking about saying goodbye to my forester. mileage is so much better. The forester does half - or less
My pleasure, thanks for watching! The RAV4 hybrid really shines around town and at low highway speeds. But at interstate speed (80mph) it doesn’t do a lot better than our 25 Forester. Also, since adding the AT tires MPG has taken a decent hit, probably about 10% worse in some cases. Best of luck!!
@@nikkosantos8347 I do like my forester a lot but the fuel consumption on the freeway is ridiculous. At 120km/h it got 1ltr to 8km which is i think 20mpg? It got worse with skies on the roof. One liter costs 2,20 euros due to stupid dutch taxes on fuel. Apart from that the tank can only hold 45liters Just thinking about the rav4 hybrid because it uses far less fuel and the awd capabilities do not excite what I want for the car (snowy roads and a gravel/forest roads are my personal limits - not doing narly Rubicon trails)
@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 That's good to know about the consumption - normally I''m never in a hurry and in most European countries the max speed is 75mph. I life in the Netherlands where the speedlimit is 72mph - I regularly visit France (1000km trips) and on the toll-road you can do 80 otherwise is 68. Strangly enough - the fuel-consumption does not really change when I'm towing my tent-trailer.
@@sunlover5150 I got the first e-boxer series (2019) - it kicks in a lot but overal nothing special at all and they sacrificed the size of the fuel-tank for the battery-pack.
I think your MPG will improve as the engine continues to break-in. Plus the combination of colder air temperatures and winter blends of gasoline can reduce combustion engine gas mileage by 10% or more.
I also did a 1,500 miles road trip last week, from Houston TX to Ciudad Juárez Mexico and back in a gas 2024 Rav4 XLE. We averaged 30 mpg, not bad for going 80-85 mph all the time. For the same trip in our Corolla Cross hybrid the previos year we averaged 32-32.5 mpg, so it's not that much of a difference. All our luggage fit nicely in the cargo area of the Rav4, and everyone was comfortable. If you only have 1 or 2 kids, I highly recommend it.
You have two compatible vehicles. It may be worth comparing the Forester to the Rav4 for the extended road trip to get your impressions on comfort and fuel economy as well as storage . My Rav4 was an 07 with V6 engine and automatic transmission. Very similar in respects to the Forester in regards to outward visibilty back then. The new model Toyota is restricted in that regard in comparison to both the 07 Rav4 and the new Forester of today. I just took my 2024 Forester touring on an extended trip and it was a pleasant comfortable ride. My fuel economy on that trip was 32mpg just a mile below stated EPA. The car is just now breaking in and I expect the MPG to improve going forward. With the forester the feature I appreciate is the Adaptive Cruise Control along with the 10 way power seat. My wife even likes having the passenger seat powered so she can adjust on the fly if needed on a road trip. Just some food for thought.
Test driving a few before buying is good advice. I think it takes a few months to become completely accustom to a new vehicle. We are sedan fans. Mostly because my wife gets car sick and is afraid of heights.
80 mph in winter weather could easily cost you 10 or 20% in mpg. You don't realize it but on the highway in cool weather your engine will always be running. I noticed a difference once the temps were in the 40s.
Thanks for sharing this!! The tires were swapped at the same time that the temps conveniently changed from 40+ to 20-30 haha. It will be interesting to see how MPG changes in the Spring and after the first oil change.
I've got an ICE rav 4 rental upcoming for February. Excited to try it out id own one but they had nothing in stock anywhere ( canada ) last January after my other civic was written off. Ended up somewhat reluctantly with an HRV sport. I like the vehicle but it does leave alot lacking.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have not taken my 2025 Rav4 XSE hybrid on a road trip yet. But in city driving the best I can get is 33.9 mpg. That's driving in eco mode with all accessories off and using a light foot on the accelerator. So in that respect I'm disappointed. Otherwise I love the car.
Thank you for also sharing this comment! Are you driving through a legit city or more of a town? I would imagine in a big city my MPG would more likely reflect yours.
I have a 2024 Subaru Outback Limited. I get 31 mpg at highway speeds, 70-75 in the Midwest. It’s quiet, comfortable and stable at highway speeds. Downsides are infotainment system and actual city MPG I’m only getting 22, not the EPA promised 27!
@ I am an “old fart” my problem is it’s my wife Outback and I drive a BMW X5 . So merging onto the freeway is an excruciating experience in the Subaru vs the X5. She drive the Subaru in town . Had I know the EPA mileage was off , I’d have bought an XT model!
Haha thanks! And I’m looking into the audio quality. I have a lot of videos backed up on my membership program that I still need to make public so it might be some time before you hear a consistently improved difference in what I’m trying to with the audio quality. 🤪
Subaru has Fisher Price technology 🤣. Stop talking about them. Their tech is 8 years behind the competition. The Camera resolution is grainy and blurred. Stop you are embarrassing yourself. Subaru doesn’t even have a hybrid yet 🤣
First time viewer, a literal “real world review “. 👍👍
Thanks for checking out my channel! I’m glad you liked the video!!
We drove 6412 miles last summer in our 2020 RAV4 Limited Hybrid - from Michigan southwest to San Diego, up through NV, OR, ID, WY, MT, SD, MN, WI, Upper MI & back to Kalamazoo... averaged 37.2 mpg with speeds up to mid 80s! Comfortable seats & ride!
That’s awesome! What tires do you have in your hybrid?
@AutomotiveAnonymous208 Pirellis on the 18" wheels
Thanks!
Woah, thank you for your generous gift!! 😀
6:03 the traction battery adds weight to rear and lowers the center of gravity. It improves handling and stability so that’s why it feels more stable than a non hybrid (also applies to other hybrid model Toyotas). Subaru’s drivetrain layout also allows for lowered center of gravity because the engine is mounted down low slightly in front of the front wheels. That’s why you see a lot of their models with front overhang.
thanks for this down to earth real world review. seriously thinking about saying goodbye to my forester. mileage is so much better. The forester does half - or less
why dont you like the forester?
My pleasure, thanks for watching! The RAV4 hybrid really shines around town and at low highway speeds. But at interstate speed (80mph) it doesn’t do a lot better than our 25 Forester. Also, since adding the AT tires MPG has taken a decent hit, probably about 10% worse in some cases. Best of luck!!
@@nikkosantos8347 I do like my forester a lot but the fuel consumption on the freeway is ridiculous. At 120km/h it got 1ltr to 8km which is i think 20mpg? It got worse with skies on the roof. One liter costs 2,20 euros due to stupid dutch taxes on fuel. Apart from that the tank can only hold 45liters
Just thinking about the rav4 hybrid because it uses far less fuel and the awd capabilities do not excite what I want for the car (snowy roads and a gravel/forest roads are my personal limits - not doing narly Rubicon trails)
@@AutomotiveAnonymous208 That's good to know about the consumption - normally I''m never in a hurry and in most European countries the max speed is 75mph. I life in the Netherlands where the speedlimit is 72mph - I regularly visit France (1000km trips) and on the toll-road you can do 80 otherwise is 68. Strangly enough - the fuel-consumption does not really change when I'm towing my tent-trailer.
@@sunlover5150 I got the first e-boxer series (2019) - it kicks in a lot but overal nothing special at all and they sacrificed the size of the fuel-tank for the battery-pack.
I think your MPG will improve as the engine continues to break-in. Plus the combination of colder air temperatures and winter blends of gasoline can reduce combustion engine gas mileage by 10% or more.
I think you’re right! I’m also wondering if it changes at all once this car has its first oil change.
Seems like a very good option❤.
Yeah, they’re pretty good, especially for being a “compact” crossover!
I also did a 1,500 miles road trip last week, from Houston TX to Ciudad Juárez Mexico and back in a gas 2024 Rav4 XLE. We averaged 30 mpg, not bad for going 80-85 mph all the time. For the same trip in our Corolla Cross hybrid the previos year we averaged 32-32.5 mpg, so it's not that much of a difference. All our luggage fit nicely in the cargo area of the Rav4, and everyone was comfortable. If you only have 1 or 2 kids, I highly recommend it.
Thanks for sharing this experience!!
Nice update....Got a sneaky suspicion the Michelin X-Ice snow tire would fare better for mileage.
It probably would haha. 😅
Awesome old school RAV4 ✅
Drop the speed down to 60 mph. Fuel economy will increase 20%. ⛽️
This thing does amazing at 55-60mph!
@
Awesome dude! 👍
You have two compatible vehicles. It may be worth comparing the Forester to the Rav4 for the extended road trip to get your impressions on comfort and fuel economy as well as storage . My Rav4 was an 07 with V6 engine and automatic transmission. Very similar in respects to the Forester in regards to outward visibilty back then. The new model Toyota is restricted in that regard in comparison to both the 07 Rav4 and the new Forester of today. I just took my 2024 Forester touring on an extended trip and it was a pleasant comfortable ride. My fuel economy on that trip was 32mpg just a mile below stated EPA. The car is just now breaking in and I expect the MPG to improve going forward. With the forester the feature I appreciate is the Adaptive Cruise Control along with the 10 way power seat. My wife even likes having the passenger seat powered so she can adjust on the fly if needed on a road trip. Just some food for thought.
Test driving a few before buying is good advice. I think it takes a few months to become completely accustom to a new vehicle. We are sedan fans. Mostly because my wife gets car sick and is afraid of heights.
Ordered my Rav4 a couple days ago (Australia) Cruiser AWD which I'd say say is XLE, US equivalent. Hopefully May delivery. I'm so excited!
@@Max-my7uj
Nice! You guys get the first 2026 all new redesign models!
That’s super exciting!!
Great vehicle, we have had 5 RAV’s.
@@tertur2957
Topgun #1
80 mph in winter weather could easily cost you 10 or 20% in mpg. You don't realize it but on the highway in cool weather your engine will always be running. I noticed a difference once the temps were in the 40s.
Thanks for sharing this!! The tires were swapped at the same time that the temps conveniently changed from 40+ to 20-30 haha. It will be interesting to see how MPG changes in the Spring and after the first oil change.
To avoid leg cramping, change the seat settings slightly, raise or lower the front, same with the back. Also, slow down for better mpg!
I've got an ICE rav 4 rental upcoming for February. Excited to try it out id own one but they had nothing in stock anywhere ( canada ) last January after my other civic was written off.
Ended up somewhat reluctantly with an HRV sport. I like the vehicle but it does leave alot lacking.
I don’t care for the low gas mileage you spoke of, maybe this will convince me to just keep what I have.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have not taken my 2025 Rav4 XSE hybrid on a road trip yet. But in city driving the best
I can get is 33.9 mpg. That's driving in eco mode with all accessories off and using a light foot on the accelerator. So in that respect I'm disappointed. Otherwise I love the car.
Thank you for also sharing this comment! Are you driving through a legit city or more of a town? I would imagine in a big city my MPG would more likely reflect yours.
Yeah pretty trash milage for money spent for this car
I have a 2024 Subaru Outback Limited. I get 31 mpg at highway speeds, 70-75 in the Midwest. It’s quiet, comfortable and stable at highway speeds. Downsides are infotainment system and actual city MPG I’m only getting 22, not the EPA promised 27!
To make better milage you need to drive slow like old farts
@
I am an “old fart” my problem is it’s my wife Outback and I drive a BMW X5 . So merging onto the freeway is an excruciating experience in the Subaru vs the X5. She drive the Subaru in town . Had I know the EPA mileage was off , I’d have bought an XT model!
Good video, I think if you spoke a little slower, and kept your tone more similar it would improve the overall quality of your videos
Thanks for watching and this feedback!!
Great content man, but for the love of God get a new microphone 😂
Haha thanks! And I’m looking into the audio quality. I have a lot of videos backed up on my membership program that I still need to make public so it might be some time before you hear a consistently improved difference in what I’m trying to with the audio quality. 🤪
Rav4 hybrids are good for long drive!i hate my rav4 trd with gas i just got 23-25 mpg With after market tires and roof rack🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for sharing this experience!! I think even my hybrids MPG dropped about 8-10% with after market tires lol. 😅
@ 😁😁😁
@ The seat is very comfortable; I drove 2k miles last december and didn't experience any issues.
Wait till it breaks down, they are expensive to fix.
That's true and that's why mazda is way better choice
Subaru has Fisher Price technology 🤣. Stop talking about them. Their tech is 8 years behind the competition. The Camera resolution is grainy and blurred. Stop you are embarrassing yourself. Subaru doesn’t even have a hybrid yet 🤣
The Forester hybrid will be arriving at dealer lots this summer.
Hybrid 👎🏻