[web1999]

Does the st

I own a J Vin XSE. The good: solid, proven drivetrain. The car (not sure why Toyota calls it a truck) handles well with a tight turning radius for a high center of gravity car. Th car is comfortable, relatively quiet for a hatchback, and the layout is good.

The Bad: the car is now cheaply made (perhaps all cars are now) and has/had some serious design flaws that are well documented here. These design flaws are ridicules in 2023 such as water leaks, too thin hinges, plastic coolant valves, and corrosion.

If one goes in realizing that upper trim models such as the XSE are really $25K cars with $10 or $15K worth of options, they will make a better informed decision. I thought I was getting a fairly well made car for north of $37K but in reality, I got a dressed up LE.

If I had it to do all over, I would look at Highlander. Perhaps there is more meat on the bone for Toyota to make the car a little better made, perhaps not?

A Toyota dealer is offering a J VIN XSE for me. I have to decide by this weekend if I want to take delivery. Having sat in other RAV4, the seats are decent but not a lot of cushion but the seating height is great.

It handles ok but nothing to write about but I haven't drove the XSE much. I had 1 test drive a few years back only.

Does the steering wheel leather fade? Does the seats have discoloration over the years? Parts failures, if any?

I have a Lexus sedan (it's great but lack new tech, safety, and best comfort). I concerned about the cheaper plastic popping out or breaking long term or component failures if I go with the Rav4. XSE being offered is at MSRP est $43K. Not too far from a Lexus NX I'm pretty sure in pricing. Not sure it's really worth it.

Thoughts?

 

[web1999]

Our 2023 Limited is better than I expected, but the jury's still out as to whether I should have held out for a Highlander Hybrid. There's a very good chance that I'll be trading the Rav for either a Highlander Hybrid or RAV4 Prime within 3 years -- right now those vehicles are virtually unobtainable.

The interior of the Highlander is way better IMO but it's more pricey.

 

[web1999]

For me, it was also a vanity decision for the looks of an XSE as well as wanting the technology package and JBL system which is nothing to write home about but is a true component system and sounds decent enough.

Sure, I could have wrapped the roof black, purchased wheels, put in a head unit ect, just not at this point in my life + I have no place to work on a car now (condo commandos), welcome to FL.

As far as looks, the XSE did hit the mark. To me, the rest of the Rav line are just another box CUV. The XSE sort of looks Range Rover ish in silver.

Is the JBL sound really good like Mark Levingston on the Lexus or just better than the base audio?

 

[web1999]

Just better than base audio. Its just OK.

Thanks for sharing. I can adjust expectations.

 

[web1999]

Most definitely more pricey -- still not sure if it's worth the extra $$$ for bit more comfort and quieter ride and the extra space is largely wasted IMO. I don't need third row seats and prefer second row bench which isn't offered in the upper trims we prefer. Anyway, we bought the Rav4 Hybrid because of it's practicality and it was available...maybe I should just learn to be satisfied...there's not much to complain about. ;-)

We were looking at the Highlander but found an used Lexus RX 350L so we ended up with but with almost 8K miles. It was less than the XLE highlander in price. We use the 3rd row only 1 time but it's mostly down for storage.

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is an excellent vehicle for gas savings and driving around but not a luxury vehicle though.

 

[web1999]

IMO, I don't trust JD Power. CR is more accurate and that's still not perfect.

Ramsey isn't right on that article also. We have very wealthy people with Lexus here in our area. Ramsey also has his legal issues (not a topic here).

Never hurts to analyze something carefully since it's hard earned money spent.\

Yes indeed, no vehicle is perfect.

 

[web1999]

I have had the 2023 RAV4 Limited hybrid for 4 days and 300 gentle break-in miles later got avg city/hwy 42mpg. This was why I opted for the hybrid. I really wanted a top model 4Runner with manual transmission but can‘t and won’t do with 19mpg. I know it is a completely different type of vehicle but I have wanted one for years. My cousin has a 4runner (old!) with over 300,000 trouble free miles on it. I had tried to justify in my mind the saving I get from its longevity would compensate what it burns on fuel but ultimately I opted for practicality and the hope the RAV4 can at least run for 20 years with just regular maintenance. I am retired so this is it. I won’t buy another new vehicle.

But I did picked nearly the worse time to buy one with the shortages. My limited was the only one available and of course it came fully loaded with options I didn’t want but had to pay for plus $2000 dealer adjustment.

Congrats. I'm keep getting the message it's not the time to buy also. Esp when there's too many people are willing to overpay for great vehicles and interest rates are super high.

 

[web1999]

I don't regret my purchase of a 2023 RAV4 XSE hybrid, non JBL speaker system.
I do however, hate the upgrade they did to the head unit.
It is not user friendly and has more bugs than the unit it replaced.
I will be replacing it with a better, third party head unit eventually.
For the rest of the vehicle, it's a great buy.

Thanks, good info to get the JBL.

 

[web1999]

Anyone have any big repairs?

 

[web1999]

My regret is the lack of help from Toyota. A rock from another vehicle cracked the front windshield of our Rav 4 Hybrid Limited at the end of February 2923. We are still waiting for a new windshield. The insurance company can't help, the auto glass company can't help, and Toyota has been absolutely no help. My wife is fed up! Seriously looking to sell the car and be done with it.

Toyota couldn't ordered the glass? Is there other glass companies out there? May need to be calibrated for lane departure, right?

 

[web1999]

I was intrigued by the whole hybrid idea during a time where gas prices were climbing quickly. I ordered and waited over 8 months for delivery. Read many online reviews prior to ordering, but never saw much about the road/wind noise. Watched the video about MG1/MG2 and how they work together in the eCVT (

) and being an engineer I was impressed. Acura fit/finish/quality, in my opinion were starting to decline. Finally, I no longer travel for work to the Acura dealer city and have a Toyota dealer nearby.

True for Acura/Honda. I use to have Honda/Acura in the past but switched over to Toyota/Lexus and haven't looked back.

Today, I visited a Toyota dealer to look at the Rav4 Hybrid at lunch and a manager slapped a $4995 add-on sticker on the rear door window while I was looking at it. Anyways, I got my test drive, and left. I got the message they wanted $5K. It's showcasing (like BestBuy use to do before they lowered the prices) but not the dealer to purchase at.

The Rav4 hybrid is so much better that the gas only Rav4 but finding it at MSRP is hard with the options. The options installed on this one had running boards that I didn't need.

 

[web1999]

I tested drove the Limited and it was pretty good. XSE maybe a little firmer ride with less body roll if it's like our Camry SE.

 

[web1999]

Not at all! Currently have 2020 Limited hybrid and love te ride and comfort. So much better than ICE powered. I like it so much and trade is so good in getting a 2023 limited in August.

Someone said the ride was too spiffy for them. I haven't noticed this and I enjoy the power enough to grand prix a bit.

The Toyota map is dumb as a rock but that is my only complaint. IPhone and carplay writing great.

Kind of disappointed the seat can be set to match the driver fob but the mirrors cannot! Seems cheep for a limited trim.

Also disappointed that the space is much less than previous Rav.

But it is a joy to drive!!!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[web1999]

I believe you can easily get 31 MPG if not a lot more. However you have to drive it slightly differently than a gas model. You can't be hitting the gas pedal hard frequently. You can't treat it like a sports car or performance sedan. You have to read up on REGENERATVE BRAKING and practice that hybrid driving technique. Research HYPER MILING. On the highway you will need to stay at or below about 62-65 MPH to maximize your MPG.

Hyer miling is awesome.

 

[web1999]

Sometimes, I have a lead foot somehow also. haha. Accelerating slow is hard.

 

[web1999]

Bear in mind--if you drive the hybrid fast and hard and aggressively, you still will probably get the same or slightly better MPGs than the gas model driven aggressively. The downside is that you paid a heck of a lot more for the hybrid and are not utilizing it in the way it was designed and marketed for--which is fuel economy.

Yes, all understood on the purpose.

 

[web1999]

Yup it's very hard. Especially when you encounter a crazy driver in the road and is an aggressor towards you, blinking his headlight and then speeding up beside you like as if challenging you, worst will cut in front of you. I experienced this mostly in the highway. I will tell myself... You want to see the power of my RAV4 huh then so be it I will show you the power...shift to sports mode, and driving like hell beating that aggressor, at the point that he could no longer catch up. In my country, there are highways with less to no speed cams.

Same thing here. People racing everywhere. Just try to get out of the way.

 

[web1999]

Even if you're cool and chill unless your tolerance is tested. My wife yells at me sometimes, let him pass, don't let him provoke you. I will try to avoid as much as possible. That story was really different, he tailed me for so long and kept on blinking his headlights. What the f**k... Have I offended him in anyway and then boom. The insidious took over. I admit not good. It happens.

Sometimes, you need some boost of power to pass them. Best to be calm. IMO, Rav4 Hybrid has power when needed so nobody should regret that.

 

[web1999]

Toyota Hybrids that have been in the family.

Prius, Prius Plug In, 2 Prius v, Rav4 hybrid, Avalon Hybrid

How many miles you have on the oldest one and did the battery need repair over 12 yrs or 100K miles?