You buy a new Rav4 and those "issues" you mention are either fixed or are well proven fixes.

My wife was looking at all the Toyota hybrids and her concerns about the HiHy were the seats and the MPG. Not as comfortable as she was wanting. She only did a short drive but since you have rented for a few days you will have formed your opinion.

 

We have both. We first got the 2019 RAV4 XSE. I looked at the Highlander at the time, but we didn’t have the towing requirements that we now have and the MPG difference was greater between both.

I had the gas tank issue but that has been taken care of. I prefer to drive something smaller and since I normally drive 30k per year, I have been taking advantage of the great gas mileage 40s during the summer and now 36 during the winter.

My wife was driving a 2016 RAV4 XLE Hybrid. We decided to get rid of it and get a 2020 Highlander XLE Hybrid because it gave us more seating and greater towing capacity with great MPG for a car that size. During the warmer weather with summer blend gas she was getting 38 MPG. She is now getting 33 with the cold and winter blend.

The Highlander is our go to car when traveling with more people/cargo. We can easily tow both UTV and ATV at the same time. The RAV4 can only tow one at a time.

I would say it’s personal preference and your needs. Both run great and give you great MPG. We are happy with both. Would recommend a test drive and figure out your needs.

 

We have both. We first got the 2019 RAV4 XSE. I looked at the Highlander at the time, but we didn’t have the towing requirements that we now have and the MPG difference was greater between both.

I had the gas tank issue but that has been taken care of. I prefer to drive something smaller and since I normally drive 30k per year, I have been taking advantage of the great gas mileage 40s during the summer and now 36 during the winter.

My wife was driving a 2016 RAV4 XLE Hybrid. We decided to get rid of it and get a 2020 Highlander XLE Hybrid because it gave us more seating and greater towing capacity with great MPG for a car that size. During the warmer weather with summer blend gas she was getting 38 MPG. She is now getting 33 with the cold and winter blend.

The Highlander is our go to car when traveling with more people/cargo. We can easily tow both UTV and ATV at the same time. The RAV4 can only tow one at a time.

Highlander more comfortable and quieter. Not pleased with rav4 hybrid limited
[/QUOTET

 

Towing Capacity: Highlander Hybrid 3500 lb vs. RAV4 Hybrid 1750 lb. I wonder why a Highlander is so much higher than a RAV4 when they share the same 2.5L engine and ECVT transmission. We did not get a Highlander because it was just too big for our needs.

 

“Both models use a similar hybrid setup, but the Highlander’s system is tuned for more power: 243 horsepower against the RAV4’s 219 hp. That helps the Highlander Hybrid to a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, which is 1,750 more than the RAV4 Hybrid.”

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs. Toyota Highlander Hybrid - CarsDirect

Toyota’s line of hybrids is no longer limited to sedans. Both of the brand’s bestselling crossover SUVs, the RAV4 and the Highlander, are available with eco-friendly powertrains. Both models also received recent redesigns. We put the two new Toyotas head-to-head to see which hybrid is worth the...

m.carsdirect.com

 

Highlander more comfortable and quieter. Not pleased with rav4 hybrid limited

 

Thanks, good to know. The Rav4 Hybrid Limited and Highlander XLE are what I am looking at. I would have to agree the Highlander has Lexus like interior and comfort. The Rav4 is easier to drive in traffic and park. The dealer provided prices for both and were about the same. Overall the Highlander is the better value, however it ultimately comes down to what I want to drive for the next 10 years. I am going to rent both again and make a decision.

 

Have both 2020 Rav4 and Highlander Limited. Highlander is miles better then Rav4 but Escape Titanium is still better then both

 

Just a quick comment on this thread. Apart from size differences, the biggest thing to note about the pricing between the RAV4 and Highlander is the former "flies off the lot" while the latter "languishes on the lots." Hence the $7000 discount. The latest Highlander is not the hot seller the last generation was, so much so I read that Toyota is rushing its "mid-cycle refresh" to come a year earlier (next year). It's sad to see scores of 2020 Highlanders still sitting on a dealer's lot while 2020/2021 RAV4s (especially the Limiteds) are scarce or unavailable.

So, when considering the two, I suggest you think about resale value in years to come. That $7000 discount amounts to a extra year's depreciation before you drive off the lot. Better want to keep it in the long run.

I hope this is helpful to someone. Peace.

 

It's true discounts for Highlander been crazy good. It's a smart buy. Can't say the same for Rav4 though. People flocking RAV4s over it's good design while what matters lacking in comparison to Highlander.

 

I'm perfectly satisfied with my 2019 RAV-4 Hybrid Limited. It is loaded and has pretty much everything I need, with the exception of the illumination that Toyota overlooked (apparently intentionally) for key switches which are invisible at night. Mine was built in Canada which enabled me to get the adaptive headlights that I wanted. They illuminate the road ahead very well, even on curves. I really didn't want the panoramic moon roof, the last thing I need in the summertime is the sun beating, or the wind buffeting into the passenger compartment, however this boils down to personal preference. The Highlander was a lot more than I need. My wife and I are typically the only passengers, but even with two back seat passengers, everyone is comfortable in the RAV4.

 

. I really didn't want the panoramic moon roof, the last thing I need in the summertime is the sun beating, or the wind buffeting into the passenger compartment, however this boils down to personal preference. The Highlander was a lot more than I need. My wife and I are typically the only passengers, but even with two back seat passengers, everyone is comfortable.

Am not in the market for a new vehicle but have the same sentiment about the current fad for pano sun/moon roofs. Don't even use the much smaller one on our current Base '11 RAV4. It was a mandatory inclusion on the Value Upgrade Package which I otherwise wanted and ordered.

 

Buy the Highander because you are 6'4", 250 lbs and need/like a bigger vehicle, you need more towing capability, money is not an issue, you are a soccer mom and need more cargo space for more balls, the name sounds cool, don't know why but I just want a Highlander...

Don't buy a Highlander if the Rav4 checks all your boxes, but I'm worried about all the Rav4 issues I read about on this forum (which as mentioned above, if they occur, have proven Toyota fixes), so I'm gonna buy a Highlander to be safe....

 

Buy the Corolla because you are 5'4", 150 lbs divorced mom who doesn't need space for balls, money is tight and the only towing you ever do is your ass to grocery store... Oh yeah name isn't cool but who cares.

 

The RAV4 and Highlander are in different vehicle categories in terms of size and capacities, but I think there are other reasons why the RAV4 Hybrid is so much more popular than the Highlander Hybrid. Styling alone is one of the factors, with RAV4 having a much more distinctive and unique exterior design (that stands out from the crowd). RAV4 looks more utilitarian (shape follows function), and has a utilitarian interior as well, that is functional without pretending to be a 'luxury' vehicle. Highlander has a much 'nicer' interior but also looks much more pretentious (copying the appearance and look of 'luxury' vehicles), and I think people subconsciously pick on on that. The price difference alone is likely a major differentiator, but RAV4 just fits people's needs the most.

Additionally, the RAV4 is an iconic name, and with the introduction of the 2019 Hybrid model (with such an major improvement in fuel efficiency), the RAV4 Hybrid has become even more iconic. Highlander is viewed and considered primarily as a 'family' vehicle, while RAV4 exudes senses of individualism and independence, and adventure/freedom as well due to its AWD feature. To sum up, although Highlander is a much 'nicer' vehicle overall, RAV4 is much more popular probably because people feel happier on the inside driving a RAV4 compared to driving a Highlander.

 

Well said. I always feel happy when I drive my Rav4. I have owned Land Cruisers, Forerunner, a couple of the trucks and now my 4th Rav, the Hybrid.

 

Having just gone through the buying experience with my wife, I don't know how any of us can suggest to someone else what they will like without knowing intimately what their needs and wants are. Even having been married for 40+ years, she made choices that were absolutely not what I would have but which were logical to her. I'm not sure I could have bought the car for her because things like seat comfort were important to her and she and I are a bit different in shape, thank goodness.

She bought on the basis of a 5 mile drive.

I like the rent idea. Also the manuals are available on Toyota's site and at least the quick Study Guide is worth reading to get an idea of the controls and features before you rent or buy.

 

Having just gone through the buying experience with my wife, I don't know how any of us can suggest to someone else what they will like without knowing intimately what their needs and wants are. Even having been married for 40+ years, she made choices that were absolutely not what I would have but which were logical to her. I'm not sure I could have bought the car for her because things like seat comfort were important to her and she and I are a bit different in shape, thank goodness.

She bought on the basis of a 5 mile drive.

I like the rent idea. Also the manuals are available on Toyota's site and at least the quick Study Guide is worth reading to get an idea of the controls and features before you rent or buy.

Bingo! Test drive or rent before buying. Things like no lights on the window or sunroof switches should not be a surprise. Highly recommend not being in a rush when buying a car.

My wife prefers her Highlander because she had different priorities than me. I prefer the RAV4.

 

Sorry , should have been a little more expressive 🙂
I want to say that no matter what other options are, at the end it is your own, the drivers, opinion that matters the most.
I wanted to get my wife into an AWD car and yet, at the end she chosed what she liked it the most and it wasn't what I would have picked even though the Corolla is a good car overall.

Now to your 2010 Foresters, it is interesting how our experience differ. Mine 2010 was very good to the end. Except for a few dings on the body and paint issues, inflicted by me , mechanicaly it was almost perfect. Almost no issues at all. I always took it to my dealer, I had and still have a good relationship with my Subaru dealer, and they told me the car was good mechanicaly.
Around 140k I had to do a full tuneup and change over the wires, plugs and coils, which were still OEM at the time, about that time I also did transmission and diffs oil drain and fill. A few month later I had radiator blow on me and needed to fix that. But it was still a solid car. It just my milege is crazy at 80+ miles a day. But if a drove a sain amount of miles, like 10k or under I would still keep my Forester for a while. It was still in very nice shape for a 10 yo car with 160k on it.
I now drive my new 2020 RAV4 hybrid XLE and so far it is a good experience. Will see in 10 years

 

We didn't want a big SUV so HL was out. IMHO the 2.5L (even with electric motor) is just too small and underpowered for HL.

 

You are right about hybrid being underpowered while ICE variant has good pep. It really needs v6 hybrid like it was before

 

I'll share my wife's viewpoint after driving several of the Toyota brand hybrids.

Rav 4 Hybrid​

View from on high – plus

Awkward getting in and out – minus

Seats uncomfortable – big minus

Venza Hybrid​

Seats that help you get in and out – plus

Comfortable seats - plus

Rear view through mirror – big minus

Highlander Hybrid​

Three rows – minus

Seating for 7 -

Noisy – minus

MPG – minus

Avalon Hybrid​

MPG – plus

Low view – minus

Easy in and out seats – plus

Comfortable seats - plus

 

It's ironic with this comparison. I owned the first generation of the Highlander Hybrid FWD. Put many miles on it and then switch to a Prius and gave the Highlander to my son and drove it till it died.
When I was looking to get a new car I looked at the RAV4 2019. I pulled the specs on the Highlander I had and the 2019 RAV4. The size specs inside and outside were almost identical.