[Variman]

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.

Can you get these deep $7K discounts on the hybrid Highlander?

Generally, the Highlander is based on the Avalon, while the Rav is based on the Camry. The lines are a little blurred now due to TNGA but that's the gist of it.

As others have stated, the Highlander is a new model too. Hopefully since Toyota had more margins to work with, quality is higher?

I say, if you have to garage room, the money, get the Highlander Hybrid with the 1500 watt inverter! Probably close to $50K as I think you need to get the Platinum trim or close to it for that feature.

The idea of renting both is great. I had no idea that Toyota rented until I joined Rav4 World! I recommend this to anyone considering buying a Toyota.

 

[sbridwell]

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.

 

[sbridwell]

I have the adaptive headlights and smile every time I drive at night. Especially on city darker streets, it’s amazing how everything to either side is lit up for clear visibility. They are totally worth it, and I don’t miss sacrificing the pano moonroof for them. I have barely used my standard moonroof.

 

[mikefocke]

In '21 you can get the adaptive with the pano roof if you want. Couldn't in '19 when I got mine but then I didn't want the pano anyway. Heck, I didn't even want the sunroof.

 

[mikefocke]

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.

 

[cash70]

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.

 

[toyodaornot]

Can you get these deep $7K discounts on the hybrid Highlander?

These discounts are for ICE, much like great discounts on ICE Rav4

 

[VladR]

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.

I had a very similar experience with my wife 6 years ago.
We where married for 12 years than. It was second new car for her. We had a 2002 saturn L200 for 11 years and I really wanted to get her an AWD Subaru. Since I loved my 2010 Forester. We took 5 test drives and still ended up with a fwd 2014 Corolla LE. It was the most comfortable for her vehicle.
I like Toyota, and just traded my 2010 Forester for 2020 RAV4 hybrid XLE this September, but still can't get over the facts.

 

[Edd70]

I had a very similar experience with my wife 6 years ago.
We where married for 12 years than. It was second new car for her. We had a 2002 saturn L200 for 11 years and I really wanted to get her an AWD Subaru. Since I loved my 2010 Forester. We took 5 test drives and still ended up with a fwd 2014 Corolla LE. It was the most comfortable for her vehicle.
I like Toyota, and just traded my 2010 Forester for 2020 RAV4 hybrid XLE this September, but still can't get over the facts.

Not sure what you mean at the end there about getting over facts?

I also have a 2010 Forester. I’m pretty sure I’m going to trade it for a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid very soon. The Forester has warning lights galore going on. It’s got 164k. Mechanic is suggesting it’s not worth fixing anymore. Still original head gaskets though.

I want the Toyota reliability and hybrid tech but a test drive left me underwhelmed today. I’m in the process of talking myself into buying it anyway. We have a 2018 Subaru Outback Limited and the ride and cabin quality are clearly superior to the RAV4 Hybrid, which will end up costing 6K or so more than the Outback did. It’s tough for me to swallow but, again, reliability and hybrid tech.

 

[VladR]

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

 

[northwoodshyun]

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.

 

[mikefocke]

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

 

[toyodaornot]

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

 

[Variman]

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

Or maybe a plug in version with 300+HP?

I don't see Toyota ever going back to 6 cylinder hybrids of any type in their unibody cars, perhaps body on frame trucks? We will see with the upcoming Tacoma and Tundra, if Ford can do it, Toyota can or should at least have a hybrid version.

 

[Tlund]

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.

The Highlander is so much of a better vehicle on the highway. It is more spacious and quieter. I like the extra cargo space in the Highlander. The RAV4 rides rough and seems much more cheaply built.

 

[Skinny guy]

The Highlander is so much of a better vehicle on the highway

Are you talking about Hybrid?

 

[TrueTexan]

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.