Please direct your complaints to your elected officials who dictate what the CAFE numbers and emissions standards apparently need to be. That’s the main driver behind decisions like only offering hybrids or offering smaller displacement turbo engines rather than say a normally aspirated V6 or V8.
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yeah, I went saturday and they had a bunch of ravs (2022 to 2024) used but I want new. had 2 LE’s and at least one XLE hybrid. I opened the hood and it had 2 anti freeze containers (of course 2 stopcocks or plugs if you will. Then walks up the salesman and his trainee. The dealer isn’t fond of people opening hoods and doors but I treat the car as mine with care. Anyway, the 2nd is for the battery which is in the hood (flat, near the back of the engine firewall). I read that it uses the battery from 0 to 42 and then the gas engine kicks in. As for the dash, my wife hates toyota (interiors boring, drives me nuts). but they said in the 2026 article, that the computer was in the dash??? I won’t take a hybrid as it’s 3 to 8K for a new battery but they warranty it for 10 years so… They gave it good reviews but I like gears (no cvt) nor turbo like honda crv’s. Yeah, I’m almost sure to get an LE or XLE in 2025. At my age, that might be my last car. I can go another 10 years as my 2015 has 120.7K on it but if I do, then maybe a Kia sportage or mazda. forget nissan for me. forget imports. I do have a new engine belt that I need to install and 5 or 6 filters that I might have to give away or toss (the new rav’s use a can filter…think the 4986 (that small one on many cars). I think I like screw on vs. canister. the other thing, many people don’t like the hybrids as they shut off at lights and then restart. Forget that. Anyway, I’ll get a 2025 I guess. New everything. As for the poster with the CAFE standards, I didn’t think of that in my frustration. But, I bet most see the 46 average MPG and not the higher purchase price, nor higher taxes and insurance. And the battery if over 10 years. thanks for all the discussions. Hey, at least I didn’t post about the best synthetic oil or trans fluid…
yeah, it’s a toyota. I don’t want a battery other than one to start my car (I’m mid 60’s). And I think you have to de energize the battery when working on the engine??? whatever. I like gas!!!
Me thinks Kia and Mazda are imports .
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The warranty on most HV batteries is 10 years or 100,000 miles. Not bad if you ask me. And Toyota batteries have lasted far longer than anyone ever thought they would. Also $4000 doesn’t buy you nearly what it used to. Here’s what it costs to rebuild a transmission in a late-model gas powered vehicle:
The powertrain in the Rav-4 and Camry Hybrids is pretty much the same as what’s been on the road in the Prius for almost 25 years. And that powertrain has been proven to be more reliable than many conventional powertrains that have come and gone since then.
We the people (as in the government) won’t let that happen because we have enacted strict CAFE and emissions requirements that prioritize clean air and fuel economy. We the people (as in the consumers) won’t let that happen because we want more power and bigger more feature-laden cars.
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The Mazda CX-5 is a good option, then.
Don’t sell yourself short! Your good looks are legendary in New England! 
Well, that’s not exactly how the Toyota system works. You can get a fairly good overview of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYWqdiUlbA
But in my experience it varies based on system demand. Most of the time, mine shuts off the engine well in advance as I’m coasting up to the stop. Then it takes off still in EV mode and starts the engine after some time based again on circumstances. Most of the time, you have to be watching the screen to see if the engine is running or not. It doesn’t make any noise starting up- watch the video it explains why.
Perhaps. But for me the extra cost was plain to see when comparing models. It’s $3,050 more for the hybrid option. What do you get for that money? Yes higher mpg. Since I drive 100 miles per day, that can offset my fuel costs. It would pay for itself in less than 5 years at the current price for gas. Plus a slightly higher horsepower rating (219 vs 203). BUT, you also get electronic AWD which the gas only models do not have. That is a huge benefit for my commute during winter months around here.
Frankly, for $3k extra, the insurance cost and personal property tax differential was peanuts.
As mentioned earlier, no you don’t. Only if you’re servicing some components of the HV system.
You seem pretty set in your decisions but perhaps someone else coming along will find this useful information.
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Yep, the concern about stop/start with a hybrid is wrong. Some non-hybrids have the big problems with that, while with all the hybrids I’ve driven there is no significant lag, as described by @TwinTurbo above. The big hybrid battery powers the HVAC when stopped, helps get the car moving, and the big hybrid motor quickly gets the IC engine going when needed.
These days the hybrid versions of cars and CUVs are typically better all-around than the non-hybrid version, with more power, smoother acceleration, and better mpgs. Win/win/win, more than makes up for the added cost and complexity for me.
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Well, it’s good to know my reputation precedes me 
Like the old saying goes, on the internet no one knows you’re a dog- literally!
And gets about the worst gas mileage of any compact SUV according to Car and Driver real world test.
That’s for the larger CX-50 with the turbo engine. And it got 29 mpg, compared to 31-32 mpg for the others. The non-turbo CX-5 got 32 mpg on a previous C&D test, same as the others.
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Who wants a non turbo? Besides my Ford Escape with the big turbo got the best mpg in that test at 75 mph and the best 1/4 mile acceleration. Although I will admit the Mazda has the better interior.
Anyway there are too many people on this website that are too old fashioned. I’m going to drop out. It’s just too much harumph everything new is bad and the good old days were better.
I’m not learning anything new here.
Well, I’m not one of those people.
I’m 77, and I really enjoy all of the high-tech features of of modern cars.
If I were going to buy another new car, and if I didn’t want a PHEV, I would welcome a turbo engine. My 2 year old PHEV doesn’t have a turbo, but I’m not opposed to that type of technology… which isn’t even very “new”.
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There are maybe 6 folks that fit that description, they just happen to post a lot. If you want to learn something, ask a question, lots of knowledge here for the picking.
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I believe one of those folks lives in Indiana 
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Yep, then there are a couple with real anger management problems, and a few from California and so on. Easy to package people in little boxes but those turbos can be expensive to fix eedvto be treated with respect. There sseems to be a fixation on mpg. Maybe some drive a hundred miles a day where it would be noticeable, but most don’t. Do your own calculation to determine the annual savings going from 25 to 40. I never had any auto classes but I did have accounting and economics. But as they say, suit yourself.
My 1962 Olds Jetfire came with a turbo
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Truck got 14 mpg x 84 miles a day = 6 gallons a day x 20 days a month = 120 gallons a month x $4 a gallon = $480 a month in gas
Car got 34 mpg x 84 miles a day = 2.4 gallons a day x 20 days a month = 48 gallons a month x $4 a gallon = $192 a month in gas
$480 - $192 saving $288 a month, Car payment was $235 a month, that puts $53 a month in my pocket and I’m driving a new car.
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