For years, the RAV4 has excelled to the top of its compact crossover class, providing drivers with an affordable and convenient vehicle for carting passengers or cargo around town. Then, back in 2015, Toyota decided to up the ante by transforming the reliable RAV4 into a hybrid crossover that saw better gas mileage. This year, the well-known hybrid variant been completely redesigned for game-changing results. Here is everything you need to know about the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid.
Power Paired With Efficiency
Just because the RAV4 Hybrid is an efficient car doesn’t mean it sacrifices power. In fact, the new model will be equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 176 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. There’s also an electric motor that sends separate energy to both the front and back wheels. The front wheels get 118 horsepower and 149 pound-feet of torque, while the back wheels receive 54 horsepower and 89 pound-feet of torque.
Altogether, both the units offer a combined 219 horsepower, which greatly exceeds the previous RAV4 Hybrid’s 194 horsepower. It’s also better than the normal 2019 RAV4’s 203 horsepower, meaning this hybrid is truly a vehicle that doesn’t sacrifice power for efficiency.
Fuel Economy and Performance
So just how efficient is the new RAV4 Hybrid? Estimates provided by Toyota show the new vehicle should get 41 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, both of which are improvements over 2018 ratings. But what if you wanted to put fuel economy aside and put the pedal to the metal? Luckily, the RAV4 Hybrid will have no problem keeping up, as it can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds. It can also race a quarter of a mile in just 15.6 seconds, with a top speed of 90.4 mph in that stretch.
No Lack of Space
In many hybrid SUVs, interior space is compromised because the electric motor takes up so much space. Luckily, this isn’t true in the RAV4 Hybrid, which offers a capacious 37.6-cubic-feet cargo hold behind the second row of seats. With all the seats in their upright position, the vehicle can comfortably seat up to five people. If you’d like a little more room for baggage or groceries, simply fold the back seats flat to increase the storage capacity.
Safety Reigns Supreme
Safety is a big selling point for Toyota, which is why they’ve opted to include the full Toyota Safety Sense suite of features in this hybrid. With this package, you’ll get numerous advanced safety features, such as road-sign assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection. If you choose a higher trim model, you’ll get even more features added on, including rear cross-traffic braking and blind spot monitoring.
If you’re eager to step behind the wheel of the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid, you’ll have to wait until March 2019 when it is released. Until then, keep a close eye on our inventory page to see if any other models strike your fancy.
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