2026 RAV4 Debuts
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,254
Likes: 1,598
From: FL
I joined a GR Corolla Facebook group when Toyota sent me the 2025 model for review at the end of last year, and the crew's reaction to the new GR SPORT is very positive.
I'll also be excited to see where Lexus takes the next NX 450h+ F Sport, although they'll probably ruin the front end/grille area.
I'll also be excited to see where Lexus takes the next NX 450h+ F Sport, although they'll probably ruin the front end/grille area.
Thank you for doing what you do. 🏆
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
I must have driven defective ones then, the ones I drove had to hold 4500+ rpm to accelerate acceptably with the accompanying CVT hum. The LXs can make do with 2500-3200 no problem....and don't subject you to annoying 4 cyl noises, you get a Yamaha purr instead
Speaking of RX450h, we might be getting one for free soon......owner has grown tired of it (had it for 10 years and 240k) and wants to upgrade to a newer one. It's one of the worst driving cars I've ever suffered but free is free and it has had a known easy life. I dislike the ride mostly, very pogo-stick feeling and has the typical CUV rolling feel to it. I have no expectations of a hybrid in terms of power or smoothness and while I guess it has some smoothness because of the lack of gears it's just very meh, engine is loud and drones if I make it drive like I prefer to. Laid back it's fine, can't complain other than the fact it shuts off constantly
My wife is the one enabling the connection so to speak but she HATES the way the hybrid drives, always complains it's rubber bandy, laggy, and disjointed on top of having the start stop she hates more than anyone else in my immediate group lol!
Speaking of RX450h, we might be getting one for free soon......owner has grown tired of it (had it for 10 years and 240k) and wants to upgrade to a newer one. It's one of the worst driving cars I've ever suffered but free is free and it has had a known easy life. I dislike the ride mostly, very pogo-stick feeling and has the typical CUV rolling feel to it. I have no expectations of a hybrid in terms of power or smoothness and while I guess it has some smoothness because of the lack of gears it's just very meh, engine is loud and drones if I make it drive like I prefer to. Laid back it's fine, can't complain other than the fact it shuts off constantly
My wife is the one enabling the connection so to speak but she HATES the way the hybrid drives, always complains it's rubber bandy, laggy, and disjointed on top of having the start stop she hates more than anyone else in my immediate group lol!
Sorry about the blurry pics I was hanging on to an iPhone 6s on its last leg. We test drove a RX350 and the 450h back to back and we like the 450h better overall. I reset the mpg before we left the dealer and its lifetime mpg average was 27mpg with my wife doing all the heavy lifting and lots of idling. Around town I could get 30-35+mpg all day. Only repair it had I believe was the fuel pump recall and I think the driver or passenger door handle recall. When they would give us a RX 350 loaner, it felt very meh and would have to resort to driving it in sport mode because it’s so quick to get to the highest gear for fuel economy.
On Lexus/Toyota hybrid transitioning from HV/EV mode is faintly noticeable. Put it this way, when the engine is off and the fires back up it doesn’t sound anything like the startup sound you hear on gas models with start/stop.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 383
From: ON/NY
probably lacks a hybrid?
3UR engines were never as good as 2UZ.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; May 21, 2025 at 11:38 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 383
From: ON/NY
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,313
Likes: 1,786
From: Ohio
I would like them to allocate $2k if the price to making my econobox quiet enough to not make me actively hate myself. I will put up with a lot if the car is at least quiet
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,027
Likes: 4,321
From: Alberta
Design language and consistency matters. New RAV can't decide if it will embrace on screen controls or not and it ends up being the master of none. In fact this is Toyota in general they have hydrogen, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs. Pick a lane Toyota your waffling is tiresome and is resulting extremely boring cars.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
It doesn’t have a fart can or a glass pack on it. When SW17LS and I had this discussion before I believe my PHEV Rav at 70 or 75mph was more quiet than my stock Tundra. Granted it wasn’t as quiet as the LX 570. It will go into EV mode up to 84mph if you drive like there’s an egg under the gas pedal or if you’re coasting up to 84mph.
My sister has NX 350 F sport and the sound dampening is a lot better than the Rav. I’ve driven them back to back. As mentioned earlier, it’s about what you’re comparing it to.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,027
Likes: 4,321
From: Alberta
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 383
From: ON/NY
Toyota focus group : what you would like in a cuv?
Rav4 owner: reliable form of transport
strikker: i would like LFA Levels of performance, nvh, and all for around 40 big ones.
@Toys4RJill would like full time 4WD
@SW17LS would like a double wishbone front end
@AJT123 would like a huffing and puffing and snorting V8
@bitkahuna would like real ruggedness
@mmarshall would really like a 80 series tires made with American labor.
@Margate330 would like something to get him and his wife safety to Outback Streakhouse. Doesn’t care about the rest
@BayouLexus would like the LX570 to re-enter the chat
Rav4 owner: reliable form of transport
strikker: i would like LFA Levels of performance, nvh, and all for around 40 big ones.
@Toys4RJill would like full time 4WD
@SW17LS would like a double wishbone front end
@AJT123 would like a huffing and puffing and snorting V8
@bitkahuna would like real ruggedness
@mmarshall would really like a 80 series tires made with American labor.
@Margate330 would like something to get him and his wife safety to Outback Streakhouse. Doesn’t care about the rest
@BayouLexus would like the LX570 to re-enter the chat
Spoiler
Last edited by Toys4RJill; May 21, 2025 at 01:38 PM.