rogerh00

will be interesting to see how much of the NX may be in this.

http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh...ew-york-debut/

spwolf

it will have same engine, and thats it...

As to Rav4, this will also be a facelift model. IMHO, Rav4 as it should always have been - more premium.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Good to hear. The hybrid will surely be popular for this market: urban city dwellers/commuters and family haulers for stop-and-go errands. Makes me wonder why the CRV hasn't touched that potential powertrain.

If it is a facelift (midcycle redesign), I would love to see better materials inside. Some of the plastic surfaces scratched easily and it looked bad in loaner and used cars.

LexusChris

iTrader: (1)

Gahhh, I was set on a Mazda CX-5 to replace one of my vehicles, now this is coming, looks like I may have to hold off on that for now, hopefully like PhilipMSPT said they improved the interior as it is easily scratched.

Sulu

The model I was waiting for -- too late, unless I can talk my wife into it (she likes the efficiency of my ES Hybrid).

Wonder if they can make the rear doors open a bit wider. Current RAV4's rear door opening is a bit too narrow, hampering entry/exit.

Yes, I wonder why Honda has not put a hybrid drivetrain in the CR-V and RDX.

spwolf

another one.

spwolf

I doubt door opening would change in facelift but who knows.

As to the Honda, they produce 6x less hybrids than Toyota, despite huge growth in Japan with new introduction... it is not surprising that they dont have CRV Hybrid, only surprising thing is that Toyota didnt hybridize Rav4 sooner as last year they produced 1.3m hybrids.

JDR76

This seems like a long overdue addition to the RAV4 line. I suspect Toyota will do very well with this model.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

About darn time. Boy Ford was foolish for dropping the Escape Hybrid..

gyrase321

At a total output of 200HP, this looks to have more oomph than the CRV.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Batteries will weigh it down a bit

gyrase321

Lexus NX 300h weighs 4180 lbs and has 194HP. If the RAV 4 hybrid keeps it under 4000 lbs, it will beat the NX.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Up until the current Accord Hybrid, Honda did not have any worthwhile hybrid drivetrain. I suspect a CRV with the IMA setup would yield marginal performance improvement, but with a price tag of mid 30s.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

That's the AWD. FWD is 4,055lbs. The Lexus has many more available features including better insulation that all add to it's weight vs a comparably lighter and less refined Rav4. 0-60 is pegged at 9.1 sec for both drivetrains.

It doesn't need to beat the NX, that's inherent, we were talking about the CR-V

Fizzboy7

The biggest headline here should be the facelift, not the hybrid. The RAV4 desperately needs improvements and never reached for the stars when it debuted a few years ago. Finishes inside and out have always lacked, and still do. Ditching the ridiculously cheap all-black bumpers on all models needs to be #1 on the list.