Thinking about a RAV4 or RAV4 hybrid, which one is better?

I’m looking to buy a RAV4 this spring but not sure if I should go with the hybrid or the regular one. I’ve driven a truck my whole life, so I don’t have much experience with smaller SUVs. I go camping and mountain biking in the summer, so I need a trailer hitch for a bike rack and might pull a small trailer sometimes. Not sure how well hybrids handle towing.

I also drive about 25 miles each way to work, mostly highway, and I live in Wisconsin where winters are rough, and the roads get covered in salt. I’d love to hear from people who own one—what do you think would be the best choice for me?

Hybrid is the way to go. More power, better gas mileage, smoother ride, and way quieter. Plus, the brake pads last much longer. I’m in Denver, where we get snow, and it does great.

What’s making you hesitate about the hybrid?

The hybrid will save you gas, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

@Fin
The gas RAV4 uses a small 12-volt battery to crank the engine, but the hybrid uses a high-voltage battery and an electric motor to do the same. The hybrid battery has way more power behind it, so you should be fine even in cold weather.

@Roux
Both models use the same 12-volt battery to start the car, but the hybrid gets help from the high-voltage battery to power the drivetrain.

I haven’t had any problems with my hybrid in subzero temps here in Colorado.

@Raven
Actually, in Toyota hybrids, the 12V only powers the electronics. The engine itself starts using the hybrid battery.

ToyotaLeez said:
@Raven
Actually, in Toyota hybrids, the 12V only powers the electronics. The engine itself starts using the hybrid battery.

Yeah, the 12V battery is just for powering accessories and computers. The hybrid motor is strong enough to start the engine easily, even in freezing weather.

@Raven
That’s right. In a Toyota hybrid, the 12V starts the car’s systems, but the actual engine is started by the hybrid battery, not the 12V.

@Fin
They work fine in extreme cold. Mine has started without issue at -23°C.

@Fin
Something to consider: I own a hybrid, and in winter, it takes longer to warm up since the engine doesn’t run constantly. If you like to let your car warm up before driving, it might not heat up as quickly as a gas model.

@Fin
We have both a Prius and a RAV4 hybrid. Last week, we had a -28°F morning, and both cars started just fine.

Caiden said:
@Fin
We have both a Prius and a RAV4 hybrid. Last week, we had a -28°F morning, and both cars started just fine.

That’s reassuring. The coldest week we had was mostly below zero, so hearing this makes me feel better about the hybrid.

@Raven
If you’re doing mostly highway driving, the hybrid won’t save you as much fuel as it would in the city. The savings come mostly in stop-and-go traffic.

Shinji said:
@Raven
If you’re doing mostly highway driving, the hybrid won’t save you as much fuel as it would in the city. The savings come mostly in stop-and-go traffic.

That’s not exactly true. While hybrids are better in the city, they still improve highway mileage too. I get around 36 mpg in my hybrid RAV4, which is better than a gas-only model.

I have a 2022 RAV4 gas model, and it gets 32 mpg on the highway.

Clarkson said:
I have a 2022 RAV4 gas model, and it gets 32 mpg on the highway.

Which trim?

Shinji said:

Clarkson said:
I have a 2022 RAV4 gas model, and it gets 32 mpg on the highway.

Which trim?

XLE, not a hybrid.

Get the hybrid. It’s worth it.

Go hybrid for sure.

Hybrids work best for longer commutes, especially if there’s stop-and-go traffic. They’re less efficient in very short trips or extreme cold.