RAV 4 noisy? General thoughts?
Discussion
I'm considering a 2019/2021 Rav4 hybrid model. I test drove a Highlander and liked it, but it's a big bus and I thought a RAV might be a better fit.
One reviewer (Bob Flavin) thought it was noisy on the motorway. This is a bit of a deal breaker as it would be used for long runs out. Does anyone have one and if so, what are your thoughts about levels of noise and other aspects of the car? I'd appreciate any feedback
One reviewer (Bob Flavin) thought it was noisy on the motorway. This is a bit of a deal breaker as it would be used for long runs out. Does anyone have one and if so, what are your thoughts about levels of noise and other aspects of the car? I'd appreciate any feedback
Sheepshanks said:
lornemalvo said:
I'm considering a 2019/2021 Rav4 hybrid model. ……
…… This is a bit of a deal breaker as it would be used for long runs out.
That’s not an obvious use-case for a Hybrid.…… This is a bit of a deal breaker as it would be used for long runs out.
My brother-in-law has one as the family bus. Theirs is the new shape/current generation one, I assume that’s what you’d be looking at too? (The older one is fine but smaller and a little less refined.)
I’ve been a passenger in it a few times. It’s not notably quiet or anything but it’s fine. Better than their Zafira Tourer which was their previous car.
It won’t be as refined/quiet as a Highlander though.
Lexus NX might be worth a look? Same platform and tech as the RAV4 but more ‘premium’ so will likely have better sound insulation.
I’ve been a passenger in it a few times. It’s not notably quiet or anything but it’s fine. Better than their Zafira Tourer which was their previous car.
It won’t be as refined/quiet as a Highlander though.
Lexus NX might be worth a look? Same platform and tech as the RAV4 but more ‘premium’ so will likely have better sound insulation.
ChattingWham said:
My brother-in-law has one as the family bus. Theirs is the new shape/current generation one, I assume that’s what you’d be looking at too? (The older one is fine but smaller and a little less refined.)
I’ve been a passenger in it a few times. It’s not notably quiet or anything but it’s fine. Better than their Zafira Tourer which was their previous car.
It won’t be as refined/quiet as a Highlander though.
Lexus NX might be worth a look? Same platform and tech as the RAV4 but more ‘premium’ so will likely have better sound insulation.
I'm a big Lexus fan, I had an LS400 until last year, but the NX has a smallish boot, as has the RX450h. have you been in both a Highlander and a Rav 4, to make that comparison?I’ve been a passenger in it a few times. It’s not notably quiet or anything but it’s fine. Better than their Zafira Tourer which was their previous car.
It won’t be as refined/quiet as a Highlander though.
Lexus NX might be worth a look? Same platform and tech as the RAV4 but more ‘premium’ so will likely have better sound insulation.
lornemalvo said:
I'm a big Lexus fan, I had an LS400 until last year, but the NX has a smallish boot, as has the RX450h. have you been in both a Highlander and a Rav 4, to make that comparison?
Not the most recent model Highlander, no. I’ve been in the 2013 — 2019 generation in the US. There’s not a huge amount in it (and I don’t know if the US-spec previous version is comparable, really) but on balance I’d say the Highlander was a bit more refined than the RAV4. Only a bit, mind.A Lexus beats them both hands-down for hushed waft, though. (My dad runs an RX.)
I had an extended test drive in one, 150 miles in a day which was mostly faster roads/motorway.
Ended up not buying one as I was disappointed with the noise at speed, it reminded me of a 10/20 year old American SUV.
They sell a load of them in the US, so maybe they had deliberately programmed the RAV hybrid system to make noises like an ordinary car?
I've also spent loads of time in various other Toyota hybrids - Prius, Yaris, Corolla, CHR and they were all much quieter at speed.
Ended up not buying one as I was disappointed with the noise at speed, it reminded me of a 10/20 year old American SUV.
They sell a load of them in the US, so maybe they had deliberately programmed the RAV hybrid system to make noises like an ordinary car?
I've also spent loads of time in various other Toyota hybrids - Prius, Yaris, Corolla, CHR and they were all much quieter at speed.
The one I had was the normal hybrid.
Apart from the hybrid badges, you might think that it just had an ordinary petrol engine.
It made exactly the same noises as ordinary rental suvs I've had in the US. But like the fake gearlever they put in some hybrids, might be deliberate.
Also didn't think much of the 4wd system in the one I had, on a lightly damp road with the slightest of bends it was struggling for traction from a stop.
I had been seriously considering one before the test drive.
Apart from the hybrid badges, you might think that it just had an ordinary petrol engine.
It made exactly the same noises as ordinary rental suvs I've had in the US. But like the fake gearlever they put in some hybrids, might be deliberate.
Also didn't think much of the 4wd system in the one I had, on a lightly damp road with the slightest of bends it was struggling for traction from a stop.
I had been seriously considering one before the test drive.
I've thoroughly considered getting a Corolla estate or RAV4 hybrid as my next car. But the Japenese cars (Civic hybrid included) do catch quite a bit of flack because they use less noise insulation compared to European cars, which becomes noticeable at motorway speeds.
It doesn't help that the 2.5 4-cylinder powerplant is quite gruff (I thought due to a combination of direct and port injection) and also less insulation in the engine compartment. So if you're used to having big torque under your foot from a turbocharged diesel or petrol car, that might also cause a bit of engine noise.
Personally I rate the new Honda CR-V hybrid that's coming out a little higher as they solve the rubber banding noises in an elegant way. But for reliability and MPG Toyota still has them beat. The Toyotas just lack the appeal as a drivers car for me and the hybrids in general don't seem at their optimum performance for someone that's primarily spending time on motorways (coming from a line of 3.0 diesels)
It doesn't help that the 2.5 4-cylinder powerplant is quite gruff (I thought due to a combination of direct and port injection) and also less insulation in the engine compartment. So if you're used to having big torque under your foot from a turbocharged diesel or petrol car, that might also cause a bit of engine noise.
Personally I rate the new Honda CR-V hybrid that's coming out a little higher as they solve the rubber banding noises in an elegant way. But for reliability and MPG Toyota still has them beat. The Toyotas just lack the appeal as a drivers car for me and the hybrids in general don't seem at their optimum performance for someone that's primarily spending time on motorways (coming from a line of 3.0 diesels)
Bobupndown said:
Neighbour has one, really disappointed in the fuel economy when it runs out of electricity. 2.5 petrol? Reckons its getting 25mpg.
Seems a bit strange - just read a whatcar review which reckoned 50 is straightforward enough to achieve in the non plug in hybrid models. The range topping (302 bhp) plug in version has the same 2.5 litre engine, so should manage similar mpg even if you don't bother charging it. lornemalvo said:
Thanks all for the comments, much appreciated. Hoping for more if anyone has one of these or a Highlander?
Like I mentioned previously, even at motorway speeds its not overly noisy and we do regular trips. Its no more noisy than any other car - less noisy than my Mazda 3, no more noisy than the Merc, and will be in electric a good portion of the time even at 75/80 as long as your foot isnt heavy. The only time it seems ‘noisy’ is when you put your foot to the floor, but this is due to the CVT and quickly fades back.Snow and Rocks said:
Seems a bit strange - just read a whatcar review which reckoned 50 is straightforward enough to achieve in the non plug in hybrid models. The range topping (302 bhp) plug in version has the same 2.5 litre engine, so should manage similar mpg even if you don't bother charging it.
Yup extremely strange, we live in the hills which hits economy but are getting comfortably 40+mpg.Whataguy said:
....
Also didn't think much of the 4wd system in the one I had,...
I'm not sure it is an actual 4wd system on the hybrids (stand to be corrected) the petrol drives the front and the electric drives the rear, so it can try its best to issue some power to the rear motor to get going but if you give it some beans and break traction there's nowhere for the excess power to go.Also didn't think much of the 4wd system in the one I had,...
I suspect the issue with refinement is that it is designed as a cheap crossover for the American market so built down to a price.
I've driven a Camry with that 2.5 engine and it is a rough as an '80s Ford CVH.
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