2019 Toyota RAV4 Chief Engineer Gas Station Trips Every Two Weeks Are A Waste Of Time CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home News 2019 Toyota RAV4 Chief Engineer Gas Station Trips Every Two Weeks Are A Waste Of Time

2019 Toyota RAV4 Chief Engineer Gas Station Trips Every Two Weeks Are A Waste Of Time

Oct. 02, 2018 7:00 PM ET by Jay Traugott / 14 Comments That's why the RAV4 XSE Hybrid has a 600-mile range. The all-new 2019 Toyota RAV4 is unlike any previous RAV4 in the vehicle's almost 25-year history. For starters, it blurs the line between crossover and SUV more than previously thanks to, for example, a wider track for improved stability and three unique all-wheel drive systems to choose from. The 2019 RAV4 also increases the bar for fuel efficiency, specifically in the top-of-the-line RAV4 XSE Hybrid. We spoke to RAV4 chief engineer Yoshikazu Saeki at the 2018 Paris Motor Show and not only did we confirm the vehicle's 600-mile range and 3,637-pound maximum towing capacity, Saeki-san also told us why he set such a high fuel efficiency goal. "I noticed in both Michigan and Los Angeles the frequency of trips to the gas station. Every two weeks. I imagined this as an inconvenience to owners. And also, some customers like to do long drives, such as from Los Angeles to San Francisco. It's just a waste of time to try and find a gas station." What's also interesting, and this was noted last spring at New York when the RAV4 debuted, is that the XSE Hybrid is also the sportiest version of the 2019 RAV4 range to drive. "We found the performance band and fuel efficiency sweet spot," Saeki-san said. "Because of the yearly progress we've made on these (hybrid) engines, we can now pull more out of that sweet spot. We can now go in there and get more power out while still being economical." Could this so-called "sweet spot" be applied to future Toyotas, such as the next Prius? "I wouldn't say exactly 'yes' to that because it all depends on the anticipated performance people want from a particular model. Some models people want fuel economy as their first priority, whereas something like an SUV people , a different focus." The 2019 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid, as with all new RAV4s, comes powered by a standard 2.5-liter inline-four, only here it's connected to a hybrid system called Toyota Hybrid System II. Thanks in part to a sport-tuned suspension with tauter shock absorbers and springs, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid should be a hoot to drive around town. Driving pleasure in a RAV4? Hey, why not? Having less frequent fill-ups is simply icing on the cake.

Join The Discussion

Show Comments (14)

Gallery

8 Photos Tags: #Toyota News #2018 Paris Motor Show #Electric Vehicles #Scoop

Related Cars

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top