New RAV4 for 2018

[gbaglo]

Just received my copy of Club Toyota magazine and for 2018 Toyota will be selling RAV4 Trail in Canada ( may be Adventure nameplate in US ). It has 3,500 lb tow capacity and Trailer Sway Control. Tow prep package includes upgraded radiator and supplemental engine oil and transmission fluid coolers.

[rbryan4]

The Adventure model looks to be a great fit for a smaller trailer. Has all the things you look for in a tow. I still think it's marginal for a 2nd Generation 17B, depending on how it's equipped. Those could come close to or exceed 3500 lbs when loaded.

[gbaglo]

Have to admit, I'd likely move up to a Highlander if I were purchasing.

[Bobbie54]

I'm waiting for a real world report on towing with the new Rav4 Adventure. But I like what I've seen so far. Just wish it was a V6.

[padlin]

Why the Highlander?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by padlin

Why the Highlander?

Just a guess, but probably the extra 1500 lbs of towing capacity.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by padlin

Why the Highlander?

Could be Pilot, or Highlander.
I'm very happy with my Toyota for all the usual reasons, quality, service, resale.
But, I'd look at the Pilot, even if it is huge compared to my RAV4.
4Runner, Tacoma, etc would have to have an escalator optional before my wife would consider it.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

I'm waiting for a real world report on towing with the new Rav4 Adventure. But I like what I've seen so far. Just wish it was a V6.

I'd also ask where the full-size spare is.
And, magazine article says all new RAV4s have a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine.
My RAV4 V6 has a 3.5 liter engine.

[Vermilye]

Having towed a 17B many, many miles with a V6 RAV4, I don't think I'd be interested in doing the same with a 4 banger, no matter what the tow ratings. Now, that V6 made the RAV4 a tiger! I was not impressed with the same engine in a Highlander...

[rbryan4]

Pipe dream: a smaller, quality SUV, with a Ford 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine.....

[steve dunham]

The 2018 rav4 sounds like a good commuter vehicle as well as a good tow vehicle for a Scamp 13 or other small , lightweight trailer .
The Highlander may be more appropriate for an Escape 17A.

[thoer]

Glenn, planning to trade in your 17B for a Scamp 13 anytime soon?

Accurate tag lines are very appreciated.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'd also ask where the full-size spare is.
And, magazine article says all new RAV4s have a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine.
My RAV4 V6 has a 3.5 liter engine.

That's why I'm skeptical that it would be any better than my Forester. But I'd like to see a review. What I'd really like, which has been rumored but not announced, is a 5 passenger, smaller Honda Pilot.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

That's why I'm skeptical that it would be any better than my Forester. But I'd like to see a review. What I'd really like, which has been rumored but not announced, is a 5 passenger, smaller Honda Pilot.

It would be bizarre for Honda to reduce the overall size of the Pilot, for four reasons:

• The current Pilot is relatively new (first model year 2016) so any major change will be at least a couple more years.
• The Pilot is the largest Honda-branded SUV, so if they made it smaller they would need an additional model above it.
• The CR-V is smaller than a Pilot, so a smaller Pilot would squeeze into CR-V territory, which is already sandwiched between the even smaller HR-V and the Pilot.
• Car models very rarely get smaller; the normal pattern is to make them bigger with every generation, and fill in under them with new models. The CR-V grew, the Pilot grew as well, and eventually the HR-V was introduced at a size similar to the original CR-V; at Toyota, the RAV4 grew and grew and got just as big as the original Highlander, and the Highlander grew as well to stay above the RAV4, and eventually the C-HR was introduced at a size similar to the original RAV4. That's a more normal pattern.

Since this vehicle has become relatively large, it is plausible that Honda will do two lengths at the next update of the Pilot - a 5-passenger short-wheelbase and a 7-passenger long-wheelbase. The short version would be just as tall, just as wide, and almost as heavy, but with less interior space and inferior towing stability. Having two lengths has been relatively common in SUVs; GM currently does this, and other companies have in the past.

[Bobbie54]

Honda Aims To Squeeze Another SUV Between CR-V And Pilot In 2018

https://www.thetorquereport.com/hond...er-pilot-2018/

Who knows? Automakers do come out with things that don't make a lot of sense, like a 4 cylinder Rav4 with higher towing capacity.

[Sean Murry]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Could be Pilot, or Highlander.
I'm very happy with my Toyota for all the usual reasons, quality, service, resale.
But, I'd look at the Pilot, even if it is huge compared to my RAV4.
4Runner, Tacoma, etc would have to have an escalator optional before my wife would consider it.

Here is the escalator option for your wife. They make these for the Tacoma and I know CAP-IT sells and installs them. Kind of expensive but pretty cool. They drop lower than a standard running board and extend out further, actually making them useful, versus something that just puts dirt on your pants as you try to exit the vehicle.
Quality AMP Research Powerstep & Truck Running Boards | AMP Research

[Chapitre]

Towed my 17b long distances with a 6cyl RAV 4 it was working pretty hard, we always had to be measuring weight etc., - lots of trips to CAT scales the wheelbase was too short in my opinion but everyone has a certain level of comfort. Others think they're great- I kept it a year then changed to a longer wheel base. I'm surprised a 4cylinder could manage it - maybe the wheelbase is longer. I wouldn't consider it. This is just my opinion and comfort level. The highlander or pilot would be great.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

Honda Aims To Squeeze Another SUV Between CR-V And Pilot In 2018

https://www.thetorquereport.com/hond...er-pilot-2018/

The second article contains this:

The new short-wheelbase Honda Pilot will enter production in fall 2018 at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama plant. The move will give Honda another model to capitalize on the ever growing demand for crossovers in the U.S. Hyundai already offers two versions of the Santa Fe...

... which is what I was suggesting. To see how this short- and long-wheelbase scheme can work, have a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (short) and XL (long).

Both articles suggest production starting in a year, and at this close to production there are normally car-spotter photos of pre-production units being tested, so a truly separate model seems unlikely.

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

Automakers do come out with things that don't make a lot of sense, like a 4 cylinder Rav4 with higher towing capacity.

I don't know why a 4 cylinder Rav4 with higher towing capacity doesn't make sense. This vehicle - with the 2.5 L 4-cylinder - has about the same engine power as a typical full-sized North American car or pickup truck of the 1970's (such as my parents' Chevy), when no one would have questioned the ability of these vehicles to tow two or three tons of trailer. Even if you don't want to max out a 3500 pound towing capacity (even though that works for some Escape owners with the same chassis), it's certainly suitable for more than the 1500 pounds that it is rated for without the towing package. Even the hybrid is rated for 1750 pounds, so there's clearly room for more than 1500 pounds of trailer with the regular 2.5 L.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

...
I don't know why a 4 cylinder Rav4 with higher towing capacity doesn't make sense. This vehicle - with the 2.5 L 4-cylinder - has about the same engine power as a typical full-sized North American car or pickup truck of the 1970's ...when no one would have questioned the ability of these vehicles to tow two or three tons of trailer.

Thank you Brian. I have been thinking of posting something similar for a long time... and then I forget. Comes with being old enough to well remember those vehicles and the days when folks just knew you would be slowing down climbing mountain passes - so we just enjoyed the scenery on the way up. My almost 300HP Highlander, pulling my 21, can climb mountain passes far more easily than my VW Beetle, my Volvo 122s or my Ford Econoline unloaded ever could.

[Bobbie54]

I actually do just fine pulling my 15A with a 4 cylinder Subaru Forester (manual) but that 200 lb tongue weight limitation is annoying. So I'm not writing off the Rav 4 Adventure- just want to make sure it really can do the job. Someone will test one for towing soon enough.