RAV4 hybrid

alanannej
alanannej Forum Participant Posts: 79
First Comment
edited May 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

Quite impressed in the showroom, but has anyone any experience of towing with a hybrid at all?

Comments

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #2

    I read an article in (I think) the CAMC magazine about hybrids.

    It was fairly superficial, but I believe that about the only suitable one for towing was the Mitsubishi PHEV which had a tow limit of about 1500kg

    The article confirmed that 'electric' power cannot be used for towing.

    It also said that most hybrids had an extremely limited range on 'electric' because their batteries were only charged by things like regenerative braking.......which gives hardly any top up to the batteries.

    Even the ones that are charged via the mains have limited range.....maybe 60 miles.

    Until there is a massive improvement in batteries, I see little practicality in these vehicles, other than for short commutes.

  • Alex Cassells
    Alex Cassells Forum Participant Posts: 159
    edited May 2017 #3

    Hi, we tow with an Outlander PHEV. From being fully charged, the battery power is gone in around 20 miles, then we're on petrol. 

    We get about 30 miles from the battery without the van, which does us most of the time. Rarely have to put petrol in.

    It's a good stable tow, but the engine works hard and is noisy on hills.

    There are definitely much better towcars out there. But as an all rounder for a 1 car family it suits our needs. We really like it. ( But we're biased😉)

     

     

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #4

    Would not consider the PHEV. having spoken to several owners they all thought it useless as a proper towing vehicle. OK as a domestic vehicle for use on shorter journeys but even then no more than average.

    The RAV4  does seem much more user friendly but would need to see an extended towing report before I committed myself.

    TF

  • alanannej
    alanannej Forum Participant Posts: 79
    First Comment
    edited July 2017 #5

    Thanks all - it's off my shortlist!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited July 2017 #6

    The towcar of the year award by the C&CC and Practical Caravan tested the RAV4 in diesel form and basically did not regard it as a good towcar so I would avoid all versions.

  • alanannej
    alanannej Forum Participant Posts: 79
    First Comment
    edited July 2017 #7

    Thanks Wildwood - RAV4 must have gone downhill! 2003 after a rear end shunt to my 2l D Toyota Corolla, ended up touring France for 3 weeks with a 2l petrol RAV4, slightly less power than Corolla, but worked fine.

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