2021 Venza and Sienna
05-22-20 | 08:36 AM
#136
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 19,935
Likes: 164
Specific comments about the Highlander Hybrid's power:
From CNET: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/review...um-awd-review/
From Motor1: https://www.motor1.com/reviews/39131...-drive-review/
Can't wait to give the new Sienna an evaluation drive. Fuel economy gains are potentially impressive. Just don't want to make it a slug.
From CNET: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/review...um-awd-review/
From Motor1: https://www.motor1.com/reviews/39131...-drive-review/
Can't wait to give the new Sienna an evaluation drive. Fuel economy gains are potentially impressive. Just don't want to make it a slug.
Compared to Rav4, Highlander system has 35% more torque to the wheels overall.
Most of the reviews were like this:
Compared to the gas-only Highlander, the Hybrid — available in spring of 2020 — feels quicker off the line and smoother at around-town speeds. The electric power helps give it that immediate, satisfying start. The electronically controlled CVT keeps the revs where they need to be without any artificial steps to mimic a normal automatic (unless you pop the gear selector over to S, but who’s going to do that?). The engine works a little harder as you climb to higher speeds, but it never feels pokey like some hybrids.
Generally speaking, we liked the Hybrid better than the standard Highlander. It just feels more refined with less noise, less vibration and smoother driving. The price premium over the gas-only version across trims is $1,400, which would pay for itself in a few years at current average fuel prices. Unless you need to tow more than 3,500 pounds or simply dislike the hybrid experience for whatever reason — and the Highlander Hybrid gives you very little to gripe about — that up-front cost seems pretty easy to swallow.
Generally speaking, we liked the Hybrid better than the standard Highlander. It just feels more refined with less noise, less vibration and smoother driving. The price premium over the gas-only version across trims is $1,400, which would pay for itself in a few years at current average fuel prices. Unless you need to tow more than 3,500 pounds or simply dislike the hybrid experience for whatever reason — and the Highlander Hybrid gives you very little to gripe about — that up-front cost seems pretty easy to swallow.
05-22-20 | 09:47 AM
#137
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20,810
Likes: 3,088
From: Alberta
What Toyota doesn't tell you is 243hp is not available continuously, once the hybrid battery is depleted (which doesn't take long) you are down to the power of the gas engine only. Most of the time you don't notice but on a long incline you will.
Last edited by LeX2K; 05-22-20 at 09:50 AM.
05-22-20 | 10:05 AM
#138
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,891
Likes: 12
From: Virginia
That's because opinions are like butts, everyone has one. And it's enough to be a concern for a number of reviewers who are trying to estimate use cases beyond just solo drivers. I'm not going to just surround myself with articles that are one direction or another.
05-22-20 | 10:52 AM
#139
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 488
From: Ca
If we start with a 100% fully charged hybrid like a Camry/RAV4 etc, and we full throttle say 0-400 m 1/4 mile, how much battery capacity now remains?
Would you say: 3/4 of the battery, 2/3 of the battery, or 1/2 the battery???
Also, after a hybrid battery pack is fully depleted, roughly how long would it take to be fully charged again?
Say 15 minutes? Or 1/2 an hour? Or 1 hour etc?
Hopefully manufacturers can fit much bigger batteries, and much bigger electric motors into hybrids, but then we have a plug-in like RAV4 Prime which 0-60 in 6 seconds, which isn't too far away from being a full BEV....
05-22-20 | 11:09 AM
#140
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20,810
Likes: 3,088
From: Alberta
Hopefully manufacturers can fit much bigger batteries, and much bigger electric motors into hybrids, but then we have a plug-in like RAV4 Prime which 0-60 in 6 seconds, which isn't too far away from being a full BEV....
05-22-20 | 12:53 PM
#141
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 488
From: Ca
I also found out below that the RAV4 Hybrid's battery pack is depleted after about 3 to 4 full throttle blasts.
Quote:
"Our test driver noted that battery power was depleted after three or four full-throttle acceleration runs, but that’s not a likely scenario in regular use.
Wavelike power delivery can make the RAV4 hybrid feel unsettled at times, especially under full-throttle acceleration. The hybrid doesn’t have a driveshaft linking its front and rear axles, so it depends on electronics to balance the power distribution. It doesn’t feel as smooth and seamless as the all-wheel-drive system in the standard model, which does have a driveshaft to the rear axle."
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...d-test-review/
05-22-20 | 01:03 PM
#142
"Our test driver noted that battery power was depleted after three or four full-throttle acceleration runs, but that’s not a likely scenario in regular use.
Wavelike power delivery can make the RAV4 hybrid feel unsettled at times, especially under full-throttle acceleration. The hybrid doesn’t have a driveshaft linking its front and rear axles, so it depends on electronics to balance the power distribution. It doesn’t feel as smooth and seamless as the all-wheel-drive system in the standard model, which does have a driveshaft to the rear axle."
Wavelike power delivery can make the RAV4 hybrid feel unsettled at times, especially under full-throttle acceleration. The hybrid doesn’t have a driveshaft linking its front and rear axles, so it depends on electronics to balance the power distribution. It doesn’t feel as smooth and seamless as the all-wheel-drive system in the standard model, which does have a driveshaft to the rear axle."
05-22-20 | 01:19 PM
#143
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20,810
Likes: 3,088
From: Alberta
For all this talk from Toyota about shedding their boring image the engineering in their cars sure is boring. Slight improvements on established tech excuse me while I go have a nap.
05-22-20 | 02:06 PM
#144
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 26
From: Florida
Blame the MPG regulation/wars. There was nothing wrong with the V6. In fact, it was perfect for the applications they used it in. Good power, and ran and ran with no problems.
05-22-20 | 02:22 PM
#145
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20,810
Likes: 3,088
From: Alberta
Then go electric or hydrogen since Toyota thinks that is the future. Gimping power in a new model is ridiculous.
05-22-20 | 02:31 PM
#146
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,593
Likes: 88
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
As far as I'm concerned, if Toyota really wanted to improve their vehicles, they would actually make them look more like vehicles instead of Halloween masks.
05-22-20 | 07:39 PM
#149
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Thanks.
I also found out below that the RAV4 Hybrid's battery pack is depleted after about 3 to 4 full throttle blasts.
Quote:
"Our test driver noted that battery power was depleted after three or four full-throttle acceleration runs, but that’s not a likely scenario in regular use.
Wavelike power delivery can make the RAV4 hybrid feel unsettled at times, especially under full-throttle acceleration. The hybrid doesn’t have a driveshaft linking its front and rear axles, so it depends on electronics to balance the power distribution. It doesn’t feel as smooth and seamless as the all-wheel-drive system in the standard model, which does have a driveshaft to the rear axle."
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...d-test-review/
I also found out below that the RAV4 Hybrid's battery pack is depleted after about 3 to 4 full throttle blasts.
Quote:
"Our test driver noted that battery power was depleted after three or four full-throttle acceleration runs, but that’s not a likely scenario in regular use.
Wavelike power delivery can make the RAV4 hybrid feel unsettled at times, especially under full-throttle acceleration. The hybrid doesn’t have a driveshaft linking its front and rear axles, so it depends on electronics to balance the power distribution. It doesn’t feel as smooth and seamless as the all-wheel-drive system in the standard model, which does have a driveshaft to the rear axle."
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...d-test-review/
Last edited by sorptd; 05-22-20 at 07:45 PM.
05-22-20 | 09:14 PM
#150
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 360
Likes: 6
From: SG
Having previously owned an RX450h Awd for 8 years, I cannot say that I was ever able to feel the "instant" torque that hybrids were always touted for. Granted, that car was heavy, but it still had 298 horsepower. That car never felt fast to me at any speed. It was decent as a family hauler, but I was never impressed. I think the RXh was around 4500 pounds too, just like the Sienna.