2019 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid - Snow and ice MGR TEST | REVERSE DONUTS | Slow motion

[@moonsapling]

Finally someone to put the hybrid AWD to use!

[@benweber31]

Haha thanks! That's the idea. I know it's not as capable as traditional AWD. It's fun to see how this totally different technology works. I love hitting the limits.

[@moonsapling]

@@benweber31 I think if you drive it like a FWD car it will take you beyond your expectations. It may not have the power to spin the rear wheels but at least they arent being dragged by the front ones. Theres always pressure applied to the rear wheels from the electric motor which by itself helps the front ones a lot!

[@benweber31]

@@moonsapling I totally agree. I tell people it's like having two separate vehicles connected together. I have been really impressed with where this thing has taken me.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

Man I love how it sounds like it has a super charger with the electric motors! What mpg do you get normally?

[@benweber31]

Yeah it definitely has a fun sound. I really enjoy it. Kind of like a supercharger. I mean at full throttle, you've got 3 big electric motors going full blast along with a pretty big gas 4 banger. I usually get 35-38 on the freeway. Unless it's over 70 mph then the MPG drops to 33ish. Around town I can get 50 plus if go easy. If I take advantage of the electric torque at the stoplights then mid 35s. It really depends on the battery state and the weather. If the batter is dead and it's 25F outside, then the mileage will be worse. If the battery is HOT the vehicle generally will get worse mileage until it cools down.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@benweber31 ya I love the sound of a super charger more than turbos. Very cool man!! That’s the curse and blessing of the batteries they are a bit temperamental about temperature. That’s awesome mpg!!! Do you know how far you can go about on a tank of gas? Wondering if the hybrids has a smaller tank but basically equal distance to the non hybrid. Subaru makes an e boxer hybrid but they don’t sell it in the us..

[@benweber31]

@@freedom_foz_6337 Thanks! I can go about 400 miles on a tank. It's a pretty small tank though. I think it's the same 14.5 gallons in both hybrid and non hybrid models. Doesn't Subaru still make the Crosstrek Hybrid?

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@benweber31 they do but I needed more space

[@coskunjoee]

Thanks for the video. for rav4 hybrid (2021) I have all seasons tire. do you think winter tires is a must? or all season can handle with trail mode? (Toronto, Ontario)

[@benweber31]

All seasons should be okay. But there's a pretty big difference between all season tires and dedicated snow tires. My all terrain tires have the snowflake symbol so they are somewhere in the middle.

[@coskunjoee]

@@benweber31 thank you.

[@ryangoodman949]

What type of tires do you have? And do you have a lift too?

[@benweber31]

Tires: 245/65/17 BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2 (30 PSI) Wheels: Black Rhino Barstow 17x8 No lift. Stock suspension.

[@ryangoodman949]

@@benweber31 awesome! I think I’m gonna get a 2 inch lift, 245/60/18

[@benweber31]

@@ryangoodman949 Awesome! Let me know if you get the vibration at 25 mph. People seem to be having issues going above 1.5" lift. I personally believe, bases on experience, that suspension droop is more important than lift. You will lose some articulation and comfort with a lift as you will hit the upper suspension limits more often. However, most people get lifts for looks. In that case, I'm all for it. But for actually gaining off road ability, I would argue against it. I do plan on replacing my rear springs soon. Over the years, the rear springs have compressed and sagged a bit. This is most likely from carrying heavy loads often. Others have complained about this too. I will probably replace them with the OEM springs. Which will restore the factory ride height. I've considered getting stiffer springs for the back, but I like the way the OEM springs feel. I have the XSE which has the sport suspension. The springs are still pretty soft, but the shocks and sway bars are a little beefier. Perfect for some sporty off road driving.

[@cj0204]

Are you running a lift kit also? Or is that stock suspension?

[@benweber31]

No lift. Stock suspension.

[@cj0204]

@@benweber31 thanknyou

[@mjingj]

Is your car lowered? There hardly seems to be any wheel gap.

[@benweber31]

Nope. Stock suspension. It is the XSE model so it supposedly has "sport" suspension. But there's no difference in ride height vs the other models.

[@Seattle808]

Bigger tires=smaller wheel gap

[@ahbenjamin2889]

Great video ... thinking of getting the same model as you have . Have you had any issues with your gas tank? Also when you dill up what does your distance to empty readout.

[@benweber31]

Thanks! Yeah I had the problem where the pump would stop with about 1/8 left to go. Annoying, especially in Oregon where you can't pump your own gas(I do anyway, call the police). But Toyota eventually fixed it for free and now it's all good. I usually see between 380-450 miles until empty.

[@ahbenjamin2889]

@@benweber31 Thanks Ben . I am north of you in British Columbia . I am ready to order one probably a 2022 and it is going to take 5 months or so. I would have thought with a hybrid you would get more on a tank of gas .

[@benweber31]

The tank is 14.5 US gallons. If you get 35 MPG you'll go 507 miles. I usually fill about 12 gallons when I'm getting close to empty. I wonder if Toyota puts a lot of reserve capacity in the tank?? OR They "fixed" the tank filling issue by adjusting the gauge to show full when it's really not. Then they could just dip into the reserve fuel to offset. Something doesn't add up.

[@ahbenjamin2889]

@@benweber31 So would you do it all over , knowing what you do now. Would you get a Rav4 Hybrid again?

[@benweber31]

@@ahbenjamin2889 Yes, I would buy it again. I even think that the Hybrid is better than the Prime in some ways.

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

When I want to drift the damn thing, I want to do it going front, not backwards.....

[@benweber31]

Agreed. Forward donuts would be more fun. I wonder if the non hybrid RAV4 can do them?

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

@@benweber31 theres a secret handshake for it ! Three times pump the gaz pedal on accessories mode, 3 times pump the gaz in neutral, 3 times pump the gaz pedal on park then start the car. Cdy-2 mode comes on where you can drift the hybrid versions. Careful of the electric motor overheating tho. Have fun ! Edit : never mind tried it, the secret handshake does deactivate everything traction wise but render the car front wheel drive (only) since it deactivate the use of the rear electric engine wich powers the rear train as soon as a traction control is deactivated (whatever the way you do it, button or “secret cheat code”)

[@stevenseagondollar9379]

@@felixauclairtendland4766 Is this a joke? Elaborate further if possible.

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

@@stevenseagondollar9379 ok so you xan litterally turn off every traction and safety features of the car with the secret handshake I gave above. (IT REALLY WORKS) but the sad thing is that your car never uses the rear electric engines wich powers the rear train when you deactivate the traction control. So basically, never ever are you going to drift an hybrid rav4, the new ones

[@stevenseagondollararchives2060]

@@felixauclairtendland4766 I wonder if someone will develop a ECU mod or something like that in order to enable drifting in the RAV4 on snow (rear motor likely wouldn't have enough power to drift on anything except snow/ice)

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

holding the traction control button off to completely remove the vehicule stability controls seem to do the trick

[@benweber31]

Yeah if you want drift mode, don't get a RAV4 hybrid. haha

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

@@benweber31 ffs, what if I pull the vsc fyse out? Does the car go in limp mode? Have you tried it?

[@benweber31]

@@felixauclairtendland4766 You can disable VSC by holding the traction control button for like 5 seconds. That's what I did for the video. You can still have a lot of fun with the RAV4 hybrid in the snow. I was able to drift with some speed into corners. The back end definitely kicks out when doing that. I just couldn't do dounts going forward. The Lexus version of the RAV4 hybrid is coming out soon. I heard that it is going to have a much more powerful rear electric motor. Maybe you can be drift king with the Lexus version?

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

@@benweber31 i just rented my rav4 for 4 years. Like a week ago... not planning on switching for a lex, but will try your advice about going fast in corners !

[@felixauclairtendland4766]

@@benweber31 I know I can disable vsc by holding the traction control button for 3 seconds but it doesn’t let you donut that puppy wich us what annoys me

[@oscaralvarez9929]

Hi what size of wheels and tires ?

[@benweber31]

Tires: 245/65/17 BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2 (30 PSI) Wheels: Black Rhino Barstow 17x8

[@PaintSandwhich]

@@benweber31 what’s the offset? 👍