Photo: Toyota
In a market where diesel engines never really caught on such is the North American one, those who want to buy an SUV but are somewhat concerned about fuel economy only have the option of going hybrid.
But these vehicles have always been associated with a much higher purchase price than an equivalent gas-only model, so what you saved on fuel you essentially paid for in the actual cost of the SUV. Financially speaking, it wasn't much of a deal.
But the days when the hybrid technology was a novel thing have gone, and as manufacturers get ready to offer a powertrain solution of this type for nearly all of their models, their prices are inevitably going to go down as well.
One of the first to showcase this is Toyota, the Japanese brand that backed the HEVs from their infancy through its highly successful Prius model. For the 2018 model year, the hybrid version of the RAV4 compact-sized SUV is going to bring a new entry-level trim called LE.
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD is going to cost $28,130, which is just $1,325 more than a gas-powered LE with AWD. But for that money you get more than just the hybrid system: according to the bulletin sent to Toyota dealers and intercepted by CarsDirect, the HEV also receives dual-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, roof rails, and a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster over the equivalent gas-only LE.
Everything else about the RAV4 Hybrid remains unchanged, including its power output and fuel economy. According to the EPA, the SUV will return a 32 miles per gallon combined fuel economy, which is more than decent for a vehicle this size with all-wheel-drive capabilities.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system for a total output of 197 hp. It has a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) and will complete the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 8.3 seconds.
But the days when the hybrid technology was a novel thing have gone, and as manufacturers get ready to offer a powertrain solution of this type for nearly all of their models, their prices are inevitably going to go down as well.
One of the first to showcase this is Toyota, the Japanese brand that backed the HEVs from their infancy through its highly successful Prius model. For the 2018 model year, the hybrid version of the RAV4 compact-sized SUV is going to bring a new entry-level trim called LE.
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD is going to cost $28,130, which is just $1,325 more than a gas-powered LE with AWD. But for that money you get more than just the hybrid system: according to the bulletin sent to Toyota dealers and intercepted by CarsDirect, the HEV also receives dual-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, roof rails, and a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster over the equivalent gas-only LE.
Everything else about the RAV4 Hybrid remains unchanged, including its power output and fuel economy. According to the EPA, the SUV will return a 32 miles per gallon combined fuel economy, which is more than decent for a vehicle this size with all-wheel-drive capabilities.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system for a total output of 197 hp. It has a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) and will complete the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 8.3 seconds.
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