SUV Off-Road Filed under kewl accessories to CI

The Postman

The Postman

Ranger
www.motortrend.com

Out 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Is a Hybrid, but It Doesn’t Act Like One

You wouldn’t know it by the fuel economy or even by looking at it, but yes, it’s a hybrid.
www.motortrend.com www.motortrend.com

Who's got one or considering it?
@David Rossiter

Anything hybrid - Toyota is my go to, since they have been at it longest with best rep on manufacture in 4x4 tacomas and old skool LCs.

At $71k its not for me, but it would be THE classy way to go overland/boondock in the Offroad SUV option.

Thus the forum placement...;)
 
Kilometer 31 said:
Those Land Cruisers sure are sweet. But damned pricey. Keeping eye out for eventual 2027 Subaru Outback Hybrid. Was disappointed in Forest Wilderness Hybrid — only 1500-pound towing capacity.
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My Rav4 has 1750 -- its not bad but boy even that is not really enough. I don't actually know my towing weight - but I'm either right at or surprisingly above it.

on flat land runs, its ok -- but the rolling hills of Wisconsin and the rest of the plains means a lot of abuse. I'm curious if the limitation is more drive train, or braking?
 
Sweeney said:
My Rav4 has 1750 -- its not bad but boy even that is not really enough. I don't actually know my towing weight - but I'm either right at or surprisingly above it.

on flat land runs, its ok -- but the rolling hills of Wisconsin and the rest of the plains means a lot of abuse. I'm curious if the limitation is more drive train, or braking?
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Just curious Sweeney, how fast do you normally drive it on the flats? My 2017 Rav4 hybrid has the same 1750 limit. I have to climb one of two large/long passes when I leave and return to/from anywhere. I do ok and just stay left of the slowest trucks and right of everybody else. But other than those passes I'm on pretty level ground with occasional slight inclines/declines. On the flats I tend to keep it between 60-65 and find it a much more enjoyable drive than when I used to go faster. Probably much easier on the car too.

The new Ravs are rated for 3500 lb. I'm interested in possibly buying one but Toyota has hosed up production and inventory is short. Can't find them on the lot.
 
I didn't know they upgraded the RAV4. Honestly I'm not disapointed with mine but not really enthusiastic about it either. I wish I had gotten something bigger at the time. But, that was in the middle of supply chain issues andI got what I could. The 'upgrade' was from a corolla that was starting to develop a 'personality' -- I wish I could have afforded and that it was available something like a 4runner. If I were in the market, that would be what I'd be looking at today.

Sounds like you drive pretty much like me...a grandpa. If I'm in a hurry and not towing, I'll do 10 over. But generally, I tend to be at the speed limit. When I'm towing, I pretty much stick to 60. We're pretty much pure flatland around me. Where the Rav4 struggles is the undulating land west of here in Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota. That up-and-down, up-and-down terrain really makes it work. There, I usually travel around 60 mph, which, if you've ever driven across the Dakotas, isn't fun.

Now, in the Jeep, outback (2012 H6) and the van -- speed limit to speed limit +10 even when towing. Those don't even feel it.
 
JohnC said:
Just curious Sweeney, how fast do you normally drive it on the flats? My 2017 Rav4 hybrid has the same 1750 limit. I have to climb one of two large/long passes when I leave and return to/from anywhere. I do ok and just stay left of the slowest trucks and right of everybody else. But other than those passes I'm on pretty level ground with occasional slight inclines/declines. On the flats I tend to keep it between 60-65 and find it a much more enjoyable drive than when I used to go faster. Probably much easier on the car too.

The new Ravs are rated for 3500 lb. I'm interested in possibly buying one but Toyota has hosed up production and inventory is short. Can't find them on the lot.
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According to CarEdge on YouTube, the RAV4 is the best selling car in the US. The dealers are turning over their inventory in 30days which is an industry best.
 
Van_and_Terri said:
According to CarEdge on YouTube, the RAV4 is the best selling car in the US. The dealers are turning over their inventory in 30days which is an industry best.
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It is very popular and has outsold even the F150 the last two years. But with the model redesign in 2026 (and going to all hybrid, no gas) they have been very slow rolling them out. Year over year sales are down 40% on the Rav4. So yes, they are a very popular vehicle, but a lot of the turnover is due to the supply shortage rather than any increase in demand. I could probably get one at MSRP but I'm not anxious to do so and I really want to compare a couple of trims which is impossible to do when they aren't on the lot.

They have supposedly just started to build them in Kentucky to go along with the two Canadian plants and Japan. So, things should improve some, but still not enough to get back to previous years demand levels.
 
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Sweeney said:
I didn't know they upgraded the RAV4. Honestly I'm not disapointed with mine but not really enthusiastic about it either. I wish I had gotten something bigger at the time. But, that was in the middle of supply chain issues andI got what I could. The 'upgrade' was from a corolla that was starting to develop a 'personality' -- I wish I could have afforded and that it was available something like a 4runner. If I were in the market, that would be what I'd be looking at today.

Sounds like you drive pretty much like me...a grandpa. If I'm in a hurry and not towing, I'll do 10 over. But generally, I tend to be at the speed limit. When I'm towing, I pretty much stick to 60. We're pretty much pure flatland around me. Where the Rav4 struggles is the undulating land west of here in Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota. That up-and-down, up-and-down terrain really makes it work. There, I usually travel around 60 mph, which, if you've ever driven across the Dakotas, isn't fun.

Now, in the Jeep, outback (2012 H6) and the van -- speed limit to speed limit +10 even when towing. Those don't even feel it.
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Yeah, old age is catching up with me. Driving slow is actually becoming enjoyable. Who da thunk it. :-)

The worst hill I climbed was the Teton Pass leaving Grand Teton NP one year. I'd never been over it and it was the shortest way to where I was going in Idaho. But it was steep and I was doing 40 with it floored. That was a very unpleasant feeling not knowing just where the top of the climb was. That was the first and last time over it. I've since gone an extra 30 miles down to Alpine to go around instead. It's still a very pretty drive.

That Jeep Grand Cherokee is a sweet looking vehicle but I'm getting too old for a car with such an unreliable reputation and while I don't demand the best mileage from a car, getting around 20 mpg these days just isn't an attractive alternative.
 
My 22 Subaru OBW is rated at 3500 pounds. I’d never towed anything before (with any vehicle) and honestly, I can’t even feel the 560 back there for the most part. My only trip into elevation stuff (LA to San Francisco area) I didn’t notice it power wise but I could whiff that transmission a bit so realized I needed to moderate a smidge. I know Toyota’s Highlander (and I believe hybrid Highlander) are rated at 3500. Anything remotely outdoorsy with a tow hitch (or option) really oughta be up there.
 
Kilometer 31 said:
My 22 Subaru OBW is rated at 3500 pounds. I’d never towed anything before (with any vehicle) and honestly, I can’t even feel the 560 back there for the most part. My only trip into elevation stuff (LA to San Francisco area) I didn’t notice it power wise but I could whiff that transmission a bit so realized I needed to moderate a smidge. I know Toyota’s Highlander (and I believe hybrid Highlander) are rated at 3500. Anything remotely outdoorsy with a tow hitch (or option) really oughta be up there.
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Did you take it over the grapevine both ways? How did it do? I don't really have any trouble with that but it is quite long.
 
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