Topic: new model RAV4 V6 fuel economy seems too good to believe

[ovr50]

The engine V6 3.5 l, 269 hp is likely to be too powerful for the Rav 4. Then it is so easy to push on the accelerator....

Too powerful?...............Never............

[mrthompson]

Go wash your mouth out with soap, jpd.   

[Wolfe]

After reading the Edmunds article, then comparing Toyota.ca with Toyota.com, I realized that the Rav4 is available in 2 wheel drive only in the US.   Why don't they offer this in Canada?  In 2wd it could be thousands less!  Another stupid move by Toyota Canada.  Canadian buyers get shafted on the options list!  Rav4's were available in 2wd in Canada in the past.

The second generation Rav4 only came with AWD here in Canada, while the US also had a FWD version. I don't know about the first generation Rav

Incidentally, the name RAV4 stands for R(ecreation) A(ctive) V(ehicle) 4(wheel drive).

[BJAurora]

I got my brand new 2011 RAV4 V6 Limited last Wednesday,  and my wife and myself drove it camping with friends in Algonquin.  I can't believe my eyes that I got about 10L/100KM fuel performance ( actually a little bit less than 10L ) when refill the tank ( very first tank) today.

We were driving on highway48 and 35 most of the time for the trip, not even on 400,  at speed between 60KM to 80KM an hour.

For a powerful V6, 270 HP SUV,  this is really amazing performance!!! 

[Shnak]

10L/100km is pretty horrible for mostly 60-80kph driving, IMO.

[Juke1]

10L/100km is pretty horrible for mostly 60-80kph driving, IMO.

Agree, poor.

[farleywilbur]

On a similar drive in northern Ontario last summer in my Mercedes ML 320 I averaged 8.2 l/100km and got 1,141 kms on one tank.  Average speed was about 95.  Thank you diesel.


Once your Rav is broken in I bet you would get well under 9 l/100km on the same drive. 

[mrthompson]

I got my brand new 2011 RAV4 V6 Limited last Wednesday,  and my wife and myself drove it camping with friends in Algonquin.  I can't believe my eyes that I got about 10L/100KM fuel performance ( actually a little bit less than 10L ) when refill the tank ( very first tank) today.

We were driving on highway48 and 35 most of the time for the trip, not even on 400,  at speed between 60KM to 80KM an hour.

For a powerful V6, 270 HP SUV,  this is really amazing performance!!! 

10L/100km is not bad, IMHO, for a brand new (not yet broken in) V6 especially given the roads/speeds driven.  I'm sure there are several reasons why the speeds were between 60 and 80 kms - curves, traffic, hills, small towns, etc.

[aaronk]

That's excellent mileage, especially considering the power on tap and the general weight/dimensions of the vehicle. I can only guess the misguided folk saying 'horrible' are thinking about midsize sedans when claiming inferiority on 10 L/100Km, not recognizing the fact that a V6 Rav4 has a 270-hp 3.5L V6, weighs about 3800 lbs, is equipped with running gear capable of towing and/or light off-road duty and is as aerodynamic as a brick. When I've heard other drivers with less powerful GM SUV's talking about 14-15L/100 Km, 10 is indeed noteworthy.

[Shnak]

The power on tap means absolutely nothing when driving at 60-80kph... having "power on tap" shouldn't penalize your fuel economy when you're only using a third of it. Cuising at 60-80kph can't be using much more than 100hp, at the very most.

[Shnak]

That's excellent mileage, especially considering the power on tap and the general weight/dimensions of the vehicle. I can only guess the misguided folk saying 'horrible' are thinking about midsize sedans when claiming inferiority on 10 L/100Km, not recognizing the fact that a V6 Rav4 has a 270-hp 3.5L V6, weighs about 3800 lbs, is equipped with running gear capable of towing and/or light off-road duty and is as aerodynamic as a brick. When I've heard other drivers with less powerful GM SUV's talking about 14-15L/100 Km, 10 is indeed noteworthy.

We're not talking about cruising at 120kph here, we're talking at 60-80kph. My dad's F150 with the 4.8L V8 does better than 10L/100km at those speeds.

[5 Wheel Drive]

As the OP said, it's brand new.  It's not even broken in yet.  I'm sure it will get better as the miles pile on.  No point in giving him a hard time over mileage.

Welcome BJ, enjoy your new RAV!!! 

[Minou]

My 3900 lbs FWD Santa Fe 3.5 V6 routinely returns low 8's (hand calculated tankfulls) for mostly highway/rural tanks.  Even less for some trips with "winning conditions" according to my Scangauge.

Break-in won't get you more than a 5% improvement at best.

[carcrazy]

Broken in or not, it's all relative to the road and traffic conditions. I think the route the OP mentioned it's hilly and if you have traffic, acc/decel constantly to adjust will kill your fuel economy.
I'm sure that cruising at 80 km/h on a flat road with no traffic in front of you will allow for much better fuel economy (low 7s l/100km I would guess).

[aaronk]

Broken in or not, it's all relative to the road and traffic conditions. I think the route the OP mentioned it's hilly and if you have traffic, acc/decel constantly to adjust will kill your fuel economy.
I'm sure that cruising at 80 km/h on a flat road with no traffic in front of you will allow for much better fuel economy (low 7s l/100km I would guess).

So if the OP is achieving 10L/100 Km in hilly and traffic congested conditions, all the better - they will see even better results when conditions are 'winning'. Regardless this type of mileage is exemplary for this type of vehicle, and I think that was the point.

[articsteve]

My 3900 lbs FWD Santa Fe 3.5 V6 routinely returns low 8's (hand calculated tankfulls) for mostly highway/rural tanks.  Even less for some trips with "winning conditions" according to my Scangauge.

Is that with 4 occupants packed with luggage on a vacation trip or by yourself running no cargo 

Break-in won't get you more than a 5% improvement at best.

Break in is a myth.  It's all down hill from brand new. 

[Minou]

My 3900 lbs FWD Santa Fe 3.5 V6 routinely returns low 8's (hand calculated tankfulls) for mostly highway/rural tanks.  Even less for some trips with "winning conditions" according to my Scangauge.

Is that with 4 occupants packed with luggage on a vacation trip or by yourself running no cargo 

Break-in won't get you more than a 5% improvement at best.

Break in is a myth.  It's all down hill from brand new. 

Usually 2 occupants plus cargo with some trips with as much as 5 adults on board.  Conditions such as wind, temperature, trip length, speed and ethanol content are more important thant no. of passengers for best highway mileage.

[Shnak]

Our Sienna gets 13L/100 km city driving @ usually 60-80 km/h. I was surprised @ the RAV4 fuel numbers as well.

See, that's my biggest problem with people saying "city driving"... 60-80kph is not city driving, city driving is stop/go in the middle of traffic where you average like 30kph over an hour of driving. That's city driving.