Anyone gone from a 4Runner to a Rav4 or viceversa?

I know, it's probably a strange question, I'm thinking selling the 4Runner and getting a Rav4. Mainly due to size and second for fuel economy. But size is the main reason.
If anyone has done it, please share.

Thanks in advance

 

We have a 4Runner and 3 RAV4's in my family. I prefer driving my 4Runner, but the Ravs are very comfortable. If you're driving a lot, the gas mileage is huge. My wife's 2021 Hybrid gets 40+ mpg, my daughters 2020 non Hybrid gets 29 around town and 32-34 on the highway.

 

If you’re not off-roading and you find the 4Runner too big then yes the RAV4 is an excellent vehicle.
Both my mother in law and my best friend have one (2024 and 2019), so I’ve driven them a few times. They still have a decent amount of space for most people. Also great commuter and good on gas

 

Have both, we drive the Rav4 over the 4Runner probably 10:1. Nicer ride, peppier, better gas mileage, easier to park, etc. Feels like a go-kart or rally car compared to the fat pig 4Runner.

Would really recommend finding a hybrid model, they are that much better than the gas.

I can drive the Rav4 Hybrid like I stole it, and still get twice the mpg I would driving the 4Runner gently.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rav4-owners-aficionados.755885/

 

my ex has a 2021 rav4 hybrid not sure what generation you have but I wouldn’t call the rav a go cart or nimble by any means and the parking is pretty much the same as a 4Runner and my 4Runner is lifted on 33s

It obviously gets much better mpg than my 4Runner and it’s quicker but I wouldn’t call it a fast car by any means (the rav) and you can tell and feel the lack of torque since it’s only a 4banger

 

I came from Rav4 world to 4Runner.
I had few challenge with snow even on my driveway. My Rav4 had the dynamic torque control awd. The Active torque control awd on Venza was slightly better on snow. May be Dynamic torque vectoring awd Rav4 models might be better system, but didn't had a chance to test.

The point I realized I cannot use Rav4 is I got a wheel damage. Lucky I had steel wheel that was able to fix, not having to buy a new wheel.

Sure the mpg is big difference. 27mpg vs 16mpg practically. I bet the Rav4 Hybrids have insane mpg. I don't have much faith on the 8 speed automatic on gas models as my friend have problems with 8spd on his 2022 Highlander (gas). I think the E-CVT transmission is more reliable one than new 8spd auto on gas only models.

As for driving dynamics, sure when its in sport mode its much easier to drive in city traffic as the sport mode have better throttle response. But I never felt confident to take turns at stupid speeds like I do with my 4Runner listening to tire squeaking. May be because 4Runner is rwd so I have better control of power in rear wheels and traction in front. Not sure..

 

Had a 21' Rav4 before my 4Runner. Loved it. Great for 2 people. I built platforms for the back and took it camping all the time. Road trips were also great. It's just easier to drive, park, a little better on gas. It's not nearly as capable off road. Graded dirt forest roads with a few small rocks was about all I felt comfortable taking it on. I had AWD. Just doesn't have a robust underside. One could put metal skids to help. Did great in the snow. Was very effortless on the freeway compared to the 4runner. I do miss it for that. FYI it got 26mpg with mixed highway city driving. The MPG numbers were sorely overinflated IMO.

 

We have a 2022, so same generation.

I know it's not objectively fast; I'm just comparing it to the 4Runner. It feels more responsive with the throttle, steering, and brakes to me. I also know that when you get past the initial roll feeling in turns, the 4Runner handles a lot better than people expect it to.

Objectively, it's probably a pretty average performing car, but I do think it's much better on road than the 4R.

 

We have a 22 runner, and a 21 Rav Prime. The rav is the commuter vehicle, due to mpg and electric usage? We take the rav unless we need the space such as family of 4 trips where we need to bring a bunch of stuff. The runner is what I drive when the wife needs the rav or when we go camping, as it has the RTT.

And I call the Rav our little go cart, it will push you into you seat when you step on the pedal.

 

That is only true to the Rav4 Prime

 

Maybe it was the driver. My wife complained about her hybrid getting 37 mpg's, I drove it home from Kentucky, drove like an old man, and got 53 mpg's with it. My daughter drives very conservatively, she gets 28-29 around town and 33-34 on the highway with her non hybrid Rav4. I won't be giving up my 4Runner, too much fun to drive.

 

Years ago we went from a pre-owned '98 4R, 3.4L 4WD to a new '10 Rav4 with the 3.5L V-6 front wheel drive. It was a very peppy car although the torque steer under aggressive throttle took some getting used to. We did end up selling it and a '14 Tacoma to buy our '16 4R.
Now that we've had our '16 4R since new, my Wife is thinking about a Rav4 hybrid. New or used doesn't matter her though. But we will opt for one with 4WD.

 

Thank you so much for your reviews!!!

 

90% of 4Runner owners should be in Rav4s. There, I said it.

My favorite cross over of all time was the 3rd gen Rav4 with the 2.5L 2AR engine, front wheel drive, and 4 speed auto. Fast enough, low operating cost, mid to high 20s on the highway, drives like a go cart, easy to park, durable enough for softroading, side opening tailgate, even got the hand parking brake.

 

You're funny.

 

Do the newest hybrid Rav4s have CVT?

 

Yes, like every non-truck Toyota hybrid it has the bulletproof planetary power-split/eCVT which uses gears plus a couple electric motors but is technically continuously-variable.

The biggest issue I’d probably have is that the rear motor (eAWD) isn’t very strong while the gas models with the mechanical AWD system are technically more capable albeit it’s still a RAV4 either way.

And this is a Corolla Cross issue not a RAV4 one but going hybrid on the CC means no spare.

 

They gave me a Rav4 limited while my 4Runner was getting the heritage grill installed and it was roomy and drove nice. Tons of features. The main thing I noticed was that it was saying it averaged 37.3 MPG, which as we know is over double the 4Runner. It takes half a tank for me to get to my dealer and back in my 4Runner. Cost me $3 in the Rav4.

 

Last March we were in Arizona for 5 days, I had the option at Hertz, 4runner or Rav, we decided on the Rav because we were going to several different places. My wife kept a record of how much gas we used, we saved almost $230 over the 4runner. Not as much fun to drive, but very close.

 

I own both, we are both retired. We drive the hybrid RAV4 unless we are going off road or making a run to Costco, we have a 95L Dometic in the back. If we are picking up something that needs to be trailered then it’s the 4R. The RAV gets great gas mileage and is very comfortable. The RAV is super safe, we were T-boned in the RAV flipped and spun and walked away with only a couple of scratches. They perform differently and it is dependent on our purpose on which one we take, we love them both.
Blessings Rich

 

Apparently my rally car comment is not a unique thought:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-rally-rav4-the-exception-that-proves-the-rule/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/video-that-time-toyota-took-a/178658/page1/

Interesting stuff (especially for the durability concerns from real off-roading).

 

Wifey has a 2021 RAV4 XLE AWD Hybrid. We bought it pre-owned-Toyota-certified from our local Toyota dealer about a year and a half ago. Ours was built in Japan.

We totally love this car. Absolutely zero issues with it so far, and just following routine maintenance. Wifey’s previous car was a 2019 BMW X1 AWD twin turbo, which was a rocket, but also required premium unleaded. It was a nice car, but it got pulverized in a killer hail storm, including destroyed windshield, down here in central TX when it was away from home. I didn’t want any part of it after that. She claims she actually likes her RAV4 Hybrid better than her ex BMW.

My 2022 4RUNNER SR5 Premium 4WD is also a pre-owned-Toyota-certified purchase. Bought it a little over a year ago from our Toyota dealer. Zero issues with that so far as well. My T4R was initially lady owned. I actually got to meet her once, at our dealer, Lol! She was trading it in on a RAV4, ha ha. Go figure. Well she said she thought she wanted a 4Runner, but later decided she didn’t need it, so she was economizing to.a RAV4. Lucky find for me- a gently used and not abused lady owned T4R.

We love our RAV4 and T4R. Here’s pics of our RAV4 from back on the day we were about to take delivery on it at our local dealer. I have since installed factory protective body side moldings on the car. ..,…ordered the side molding kit from their parts dept.

 

My parents are on their 2nd RAV4. I think they’re pretty boring and only seem to have average reliability.

I’d take a Mazda CX5 or CX50 over one any day of the week. That is unless you want better fuel efficiency or just have to have a Toyota.

 

We have both. Love the Rav4. They both have their purposes! Agree with others, if it makes sense for you due to size and fuel, go for it! Still a great vehicle. We normally take it on our long road trips due to gas mileage.

 

I got a kick out of that statement. A month and a half ago, I bought a lady owned 2024 4Runner Limited in perfect condition with only 1031 miles on it.

And in relation to this thread, we are currently looking at trading in my wife's 2017 Lexus NX200T on a Rav4.

 

So I just put up the 4Runner for sale. Lets see how the sale goes...

 

That's a nice score.

 

Interesting. Any reason in particular you're not shopping a new(er) Lexus NX300 instead of a RAV?

My wife has a 2015 NX200T and we love it...although it does require premium fuel and has a tiny gas tank. It's got a little over 107k and is still in great condition, but she's thinking ahead a couple of years to retirement. Not knowing how these proposed tariffs are going to affect the auto industry, she was thinking about pulling the trigger now just to be safe.

Thanks,
TimG