Toyota RAV4 (2019) Discussion Thread

Just wondering if anyone else is looking forward to the new 2019 - RAV4?

Looks to be a very solid release and easily the best iteration of the RAV4 to date - especially the hybrid options.

With the impending release / availability later this month? thought there may be others in the same boat or at the very least interested.

I am aware that there is not much information of the Australian variants (model names / badges, pricing etc.) as of yet - but I really do hope we get an equivalent of the XSE (North America).

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Comments

      • so it takes only one month by sea to Australia after car is made? That's quick.

  • Just wondering if anyone has experienced any of the transmission issues mentioned here http://m.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/RAV4/2019/transmission/hes…

    • Shouldn't have. Different production plants (Japan vs USA)

      • Are the Australian cars produced in Japan or USA

        • Japan

          Article linked to above was a US article

          • @spackbace: That could be the older model as well but 2019 made .

            • @Doovik: Regardless, it's from a different factory

      • +1

        Thanks, seems like it doesn't affect the hybrid models which is what we were looking for.

  • +4

    Fuel Efficiency is nuts!!!!!

    The following is fuel efficiency for this return trip. If you do a google map for "Normanhurst" to "Port Kembla" and "avoid tolls". You will see that I drove through the heart of several major suburbs, mostly not highway miles. Normally this should take 1hr 40mins. Took about 3hrs on the way there due to a car crash, so massive congestion on highway. General Sydney traffic congestion on the way back from Port Kembla.

    • Fuel Economy meter was reset at the start of each trip.
    • Fuel tank is a mix of 91RON (20%) and 98RON (80%) fuel
    • Trip 1 departure time: 7:10am (Normanhurst) - Severe traffic jam for 30 mins due to car crash, 2 lane road became 1.
    • Trip 2 departure time: 2pm (Port Kembla), general traffic jams, school zones etc…

    • Trip 1: 5.9L/100km

    • Trip 2: 4.5L/100km (would've been 4.3L if it wasnt for the uphill traffic jam stretch on pennant hills road around 4pm)

    4.5L for such a big car is just…. wow…

    In comparison, my colleague drove from Canberra to Port Kembla on a new Nissan X-Trail , he got 9.0/L on mostly highway. Similarly sized car.

    I didnt expect to do better than the claimed 4.7L/100km.

    One explanation could be the battery being charged up more when I arrived at Port Kembla or there was more downhill in Trip 2 than Trip 1.

    Either way 5.2L/100 avg across both trips in traffic for a 1.6 ton car…. good job toyota.

    • What mode is the car in, eco, normal or sport?

      • Eco mode

        Just did another test… moderate congestion, I dont floor the car, at most once per trip. Mostly, my eco scores as per the dashboard are between 80-90 out of 100. This means accelerating slowly to maximise battery use until I fall too far behind the car in front of me, then I kick in the petrol engine as t not cause traffic congestion for the cars behind me.

        Here is another test…

        Home: Normanhurst
        Work: Macquarie Park
        Path: Pacific Hwy -> Ryde Road
        Trip 1 Avg: 3.8L / 100KM
        Trip 2 Avg: 5.9L / 100KM ( more uphill )

        The 3 modes, ECO, Normal and SPORT make a big difference. SPORT is noticably more responsive… its almost like more fuel is put into the chamber even when you tap the pedal lightly. I normally run on ECO mode by default and occasionally, I put in SPORT mode if it so happens I am the 1st one at the lights :-).

        When you floor the car in ECO mode, there is no "pulling" feeling but in SPORT mode, there is a bit of this feeling. I play around with the manual gears on the CVT. I am convinced if you stay on 1st 3 gears, it kinda feels like SPORT mode. Whereas ECO mode feels like starting the car at 6th gear!… (i.e. Battery for 0-20km/h… then straight to 6th gear for fuel saving)

  • +1

    Super impressed with the 2.5L A25A-FKS in the Edge. If I'm driving home from work (nightshift) with no-one on the road and taking it nice and easy, I'm consistently averaging low 6L/100km! That's nearly as efficient as the hybrid.

  • Hey everyone,

    I purchased a 2019 Rav 4 Cruiser Hybrid in early June and was told my car was an August build. I emailed Toyota a few times in June and July and every week in august. Last week I was told mycar is still set for an August build and that it’s in the line to be made. Now, I was just told two days ago that Toyota didn’t anticipate how many hybrids would be sold and that my new estimated build date was in February 2020. Has anyone else recently purchased and been told this? I was told a week ago that it’s going to be built in August. How can this information change so dramatically in one week without something fishy going on.

    Thanks for your help!

    • They would've known at the start of August, that yours wasn't scheduled for August production. That was a rookie error.

      Cruisers have unfortunately been delayed but they're the most popular model. I sold 1 on May 21st, it was delivered yesterday. I sold another on May 24th, and it hasn't gone into production yet and won't be until at least October. In contrast I had an order for a GXL hybrid around 21st June, and that's going into the September production run.

      You've definitely had some shitty communication to say that the car was being built in August. The rest, with the delays, are outside the dealership's fault. There's nothing we can do about the order process. We just put the orders in, and Toyota Japan work it from there. They do make sure it's on a First In First Out basis, meaning no one gets preferential treatment.

      • Thanks for your advice! I’m trading my car in and worried about losing trade in price that was originally agreed upon because it’s delayed. Is there any compensation that might be given for the very misleading and bad communication? I have emails that shows that I have been communicating often.

        Thanks again!

        • The trade price could differ, depends on what the car is

          There wouldn't be any compensation for that unfortunately, you can either bail out of the contract or effectively just grin and bear it.

          You might be able to ask for the first service free, depending on how you approach it. I'd be waiting till very close to the delivery date before you ask tho.

          From now I'd advise to just try to relax during the wait. Maybe an update from the dealer every month or so. Try to put it to the back of your mind so that when it gets a build date, you'll be more excited. But this is just my advice :)

          • @spackbace: Thanks so much for your advice. I guess I’m just so disappointed as I was thinking I was just about to get my car.

            Thanks again!

        • Really? I thought the trade in price is set when you sign the contract.

          It is like when you sign the contract, your new RAV4 price will not be changed.

          • @jjj123: No, trade-ins are subject to revaluation.

            And no, if you read the conditions, if the RRP of the RAV4 changes then you're up for paying more

    • That could be possible as dealer told me Cruiser is anticipated for a 10 months waiting time if ordered now.

      • Oh wow. That is a long wait time. Just very different to the wait time I was originally told.

    • We have all being told when we bought our cars, 2 maybe 3 months wait. Now they can't even tell us a date when we are getting them. They say they don't know.
      Either they lied to us or Toyota is a stupid company selling 100 million cars that they cannot build.
      Call Toyota Australia and ask them, they don't know either.
      FYI, I bought 30 May, My production is now planned 15 Nov, but keeps changing, same like yours.

  • @Spackbase What do you know about a 2020 model? If the wait is now six months-plus for MY2019 would it be better to wait for 2020 model… if there is one? I’ve seen the pics of the supposed plug-in.

    • No mention of 1. No need for an update so soon

  • Hi, anyone have any updated dates for delivery of Crusier AWD Hybrid? I've spoken to a couple of dealers in Melbourne, and they're saying December. Is this realistic?

    • when did you order rav4?

      • Sorry I should have mentioned I'm on the cusp of putting in an order this week. Just not sure the December date being quoted is realistic.

        • December isn't realistic for a fresh order. Likely Jan/Feb

    • I ordered one June the 1st here in Adelaide. At that time it supposed to be two to three months, maybe four waiting time. I am now scheduled for the end of October on the dealer's list with the production still unconfirmed by the factory. Add to this four weeks shipment from Japan and I may not see it this year.

      Oh, what a feeling! Toyota.

      • Hope for you that it happens. I just had my dealer call me, and they've been told that there most likely wont be any stock available until July/August 2020. Deal breaker for me unfortunately.

        • plenty of petrol stock there.

      • I ordered 1st of June as well and got a word yesterday from the dealer now its Dec with no confirm date. Have a chat with your dealer again.

  • Hi Spackbace

    When can we find out the October production plans ? My dealer told me that my car is schedule to begin production in October but dont see any update on my tracking page ?

    Thanks

    • October production orders won't be found out until late this month

  • Hey Spackbace,

    Noticed on carsguide that they state the Cruiser AWD Hybrid is approx $45k..
    Yet on Toyota’s website it’s around $49k.. what’s more accurate?
    Also - were you able to get an answer on approx. cost of having a hitch installed?

    Thanks a lot.

      • +1

        MSRP is before on-road costs (list price)
        Add dealer delivery, stamp duty, licence fees

        This is standard and typically Redbook does the same thing. The problem is when people see those figures, and expect the car to be that price!

        • Just like I did… Thanks for clarifying!

          From what I gather above, there's not much movement in price given demand of the Cruiser Hybrid. Would you know estimate cost of installing a hitch? Wonder if they could include that for free.

          Thanks again

          • +1

            @[Deactivated]: Accessories prices obviously vary around the place, but our price for a tow bar and harness are $1133 fitted, comes with a flat plug as standard.

            Yeah prices aren't overly flexible but depends how you go and how flexible the dealer is. Spend some time with them, build some rapport and I'm sure they can come to the party

            • +1

              @spackbace: Awesome! Might be worth visiting the guy we bought a new Corolla from..

              Quite funny.. he pitched the idea that there's a relationship to be had between life stages and Toyota's, such as Corolla/RAV4/Kluger.. partner and I laughed afterwards.

              Appears he was right. Ha!

  • Hey Spackbace, have you received any further info yet about when the software update will become available to get Apple CarPlay/Android Auto?

    • +2

      October production vehicles, not sure when it will roll-out to service departments for current owners tho

      • Cheers.

  • Hi All;

    is anyone in Australia having issues with filling up the hybrid petrol tank ? according to the below forum its happening for the Japan built vehicles as well

    https://www.rav4world.com/threads/have-you-had-trouble-filli…

  • @Spackbase, having read all of the above, I understand that Toy dealers may not know exact delivery dates. Have they atleast advised you that cars ordered at a certain month will be produced now? Just wondering when cars ordered at the end of may (goes in June order for Aug prod - now delayed without confirmation and may arrive in Nov) will be produced? Like a calendar or timeline? Thank you.

    • +1

      Nope, we only know on a month-by-month basis

  • Why don't we have remote start in RAV4. And no tyre pressure monitoring as well?

    • Only hybrid suv in its price range and you want more stuff? Cmon…

      It's got all the safety tech you need, tpm is just wanky. If you can't check your own tyre pressures and visually see when they're low then you shouldn't own a car

      • I own Edge. I am not asking for anything extra as US versions have these features. Just wondering why don't we have those?

        • For one, the US are made in a different factory. And at the end of the day it comes down to $$s. They could put those on, but they'd have to charge more, and I doubt they want to do that

    • because IVMS like tyre pressure monitor is mandatory by law in US.

  • +2

    My 1st post here.

    I bought a Rav4 Hybrid AWD in Crystal Pearl on 30 May 2019. I chose the $500 Fuel voucher.
    In terms and conditions, the car must be delivered before end of year to get the fuel voucher.
    It's now unlikely the car will get delivered this year. It's showing production date of 15 Nov.
    I'm very upset of the delay, I was advised it will be up to 3 months to get the car from purchase date.
    Is anyone getting compensated for the delays?

    • +1

      Look at the T&Cs - they say production delays will not affect the $500 petrol deal

  • +2

    If your given a delivery date and this is not being met with the reason given is that this is because they are selling too many I feel that Toyota needs to explain or compensate for these additional delays. The only information is either coming from forums or rumours. I have seen in one forum that the wait could be well into next year.

  • Hi @Spackbase, considering cars are delivered based on the order dates, which order dates have you reached/ delivered as of this week if you dont mind sharing.

    • +2

      Still have an order from 24th may waiting to go into build, hopefully October

      • +1

        I bought 1st of june and I was told Dec, now its a bit realistic fingers cross.

  • @Spackbase, thank you!

  • @spackbase, apparently, now toyota is offering a hire type service so they dont lose out on rav4 sales. So they give you a petrol variant of the same you ordered( so if you ordered a hybrid cruiser you get a petrol cruiser for hire) till you get your hybrid order ready and then you swap it or something. Do you have any more details about that? Is this only for new orders?

    • Haven't heard of that, sorry

  • Hi @Spackbace, Toyota haven't as of now confirmed they will honour the $500 fuel offer if car is delayed into next year. Also, getting a 2019 build car in 2020, it's already 1 year old.

    • +1

      How do you know it'll be December build and not January? You don't know yet.

      Also it'll be 2020 complied, which will be better than getting one in December, wouldn't it?

      Not to mention the resale value of these cars will be strong, so build date won't affect it down the track.

      • Hi Spackbbace , I was told my car will be delivered about 25 Jan 2020 , so it will be 2019 built but 2020 compiled ??

        • Yep

          • @spackbace: Thanks , but what is the meaning of "2020 complied " ????

            • @Giga: Check any car you drive, you'll see a vehicle build plate, and a vehicle compliance plate.

              Compliance is basically it coming into the country (bit more involved but that's the basic meaning).

  • Hi @Spackbace

    Spoke to Toyota Australia. Bad communication from Toyota Japan to Toyota Australia, and flows on to bad communication to Toyota Dealers. Actually Toyota dealers aren't getting any reliable communication. Build dates are just changing on their computers without any prior warning.
    Might get this year, might get next year, hey, maybe might get in 100 years, Nobody knows. No one knows any dates.
    They did confirm I will receive the $500 fuel card even if delivered next year.
    So basically, Toyota Japan has sold a 100 million of these cars, and now they are trying to work out how to build them.
    Toyota was quoting 2 months wait, not 6 months. They are at fault and should compensate, I have no car for 6 months since I traded my car in.
    It's a very good car for 50k, but if I had known about the delays, I would've purchased in 2020. I still had a reliable car.

    Again, Toyota stuffed up big time. They should now give us free 5 years servicing to compensate.

    • Why did you get rid of your car already? If you've traded it, you could've kept driving it till you took possession of the new car

  • Registration was expiring in 1 week, so I went to Europe to for 2 months. When I returned from Europe I was getting my new Rav4, or so I was thought.

    • Yeah that's something you should never do, take a gamble on not having a vehicle while waiting for a car to be built. Too many factors can delay a vehicle arriving

      • Yeah, yeah, yeah… blame the victim.

        • I'm not. It goes for anyone reading this. Factory orders can take 3-4 months but delays do happen for various reasons - accidents, recalls and obviously production delays.

          Don't ever leave yourself without a car with no definitive delivery date. We were never definite about how long these would take to come in. It would've only cost the price of registration to be assured you had wheels. $500 is a relatively small price to pay for that.

          To quote you:

          I ordered one June the 1st here in Adelaide. At that time it supposed to be two to three months, maybe four waiting time. I am now scheduled for the end of October on the dealer's list with the production still unconfirmed by the factory. Add to this four weeks shipment from Japan and I may not see it this year.

          No definitive wait time = don't get rid of your car

  • Hi Notalotofmoney and Spackbace.
    I was given a definite delivery time. The dealer has nothing to gain by these delays, in fact it will become a headache for them when everyone rings every week and asks where's my car? It's clearly a Toyota Head Office issue.
    A long time ago, in communist countries, there was a waiting period for cars. NEVER have I heard of anyone ever waiting 6 months for a car after its been released to market. It would be like buying a new Apple iPhone now, and getting it delivered next year sometime.
    I don't blame the dealer, I genuinely believe they didn't lie to me.

    Lucky you have a company car from Toyota, because rego costs much more than $500 here. I think $1000 roughly.
    Can I ask you, for your customers who ordered May 30 and June 1, what are your expectations of a delivery date? What are you telling your customers?
    Also, if you can tell me, on a $50k Cruiser AWD, How much profit is in it for the dealer?

    • I was given a definite delivery time.

      Well that was there idiocy, we never knew 100% the timeframe, we just predicted 3 months. Prediction isn't knowledge.

      NEVER have I heard of anyone ever waiting 6 months for a car after its been released to market.

      In recent years both the Toyota 86 and Ford Mustang come to mind. Both saw wait times go up to 18 months.

      Lucky you have a company car from Toyota, because rego costs much more than $500 here. I think $1000 roughly.

      Yep so $500 for 6 months, you wouldn't have needed to pay for 12.

      Can I ask you, for your customers who ordered May 30 and June 1, what are your expectations of a delivery date? What are you telling your customers?

      I'm telling them I'm hoping they get into the October production run. But it's a case of take each month as it comes. I update them as I know if they have or haven't made each month's production.

      Also, if you can tell me

      Nope

  • In NSW, only can do 12 months registration. Dealers can do 3 months.
    My dealers computer is showing my car is planned production 15 November, is it possible it can go into production in October?
    Is your customer showing planned production in Oct or Nov ?
    The RAV4 in my opinion is very good value for money, it could become best selling car in Australia. $50k for what you get, is a bargain.
    My last car was a Prado 4l Petrol. Had it 12 years, never had a problem with it. Really good paint work on it. I hope the paint on the RAV4 is as good.

    • Our orders get cut back, I never look at any predicted dates until it's actually listed as production confirmed. Till then it doesn't mean a lot.

      Yeah tbh I feel like Toyota might even lift the RRP of the Cruiser, they'd be within their rights to!

  • I'm assuming they can't increase my price? Is this correct?
    Thanks for your responses. I don't buy cars very often so it's good to get information from you.

    • They can, but it would be a nightmare.

      Read the conditions on your contract

  • Doesn’t state that on the contract that I have. I also asked the salesman about the trade in value considering the 6 month wait and he said the figures were set on the contract. Nowhere does it say this can change

  • We've got a Hybrid Cruiser on the way for my wife. Going to be a long wait, likely a 2020 build. If people are chasing the lower trim level AWD Hybrids I've seen some GX/GXL models available in Brisbane now and a few more coming in over the next few months.

  • Toyota RAV4 fails the moose test :(

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtQ24W_lamY

  • I've been told all new buyers will need to wait 12 to 18 month wait now.
    I will ask my dealer for a 2020 plated car, do you think it will be a problem?

  • Last Saturday, purchased a new petrol 2L Rav4 GX with tinted windows, floor mats and full size spare for $35k, glad I looked at all the comments about the delays on the hybrids.

    The sales people said something about a shortage in raw materials for batteries being blamed for the delay.

    Car is ready for pickup already so it hasn't affected the petrol models.

  • +1

    I ordered a plain White AWD Hybrid Cruiser on 1 June 2019, fully expecting a delay on delivery. Currently the dealer's advice is that they are told of November production and hope for December delivery. It is not causing me a lot of angst, but many folk would be irritated

  • Are the delays caused by the fuel tank problem they are having in the US. This has been going on for some time and there doesn’t seem to be a fix. I originally thought this was just a US problem but the forums are saying this includes Japanese builds.

  • I want to ask people about the inconsistent delays buyers are experiencing. It's not the wait that's at issue - I'm sure Toyota are turning these out as fast as they can.
    It's that some (usually Hybrid) buyers have ordered in June and now have fulfillment, and some who ordered in May are now being told they won't get their cars until next year.
    Is there a queue, or isn't there?

    I ordered my 2WD Cruiser Hybrid on 24 July. My dealer continues to tell me I'm OK for the date on the contract for delivery, which is 31 Oct.

    I'm now within the delivery month my Dealer has promised for the last 10 weeks, and yet the field indicating when the car will be built is still blank in the Order Tracking System

    Let me ask you people: If you've ordered a RAV4 (or indeed any Toyota that's effectively a Build-To-Order from the Japan factory), and if you've been given access to the Order Tracking Portal, then how long before your build did the "Planned Production Month" field get populated?

    If anyone can share their experience with the Order Tracking System, I'd be grateful.

    • I ordered on 2nd June. Still in planned production month as Nov but this is not confirmed yet.

      • I'd hazard a guess and say you'll be fine to expect November build, December arrival

        • Thanks mate!

        • How are they going to start build a car on 15th November and get it delivered by December? Will they air freight it here.
          Would you give your customer 10,000 off if it doesn't? I guess not. Just more BS from Toyota and its dealers.
          Buying this RAV4 is the biggest mistake I ever done. In hindsight trusting a dealer was stupid. Now I don't have ANY car for 8 months.

          • +1

            @[Deactivated]:

            How are they going to start build a car on 15th November and get it delivered by December? Will they air freight it here.

            Typically it hits production at the start of the month, on the boat by the end of the month and at the dealer in a couple of weeks.

            Would you give your customer 10,000 off if it doesn't? I guess not. Just more BS from Toyota and its dealers.

            Who mentioned $10k discount lol wtf?

            Buying this RAV4 is the biggest mistake I ever done. In hindsight trusting a dealer was stupid. Now I don't have ANY car for 8 months.

            Then cancel the purchase and buy something else.

            Cmon, don't whinge to an employee to a totally different state to you. I've been nothing but honest and upfront, if your dealer hasn't then bitch to him. Or better yet, get out of the contract. It's simple if they haven't obeyed the delivery time on the contract.

            • @spackbace: I'm in love with the RAV4. I've waited already 4 months, so I just gotta wait it out.
              Mine says estimated production 15 Nov, so I guess not confirmed yet.

              • @[Deactivated]: November production won't be confirmed till late this month

                • @spackbace: Thanks. People on facebook say its a good car with no problems so far.

    • Cruiser is seeing the worst of delays compared to GX/GXL.

      I ordered my 2WD Cruiser Hybrid on 24 July.

      Oh wow that's pretty late in the order process. Yours won't be till next year.

      To put it in perspective, 2 of my orders were in the last week of May and they're just going into production in October, arriving in November.

      I wouldn't expect yours till next year. And we knew in July that the wait time was at least December.

      • So, I brought these chat threads to the attention of my (Sydney) dealer, who now grudgingly admits that my mid-Oct build has been pushed to “mid November” (ordered 24 july).

        Again, based on what exactly is a mystery, as he adds “Toyota are unable to supply any Toyota dealers ETA’s on these vehicles.”

        I’m not cranky about the delay. I’m cranky about getting inaccurate information about the delay.

        • Yeah fair call. I'd rather over-estimate, than under-estimate. It's better if he told you 5-6 months, and then it comes in 4 months, you'd be happy. Telling you 3 months, as it pushes out, is just stupid. As I said, by July we knew there was a serious wait.

          He's probably pissed at what I've been saying though :P

        • My dealer waited til the very end of that 3 months be he start talking of the delay.

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