2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE Off Road MGR Test

Here's my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE. I'm performing some tests to see how the rear electric motor(MGR) performs in off road conditions. The configuration of the RAV4's AWD system is both its strength and its weakness. The rear wheels are 100% electric but the motor only has 54 horsepower and 89 lb ft of torque. Off road the rear motor is the vehicle's Achilles Heel. Let's see how it performs.

Location: Ocotillo Wells, California
Wheels: Black Rhino Barstow 17x8
Tires: BF Goodrich All-Terrain 245/65/17(31 PSI)

[kenlee]

I think its a great video. No music and no commentary, just how the car actually performs on dirt. I don't think i'm ever going to really run off road to any great extent, but now I can have an idea how it might handle in a pinch.

[is]

TOFTT Thank you for doing such an exhaustive test of the MGR. It really shows the upper limit of relatively stock config (w/ good wheels and tires) R4H can do in a loose soil offroad situation.

[alexyakuba]

The best offroad video I've seen so far. Thank you!

[noppi]

Thank you for the test! I understood RAV4 Hybrid E-four capability.

[JohnSmith-uugg]

Good video. No unnecessary BS chit chat. Straight to the point. Very informative. Thanks.

[seraph]

Thanks for showing us these tests. I have one comment though about the test at about the 2:27 mark. It seems to me you are trying to "Crawl" up a steep dirt hill. And while I appreciate being able to see how well that works. I have to say I am not surprised by the amount of wheel spin and backsliding. It is after all, not a crawler in a true sense, it has (even in this case) relatively narrow wheels and a fairly short wheel base, and relatively low ground clearance and articulation. If I encountered a similar hill with my Rav in the wild, I imagine I would take it on with a bit of a run up and use my momentum to help rather than try to "crawl" it.

It's also important to consider how this transmission works. The Hybrid uses a transaxle which has NO changing gears, no pulleys no belts. It is a "CVT" in function but not in form. Rather than use adjustable cone pulleys, belts and chains, or meshing different gear sets this transaxle uses two electric motors to assist the engine across the RPM range. 1 Motor is engaged to provide power by adding it's torque to the final output. The other motor is mated in opposition to the input shaft from the engine, by a planetary gear set and depending on the situation either spins with the motor, idles in place or spins backwards against the motor (all at varying speeds and torques to produce a smooth power band) to change the output of the planetary system based on what's going on with that sun gear vs planet gears vs anulus(or carrier) gear. (This is also why the engine cannot be used to go in reverse, there is no way to change to a reverse gear, so the engine is disconnected and the motors spin backwards to give you reverse)

What that all means is there is no "real" low range capability of the transaxle, only as much torque multiplication as the smaller motor scan generate by running the planetary gears in concert with the engine to produce an "under drive" effect.

For that reason I would generally not bother trying to crawl anything with these systems anymore than I would bomb through rough terrain at 50 mph. A nice steady pace, giving the computer time to adjust the motors to produce gearing effects, is typically going to best serve the Rav4 Hybrid/prime offroad in my opinion.

[vominator]

THANK YOU for listing the tires. So many reviews don't bother

[dylanlam]

In a lot of these clips as soon as wheel slip occurs you let off the throttle. I find that if you stay on it the traction control will solve those problems. This is coming from my experience in a FWD 2019 tho so might be different with AWD. Hell when I go up to my dirt hill trail I lose all speed from it being rutted and it being decently steep, I keep my foot to the bottom of the pedal and it finds a way(it won't rev the engine super high since traction control is deciding what to do).

[ricglass]

Did Toyota pay attention and increase power from rear motors? OR put in a centre drive shaft AND/OR Viscous Coupling

[greendune]

There is an important operation that you have overlooked. When climbing a steep slope, you must turn off vsc & trc while using the trail mode.

[freedom_foz_]

Cool test! I almost wonder if a software update could remap the electric motors about and help to align power more effectively.

[nathanriddle]

I have almost the same setup, I find it super capable, I've done some crazy hill climbs!

[rabisah]

Very helpful. Thank you so much for making it.

[Knstntn]

Looks like the rear motor does not have a lot of torque. It might become difficult reversing with a trailer up a hill.

[JJ-siqh]

I've always found it annoying on mine when the front wheels are spinning in snow and the rear wheels are on dry pavement, not even trying. I'll be in a Walmart parking lot in like 5 inches of snow, completely stuck.

[johnJohn-dzex]

For all your actual off-roaders, would the added weight of more people inside the vehicle give it better traction?

[thomasromano]

Did you try the same things in normal mode? Another channel found Normal mode is better for off-road in some situations for some reason.

[lethenparkesTeamRacc]

4WD adds a constant front axle drive as most of them are RWD in 2WD this seems to be like a traction control for the rear, its not constant and this car is FWD

[joemysterio]

I'm guessing this was with the stock suspension that's 'sport' tuned? Or is that just the 2022 XSE Hybrid? If yours does have this same suspension, how was the ride quality while off road?

[truthkeeperfilms]

The RAV4 isn’t an off-road car by any means. It’s good enough for certain thing trails but it’s no 4Runner or Tacoma.