I love the gas mileage of the RAV4 Hybrid, but it’s not exactly powerful—which is expected with that kind of fuel economy. On the other hand, the Explorer has better towing capacity and more power.
How have Explorers been in terms of durability? I see a lot of people saying RAV4s last longer, but I’d rather hear from actual owners.
@Avery
That’s the issue—I don’t know exactly what I need. I like the idea of the Explorer’s capabilities, but I don’t know how often I’d actually use them. And then there’s the reliability factor to consider.
@Moe
If you’re not keeping it for 10 years or 100k miles, reliability won’t really be an issue. Also, Toyota reliability is way overhyped. They just recalled 100,000 trucks and SUVs for engine failures.
@Avery
That’s a big selling point for me too. I’m 6’1”, and most of my height is in my legs, so extra legroom is always a win. Plus, the extra cargo space is great for camping.
Coworker has a RAV4, I have an Explorer. His SUV is fine, but I needed something bigger for my three German Shepherds.
Owned a Toyota for 10 years and never had a single issue outside of normal maintenance. My dad has a 2015 Tacoma, I have a 2015 Explorer Sport. His has more miles, but mine has been in the shop at least three times.
My wife has a RAV4, and I have an Explorer 4WD Limited. We love camping, and the RAV4 just doesn’t have the space. The 4WD in the Explorer has gotten us through some rough spots—without it, we would’ve been stuck.
Also, way more room for the kids. I’m even thinking about upgrading to an Excursion. But at the end of the day, it’s your call.
Are you financing? Leasing? How long do you plan to keep it? Do you care about performance?
My best friend has a RAV4 XLE, and I drive a 2024 Explorer ST. I can comfortably afford my lease and the extra gas, so losing MPG in exchange for 400 HP and way more space is worth it for me.
RAV4 is a much smaller SUV. People get the Explorer for the size, seats, cargo space, and towing. If you don’t need any of that, save the $10k+ and get the smaller SUV.