First of all, I'd like to state that I'm thoroughly looking forward to the delivery of our new RAV4EV this coming weekend when we return home from vacation. While on vacation in Sacramento, we borrowed a RAV4EV for an extended test drive to get a concrete impression of the car to make sure we're making the right decision for ourselves.
It about ticks all the right boxes for my wife and I. It will be her new daily driver and weekend family runabout with 2 small children.
Now onto ride quality. My impression is that the car rides a bit choppy or flinty over rough or corrugated roads. Not a bad ride by any means, but it was enough for me to question how they went about tuning the suspension on the vehicle. The RAV4 does have a shorter wheelbase, but it's not terribly short at 104.7". Nor is it exactly a sprightly econobox, which I expect to have a flinty ride, at over 4k lbs.
Now I'm not exactly unfamiliar with suspension tuning or performance oriented suspension with my 400hp Lexus IS300 with full coilovers and TRD high durometer bushings. In some ways, that cars rides a bit smoother under the same conditions, but it obviously has much higher spring rates.
I didn't go so far as to check the tire pressures, so it could be as easy as that.
My real question is if there's anyone who has had an ICE RAV4 to compare rides? My theory is that the drivers seating position is closer to one axle of the vehicle, rather than just about between as in most sedans. This has the disadvantage of not being able to 'average' vertical motions at each axle, translating that motion more to the drivers seat position.
The RAV4EV drives light and agile and really hides its 4k lb heft well. The suspension tuning is a good match for the instant torque of the EV drivetrain. I will say that I was rather impressed and had fun squirting the car around with its instant torque. A pleasant surprise for such a guilt free vehicle.
It about ticks all the right boxes for my wife and I. It will be her new daily driver and weekend family runabout with 2 small children.
Now onto ride quality. My impression is that the car rides a bit choppy or flinty over rough or corrugated roads. Not a bad ride by any means, but it was enough for me to question how they went about tuning the suspension on the vehicle. The RAV4 does have a shorter wheelbase, but it's not terribly short at 104.7". Nor is it exactly a sprightly econobox, which I expect to have a flinty ride, at over 4k lbs.
Now I'm not exactly unfamiliar with suspension tuning or performance oriented suspension with my 400hp Lexus IS300 with full coilovers and TRD high durometer bushings. In some ways, that cars rides a bit smoother under the same conditions, but it obviously has much higher spring rates.
I didn't go so far as to check the tire pressures, so it could be as easy as that.
My real question is if there's anyone who has had an ICE RAV4 to compare rides? My theory is that the drivers seating position is closer to one axle of the vehicle, rather than just about between as in most sedans. This has the disadvantage of not being able to 'average' vertical motions at each axle, translating that motion more to the drivers seat position.
The RAV4EV drives light and agile and really hides its 4k lb heft well. The suspension tuning is a good match for the instant torque of the EV drivetrain. I will say that I was rather impressed and had fun squirting the car around with its instant torque. A pleasant surprise for such a guilt free vehicle.
