I was excited at the prospect of finally driving a hybrid car. In these days of scarily prohibitive fuel prices, I have been thinking that the best way to save fuel is to not drive at all – but, of course, that is not very practical. Electric cars are still very expensive, and, coupled with the rolling power blackouts we experience, they are not sustainable.
In this situation, I think many South Africans are becoming increasingly interested in hybrid technology. Toyota claims that fuel efficiency remains one of the key hybrid credentials. The RAV4 Hybrid E-Four is no exception. A combined cycle figure of 4.8l/100km certainly validates this statement. A 55-litre fuel tank allows a theoretical range of 1145 km on a single tank.
The RAV4 Hybrid has understandably garnered widespread acclaim for its combination of practicality, fuel efficiency and performance. The silence of the engine was a much[1]welcome feature, with the RAV4 Hybrid models employing Toyota’s 4th-generation hybrid system which, in RAV4 E-Four execution, combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor (on the front axle), while adding a rear-mounted electric motor (MGR).
