On Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 10:44:41 AM UTC-7, Mike the Strike wrote:
On Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 9:25:31 AM UTC-7, David Sherrill wrote:
In 2017 the hybrid Toyota Rav4 had a higher tow capacity.
Slightly. The ordinary Rav4 was rated 1500 lbs; the hybrid 1750.

Those are USA ratings. Meanwhile, Toyota's UK web site claimed 3000 lbs for the ordinary Rav4.

...david

On Friday, March 2, 2018 at 10:54:13 AM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
Now that OP has made his decision, I'll drift the thread with this towing tidbit...

I looked into towing with a hybrid. There is an issue with overheating of the electric motors on long grades. The 'recommended tow weights' are much lower for the hybrid version of the same model vehicle. I'd guess that part of the issue is that the same motors are used for 'regenerative braking' on the downgrades, so they don't get a chance to cool off.

From a Toyota web site:

"An upgrade to the all-new 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure trim level will improve the available towing capacity of the Toyota compact crossover. Fitted with a standard Tow Prep Package, the RAV4 Adventure adds an upgraded radiator, a heavy-duty engine oil cooler and upgraded transmission fluid coolers to improve towing. With the tow hitch receiver and wiring harness, the front-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 Adventure will tow an impressive 2,900 pounds. When you add Dynamic Torque Control AWD to the equation, the RAV4 Adventure will tow 3,500 pounds – 2,000 pounds more than standard models."

Maybe engine/transmission cooling isn't such a problem in the UK, like it is here in Arizona?

Mike

....and from Toyota UK:

"Both front- and four-wheel drive RAV4 Hybrid models have a legal towing capacity of 750kg for unbraked trailers. With regards to braked trailers (where the trailer has its own braking system), the front-wheel drive RAV4 Hybrid has a recommended towing capacity of 800kg and the four-wheel drive RAV4 Hybrid has a recommended towing capacity of 1,650kg."

Towing capacity depends very much on model and model year - an earlier diesel RAV4 had a stated towing capacity of 2,000 kg.

Mike