By: Melanie Droz Shawcroft
GIRLS WEEKEND … WITH KIDS
It is a summer tradition to travel from Phoenix to Pine with my girlfriends and our children in order to get out of the heat and into a little bit of trouble and have a great time. Fortunately, we had the 2018 Toyota Rav4, so we loaded it up and hit the road in this spacious SE hybrid which gets an average of 32 miles per gallon and, more importantly, has safety features like a blind spot monitor, 8 airbags and the Star safety system. The windy roads going up north can be a bit tricky and we had very precious cargo in the Rav4 – our kids and a packed cooler of bevies.
It was easy to make it to Pine safely and quickly with the Hybrid Synergy Drive System with AWD – the electric motor delivers torque and the extra provided traction made it easy and quick to take turns. The 194 net horsepower excited the kids and I was able to glance at the hybrid gauge cluster to make sure I was getting the most out of the trip and the full gas tank. Before we knew it, we were unloading using the hands-free, foot-activated power liftgate and enjoying the cool 80-degree weather.
The Electric Storm Blue Rav4 looked great in front of the cabin all weekend. The unique wheel design, power moonroof, roof rails, LED lighting and full-body color made the Rav4 quite the view from the deck. It definitely made us look much sportier than we are and we fit in well with the townspeople. However, the technology we had was a bit advanced. With the advanced technology package, the Rav4 has parking sonar, Entune Premium JBL audio with navigation, 11 JBL GreenEdge speakers and SiriusXM radio. We were even able to plug in the karaoke machine in the power outlet in the cargo area. I am sure the distant neighbors loved us being there.
It is always difficult to leave, but the 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid made it a bit easier because of the comfort and conveniences. The dual zone climate control with air filter and heated front seats kept everyone warm during the cool nights in Pine while the SE floormats, sport shiftknob and door sill protectors kept the Toyota clean. The 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid we drove to Pine was priced at $36,055, but the memories we made with our kids and each other were priceless. With an empty cooler and napping kids in the back, this Rav4 lived up to its adventure potential.
MSRP: $32,185
As Tested: $36,055
Memories: Priceless
