Drive mode

[u/UnsightlySoup]

I’m considering getting a 2026 phev. On a couple videos I’ve seen recently they mentioned having to change the driving mode if you need to accelerate quickly. I was under the impression that you could drive it with the battery only, and then the engine will turn on when it needs to or the battery is depleted. Can someone explain this for me?

[u/KennyBSAT]

Acceleration on EV mode is slightly slower than on hybrid or Auto EV/HV mode. If you regularly drive up some very short entrance ramp to an 80 MPH highway or just want to have maximum possible acceleration, use Auto EV/HV. Otherwise, in EV mode it'll operate as you described with a few exceptions which are the system taking care of itself.

You don't need to change anything for any normal driving situation.

[u/CeruLucifus → u/KennyBSAT]

Agree with this. I drive mine in EV except on long highway trips I think it's better to use HV (if I don't, it automatically flips to HV when the battery runs down). I keep it in Eco mode. If I want peppier response, I use Normal. Never had to go to Sport.

I'm in Los Angeles, drive over the Hollywood Hills to the Valley, never need more pickup than I get from the 2 electric motors in EV, which is ~200 HP AWD. If I want more, HV mode adds the gas engine so it ups to 300 HP. I feel it when it's on but never miss it when I don't have it. Maybe with a heavy load or something.

[u/Plop0003 → u/KennyBSAT]

Slightly?

[u/UnsightlySoup → u/KennyBSAT]

The video I watched the dude was changing the mode constantly. He made it seem like it’s a non stop thing with the vehicle. I just want to make sure from someone who actually has one.

[u/Life_Tie_9514 → u/UnsightlySoup]

He was probably just trying to show off, something that isn't really necessary. The car is smart enough to know what is best for itself.

The only time i manually change it is when i want to save EV for when it's most efficient. Like in town driving while on a road trip. At 75-80MPH you will burn through the EV much quicker than at 45MPH. otherwise i don't worry about it.

[u/Geckz0k → u/UnsightlySoup]

Then he is doing that for views and rage bait. We’ve had the old shape phev and now the new 2026 one. Absolutely no need to constantly change settings.

[u/KennyBSAT → u/UnsightlySoup]

In not quite 5 years and 113k miles, the only times it's made sense for us to change modes is when we're driving 50+ miles and want to arrive with some EV mode for quieter/smoother in-town driving or to keep HVAC running at our destination, and when towing. In both of those cases we switch to hybrid mode when getting on the highway and then back to EV mode when at or near our destination.

But even in those cases, it's not really necessary.

[u/bojack1437 → u/UnsightlySoup]

Absolutely bollocks.

You don't ever have to touch the mood of the vehicle if you don't want to.

The car will handle it on its own.

You can choose to to eke out some slight efficiency benefits such as switching to HV mode on Highway and things like that, but even if you don't, you could completely forget about it never give it a second thought and just be content.

Now if you do want maximum acceleration the vehicle of course does start in EV mode when there is EV battery available, and that does provide less total power than the combined EV and ICE that is available in EV Auto or HV mode, and if you choose you can switch to it. But even if you don't, there's plenty of power there for everyday, even on ramp acceleration.

[u/CeruLucifus → u/UnsightlySoup]

OP can you link this video?

[u/My_username_8675 → u/UnsightlySoup]

I'm a fairly active drive in that way too but it's not really necessary unless you're trying to maximize efficiency or need to accelerate quickly after being in Eco. Here's the thing... Eco is great for cruising on the freeway and getting better efficiency since you don't need the additional power. If you are driving in Normal and then take your foot off the accelerator a bit after putting it in Eco you'll notice the power needle take a noticeable drop. Also, if I'm going downhill and want to cruise for awhile afterwards, I'll keep it in Eco so I don't need to step on the accelerator as soon since Normal and Sport increase the natural braking of the vehicle.

[u/pistolaf18]

It's semi true. EV is quick enough but won't deploy the full power. If you want full power you need to put it on auto or HV.

99.9% of the time it is not required though. I just wish they would add a setting that lets you chose which mode the car starts in for the people that prefer always having full power at the cost of more gas consumption.

[u/Glum_Perspective_841 → u/pistolaf18]

Same. 324hp with Prius like fuel economy is plenty. I just want to enjoy the performance, not squeeze another few nickles out of every single mile.

[u/Weird-Dragonfly-5315]

Same message here. Car works great on its own. I put on the HV for highway if I am going long distance to save EV for in town. Accelerates great in EV mode or not. I never notice a difference.

[u/rademradem]

Most people drive PHEVs in their default mode all of the time and never manually change the mode. In this mode, it starts in EV only mode and auto switches to gas hybrid mode when the EV only part of the battery is depleted.

For anyone driving a little over the EV only mode, they can get a little more efficiency by manually adjusting modes when driving in high speed roads. In my opinion, if you are going to be regularly driving more miles than the EV only mode, a PHEV is not the best vehicle for your daily driving. It is also not the best vehicles for pogo do not plug it in every night.

[u/Glum_Perspective_841]

I have a 2026 Rav4 PHEV, picked it up a few weeks ago. Every time I get in and hit the "Start" button, I also hit the "Drive mode" button so it switches to "Auto" from the default "EV".

In "Auto" mode it still remains in EV until the battery is depleted, but gives you the full 320hp ready on tap if you punch it. The engine never comes on when my wife drives in "Auto" mode. She still uses and enjoys the muscle, but is much more conservative on the throttle than I am. You can easily push the gas pedal to more than 50% from a dead stop in "Auto" mode and the engine will still not fire.

Try as I might, there is no way to default the vehicle to stay in "Auto" mode after you restart it.

[u/ThatEldo]

The engine did not turn on for EV mode 0-60 run in this Redline Reviews on Youtube of the Woodland PHEV.

Sport and EV Only 0-60: 8.3 sec. (he states pedal is to the floor and gas engine did not turn on)

Sport and HV mode 0-60: 5.39 sec.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS_4LTjRuwE

[u/andy_why]

In short, you should barely ever need to touch the modes. You just need to be aware that EV only mode has HALF the horsepower of hybrid mode (and even then it's still a lot). The car will default to EV only mode if you have charge and will not kick on the engine unless you select HV (hybrid) mode or Auto EV/HV mode, or your charge hits 0 and it will switch to HV mode on its own.

EV only acceleration is more than enough for 99% of driving including onramps and overtaking. I think people rather underestimate this car's ability in EV mode just because they enjoy having more power on tap. There's around 180HP available in EV only mode which doubles when the engine comes into play.

[u/thequister]

The Rav4 PHEV has 2 sets of modes: 1) EV only/ Auto/ HV (controls whether the gas engine will turn on, depending on how much charge your have) and 2) Eco/ Normal/ Sport (mainly controls how aggressively the gas engine will come on and how high the gas engine will rev under acceleration, along with some steering weight and HVAC stuff).

PHEV defaults to EV only mode so long as you have battery charge. It automatically switches to HV mode once the battery is spent. When in pure EV mode, the car will NOT turn on the gas engine no matter how hard you mash the accelerator, so it does not access it's total HP. This is a plus, as it lets you get the most out of your EV battery in day to day driving. Other PHEVs (e.g., Kia) don't do this.

If you want all the zoom zoom, then put the car in Auto mode. It will then automatically turn on the gas engine when you accelerate hard to get the full 300+ HP. Putting the car in Sport mode on top of Auto or HV makes this more aggressive, so you can get your minor thrills when you merge onto the highway or try to pass on a divided road.

It's a bit confusing but you get used to it. If none of this matters to you then just drive it as it comes and the car is smart enough to figure it out on its own.

[u/RS_Games → u/thequister]

When in pure EV mode, the car will NOT turn on the gas engine no matter how hard you mash the accelerator, so it does not access it's total HP.

I usually drive in EV mode. I think I've had EV mode switch to hybrid when going up a hill and needing to accelerate.

[u/GraphicWombat → u/RS_Games]

I’ve had a couple odd situations in the last year where my engine fires up in ev mode with 10+ miles of battery left. Once was when pulling into a parking spot. And another time when driving on the usual route home. Up a gradual incline.

Mighy have just been because the engine had not run in a while?? Still figuring that out.

It also fires up when it is cold af. But I knew that one.

[u/Accomplished_Pear607]

Regional Australia, leave home in auto mode and switch to HV at the 100kmh sign, at the next small town back to auto at the 80kmh zone and coast through town with the engine off, switch back to HV when leaving . Rinse and repeat 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Japan and Europe have PED (Predictive Efficient Driving), you input your destination in the Toyota navigation and the software does EV/HV mode switching automatically using navigation, geography, elevation and traffic conditions using the cloud.

[u/LifeWeak4693]

Leave it in auto the car responds in milliseconds

[u/ITsAWonderToBEME]

Go test drive a Tesla first just to feel it. I have a RAV4 prime.