The idea of driving to Brooklyn, New York, wasn’t an appealing one. Even when there isn’t a global pandemic with a hot zone in the heart of the Empire State, it’s still a long drive from Ohio. Coming back the same day ensures that nearly 20 hours will be spent on the road.
Armed with some Lysol wipes, a paper face mask, and a document that says that I’m essential under the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency’s guidelines, I climb behind the wheel of a 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to begin the journey.
The RAV4’s interior is filled with high-tech features, especially in its top-level trim.Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
My destination was the Micro Center store in Brooklyn. The I.T. company that I work for has been running a coalition of 3D printers to make important Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for first responders, health care professionals, and anyone at risk of contracting the coronavirus. To keep over 40 printers running, they need to be supplied with a steady stream of filament.
Local stock is non-existent. Early that week I had visited three different stores in Ohio and Michigan and purchased whatever remaining stock they had left. It wasn’t enough. After searching nationwide, the Brooklyn store seemed to have a decent amount in stock. So, we ordered it and I went there to get it.
When reaching out to automakers to provide a vehicle capable of bringing the stockpile back (it wouldn’t fit in my daily driver), there were a few things I had on my punch list. I wanted something fuel efficient. It’s 1,100 miles roundtrip and I was paying out-of-pocket for fill-ups. Additionally, I wanted to spend the least amount of time handling a grubby fuel filler as much as I could.
The RAV4 Hybrid only gets 300 miles out of a tank of gas.Photo by Chad Kirchner
It needed to have safety technology. Every RAV4 comes with the company’s advanced suite of safety technology, including full-stop adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and lane departure warning. I didn’t plan on driving drowsy but having a good backup safety system in case I make a mistake is welcome.
It also needed to be comfortable. I hadn’t spent a lot of hours at once behind the wheel of a RAV4 before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect there. But the seats in my Limited trim level tester were leather, power adjustable, and were both heated and cooled.
The infotainment system also supported Apple CarPlay, so I could use Waze and have my music and podcasts in easy reach.
Driving during a pandemic is a bit different than driving normally. There’s still a considerable amount of truck traffic on the roads, many with Amazon logos, but other traffic is extremely light. There are enough people sending traffic updates to Waze so I know where the local constabulary is hiding, but I don’t run into heavy traffic either on the way there or back.
Pennsylvania felt like a ghost town. Rest areas were seemingly abandoned, with even the vending machines empty. New Jersey felt a bit more normal, aside from the increased mask usage. I was surprised to stop at a Wawa and see attendants still pumping gas for people.
As I inched closer to the Holland Tunnel, which is how Waze wanted me to enter the city, I started seeing more signs about how if you’re coming in from New York you need to quarantine yourself. The weather was beautiful but that didn’t stop the apprehension from rising about entering the city that has seen so many infections and so many deaths.
Also, it seemed odd to me to cross into Manhattan and then down to Brooklyn. I’ve only been on the island during normal times, and traffic is usually at a standstill at best. But as I entered the tunnel that takes traffic deep below the Hudson River, traffic continued to flow. Coming out on the other side I was shocked with how little traffic there was.
The streets o the way to Brooklyn were filled with mainly truck traffic.Photo by Chad Kirchner
My route took me right by the World Trade Center, and while there were traffic and people about, it was a mere fraction of what there normally is. It appeared to me that most of the area’s 8 million people were taking the order to stay inside seriously.
Entering Brooklyn took me down some side streets, where cars of all types were parked with considerable amounts of dirt and grime on them. A newer Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 looked like an abandoned barn find, clearly not having been touched since the beginning of the pandemic. It exemplified the experience of being in New York – I didn’t feel like I was in “Planet of the Apes” – but without everyone out and about it felt very different.
Standing in line to get my order from Micro Center is when everything felt truly normal. Yes, we were in masks and the parking lot was virtually empty, but folks in line were chatting and being friendly. I struck up a conversation with a gentleman who was talking about how his son had been 3D printing some projects at home that had been wreaking havoc with his home appliances.
It ended up being a long day when I arrived back home, having left the house at 6am and returning just after midnight. But it was a successful trip. I wish I could’ve enjoyed New York longer, but the reason why everything is easy to get to is the same reason why I need to leave.
The supply of filament easy fit in the SUV’s rear cargo area.Photo by Chad Kirchner
The RAV4 was a capable companion. The driver assist systems help relieve some of the stress, but I do wish the lane centering was actually a bit more aggressive. It’s not as good as Tesla’s Autopilot or Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, but it’s a good backup to have on a long trip.
I averaged 32.9 mpg for the journey. While I was expecting and hoping for better, my speeds averaged higher than they normally would for this trip, so it’s okay. The biggest disappointment is the size of the fuel tank. A full tank only registered a bit over 300 miles on the trip computer.
The seats ended up being surprisingly supportive and comfortable on the trip. I didn’t want to immediately do the trip again, but I felt like I could have. So, for road trips the RAV4 is pretty solid.
More importantly, though, the team was restocked so we can continue printing. While the need isn’t a great today as it was, places are still requesting more and we want to make sure we provide what they need, free of charge.
Editor’s Note: Kirchner has returned home safely and soundly to Ohio and is not exhibiting any symptoms commonly attributed to COVID-19.
