Considering the RAV4 hybrid
I am looking to replace our current vehicle (17 expedition) because of some issues (1st gen Ecoboost... eats plugs every 30k miles, runs rich, poorer than expected milage, plus the looming threat of cam phaser and timing issues common to this motor) and the fact we don't really need the space anymore now that my kids are out of the full size baby seats and our dog doesn't travel with us much anymore (because we don't travel much anymore..).
I have always bought used. The expedition I bought with 70k miles on it and now it has around 135k. I'm growing tired of swapping cars every 3-4 years, so I started doing research a few months back and the name that keeps coming up again and again is the RAV4.
I test drove one to make sure I fit (6'3" and certainly no stranger to cheesecake) and the fit was nice. I used to drive a 13 Ford focus so I figured it would be fine, and it was. I think I'm most interested in the hybrid drivetrain as the allure of the e-cvt (chunky planetary gear system, no clutches, seems incredibly bulletproof) is quite tempting. Not to mention we mostly drive city and the better mpg is a nice bonus, but the cost difference between the 2 make that a bit of a moot point. I realize the long term cost of batteries and "cable gate" but I'm not too concerned.
My reservation is that based on the used sales figures for these newer (23+) rav4s, it just doesn't make sense to buy used. If I buy the one we want new, it's around 41k out the door. This would be the most expensive vehicle I've ever purchased by an 8k margin.
Our payment versus our current car would go up about 200 per month, but our gas costs will go down about 130 per month so the delta isn't huge. Since the resale value on these vehicles is so high, I'd be "right side up" on the value within 18 or so months. However, the ultimate goal for this car is to have it for 15+ years.
I've never not had a car payment because I had transmission issues or engine issues with them all. I had a Pontiac g6 with transmission issues, a GMC sierra with transmission issues, the focus had the dreaded DCT, I had a ram truck for a little bit which was falling apart almost as soon as I bought it (snapped 3 manifold bolts within 500 miles of owning it just to start), and now we have this expedition.
I'm kind of tired of American car brands at this point, I seem to be eternally let down and churning through vehicles. I want something safe, reliable and that will drive for decades. With that, the RAV4 seems to hit the mark. It's not a sexy option but I don't really care about that. I've heard it described as a dishwasher on wheels - an appliance, not an exciting driver. That sounds appealing for what I want this vehicle to be.
I guess the reason I'm making this post is to consider whether this is a good idea. I'm not really worried about whether I can afford it (I can), I just don't like spending money and this would be a lot of it. Having said that, it's value seems to be projected to hold up extremely well, just as most Toyotas do, and as you can see from my previous vehicles, I'm not used to that. I want a very long term vehicle but I also want to know that if something in my life changes and I need to get rid of it, it will have decent resale value.
I considered the crv hybrid and the cx-50 hybrid (which has the Toyota drivetrain) but with the crv I felt less happy about extreme long term reliability (newer hybrid system so hasn't been battle tested as much yet) versus the RAV4, and the cx50 is a mazda which doesn't inspire tons of confidence. Maybe they've gotten better but my brothers 2012ish (can't recall exactly) mazda3 was riddled with electrical issues and the center console broke (we think the dealer knew about it and tried a jank repair due to some tape we found) and Mazda wouldn't do anything to fix it (the dealer nor nearby dealers and Mazda customer service themselves).
Anyway, every time I start researching I always come back to the RAV4.
I don't want a 2026 model because I don't buy new models on their first years, plus they look worse than the previous models.
What are your thoughts on the cSUV market?
Edit: I'm in TX so cold isn't an issue 95% of the time as far as hybrid battery issues go
I can't speak to the American payment system etc, but I think it is the same in many developed economies - buying used no longer makes as much sense as it used to.
Having helped a friend through a similar mid-sized SUV search, the RAV-4 hybrid won on every criteria we were looking for. You simply cannot beat the reliability.
Again, I don't know your finances, but I imagine you will save a significant amount in running costs by switching away from GM, Ford, and Stellantis.
Well-cared for Toyotas hold their values insanely well (as witnessed by your search of the used market), and whilst it's not an 'exciting' drive, all of the mid-sized SUVs I drove were similarly unexciting. I treat it like a shuttle from Star Trek. It gets you there and it gets you back and it has the right amount of tech in it without being crippled by an all-touch screen interface. Carplay/Android auto, great. Physical climate control and volume knobs, physical e-brake and shifter, also great.
My reservation about the RAV-4 line was Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) while driving at speed, but this has been remedied since a few generations ago. I would highly recommend this vehicle, especially because you seem to have a very practical view of what you want a car to do.
At this stage I think buying hybrid makes more sense than electrical in most markets, especially with long distance driving being a factor which I'm assuming happens sometimes in a Texas setting.
The only other thing I'd add is that in very remote regions of my country, the only cars I see are Toyota RAV-4s and Land Cruisers, because of their reliability and repairability. RAV-4s might be designed for the school run but they can handle serious tasks outside of their weight class, which is a testament to Toyota's continued focus on quality.
Excellent car, nothing else in the class comes close in my experience, from reading many reviews, and from compiling an exhaustive spreadsheet for a friend making a similar decision.
Thanks for the reassurance. I am quite good at talking myself out of things so the fact I haven't been able to do so here probably means it's the right way to go (at least for me)
This is fun, I agree with literally everything you said. I bought a hybrid 2025 RAV4 less than a year ago, highly recommend for all the reasons mentioned. If you'd like I can send you my spreadsheet of all the compact SUVs in that range and all their features which I used to figure out what model and trim to get.
That would be amazing!
Sent you a DM
Before I went electric, I had a 2018 RAV4 hybrid. I really enjoyed it, it was reliable, good on gas, and could fit a lot (we once managed to fit a huge paddleboard inside with the lift gate closed).
As far as buying used, you’ll pay the Toyota tax, so this is one case where buying new may make sense. Additionally, if you can find one (and are willing to pay more initially), the plug-in hybrid (formerly called the Prime) could be a good option if you drive less than 40 miles most days and have inexpensive electricity.
Only real question is if you need to tow anything. The hybrid has a small (1500 lb) capacity; fine for a utility trailer or a very small boat, but not much else. If you aren’t towing anything beyond that (or you have a dedicated tow vehicle), then you should be fine.
It's really time to be considering full electric at this point. If you can charge at home, it's just such an easy transition and overall wonderful experience. If you want long term ownership costs to be lower, EVs are the main game in town.