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New 2025 RAV4 Premium, GAS, FWD!!

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SoCalAngler

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Purchased a new 2025 RAV4 Premium, FWD, yesterday! This is for my wife to replace her 2004 Sequoia.

She selected the Wind Chill Pearl color. We went in for an XLE White cap but the WCP got her!

The Premium model we chose does not have any additional options other than minimal stuff like, cross bars, mud guards, all weather floor liners, door edge guards, body side molding, and black emblems.

We figured the added standard options of the Base Premium over the Base XLE, were well worth the additional $2890 cost difference. The WCP paint, 19" wheels, soft tex interior, fog lamps, power lift-gate, etc., were well worth the added cost. The Premium model, without additional options, is the best per dollar buy, IMO. We live in the SoCal desert so heated seats, AWD, sensing wipers/de-icer, are not needed. Plus, we have an '18 Adventure and a 4WD truck if snow driving were ever needed. We keep our vehicles for 20+ years.

Why not a hybrid? I wanted the last gas RAV4 and did not want a eCVT transmission, however good they may be. I service my own vehicles and I am not familiar with hybrid technology enough to service them, so the gas was my choice. Plus, the 2025 RAV4 GAS is the last model of its generation, just like my 2018 Adventure is when I purchased it new in 2019!
 
#3 ·
SoCalAngler said:
Why not a hybrid? I wanted the last gas RAV4 and did not want a CVT transmission, however good they may be. I service my own vehicles and I am not familiar with hybrid technology enough to service them, so the gas was my choice. Plus, the 2025 RAV4 GAS is the last model of its generation, just like my 2018 Adventure is when I purchased it new in 2019!
Click to expand...
Toyota hybrids are ECVT transmission. Totally different animal from CVT. Look it up, they are BOMB proof and require less service than the regular automatic transmission.. Especially in California with 5 dollar gas. The " hybrid " in the car doesn't require any additional service other than an air filter under the back seat and an extra 2 liters of coolant.
Enjoy your new car.
 
#4 ·

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Discussion starter · #5 ·
MikeJones2509 said:
Toyota hybrids are ECVT transmission. Totally different animal from CVCT. Especially in California with 5 dollar gas. The " hybrid " in the car doesn't require any additional service other than an air filter under the back seat and an extra 2 litres of coolant.
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Gas today is $3.69

I know about the eCVT. I know it's a good trans, perhaps even better than the 8 speed.
At some point the hybrid batteries will need to be replaced....FACT.
Hybrid not easy to service for average DIYer...FACT
Is the Gas non hybrid RAV4 a great car....YES!
Will it last me over 200K with minimal repairs....YES....just like my last 8 Toyotas!
 
#6 ·
10 year warranty on that battery, most last 12 to 15 years. Calculate the gas savings vs cost of battery in 12 to 15 years. You can buy hybrid batteries for 3gen Prius for 1000 bucks. Extra hp and quieter drive makes it worth the difference regardless of mpg.
 
#7 ·
Nothing wrong with a RAV4 gasser. It makes a good car.
Not everyone needs AWD. And, not everyone needs a hybrid.

Ice Cap here... and jealous of your WCP.

What something lasts is always a coin toss and gamble. Keeping it simple, if the vehicle fits your needs, is usually the safest bet.

Enjoy your vehicle. I do recommend more than Toyota maintenance. Never been happy with any automakers' bare minimum maintenance requirements. They border on negligence.
 
#8 ·
MikeJones2509 said:
10 year warranty on that battery, most last 12 to 15 years. Calculate the gas savings vs cost of battery in 12 to 15 years. You can buy hybrid batteries for 3gen Prius for 1000 bucks. Extra hp and quieter drive makes it worth the difference regardless of mpg. Youre in California? Gas is going to be even more expensive when two refineries close in the next 3 years. I'm in Canada , gas is expensive up here too.
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:geek:Except that @SoCalAngler has already bought the car, so it's a little too late to be considering the pros and cons of R4H
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I've read and researched all about the RAV4 Hybrid and all of the Pros and Cons. Car Care Nut speaks great things about it. But he also speaks great things about the gas model....says you can't go wrong with either one..... and he is correct!

I wanted a gas model for the reasons mentioned. I've been very happy with ALL of my Toyota gas vehicles....ALL gas and ALL great!
 
#11 ·
SoCalAngler said:
I've read and researched all about the RAV4 Hybrid and all of the Pros and Cons. Car Care Nut speaks great things about it. But he also speaks great things about the gas model....says you can't go wrong with either one..... and he is correct!

I wanted a gas model for the reasons mentioned. I've been very happy with ALL of my Toyota gas vehicles....ALL gas and ALL great!
Click to expand...
I agree, but I'm still trying to figure out what's " hard to service in a hybrid " ? Same fluid schedule, no belts, no alternator, brakes last longer. The 26 will also be available in the US in FWD hybrid
 
#12 ·
SoCalAngler said:
I've read and researched all about the RAV4 Hybrid and all of the Pros and Cons. Car Care Nut speaks great things about it. But he also speaks great things about the gas model....says you can't go wrong with either one..... and he is correct!

I wanted a gas model for the reasons mentioned. I've been very happy with ALL of my Toyota gas vehicles....ALL gas and ALL great!
Click to expand...
Out of interest: what kind of hybrid-specific work did you think you wouldn't be comfortable doing? I am only asking because I have had 3 Toyota non-plug hybrids and I don't recall any hybrid-related work except for inverter fluid replacement and vacuuming the battery cooling duct filters.

That said, these days gas-only cars are also stuffed with all kinds of electronics, so servicing one would require some special skills and tools .... something to keep in mind perhaps.
 
#13 ·
Dimitrij said:
Out of interest: what kind of hybrid-specific work did you think you wouldn't be comfortable doing? I am only asking because I have had 3 Toyota non-plug hybrids and I don't recall any hybrid-related work except for inverter fluid replacement and vacuuming the battery cooling duct filters.

That said, these days gas-only cars are also stuffed with all kinds of electronics, so servicing one would require some special skills and tools .... something to keep in mind perhaps.
Click to expand...
Again , what kind of hybrid specific " service " needs to be done? Inverter failure? How often does that happen? I DIY everything possible on my cars. There's nothing in the service schedule specific to hybrids other than the air filter.
 
Discussion starter · #17 · (Edited)
Dimitrij said:
Out of interest: what kind of hybrid-specific work did you think you wouldn't be comfortable doing? I am only asking because I have had 3 Toyota non-plug hybrids and I don't recall any hybrid-related work except for inverter fluid replacement and vacuuming the battery cooling duct filters.

That said, these days gas-only cars are also stuffed with all kinds of electronics, so servicing one would require some special skills and tools .... something to keep in mind perhaps.
Click to expand...
Well three are electric motors and components that may require inspection and testing....
As mentioned, Inverter fluid, battery fans and filters....
May require special electrical testing tools...
To me....repairs/maintenance (beyond the basics), because of my lack of ever working on one... are an unknown

Gas require no special tools in all of the repairs (minimal) I have done... water pumps, belts, brakes, steering rack seals, ball joints, control arm bushings....
To me, because I have experience, ...repairs are known

Fact....if there ever was a repair beyond my capability......more gas mechanics around than hybrid mechanics.

Dealer labor costs may or may not be more expensive in terms of time of said repair and cost of specially trained hybrid techs.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Greasy said:
Ice Cap here... and jealous of your WCP.

What something lasts is always a coin toss and gamble. Keeping it simple, if the vehicle fits your needs, is usually the safest bet.

I do recommend more than Toyota maintenance. Never been happy with any automakers' bare minimum maintenance requirements. They border on negligence.
Click to expand...
Wife picked the WCP...it is a nice color!

I agree on how long it will last....with regular maintenance they "should" all exceed 250k miles.

Yes, I do....500, 1500, 3000 mile oil changes on my new vehicles.
 
#20 ·
SoCalAngler said:
Well three are electric motors and components that may require inspection and testing....
As mentioned, Inverter fluid, battery fans and filters....
May require special electrical testing tools...
To me....repairs/maintenance (beyond the basics), because of my lack of ever working on one... are an unknown

Gas require no special tools in all of the repairs (minimal) I have done... water pumps, belts, brakes, steering rack seals, ball joints, control arm bushings....
To me, because I have experience, ...repairs are known

Fact....if there ever was a repair beyond my capability......more gas mechanics around than hybrid mechanics.

Dealer labor costs may or may not be more expensive in terms of time of said repair and cost of specially trained hybrid techs.
Click to expand...
If a mechanic hasn't figured out how to "work" on a hybrid he's gonna be unemployed very soon.
 
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