These days, even the LE has a lot of decent equipment that is standard. As for the hybrid, there are no real "issues" you need to worry about. The complexity it adds is mostly offset by the things it doesn't have and how it all works. For instance, if you buy a gas only AWD, then you have additional shafts bringing the power to the rear differential. The hybrid uses ONLY an electric motor to power the rear wheels that comes on in an instant when needed so there is no mechanical connection between the transmission and the rear wheels. The CVT used in the hybrid is probably the best one ever made and it's complexity is reduced because it doesn't have a reverse gear. Reverse thrust is only provided by electricity. Your brakes will wear out FAR less and there is no conventional starter. If you're opting for a FWD gas only model you might have an argument but if you want an AWD then I would say it's a wash or the hybrid would be even less problematic.

 

 

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Looks like you made my point with your chart! I forgot to add the price difference between non-hybrid and hybrid is pretty low ... $1800 more for the hybrid (from memory and mine is a 2023). I helped two family members buy Rav4 hybrids as well and they are both elated. The hybrid version adds a lot of MPG as well (around 10 mpg, also from memory). I'm not sure if the LE uses a nickle metal battery or not (I know the higher trim levels are lithium) but if the LE does use a NiMH, those are far safer than the lithiums you were concerned about. I've hear the Woodland edition uses a NiMH. One last thing: I see mentions of the 2026 in this thread but I just heard a strong rumor that they will not be released in 2025. It will be in 2026 before you see the next gen and Toyota has NOT fared well with redesigns lately (can you say Tundra/Tacoma?). So Toyota now joins the ranks of other makers where first year release cautions are warranted. Actually, there are 2025 Tundras still experiencing engine failures and 4 years into a redesign puts Toyota in a new category where that is concerned. The LAST thing I would be worried about is a well proven hybrid design from them.

 

I have a 2019 XSE hybrid one of the first to arrive in Texas from Japan. My wife has an early 2020 XSE Hybrid assembled in Kentucky. Neither one has had any real issues that some others have had. We're in Texas so salt on the roads in almost none existent they might put down a prime coat. If that happens we are retired and stay home because the fools are out. The only issues we have had is the Stealership trying to push items and checks not needed. Especially needing a wheel alignment. If your RAV4 doesn't pull and tire wear is even you don't need an alignment every time you get your oil change. And Air filters for the hybrid battery, cabin and engine are easy to change. Check online for videos that show you how.

 

Another consideration is what kind of driving and the climate. I wouldn’t consider a hybrid for extreme heat/cold myself.

I would probably just get a standard gas model and use a battery tender to keep it charged since you won’t use it much. And use premium gas since fuel degrades and by the time you use it it may have become regular.

Can probably get a better deal since everyone and their brother has to have a hybrid nowadays. We have recently purchased two late model cars with very low miles at a good savings, they’re out there.

My dad gets gas in his car about twice a year.
Has had more issues with low batteries and low tire pressures than anything else.

 

@SomeCallMeTim #20

Agree with everything you say, but I will note for others that there is a permanent way to defeat the auto start-stop "feature." It is a small module thing that you plug into the defeater switch that simulates a button push every time you start the car. Amazon sells it and others too I presume.

 

First do you do mostly highway milage or city. Hybrid mpg great in city. Ok on highway if not using cruise control. Worse mpg using cruise control. Regular Hybrid battery is not lithium only prime is lithium

I drove to Southern Utah yesterday on I-80. I averaged 40 MPG in my hybrid, distance about 300 miles, used 1/2 tank of gas. Speed limit is 80 MPH but I drove only 75 MPH. Used cruise control the entire distance. On return trips in the past, I often take the "back roads" (US-89) where the speed limits are 55 to 65 MPH. Then I get between 45 to 47 MPG.

The traction battery in the Rav4 Hybrid is Nickel Metal Hydride (NIMH) = no fire risk.

some non-prime trims have lithium so your statement 'only primes' is incorrect

Only the LE hybrid and possibly the XLE are NiMH. My XLE Premium hybrid and above are Lithium Ion. Never heard of a fire in one. Please cite a thread on the forum where a member has had a fire in their hybrid battery.

Edit: I believe in Canada, the hybrid comes with only NiMH batteries because of Li Ion battery poor performance in the cold.

Every car I've ever owned in the last 50 years that had a glass roof panel of any kind (sunroof or moon roof) either leaked rain water, or something went wrong

Every car I have owned for the last 25 years, starting with my 2000 VW Passat, has had a sun roof with zero problems.

I wouldn’t consider a hybrid for extreme heat/cold myself.

Not a lot of experience with extreme cold, but for the last three summers I have driven to Southern Utah to hike. Zero problems with my hybrid in 115 degrees temp. Even in ECO mode, the car was very comfortable.

 

What kinds of "hybrid issues" are causing most concern?

I bought my first hybrid (a Prius) in 2015 and since then have clocked almost 270K miles in Toyota's hybrids. I did have a few annoying issues with the 2021 Sienna, but not with its hybrid system.

 

2021 Sienna is the first year redesign. Never buy V1 anything.

 

PHEV all the way. It's great to use NO GASOLINE 95% of the time in town, but have no range anxiety for interstate trips. Add solar panels and charging costs ZERO.

 

Phev has its place ( which isn't my driveway) as to plug it in I would have to unroll almost 200 feet of cord over a public walkway. The voltage drop alone would make it take forever to change and that is assuming I can get the closest parking spot to my house!

 

I purchased a 2024 RAV4 hybrid XLE Premium about 14 months ago and have been very happy. I went with that trim level despite the extra expense, because I wanted the Softex seats, which I found to be more comfortable during test drives, and I wanted the power liftgate. The liftgate on this vehicle is quite heavy. I'm getting older and I was afraid that dealing with the manual liftgate would cause problems with my arms and shoulders. I open and close the liftgate frequently. I wasn't happy about having to pay for the rest of the XLE Premium add-ons, but had no choice. Would have been nice if Toyota would let us customize a vehicle, but they don't. I don't know if gas savings and likely lower maintenance costs will ever pay for the price difference of purchasing the hybrid, but I like the increased driving range and the thought that I'm saving at least some carbon emissions. I also like the extra power when I need it. I've been very happy with this vehicle and so far have had no issues other than some of the USB charging ports acting flaky for a few months. That problem seemed to go away on its own.

 

I really like the power liftgate feature, but unfortunately it always comes bundled with the sun/moon roof. Since the sun/moon roof is a deal breaker for me, I'm left choosing between the 2025 Hybrid XLE and the 2025 XLE.

I handle most of my own maintenance and come from a Sienna-owning background. I’m hoping the RAV4 proves to be more reliable than the Sienna in the long run.

 

You are not the only one who does not like glass things on the roof; interestingly, I have never had a problem with mine (I think I am on my 5th moonroof right now, touch wood). I don't use them all that often and I do not drive in very hot or very cold climes - except a few days in FL last summer, maybe that's why.

 

Bought the 2024 XLE Hybrid last year. No regrets. The upgrades are worth it.

 

Forgot to add "Premium"

 

Any with ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. best feature

 

Adaptive cruise control in the RAV4 ranks last compared to Chevrolet Blazer, Equinox, Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue - if you never tried other brands you should.

much much smoother and responsive than Toyota.

 

I just bought my wife a XLE Premium, and she loves it. One step below the Limited but not as pricy.

 

I bought my 2022 Rav4 LE AWD used two years ago and I absolutely love it. Personally, I don't really think anyone needs anything higher than the LE, especially not a hybrid. I can still get 40mpg no problem. The Rav4 in it's base form still has more than many cars have (radar cruise control, AEB, etc.). Super utilitarian, I practically use it like a pickup and theres no fancy BS that I have to be careful about. You can find them used at good prices, but DO NOT settle for the FWD version.

 

Personally I like the Rugged Hybrid which I shall be ordering myself. But if you’re getting for the Core I’d go for the top trim level in your country. I’m not sure if the PHEV is worth the extra 5-10k.

 

I bought a 22 Prime SE last December, and I'm of the opinion that the PHEV is the best choice and worth its higher price for several reasons. #1 is 42 miles of pure EV range. While I often go more than 42 miles in a day, on the days I don't, it's priceless to me to be able to do whatever I need to do that day without using a single drop of gasoline. #2 is that it gets the same 38mpg when running on gas (what they call "hybrid" mode) as the non-plug-in hybrid, so once you own the car, there's literally no extra cost to driving it even if you never once plug it in, yet if you do, the benefit of that 42 miles of EV range when needed is clear. #3 is the extra power. The ICE version of this car has under 200hp. The hybrid version has 219hp. The PHEV has 302hp. That extra 80hp makes for a much more fun ride, higher towing capacity, easier merging on highways, and all at zero cost in mpg. In 50 years of driving I've never owned a car that I didn't think would benefit from more power under the hood. This one is no exception. Ymmv.

 

 

Does 2025 Rav4 fix the door panel water issue?

 

Is that why I have dirty eh does every time u wash car and roll them down then up in the same day?

 

Not sure but it’s a quick fix if not.

 

Probably not, but it is easy to check the drain holes: open the doors, lay on the ground, and look up.

 

I purchased a 2024 RAV4 Limited and am extremely happy with it. I suggest you do not buy a hybrid no matter what people say. Never get a CVT transmission, nothing but trouble. I would go look at all the different trim levels and pick the one you like.

 

You are 100% wrong. Hybrid does not have CVT transmission. Hybrid also does not have belts, starter, alternator etc.... so it is much more reliable.

 

Please watch this video from a Toyota mechanic about the Toyota hybrid cars.

 

He is right but....not always.
1st part.
I make a lot of trips on gas only. At least one every 3 months. Already made 3 long distance trips this year. On top of that I made a few short trips in hybrid mode because my EV mode range did not cover it.
On the other hand. If you you go to the store and only drive a few miles it is more detrimental to your engine than anything because your engine doesn't get a chance to get to the operating temperature. AMD covers it too.
Plus this video is OLD. So AMD is completely WRONG. What he did not know when that Toyota programmed in to car's computer to detect stale fuel and it will turn the engine on automatically.

2nd part.
Toyota programmed to change batteries to 90% so there is nothing wrong to fully charged the battery. You can verify it by OBDII. The same applies to the Hybrid. It is never charged to 100% and it never discharged to zero.

3rd part.
If I drive long distance I will always drive in HV. I only drive in EV on freeway for a short distance. EV mode is absolutely not efficient at high speeds.

4th part.
I just recently looked at my EV filter. It was absolutely clean.

5th part.
I have changed oil on my cars 10K miles or 1 year whatever comes first for many decades. Nothing ever happened. So AMD is full of shit. Just use good oil.

6th part.
My car is 2023. By this time all of the glitches with the heating pump are solved. That is why I do not believe in fearmongering.
7th part. Tires.
Low resistance tire don't cost any more than the regular tires.
8th part.
My Prime has a battery underneath but there are 2 layers of metal shielding under it with about 3/8- 1/2 inches of space. Hardened metal. And then there is a pretty thick plastic shield. So it is very well protected.

I have no problems seeing how my car is built.

AMD makes a lot of videos to make money.

 

There have been myriads of discussions about this but conclusion is that Hybrid is still better and Toyota will convert all of their vehicles to Hybrid.
Yes, it cost more but you get better mpg that eventually even out.
Hybrids don't depreciate faster since there is much higher demand for Hybrids.
And in your car alternator, starter, belts would need to be replaced eventually too and there is a very good chance that you will need transmission work faster than the Hybrid needs a new battery. eCVT has only 1 planetary gear that is always engaged. No gear switching. And eCVT is much simpler than the regular 8 speed transmission. Toyota introduced 8 speed transmission in 2017. But eCVT was introduced in Prius in 2004. That is 13 years earlier. That is why eCVT is basically bulletproof.

The power cable only affect people who live in the salt belt. And even then there are remedies.
Taxi drivers can attest of Hybrid longevity because a lot of them drive Priuses.
And next year there will not be non-Hybrid RAV4s.

But there are even more things. Hybrid engine works less being on Atkinson cycle because it is being supplemented by electric motor. That means longevity. And most Hybrids have AWD because there is electric motor in the back. Do you know what it takes to make a regular car AWD? Your car has 203 HP, Hybrid 2019 HP and new 2026 even more depending on the model. Plus with electric torque Hybrid takes off easier.
Basically benefits of the Hybrid outweigh the negatives and that is why majority want Hybrids and that is why Toyota is converting to all Hybrids.

 

My wife wants to buy a small SUV and RAV4 comes to my mind.
But it gets so many trims and I have no idea which one to buy.

Can someone give me some general idea where to start?
Personally, I prefer to buy non-hybrid to avoid possible issue down the road. The gas saving from hybrid may not cover the premium I will pay for it.

Thank you

I strongly recommend the Hybrid. The savings in fuel will cover the initial $1,500 extra cost after about 40,000 miles. The Hybrid's transaxle is far less complicated than the 8 speed automatic in the ICE version. But as for which trim to buy? There are a couple of specific choices you need to be aware of that will likely influence which trim you choose:
1. If you don't want a moonroof, you are restricted to the LE or XLE. All of the higher trims have the glass roof as standard. You need to be aware that the moonroof in the Rav4 reduces headroom in the front seats by about 2-1/2 to 3 inches. If you are taller than about 5'-11", it's likely that your head will touch the rim of the moonroof unless you lean the seat way back, and then you might not be able to reach the steering wheel comfortably.
2. Seat upholstery: the LE and XLE have fabric seats. To get Softex (vinyl) seats, you have to upgrade to the Limited.
3. Smart Key door handles: The LE doesn't have this even on the front doors. The XLE with Premium package and the Limited has it on the front doors only, the Limited with Premium Package has it on all 4 doors and the rear hatch.
4. Rear hatch: The LE has gas struts, the higher trims have electric motor struts. I prefer the gas struts because when they wear out, the replacements cost about 1/10 what the motor struts cost.
5. Blind Spot Monitoring: To get this on the LE, you have to buy the Premium package, it's standard on all of the higher trims. Making it an extra cost option on the LE is BS, Toyota! Blind Spot Monitoring should be part of TSS and standard on every car you sell!
6. AWD: Standard on all trims on the Hybrids.
7. Traction battery: On the LE and XLE, it's Nickel Metal Hydride. On the Limited, it's Lithium Ion. If you plan to keep this car for 200,000+ miles, the NIMH battery will probably cost less to replace than the Lithium battery, so long term cost of ownership is less in the LE and XLE than it would be in the Limited.
8. Powertrain output (all trims): 2.5 liter gas engine = 176 hp @ 5,300 rpm, 163 pd.ft. of torque between 3,600 and 5,300 rpm; MG2 motor (front axle) =118 hp, 149 pd-ft torque. MGR (rear axle) = 54 hp, 89 lb.ft. torque. Maximum total power output is 219 hp if the traction battery is fully charged, As the battery depletes, this will fall to 176 hp (what the gas engine can output), and also, it should be noted that the MGR rear axle motor is not designed for continuous operation; this is an "on-demand" AWD system. The typical behavior of the Rav4 Hybrid and PHEV's rear axle is that when you pull away from a dead stop, accelerating "normally" (meaning not "aggessively"), the rear axle motor delivers power up to about 15~19 mph. When you accelerate past 19 mph, the rear axle switches off and the car is front wheel drive after that, until you come to a downgrade, or a stop, and the MGR switches back on to contribute to the regen braking system. Overall fuel economy in the Rav4 Hybrid is 39 highway/41 city, but some owners have reported 45 mpg when driving on flat terrain at 45 mph, like when you are on a sunday morning drive just to go sightseeing and you are not in a hurry to get anywhere. I've made many road trips of 500~600 miles in my 2023 Rav4 Prime and I consistantly get 44mpg at my normal 55 mph cruise speed.

 

XSE also has Softex.
XSE also has Premium package available.

 

get the one YOU want. everyone here has their own opinion not whats best for YOU

 

whatever you buy make sure it has TSS3.0 or better. it's amazing vs earlier versions