I do not ever recommend buying the first 2 years of a new generation of vehicle or a new model of vehicle. There will be more issues with them, usually as there was a for the 2019-2021 Rav4.

2026 model year will be all hybrid only

For this reason alone, I would buy the 2025 gas model if you live in an area with snow and the use of salt or brine on the snowy/icy roads due to the cablegate issue (hybrid high voltage cable connector to rear electric motor). There was a bandaid fix around 2023 but will only prolong the expensive repair after your 8 year warranty expires.

If you do not live in an area with snow/ice, then buy the Hybrid If you do a lot of city driving. My family had 3 gas versions (XLE, Limited).

On canadian version, the Limited and XLE PREMIUM have Softex seat which I recommend for ease of cleaning if that is important to you.

I think the XLE adds a lot of value for the added cost over the LE (at least in the Canadian market, not sure of other markets)

 

Even in the salt areas I would still buy a hybrid. I used to live in Cleveland where roads are heavily salted. So we used rustproofing under the car. No big deal. Since I know about the cablegate I would just apply a dielectric grease or something on the connector and be done with it. Even if 2026 has a fix I would still do it as a prevention.

 

I have to categorically disagree. We have been owning and driving Toyota hybrids since 2004. We had a 2014 Toyota Prius that we drove for 10 years. When I sold it, we got back 40% of what we paid for it. During those years, it needed 4 sets of tires and regular fluid exchanges. There were never any mechanical problems whatsoever.
We currently own a 2021 RAV4 XLE and a 2024 Prius Prime XSE and we couldn’t be happier.

 

Since I don’t know you it’s hard to recommend which one. what’s important to one person isn’t to another. I like the hybrid, it’s good on gas and is more zippy. I also like my creature comforts so would go with the Limited or XSE The interiors are nicer, less hard plastic, ventilated seats, front camera. The lower models are more utilitarian. So it’s what is important to you.

 

If you don’t want a hybrid, perhaps go for the Mazda 3 or say a Subaru Cross-Trek. But really, just go for what you and your wife like.

In saying that the 2026 Toyota Rav4 will be a significant step up.

I‘ll be ordering the Toyota Rigged RAV4 as soon as orders will be taken.

 

I love heated seats and steering wheel (which is actually only the sides of the steering wheel). I live in Colorado and frequently it is below zero when I leave for work before 7am so the heated seats are great. There is NO navigation system unless you plug in your phone which I do not like so I purchased a carplay adaptor. I also put in a garmin front camera only and door sills. I do like the power lift rear gate. I have a gas 2022 XLE. No garage so never would get an EV. Hybrid too pricey for me. My first Toyota~ it's nothing fancy/ just a car.

 

I got a 22 Prime SE last December so I got to drive it a bit in snow before it warmed up here in CT. Despite cablegate, I wouldn't trade it for anything but another plug-in hybrid. Having 300hp and getting 38mpg is marvelous even if I never plugged it in (which I do every night, and most days I use zero gas, and even without solar panels on the house, which we have, EV miles cost half as much as gas miles). I will one day upgrade to a Gen 6, but I'm in no hurry since my 22 has only 30k on it.

 

I got a 22 Prime SE last December so I got to drive it a bit in snow before it warmed up here in CT. Despite cablegate, I wouldn't trade it for anything but another plug-in hybrid. Having 300hp and getting 38mpg is marvelous even if I never plugged it in (which I do every night, and most days I use zero gas, and even without solar panels on the house, which we have, EV miles cost half as much as gas miles). I will one day upgrade to a Gen 6, but I'm in no hurry since my 22 has only 30k on it.

Do you need a special charging unit or use household plug

 

I use the charging cable that came with the car, plugged into an outdoor 120V GFI outlet. Charges from zero to 42 miles in about 12 hours.

 

Sorry, tried to edit and created multiple posts instead -

 

I have the 2023 plug-in hybrid XSE Premium with (almost) all the trimmings and I love this car. The top of the line electronics are a safety banquet - sensors and cameras allow you to see behind, wide angle, and (best thing ever!) you can call up an overhead view that shows exactly where the car is relative to parking spaces, obstructions, nearby cats, etc. if you have the back all filled up with camping supplies or whatever, the rear view mirror has its own camera mounted in the rear window, so you switch to camera view and see everything!

and as for the gas savings - are you aware how much gas they save? The regular hybrid gets over 40 miles to the gallon, and the plug-in also gets 40 miles on pure electricity every time you charge it. I plug it in to a regular 120 volt outlet overnight. In my suburban environment, I “fill ‘er up” with about 8 gallons of gas every few months. The rest is all electric for most of the miles I drive. And it’s quiet (when on electric) and has a LOT of oomph.

If I was doing frequent long distance drives the plug in hybrid might not be as great a deal, since the extra batteries for the plugin version reduce gas mileage slightly when you are burning gas. But if your driving is mostly local it’s a delight not to worry about gas prices! Haven’t been able to detect any significant increase in our electric bill, by the way.

 

The PHEV gets 38mpg even if you never plug it in, only 2mpg less than the HEV, and in return you get 80hp more (in addition to the 42 miles of pure EV running per day). Well worth the difference imho.

 

The 2026 will only come in hybrid.. a replacement battery cost 5k grand now in ten years what do you think it will cost.. ? I would go with 2025 xle.. get the 4x4.. 4cylinder 2.5 8speex automatic .upgrade the 0-w16 oil to 0-w20 only loose 2mpg.. but extra lubrication ..

 

Are you saying there won't be a 2026 PHEV? Just a HEV? If that's true then I'll never replace my 22 R4P.

 

No gas/battery only.. no just gas..

 

Thank you to everyone who helped me choose the right model.
I'm excited to share that I've officially reserved the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid XLE.
Appreciate all your support!

 

If you can, request a Japan built car, J Vin.

 

Congrats you will love it.. change your engine oil at 900 miles to get new tiny metal manufacturing chips out of engine.. there will be some.. I did my again at 3000 miles to make sure.. again congrats..

 

Hello all,

Based on the VIN, the Toyota website indicates an estimated delivery date in early October 2025. How accurate is this disclaimer?

Thank you

 

I have a RAV4 2025 hybrid LXE on order with a delivery date stated by projected by the dealer to be September 12. Unlike an order from Amazon or even eBay, I’ve developed the understanding that car dealers and manufacturers have not developed or provided access to tracking to the customer. I assume that my RAV4 is headed over from Kentucky, where most of the RAV4 hybrids are manufactured these days I guess that leaves me somewhat optimistic that I’ll actually have a new car somewhere around September 12. At least in theory my new car is not in the Pacific somewhere on a ro-ro ship headed to the West Coast.

 

Fairly accurate. But why not ask your dealer. The factory gives dealers the exact tracking of inbound vehicles.

 

The VIN number tells where the vehicle was made:

J = Japan
4 = Kentucky
2 = Canada

The temp VIN is available to the dealer a month or so before production. The final VIN, before shipping, is available when the vehicle is produced.

Edit: Toyota also gives the dealer a PDF copy of the window sticker when the car is produced. The dealer can use that on their sales web site to advertise "incoming vehicles". My dealer gave me a copy of that PDF file a month before it arrived.

 

So I’m assuming that the first letter or number on the 10 digit VIN is place of construction. No need to respond if that is correct.

 

Unfortunately, the salesman knows very little about the car and emails were returned through AI.

Thank you

 

There's an inexpensive plug and play module you can get to disable the stop-start thing. It automagicly simulates a push of the switch when you start the car. For Ravs anyway and other cars I assume also.