Key Takeaways
The Toyota RAV4 was America’s best-selling SUV last year, with more than 430,000 units sold. This year, the automaker expects to sell 500,000, highlighting its unbeatable combination of value for money, reliability and (in the case of the hybrid) great fuel economy. But with an update on the way, is Toyota risking messing with its cash cow?
Andrew Gilleland, head of Toyota’s North American automotive operations, told Automotive News that the RAV4 reflects market demand. Gilleland said the RAV4 “is a reminder that the industry is at that stage right now, in that what people want is a small SUV that’s fuel-efficient. It’s interesting that over the last decade the RAV4 has given way to the Camry in terms of total sales, but it was just about bringing the right product to market at the right time.”
Base suggested retail price $43,690
engine 2.5L inline 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid
horsepower 302 horsepower
Fuel economy to be decided
Base suggested retail price $28,675
engine 2.5L inline 4-cylinder gasoline
horsepower 203 horsepower
Fuel economy 27/35/30 mpg (FWD) | 27/34/30 mpg (LE AWD)
The RAV4 has become the new Camry
The Camry is a big seller, but it’s not as popular as the RAV4. The four-door sedan remains the best-selling vehicle outside of SUVs and trucks in the U.S., with more than 290,000 delivered to customers last year. The introduction of a new hybrid-only generation should help boost sales. It remains to be seen whether the next-generation RAV4 will follow suit, but Toyota doesn’t want to mess with the perfect recipe.
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Cooper Eriksen, Toyota’s head of product planning, said the company wants to give customers more of what they want. “We have other tough product areas, but customers have told us exactly what they want from a RAV4: size, packaging, performance level, technology. If we could build it, we’d sell 500,000 a year, so we don’t want to mess with that formula,” Eriksen said.
Hybrid and PHEV cars are very popular
It’s possible that Toyota will hit its 500,000 sales goal. So far, RAV4 sales have increased 33% in the second half of 2024, with a total of 248,295 units sold. Surprisingly, of these, 111,526 are hybrids and 17,074 are Prime PHEVs. This highlights the popularity of electrified Toyotas (and crossovers in general). It remains to be seen if the RAV4 will become hybrid-only, but it would make sense, especially if Toyota can get the pricing right.
Related
Here’s how much a fully loaded Toyota RAV4 Prime costs, and what you’ll get for your money.
When will we see an updated RAV4?
There’s no word yet on whether the RAV4 will be updated next year, but if it is, fans of the crossover shouldn’t worry about drastic changes. Eriksen added that Toyota “doesn’t want to mess with the formula,” but will reduce emissions, modernize the vehicle and “keep an eye on our competitors to make sure they’re making the right product improvements.”
The RAV4 is very important to Toyota, and even more so to Toyota dealers. Mark Montenero, chairman of Toyota’s National Dealer Advisory Council, said the RAV4 attracts a wide variety of customers and is a cornerstone of Toyota dealerships.
Source: Automotive News
