Volume Booster: Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid Gets a Price Haircut

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Even though it represents a small slice of the model’s overall volume, Toyota owes a lot to the hybrid version of its top-selling RAV4 compact crossover. Without it, the RAV4 wouldn’t actually be the United States’ top-selling compact crossover.

Through the end of September, Toyota sold 36,352 hybrid variants, pushing the RAV4 nameplate ahead of the Nissan Rogue/Rogue Sport family. Sales of the hybrid model are up 10 percent this year. Realizing it has a good thing on its hands, Toyota seems eager to get more RAV4 Hybrids into the hands of green-car shoppers looking for more room to go with their fuel economy.

The automaker is now planning a new entry-level trim for the 2018 RAV4 Hybrid.

According to a dealer bulletin obtained by CarsDirect, Toyota is adding an LE trim to the RAV4 Hybrid, bolstering a lineup that, as of now, only starts at XLE. SE and Limited hybrid trims are also available. By deleting some content, the entry price of the RAV4 Hybrid drops $1,895, placing the LE at $28,130 including destination.

If you’re keeping track, this means the hybrid LE adds just $1,325 to the price of an all-wheel-drive, gas-powered LE (using 2017 pricing). While the stock RAV4 makes do with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic, the hybrid variant ditches that powertrain for an Atkinson Cycle engine and continuously variable automatic, coupled to two electric motors. This combination promises 34 miles per gallon in the city, and 32 mpg combined.

Despite falling below the XLE, Toyota’s newest hybrid RAV4 won’t be a stripper. Standard features include heated exterior mirrors, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, three driving modes, and the company’s Smart Key System.

As we saw with the RAV4 Adventure, a slightly butched-up crossover inserted into the lineup for 2018, Toyota’s on an all-out quest to squeeze as many sales from its RAV4 as possible. That goal also means price cuts nearly across the board. In early summer of this year, Toyota shaved $500 from the MSRP of a gasoline LE, $1,350 from the XLE, $1,195 from the SE, and $995 from the Limited. At the same time, Nissan was adding standard content to its Rogue lineup.

Some 352,154 RAV4s found new homes in 2016, making it the model’s best U.S. sales year ever. So far this year, it’s on track to beat last year’s tally. The RAV4 saw a boffo summer in the United States, with July sales up 31 percent, year-over-year, and August and September tallies rising 30 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

[Image: Toyota]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • El scotto El scotto on Oct 31, 2017

    What happened to the gentleman who used to post Manheim/ADESA prices? What they sell for is what they're worth.

    • NormSV650 NormSV650 on Nov 01, 2017

      Unless you have a license you are not buying at auction unless you have a friend or during an open house. So those prices are moot.

  • Knp447 Knp447 on Oct 31, 2017

    I own a 2016 Rav4 Hybrid XLE. I bought it new. I hope the navigation and screen interaction and applications have been upgraded. The speakers are not that great either. I personally average about 25 mpg because the distance I drive to work does not really charge or engage the electric battery. I just leased a new Challenger. The price for the Challenger is less and the extras and speakers are much better. I realize they are 2 different styles of automobiles,but I did not realize how much was missing in my Rav.The Challenger has heated seats and heated steering wheel. My Rav4 is still a bit stiff on turns but it rides well.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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