2025 Toyota RAV4

Is the 2025 Toyota RAV4 a Good SUV?

"Let's be real: the current RAV4 is old. It debuted to great fanfare back in 2019, but a few things have happened since then, including the debuts of numerous newer rivals. Hop into the RAV4 and you'll feel that age in the smallish touchscreen that pokes up from the dash like someone left a tablet sitting there. And yet, the RAV4's enduring appeal is undeniable when you consider its generous interior space, impressive fuel economy and fair starting price, not to mention its stellar resale value. Keep scrolling if you're looking for the latest and greatest, but don't dismiss this Toyota just because it's getting on in years."—Ranked #3 out of 15 Compact SUVs

Which 2025 Toyota RAV4 Should I Buy?

MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Toyota RAV4 that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.

1. 2025 Toyota RAV4 2.5 Front-Wheel Drive

• Base Price: $28,850
• MPG Combined: 30
• Drive Type: Front-wheel drive
• Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 203 
• Torque: 184 lb⁠-⁠ft
• Weight: 3,370 lbs
• Length: 180.9 in
• Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs

The non-hybrid RAV4 is a best-seller for good reason: it's competent across the board, providing generous interior space and impressive fuel economy at a reasonable starting price. We'd stick with the front-drive version to save money up front and also save on gas — take some of those dollars and buy a nice set of snow tires if you're worried about the winter.

2. 2025 Toyota RAV4 2.5 All-Wheel Drive

• Base Price: $30,250
• MPG Combined: 30
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 203 
• Torque: 184 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 8.0 sec
• Weight: 3,490 lbs
• Length: 180.9 in
• Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs

The RAV4 AWD promises all-season peace of mind with minimal extra cost and hardly any fuel economy penalty, but we should mention a couple of details. First, the standard AWD system only comes online if traction to the front wheels is compromised, so your RAV4 AWD is essentially a front-drive RAV4 almost all the time. Second, the 30 mpg combined rating cited here is the best-case scenario that starts with the base RAV4 LE AWD; keep stepping up to fancier models and you'll see that number drop to 29 mpg or potentially lower.

3. 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD

• Base Price: $31,900
• MPG Combined: 39
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: CVT
• Horsepower: 219 
• Torque: N/A
• 0-60: 7.4 sec
• Weight: 3,690 lbs
• Length: 180.9 in
• Towing Capacity: 1,750 lbs

The RAV4 Hybrid is probably the RAV4 you want. The fuel economy is outstanding, all-wheel drive comes standard, and the RAV4 Hybrid is quicker than the non-hybrid, too. It's the best of all RAV4 worlds.

4. 2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid AWD

• Base Price: $43,865
• MPG Combined: 38
• EV Range: 42 mi
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 302 
• Torque: N/A
• 0-60: 5.6 sec
• Weight: 4,235 lbs
• Length: 180.9 in
• Towing Capacity: 2,500 lbs

The RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid is a fantastic vehicle for the right kind of shopper. Specifically, you have to be willing to pay a lot more than you would for a regular RAV4 in order to get the PHEV's impressive 42 miles of electric range and surprisingly sporty acceleration. On the other hand, you could look at the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid as a much more affordable version of the Lexus NX 450h+, which shares the RAV4 PHEV's powertrain.