Used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid cars for sale

Used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid pros and cons

+ Spacious cabin

+ Exclusively hybrid engines

+ Comfortable driving experience

- Interior feels cheap in places

- Noisy gearbox

- Poor smartphone connection on early examples

Is a used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid a good car?

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid arguably created the lifestyle SUV sector when it was introduced in the 90s. The past three decades have seen it evolve into a handsome, solely hybridised 4x4 that offers low running costs and good value for money.

The latest model has chunky, imposing styling that makes it stand out from the crowd. There are no soft edges, with sharp lines and acute angles dominating the exterior. Inside you’ll find a less daring design, but this simplicity makes it easy to use thanks to an intuitive layout. There are some cheap materials if you look hard enough, but overall it’s a quality place to be.

At 580 litres the boot is practical but not class-leading, beaten by the Hyundai Tucson and Citroen C5 Aircross, though Toyota deliberately designed the seats down space to be capable of swallowing a bicycle with both wheels on.

Most used models will use Toyota’s self-charging hybrid powertrains, which are available with front- and four-wheel drive, promising around 50mpg. A plug-in hybrid came in 2021, so will be more expensive but promises much lower running costs. Its official fuel economy figure is 282mpg and the electric-only range is an impressive 50 miles.

What to look for when buying a second hand Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Toyota has an excellent reliability record, which gives extra peace of mind when buying one of its used models. There’s also a long warranty. It’s only three years of standard, but each year the car is serviced at an approved dealer adds an extra year to the warranty, up to 10 years. Hybrids also have a 15-year battery warranty.

An important thing to note is that cars built around 2019 and 2020 did not come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, as it did on later models. If your car doesn’t have it, Toyota can fit it for £150.

Other than this it’s the usual checks for a family car, such as looking round the interior for stained upholstery or damaged trim. Also give the exterior a good look for dents and dings that often appear on cars used in urban areas. Although not a proper off-roader, if there are signs the car has been used off the beaten track, such as mud in the wheel arches, it could be worth getting low to check for underbody damage.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid FAQs

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