The Toyota RAV4 has always been popular, so much so that if the Ford F-150 didn’t exist, it would top America’s sales charts. Last year, 479,288 new RAV4s found willing buyers, and with production of the 2026 model falling last year as Toyota retooled factories, demand is outstripping supply, and it’s creating a seller’s market. That’s not the only reason finding a good used RAV4, which is now only available as a hybrid, is difficult. Per a report from Bloomberg, the war in Iran’s impact on gas prices, averaging well above $4 per gallon, is making the efficient crossover so popular that many are selling well above original MSRP, despite significant mileage.
Dealers Can Ask Almost Any Price for a Used RAV4
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Those willing to be patient for a brand new RAV4 are being kept on waiting lists, and those who would rather opt for a used example are paying a premium, including one buyer who paid $32,000 in February for a 2024 model with 44,000 miles on the clock. Brandon Wingate from Albany, Georgia, spent just $6,735 less than his RAV4’s original sticker price and drove five hours across the state to test drive the vehicle. A small window crack brought the price down by just $500 from the original ad, and even that was a tough haggle. “There’s no negotiating anymore – you basically pay the asking price,” he said. “I’m just glad to have bought when we did because prices for the same vehicle are up anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000 since then.” He’s not exaggerating.
Related: Hybrids Are Now the Fastest Selling Cars In The U.S.
The report notes that CarMax recently advertised a 2024 RAV4 Hybrid XSE with 29,000 miles on the clock for $46,998 (up from an original sticker of $38,735), and a 2025 RAV4 Hybrid Limited with just 5,606 miles for $48,590, or over $6,000 more than the crossover cost when new. For the record, a 2026 Limited carries a suggested retail price of $43,300. Toyota currently has less than five days’ worth of new RAV4 hybrids on U.S. dealer floors, or three times fewer RAV4 hybrids than overall inventory.
Efficient Hybrids Are In Strong Demand
Kristen Brown/Autoblog
The RAV4 isn’t the only electrified vehicle commanding strong pricing on the used market. According to CarGurus, three versions of the 2025 Honda CR-V hybrid sell for at least 90 percent of their original window sticker, and all three 2024 trims retain 80 percent of their original asking price. The 2025 CR-V hybrid manages an EPA-estimated combined figure of 40 mpg on front-wheel drive models and 37 mpg on AWD models, while the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid returns 41 mpg on all trims but the Woodland Edition, which drops to 37 mpg. With gas prices staying high and buyers seeking not only efficiency to save a few dollars at the pumps but also reliability to save thousands more over the ensuing years of ownership, coupled with low inventory, vehicles like the RAV4 and CR-V are unlikely to lose value any time soon.
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