Quick Facts
- Original starting price: $27,425 (including a $1,175 destination fee)
- Class: Compact SUV
- Competitors: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson
- KBB.com Fair Purchase Price
Introduction
According to 2021 sales data, the Toyota RAV4 was the most popular vehicle in America that wasn’t a full-size pickup truck, a status that has continued in the intervening years. Its main rival, the Honda CR-V, was right behind it, with several other competitors not far behind, making the compact SUV one of the most popular and contested vehicle segments. Also, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 won Kelley Blue Book’s Compact SUV Best Buy award and was our editors’ top choice for Best Compact SUVs for 2021.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 employed a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and available all-wheel drive (AWD) running through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Despite having one of the largest engines in its class, the RAV4 remained near the top in fuel economy. The base 203-horsepower inline-4 with FWD achieved 27 city/35 highway/30 combined mpg. Opting for AWD knocked only a mile per gallon off the combined efficiency.
Toyota sold three versions of the RAV4 in 2021: a conventional gas-only model (ICE), a hybrid (HEV), and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The RAV4 came in four trims with FWD: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, and Limited. You could option those trims with AWD; two additional trims, the Adventure and TRD Off-Road, were equipped with AWD only. The Hybrid came in five AWD-only trims: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, XSE, and Limited, while the AWD RAV4 Prime came in SE and XSE trims. The price differences break down like this: Upgrading to AWD on the gas-only RAV4 costs $1,400. Add another $1,150 to upgrade from gas-only to hybrid. At $39,425, the RAV4 Prime SE starts at $920 above the top-of-the-line RAV4 Hybrid Limited – $12,000 above the base RAV4 LE FWD.
Toyota introduced the RAV4 Prime PHEV in 2021, and it was an immediate smash, reportedly selling above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) due to high demand. Ford and Hyundai sold similar lineups of the Escape and Tucson. Honda added a hybrid version of the CR-V to the lineup in 2020 but does not offer a PHEV. Other strong compact SUVs lacking hybrid variations to consider are the Chevrolet Equinox, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, and Subaru Forester. We review the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions separately.
Toyota CPO Warranty Program Highlights
- Limited Warranty: 12 months/12,000 miles from purchase
- Powertrain Warranty: Seven years/100,000 miles from the original in-service date
- Roadside Assistance: Concurrent with the powertrain warranty
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Toyota
Key Competitors
KBB Review Highlights
Our reviewer gave good marks to the powertrain, which moved well through the rev range. Shoppers looking to take their compact SUVs off-road should consider the Adventure trim, with torque-vectoring AWD and an upgraded skid plate, or the TRD Off-Road, which upholds the TRD line’s rugged reputation with all-terrain tires and a specifically tuned off-road suspension.
On the inside, our reviewer complimented the quality of the ride, interior furnishings, and roominess. Although no trim level came with genuine leather, Toyota’s SynTex upholstery was on most trims. Toyota equipped the RAV4 with standard Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration, satellite radio, a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen, and an optional 11-speaker JBL audio system. However, our reviewer noted some road chatter infiltrating the cabin.
Toyota built the 2021 RAV4 with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver aids, which included frontal collision prevention, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more.
If you’re shopping for a certified pre-owned 2021 Toyota RAV4, expect to pay a premium for all of its high marks. The RAV4 was more expensive when new than competitors, and Toyota holds its resale value better than average. However, Toyota maintains the build quality and reliability it’s established over the years.
See Kelley Blue Book’s Expert Review of the 2021 Toyota RAV4
If you’re ready to shop, see certified pre-owned 2021 Toyota RAV4 models
Related reading:
2024 Toyota RAV4 Expert Review
2023 Toyota RAV4 Expert Review
2022 Toyota RAV4 Expert Review
