Superior Quality at a Lower Cost: The Advantages of a Used Toyota RAV4

When the SUV boom took off in full force in the early 2000s, there were a few vehicles that had planted the seeds of what the modern subcompact crossover would become. The Isuzu Amigo, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape are among a few, but no other brand has been synonymous with innovation and change more than Toyota.

The introduction of the RAV4 in 1996 would set a standard for many manufacturers to follow and it has remained in production ever since as one of the most capable and sustainable SUVs in the industry. As a testament to this, the team here at Marietta Toyota provides essential services for those who are in the market for a quality vehicle at a lower cost. The following buyer’s guide is essential for anyone looking at a used Toyota RAV4—and finding your own should be easy, especially when you shop with your dedicated used Toyota dealer near Vinings!

Lower Upfront Costs

One of the best ways to get behind the wheel of a RAV4 for a low cost is by taking advantage of depreciation. This is where a vehicle’s resale value lowers a little bit each year. It happens to every vehicle, and the process begins when it’s first sold and continues a little bit each year. Some vehicles depreciate at a much quicker rate than others, and variables such as vehicle history and proper maintenance play a significant role.

One reason why many drivers have chosen Toyota as their ideal brand is because Toyota’s vehicles do an excellent job of retaining value over a lengthy period of time. In fact, the RAV4 maintains its value for a considerable length, and yet a used model can still be purchased for an agreeable price comparable to other used cars.

The most significant decrease in this vehicle’s sales value is at the four-year mark, where it retains 81% of its original MSRP; this lowers to 73% after seven years and doesn’t plummet to close to half for at least ten. This speaks to the level of sustainable quality that the RAV4 possesses and the fact that you can find one of exceptional quality at a lower-than-average cost.

Maintenance & Repairs

Whenever someone considers buying a vehicle, one of the first questions they usually ask is related to fuel economy. We’ll be focusing on this later on, but one item that we feel takes precedence over this subject relates to the maintenance and repairs that your purchase will require.

The price of fuel is unpredictable and tends to move up and down at random. The frequency and necessity of repairs will also vary depending on driving habits and what you use your vehicle for, but we’ll give you some ballpark figures that will assist you in gauging what you can expect to pay.

When it comes to repairs, you’ll be pleased to know that the RAV4 is the quintessential example of a vehicle that can go much further for less. In fact, the average annual repair costs stay below $500 for the first five years of ownership, remain below $900 for the first eight, and don’t eclipse the threshold of $1,000 for ten years. These statistics are far above the industry average by a margin of over $3,600.

Some of the repairs you can expect to have done while you own a RAV4 consist of rudimentary items such as oil changes and tire rotations, which should be done every 5,000 miles, and to have all belts, hoses, and connections checked every 10,000 miles. These repairs might be more frequent than some of the other vehicles in its class, but you would be hard-pressed to find a driver who doesn’t enjoy having a vehicle last well past the threshold of 100,000 miles on the road.

Fuel Economy

One of the hallmarks that Toyota has possessed throughout the years is a reputation for crafting vehicles with exceptional fuel economy. As we previously mentioned, the price of fuel is hard to tie down, as it fluctuates on a monthly basis. However, the EPA ratings for the RAV4 have always been favorable.

The averages that we saw showed most model years to have a combined 30 MPG, with this number being the result of an average of 25 MPG to 27 MPG in the city and 28 MPG to 33 MPG on the highway. Some of the factors that will impact fuel economy are how you drive, how much you drive, and if your drivetrain is FWD or AWD, as all-wheel drive directs more power to individual wheels, thereby expending more fuel per wheel in exchange for better traction.

Safety Tech

Toyota’s reputation for vehicles that possess impressive fuel economy and can last for several years is matched by its strong emphasis on safety. The driver assistance features that you find on your used RAV4 will certainly vary depending on which model year you choose, so to gauge safety on a wider scale, we went to a trustworthy source that’s completely objective in its findings…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides government-mandated oversight on how safe the vehicles sold in the United States are, in regards to driver assistance technology present and how well the vehicle will fare in a collision. The RAV4 has consistently received a five-star safety rating, which is just another factor that shows how trustworthy this model is, even when pre-owned.

The Toyota RAV4 is a great choice for many reasons, one of which is the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features. This suite helps provide oversight while driving and ensure peace of mind. For instance, the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection helps to avoid potential accidents by alerting to imminent issues and applying the brakes if you don’t react fast enough.

Additionally, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control adjusts your vehicle’s speed according to traffic patterns, ensuring a safe and manageable distance from other vehicles. Other essential features include Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Automatic High Beams, which come in handy when visibility is limited.

Favorable Over Time

We consulted another reputable source that evaluates consumer goods: Consumer Reports—ever a useful source of unbiased information—has praised the past decade’s worth of RAV4 iterations for being one of the best nameplates drivers can buy. Their review (alongside the other data we’ve presented regarding safety, fuel efficiency, and cost-effectiveness) proves the RAV4 to be one of the best choices as a used vehicle.

Get a Used RAV4 at Marietta Toyota

There are certainly a lot of advantages a used Toyota RAV4 has to offer. With its ability to last for thousands of miles at a lower cost, go much further for less money at the pump, and provide the genuine peace of mind that comes from high safety ratings, there’s no other used vehicle that delivers such a high level of quality for its price point.

If you’re looking for safe, efficient, affordable, quality used vehicles, you can always rely on Marietta Toyota. Not only do we have an extensive selection of new and used Toyota models—including the RAV4—but our knowledgeable sales team will gladly assist you in making the perfect choice for your next vehicle.