Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE: 5-year cost to own in the U.S.
As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years (U.S. average, 12,000 mi/yr), the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE stays the cheaper car to own — about $39,148 vs $47,821 for the Toyota bZ XLE (electric), a $8,673 difference over 5 years. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsToyota RAV4 Hybrid LE · $39,148 total · $8,673 less than the Toyota bZ XLE (electric)
Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Toyota bZ XLE | Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $19,195 (40%) | $11,165 (29%) |
| Charging / fuel | $4,217 (9%) | $5,368 (14%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$506) | — |
| Maintenance | $3,660 (8%) | $4,680 (12%) |
| Insurance | $13,750 (29%) | $11,500 (29%) |
| Financing interest | $5,999 (13%) | $5,435 (14%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (2%) | $1,000 (3%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $47,821 | $39,148 |
The charging-loss row is the ~10–15% of electricity lost to AC charging that you pay for but never reaches the battery — we include it; most calculators don't.
When does the Toyota bZ XLE (electric) win?
Even at 30,000+ mi/yr or a 15-year hold, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE stays cheaper here — its lower price and slower depreciation dominate. The Toyota bZ XLE (electric) is the pick mainly for reasons beyond 5-year cost (performance, emissions, HOV access, home-charging convenience).
No sugar-coating it — the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE is decisively cheaper: $8,673 over 5 years, about 22% of its total. At default assumptions this one isn't close.
What decides the Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE verdict
The single biggest mover is depreciation: $19,195 on the Toyota bZ XLE (electric) against $11,165 on the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE, an $8,030 gap in the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE's favor — the largest slice of the $8,673 verdict. On the Toyota bZ XLE (electric), depreciation alone is 40% of its $47,821 total; on the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE it is 29% of $39,148.
- Insurance: Toyota bZ XLE (electric) $13,750, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE $11,500 — $2,250 more in the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE's favor.
- Energy: $4,217 of charging for the Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs $5,368 of gas for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE — $1,151 the other way, to the Toyota bZ XLE (electric).
- Maintenance: Toyota bZ XLE (electric) $3,660, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE $4,680 — $1,020 the other way, to the Toyota bZ XLE (electric).
The Toyota bZ XLE (electric)'s best answer is energy — $1,151 back the other way — which covers 13% of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE's $8,673 lead. The Toyota bZ XLE (electric) starts $3,000 behind the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE at the dealer, and ownership widens it — the 5-year gap grows to $8,673. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE is ahead by $2,850 after the first year and more than doubles that lead — $8,673 by year 5.
Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE, side by side
Toyota bZ XLE (electric)
- 5-yr total cost
- $47,821
- Cost / month
- $797
- Cost / mile
- $0.80
- MSRP
- $34,900
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 25.8 kWh/100mi
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE
- 5-yr total cost
- $39,148
- Cost / month
- $652
- Cost / mile
- $0.65
- MSRP
- $31,900
- Powertrain
- Hybrid
- Efficiency
- 43 mpg
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
Toyota bZ XLE (electric) vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE by state
No state's electricity or gas prices flip this verdict at default assumptions — the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE is the cheaper car in all 51 states we track.