Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) price & real 5-year cost in the U.S.
The Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) starts at $30,000. As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years, owning one (gas car) costs about $41,092 in the U.S. — $685/month, $0.69/mile — including depreciation, fuel, maintenance, insurance, financing and fees. That's $318 less than a comparable Honda CR-V LX (gas) over the same 5 years.
Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) · U.S. average · 5-year estimate$41,092 total · $685/mo · $0.69/mi
Where the money goes
| Cost component | Gas · Toyota RAV4 LE | Gas · Honda CR-V LX |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $10,800 (26%) | $11,470 (28%) |
| Charging / fuel | $7,694 (19%) | $7,694 (19%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | — | — |
| Maintenance | $5,520 (13%) | $4,980 (12%) |
| Insurance | $11,000 (27%) | $11,000 (27%) |
| Financing interest | $5,078 (12%) | $5,266 (13%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (2%) | $1,000 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $41,092 | $41,410 |
Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) specs & assumptions
- Starting MSRP
- $30,000manufacturer base
- Powertrain
- Gas
- Efficiency
- 30 mpgEPA
- Gas (US avg)
- $3.85/galAAA
- Annual miles (assumed)
- 12,000adjustable in tool
Compare the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) against any car, your miles & your state
What else moves your Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) cost
The 5-year total already folds in depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and financing. These are the levers that actually move money on this car, biggest first — each figure re-run through the same kernel with one input changed. Levers that don't move $400+ here aren't listed.
- Insurance. On a car this cheap to buy, insurance is the quiet giant: $11,000 over 5 years, 27% of the whole total and more than the fuel bill. Quotes swing widely by driver and ZIP, so get your own before deciding.
- Financing. The total finances $27,000 of the $30,000 price at 7.0% over 60 months: $5,078 of pure interest, 12% of everything above. Paying cash or shopping the rate removes it outright — both are inputs in the calculator.
- Fuel price. The total runs on the U.S. average $3.85/gal. Add a dollar to the pump price and this car's 5-year total rises $2,000 to $43,092 — at 30 mpg and 12,000 mi/yr, fuel is the lever your own driving moves most.
- Efficiency. 30 mpg puts the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) above the 24 mpg median of the non-electric models we price — $1,924 less fuel over 5 years than a median car at the same pump price.
- Depreciation curve. We cost the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) on its own residual curve, not the gas car average: it holds 64% of its $30,000 after 5 years against 61% for a typical gas car. That is about $900 less depreciation than the class curve would give it — and depreciation is $10,800 of the $41,092 above (26%).
Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) cost anatomy — where the money concentrates
The Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) costs about $41,092 to own over 5 years in the U.S. — $685/month, $0.69/mi at 12,000 mi/yr — and insurance is the biggest line: $11,000, 27% of the total (as of August 6, 2026).
- Where the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)'s $41,092 actually goes: insurance $11,000 (27%), depreciation $10,800 (26%), gas $7,694 (19%), maintenance $5,520 (13%), financing interest $5,078 (12%), registration & fees $1,000 (2%).
- Per mile, that is $0.18 of depreciation and $0.13 of gas, with $0.38 for everything else — $0.69/mile all-in.
- Gas vs the fleet: the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)'s 5-year gas bill ($7,694) runs $1,539 below the $9,233 median of the 37 gas and hybrid models we price at the same rates.
What we assume for maintenance
Maintenance & repairs for the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) are costed at $0.092/mi (a model-specific rate below the gas car average) — about $1,104/yr at 12,000 mi/yr, and $5,520 of the 5-year total above. That's about $108/yr more than the $0.083/mi we cost for the gas Honda CR-V LX it is compared against above ($4,980 over 5 years) — no servicing saving here.
Rates are anchored to U.S. DOE 2025 per-mile figures (AAA-calibrated) — full sourcing in the methodology. The total scales with the annual-miles input in the calculator.
Recalls & reliability record — RAV4
Official U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety record for the RAV4, MY 2017–2025. Figures cover all powertrains and trims sold under the RAV4 nameplate for the model years shown. A recall means a free remedy is available at no cost. Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov), data as of .
Recalls (18)
- Seats
Dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary, free of charge.
- Back Over Prevention
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge.
- Electrical System
Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge.
- Service Brakes
Dealers will inspect and tighten the front brake caliper mounting bracket and hub bearing bolts, as necessary, free of charge.
- Air Bags
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge.
- Electrical System
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge.
- Tires
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheel valve stems and replace the load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge.
- Air Bags
Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall history: every RAV4 campaign → — all 18 campaigns, grouped by year.
Consumer complaints
NHTSA has 2,996 consumer complaints on file for the RAV4 (MY 2017–2025). The most-reported areas: Electrical System, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA.
Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) head-to-head comparisons
The 5-year cost gap against the cars buyers cross-shop:
- Tesla Model Y RWD vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Chevrolet Equinox EV LT vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Kia EV6 Wind vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Kia Niro EV Wind vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Subaru Solterra Premium vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
- Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — 5-year cost →
Where the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) numbers change most
Same car, same 5-year horizon, 51 different state rate sets: the total runs from $38,937 in Indiana to $43,678 in California — a $4,741 swing, 12% of its U.S.-average $41,092. Every 10¢/gal at the pump moves this car's total by about $200; state registration fees stack on top of that. Each link opens that state's cost table at the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) row.
Cheapest states for the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)
Most expensive states for the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)
- California $43,678
- Hawaii $43,626
- Washington $42,926
- Alaska $42,358
- Oregon $42,129
- Nevada $41,883
Does any state change the verdict? No. Against the Honda CR-V LX (gas) — the segment rival we price it against — the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) is cheaper in all 51 state rate sets, by $318 at the U.S. average. No state's mix of electricity, pump price and fees closes that gap, so there is no "it depends on where you live" story here.