Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas): 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 LE (gas) stays the cheaper car to own — about $41,092 vs $55,512 for the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro, a $14,420 difference over 5 years. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsToyota RAV4 LE (gas) · $41,092 total · $14,420 less than the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Volkswagen ID.4 Pro | Gas · Toyota RAV4 LE |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $24,636 (44%) | $10,800 (26%) |
| Charging / fuel | $5,557 (10%) | $7,694 (19%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$667) | — |
| Maintenance | $3,660 (7%) | $5,520 (13%) |
| Insurance | $13,750 (25%) | $11,000 (27%) |
| Financing interest | $6,909 (12%) | $5,078 (12%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (2%) | $1,000 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $55,512 | $41,092 |
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 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro win?
Even at 30,000+ mi/yr or a 15-year hold, the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) stays cheaper here — its lower price and slower depreciation dominate. The Volkswagen ID.4 Pro is the pick mainly for reasons beyond 5-year cost (performance, emissions, HOV access, home-charging convenience).
No sugar-coating it — the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) is decisively cheaper: $14,420 over 5 years, about 35% of its total. At default assumptions this one isn't close.
What decides the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) verdict
The single biggest mover is depreciation: $24,636 on the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro against $10,800 on the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas), a $13,836 gap in the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)'s favor — the largest slice of the $14,420 verdict. On the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro, depreciation alone is 44% of its $55,512 total; on the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) it is 26% of $41,092.
- Insurance: Volkswagen ID.4 Pro $13,750, Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) $11,000 — $2,750 more in the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)'s favor.
- Energy: $5,557 of charging for the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs $7,694 of gas for the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) — $2,137 the other way, to the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro.
- Maintenance: Volkswagen ID.4 Pro $3,660, Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) $5,520 — $1,860 the other way, to the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro.
The Volkswagen ID.4 Pro's best answer is energy — $2,137 back the other way — which covers 15% of the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)'s $14,420 lead. The Volkswagen ID.4 Pro starts $9,735 behind the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) at the dealer, and ownership widens it — the 5-year gap grows to $14,420. The Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) is ahead by $5,613 after the first year and more than doubles that lead — $14,420 by year 5.
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas), side by side
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro
- 5-yr total cost
- $55,512
- Cost / month
- $925
- Cost / mile
- $0.93
- MSRP
- $39,735
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 34 kWh/100mi
Toyota RAV4 LE (gas)
- 5-yr total cost
- $41,092
- Cost / month
- $685
- Cost / mile
- $0.69
- MSRP
- $30,000
- Powertrain
- Gas
- Efficiency
- 30 mpg
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) by state
No state's electricity or gas prices flip this verdict at default assumptions — the Toyota RAV4 LE (gas) is the cheaper car in all 51 states we track.