The RAV4 Can’t Keep Up With Toyota’s High-Rolling 250K+ Mile Models

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Toyota, a brand known for its longevity, has a surprise in its lineup. One of its top-selling models, the RAV4, which you might not expect, does not make the top 30 longest-lasting vehicles list. Check out these surprise findings here. 

Which Toyota models last the longest?

I recently reported on the most reliable car brands, and it's not a surprise that Toyota makes the most dependable vehicles. Check out my complete report here. How do Toyota's models rank in longevity? Which vehicles are the most likely to go 250,000 miles and beyond? 

A recent report from iSeeCars revealed that the Toyota models are the longest-lasting. First, I'll cover the ten longest-lasting Toyota models; then, I'll reveal a top-selling Toyota model that failed to make the list. 

iSeeCars says, "The latest iSeeCars.com study has identified the 30 longest-lasting models – all with a much higher chance of reaching the quarter-million milestone. The highest-ranked vehicles, Toyota's Tundra and Sequoia, are four times more likely to reach a quarter-million miles, while the Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Highlander Hybrid, and Honda Ridgeline are three times more likely to reach 250,000 miles compared to the average vehicle." 

Here are the top 10 vehicles and their percent chance of lasting 250,000 miles and beyond. 

  1. Toyota Tundra - 36.6%
  2. Toyota Sequoia - 36.4%
  3. Toyota 4Runner - 26.8%
  4. Toyota Tacoma - 26.7%
  5. Toyota Highlander Hybrid - 25.9%
  6. Honda Ridgeline - 25.8%
  7. Chevrolet Suburban - 22.0%
  8. Toyota Avalon - 22.0%
  9. Lexus GX -20.7%
  10. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 -18.8%

Impressive.

As you can see, Toyota has a strongest presence in the top 10 models, with 6 of them being Toyota models and one being a Lexus model. Toyota or Lexus models make up 70% of the top ten longest-lasting vehicles. That's impressive. 

Additionally, Toyota has three more models in the top 30 longest-lasting rankings, bringing the total to ten Toyota or Lexus models in the top 30, one-third of all the vehicles. That's also impressive. 

Where is the Toyota RAV4?

Surprisingly, Toyota's most popular SUV, the RAV4 compact SUV, does not make the top 30 longest-lasting vehicles list, a fact that surprised me. 

Toyota's RAV4 is the top-selling non-pickup model in the U.S., with sales growing 33 percent in the first quarter of 2024. The RAV4 is in the most competitive compact SUV segment and is a perennial favorite. However, the RAV4 is far down the list in longevity. 

Where does the Toyota RAV4 rank in longevity?

iSeeCars says the Toyota RAV4 has a 9.6% chance of lasting 250,000 miles and beyond. The compact SUV is far below all other Toyota nameplates, averaging 17%. 

Where does Toyota rank among all automakers for longevity? Here are the top seven automakers and their percentage to last 250,00+ miles compared to the average car. The overall average of all cars is 8.6%.

  1. Toyota 17% (2.0x)
  2. Honda 13.6% (1.6x)
  3. Ram 11.5% (1.3x)
  4. GMC 11.4% (1.3x)
  5. Chevrolet 10.5% (1.2x)
  6. Lexus 9.7% (1.1x)
  7. Ford 9.5% (1.1x)

It's even more impressive that Toyota ranks number one when you consider the diverse lineup of vehicles Toyota makes. 

iSeeCars says, "Top-ranked Toyota and Honda earn their spots with a full line of cars, trucks, and SUVs, while brands like Ram and GMC focus on trucks and utility vehicles."

I also covered which Toyota models are the most reliable. Here is the data. Check out my report here. 

In iSeeCars, the most reliable car brands, it's not surprising that Toyota makes the most dependable vehicles. Check out my complete report here. However, not all Toyota models in its lineup get the highest reliability marks. The Toyota RAV4 is the eighth-best Toyota model for reliability, and the RAV4 Hybrid is near the bottom of the list. 

Here are Toyota's reliability ratings for the 2024 model year and their reliability score.

  • Toyota Camry - 8.9 / 10
  • Toyota Highlander - 8.9 / 10
  • Toyota Venza (hybrid) - 8.9 / 10
  • Toyota Prius (hatchback) - 8.9 / 10
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid - 8.9 / 10
  • Toyota Prius c - 8.7 / 10
  • Toyota Sienna - 8.7 / 10
  • Toyota RAV4 - 8.5 / 10
  • Toyota Corolla - 8.5 / 10
  • Toyota Yaris - 8.5 / 10

Here are the two least reliable Toyota models according to the iSeeCars analysis.

  • Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - 6.2 / 10
  • Toyota Prius Prime - 5.7 / 10

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid again is a surprise to be the next to lowest in reliability performance. 

Here are key facts about the Toyota RAV4.

  • Average Lifespan (years): 12.9
  • Average Lifespan (miles): 165,654 miles
  • Typical Miles Driven per Year: 11,146 miles
  • Probability of Reaching 250K Miles: 9.6%

Here are key facts about the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

  • Average Lifespan (years): 12.3
  • Average Lifespan (miles): 149,131 miles
  • Typical Miles Driven per Year: 10,349 miles
  • Probability of Reaching 200K Miles: 18.4%

How do Toyota RAV4 sales compare with the competition in sales performance?

The Toyota RAV4 is the top-selling small SUV in America, a position it has firmly held and won't be giving up. Here are the top 10 selling compact SUVs, with the RAV4 leading the pack in 2024 year-to-date sales volume. 

  1. Toyota RAV4 350,331
  2. Honda CR-V 298,164
  3. Nissan Rogue 189,156
  4. Chevrolet Trax 149,761
  5. Hyundai Tucson 145,947
  6. Chevrolet Equinox 143,524
  7. Subaru Crosstrek 131,847
  8. Subaru Forester 130,098
  9. Ford Escape 120,948
  10. Kia Sportage 118,758

The RAV4 is not slowing down. The compact SUV has increased 15.69 percent over 2023 model year sales. 

Despite its lower top mileage and reliability rankings compared with other Toyota models, the RAV4 is a top choice among small SUV shoppers. It's not slowing down and will hold the compact SUV sales title again in 2024. 

We want to hear from you. 

Do you own a Toyota RAV4 or RAV4 Hybrid? We want to hear about your experiences. Share your RAV4's mileage and reliability by clicking the red Add New Comment link below.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Gold Coast Toyota