With gas prices soaring, it’s the late 2000s all over again with people starting to buy more economical cars and fewer of the sportier ones. Because of this, sales in the hybrid market have been soaring and sales in electric cars are reaching new numbers. However, one very affordable mid-sized SUV, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, has been turning some heads with its fast delivery time.
On average, a Tesla Model 3 buyer will expect to wait anywhere from 5-7 months. On the other hand, A discussion on Facebook's Toyota RAV4 Hybrid group has led me to suspect that if you are in the market to get a quick hybrid SUV, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the right car for you because of its faster delivery time.
Facebook group member Katie Hollingsworth asked a question on the group saying, “Has anyone ordered a 2022 RAV4 hybrid? How long did it take? Do you guys know how long it’s taking right now?”
In that post, 23 people commented with arrival dates ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months. It’s significantly less than Tesla’s 5-7 months even though you must deal with a dealership. For instance, one of the commentators, Arielle Karissa, wrote “I’m in CA. I walked into a dealer in January and my car arrived two weeks later.”
That’s a pretty good delivery time, especially for California. One other commentator, Shirley Albright, said “Picking up mine today. Less than a month total wait time in Central PA!” She got hers in a month.
The point is, that the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes fast. You can expect to be on the allocated list at your dealer in no less than 2-3 weeks and expect delivery in a month or two. Basically, you are looking at a 3-month wait. Or you can always look at used models. Carvana has marked them up by almost 50%! The base MSRP is $29,075 and the average price on Carvana is around $35,000 to $45,000. That’s a significant markup.
I honestly think this isn’t such a bad waiting time for a hybrid SUV. Especially during a financial crisis and a global chip shortage. Speaking of which, check out some of our recent articles on how only Toyota was able to have no fall in truck sales for the month of February. If only we could see electric cars that we really want to come out like, the Ford F-150 Lightning or the Cyber Truck. Even the Tesla Roadster that I am inching to see in person hasn’t even been mentioned in a while.
While we must wait for these cars to come out, I think that Toyota’s strategy of pushing out these needed cars like hybrids and boosting hype for upcoming electric cars. However, I still think Japan in general is still years behind having at least a few active and good electric cars. The only one that has had some success is the Nissan Leaf.
What do you think? Should Toyota ramp up EV and hybrid production? Would you buy the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid? Let us know in the comment section below.
Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.
Comments
We ordered a rav4 prime and
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We ordered a rav4 prime and it took about 6 months to get it. We live in ohio and had to drive to NY. It would have taken less time if we were to settle for fewer options. Glad we did. Haven’t filled up the tank in 2 months.
Can you tell me how much
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In reply to We ordered a rav4 prime and by Doug (not verified)
Can you tell me how much above MSRP the dealer charged you?
Been waiting 8 months for a
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Been waiting 8 months for a hybrid.
I have settled on a RAV4
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I have settled on a RAV4 Hybrid Premium BUT I don't want to wait 3-6 months! In 3-6 months, I am sure the value of my current car (2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid) will go down. In 3-6 months the 2023s will be out. What's the point on waiting for the 2022 model unless the rumors are true that the prices for the 2023s will jump up?
I ordered Rav4 Hybrid LXE in
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I ordered Rav4 Hybrid LXE in April and it's now June with no allocation or delivery news nor anything remotely helpful from the delearship as to estimated timeframe as to receipt.
Same here. I put a down a
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In reply to I ordered Rav4 Hybrid LXE in by sam (not verified)
Same here. I put a down a deposit in mid-April & was told it would be three months, which is next week. The dealer still doesn't have any idea of where I am on the list, let alone anything else that would be useful.
I ordered my hybrid May 24
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I ordered my hybrid May 24 and got a call today (July 26) that there is one built and on the way to the dealership already. I said I would take an XLE premium or XSE with few options. I was told it would be about 6 months when I ordered it, but I'm guessing someone backed out?? I'm in Oregon.
Ordered a 2022 RAV4 hybrid
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Ordered a 2022 RAV4 hybrid limited on June 20,2022
Was wondering how long the wait! No word from dealer on a build date! Worried it might be a 2023 model and will have to pay even more !
I was put in the list for a
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In reply to Ordered a 2022 RAV4 hybrid by Joyce (not verified)
I was put in the list for a 2022 rav4 hybrid at the end of March- still no car. I am in Burlington, VT.
I ordered my rav 4 hybred
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I ordered my rav 4 hybred excel on the 18th of December 2021 am still waiting so I say no rev 4 is not the fastest still waiting for Toyota to let me know I have a raf 4 black edition which they given me a price and I agreed
I have a raf 4 black edition
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I have a raf 4 black edition 2020 I ordered a raf 4 excel a 2022 plate I put the ordered in in December now august still no news they have give me a price for my black edition which I agreed to so I hope they don’t go back on there price and the price I have for my new car agreed I did ask if it would go up and they said no
I ordered my 2022 RAV4 hybrid
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I ordered my 2022 RAV4 hybrid limited in February of this year and we are in the middle of September and it still hasn't been scheduled to be built yet. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Wish our wait time was so
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In reply to I ordered my 2022 RAV4 hybrid by J Street (not verified)
Wish our wait time was so short in Australia - we ordered a Rav4 Cruiser April 1 2022 and just notified its being shipped now!....with a price increase naturally!
Still waiting for mine.
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Still waiting for mine. Ordered it aug 9 and still no updates from the dealership. The actual funny thing is that I live 45min away from the assembly plant up here in Canada
2 days ago I hit 8 months
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2 days ago I hit 8 months waiting on a red Rav4 hybrid. 2 days ago I was offered a Venza hybrid for. 7K more. No thanks.
I’m from Buffalo. Ordered a
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I’m from Buffalo. Ordered a 2022 rav4 hybrid on July 1st and am still waiting
I ordered a Rav 4 Hybrid XLE…
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I ordered a Rav 4 Hybrid XLE Premium in January of this year and as of yet (7/2/23) have not heard a thing!
Pagination