The 2022 Toyota RAV4 refreshed the design of its wheels and headlights, added a brand-new exterior paint color, and debuted a Hybrid SE trim. Are these upgrades enough for you to pick the pricier 2022 RAV4 over the 2021 RAV4?
The best-selling Toyota RAV4 spruced up some features for 2022, but it’s technically a carry-over model from the 2021 year. The RAV4 is a practical, small SUV whose trim packages and powertrains make it an attractive choice for all kinds of drivers. If you’ve narrowed your choice down to the 2022 or 2021 model, how do you know which is better?
We’ve put together a side-by-side comparison of the 2021 RAV4 vs. the 2022 RAV4, covering everything from price to safety features to customizable upgrades so that you can pick the model that’s right for you and drive off with confidence.
2021 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2022 Toyota RAV4: what’s the difference?
Toyota RAV4 is one of the top-selling SUVs in the US, with 407,739 units sold in 2021 alone. The differences between the 2021 Toyota RAV4 and the 2022 version are purely cosmetic, consisting mainly of design upgrades or tweaks from the previous model year.
You'll notice design differences in the wheels and lights of certain trims, plus there’s a brand-new exterior paint color, Calvary Blue, available with certain trim levels.
Speaking of trims, the biggest difference between the 2021 and 2022 RAV4 is the introduction of a new hybrid trim—the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid SE
. Pricing
As is true with the majority of auto brands, upgrading to a higher trim level or opting for a later model year will increase the price of the RAV4. Let’s look at how the Toyota RAV4 prices compare based on trim and model year.
Hybrid vehicles are known to be costlier than their fully gas-powered siblings, but the RAV4 Hybrid has been praised for being generally affordable.
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Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE Premium | | |
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Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited | | |
There’s also the forward-thinking RAV4 Prime
—Toyota’s only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV that debuted in 2021. Whether you buy a 2021 or 2022 version, this will be the priciest RAV4 option overall. General specs
Much to the disdain of RAV4 fans and off-roaders, there is no V6 engine option for any 2022 or 2021 RAV4 trims—a 2.5-liter four-cylinder is the only choice. In fact, the last time a RAV4 was fitted with a V6 was back in 2012
. Every 2021 and 2022 RAV4 model comes with an automatic transmission. The RAV4 LE’s 0 to 60 time lags at an unimpressive 9.1 seconds. The RAV4 Hybrid fares a little better, going from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds, and allows for better traction thanks to standard all-wheel drive (AWD) across all trims. A much-needed boost is given to the RAV4 Prime with the addition of three electric motors that bring this AWD PHEV’s 0 to 60 time down to 5.6 seconds.
Perhaps you’re less concerned with speed and more interested in the RAV4’s towing capacity
. Take a look at the table below for a better idea of RAV4’s hauling capabilities. These specs do not change between the 2021 and 2022 model years. | | |
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Toyota RAV4 (LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Limited) | | |
Toyota RAV4 (Adventure, TRD Off-Road) | | |
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Fuel economy
RAV4 drivers looking to avoid pain at the gas pump should prioritize the RAV4’s sizable selection of HV and PHEV models, whose fuel economy specs are an improvement on those of the gas-powered RAV4.
If you aren’t keen on purchasing a hybrid, you’ll still get decent gas mileage, since the RAV4 is smaller in size than lots of other SUVs and has a four-cylinder engine.
All HV RAV4s from 2021 and 2022 have the exact same EPA-estimated gas mileage: 41 city/38 highway /40 combined. If you drive a 2021 or 2022 RAV4 Prime, you’ll enjoy 38 combined mpg for both trims plus 94 combined mpg-e. You’ll also get up to 42 miles of pure electric range, so if you drive the RAV4 Prime and have a short commute, you won’t need to tap into your fuel reserve at all.
Mpg will vary slightly depending on the trim of a fully-gas powered RAV4, which we’ve detailed in the table below. These specs don’t change between the 2021 and 2022 model years.
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| 27 city/35 hwy/30 combined |
| 28 city /35 hwy/30 combined |
| 28 city /35 hwy/30 combined |
| 25 city/33 hwy/28 combined |
| 27 city/35 hwy/30 combined |
| 25 city/32 hwy/28 combined |
Safety ratings
We’ll keep this simple for you: both the 2021 and 2022 Toyota RAV4 earned a perfect five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for overall safety.
As for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), they awarded the Toyota RAV4 as a Top Safety Pick in the small, four-door SUV category in 2021 and 2022—but the LE trim is not included in this ranking due to having weaker headlights.
Overall, the RAV4 is considered safe because of all the great standard safety features, like a lane-departure warning accident avoidance system, emergency brake assist, and a projected path backup camera.
MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
Styling and interior changes
If you’re looking for the freshest stylings that can be had with the Toyota RAV4, focus your attention on the 2022 model. The second-tier trim XLE gets all-new headlights, while other upper trims gain new LED fog lamps.
An upgrade of the infotainment screen in 2021 models takes the screen size from seven to eight inches, but a 2022 Limited RAV4 comes with a nine-inch touchscreen.
There are also new colors and designs for the wheels depending on the RAV4 or Hybrid RAV4 trim level you choose. The XSE Hybrid introduces chic vertical headlights that were previously only available on the XSE trim of the RAV4 Prime.
Other notable standard-issued features on both the 2021 and 2022 RAV4 include:
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Automatic dual-zone climate control
Special edition
There’s a new hybrid trim shaking up RAV4’s 2022 lineup—the RAV4 Hybrid SE.
The starting MSRP for a RAV4 Hybrid SE is around $33,445. Like its fellow trims, the SE Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive and a seven-inch infotainment screen. It’s also available in a brand-new exterior paint color, Calvary Blue. This is a glossy, cornflower blue shade that is also offered on TRD Off-Road and XSE trims.
2022 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: which should you buy?
Seeing as the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is largely unchanged from the 2021 model aside from some aesthetic enhancements, we suggest opting for a 2021 model of your choice.
Although there isn’t a 2021 RAV4 Hybrid SE for that model year, you’ll still have a lot of powertrain and trim options, so if you’re ready to finally invest in a PHEV by purchasing a RAV4 Prime, you could save a few thousand by going with a 2021 model.
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