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The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Adventure SUV parked on a dirt trail surrounded by grass hills. This model is recommended by Consumer Reports

What Is the Most Popular Toyota SUV?

Toyota makes many great cars in pretty much every segment of the industry. While Toyota has a lot of stiff competition from other automakers, Toyota's own cars also often compete with each other. Regardless, one Toyota model is the most popular one of them all, and as far as SUVs go, it's the Toyota RAV4.

Toyota makes many great cars in pretty much every segment of the industry. While Toyota has a lot of stiff competition from other automakers, Toyota’s own cars often compete with each other, as almost every Toyota is great in their own way. Regardless, one Toyota model is the most popular one of them all, and as far as SUVs go, it’s the Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Adventure SUV parked on a dirt trail surrounded by grass hills
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Adventure SUV | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

While there are many ways to judge popularity, the easiest would be to look at a car’s sales figures. In that regard, the RAV4 is simply the best-selling Toyota model in general. This means that the RAV4 is the best-selling Toyota SUV and the best-selling vehicle in the Toyota lineup. Not only that, but the RAV4 is one of the best-selling cars in general, Toyota or not.

In 2020, Toyota sold over 430,000 units of the RAV4 which made it one of the best-selling cars on the market. The only cars that even compete with the RAV4 in sales are full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 or the Chevy Silverado.

This makes a lot of sense since the Toyota RAV4 gets great reviews from both critics and consumers. Indeed, the RAV4 has a great score from J.D. Power, and that’s just one of its many glowing reviews. Since the RAV4 gets so much praise from customers, it’s not a surprise that many have decided to buy and own one. 

Is the Toyota RAV4 a good used car?

That being said, while the RAV4 is the most popular Toyota SUV, it’s not that cheap. Even though it’s a compact crossover, the standard RAV4 starts at about $27,000, but folks who want a more eco-friendly option will have to pay about $39,000 for the Toyota RAV4 Prime. Therefore, many people are probably better off buying a used RAV4. 

Fortunately, like most other Toyota models, a used RAV4 is still a great option. It obviously depends on the model year, but even more recent model years like the 2017 or 2018 RAV4s are significantly more affordable than a brand-new RAV4. A 2017 Toyota RAV4, for instance, can start at about $20,000, which is $7,000 cheaper than a brand-new model.

Of course, older RAV4 models won’t have the same features as a brand-new vehicle, but some folks may not need them. A used RAV4 may be just what folks want in an SUV. The Toyota RAV4 is safe, reliable, and quite good for adventures, too. On top of that, since Toyotas don’t depreciate much, a used RAV4 can be sold down the line for a good chunk of money.

Other great Toyota SUVs

While the RAV4 definitely is the most popular Toyota SUV, it’s not the only great option that Toyota’s offering. For example, J.D. Power actually gave the Highlander a slightly better rating than it gave the RAV4. That being said, the Highlander is a much bigger SUV than the RAV4, so it’s more expensive, and not everyone will find its size necessary.

Another great SUV option from Toyota is the 4Runner. The 4Runner is a mid-size SUV, which makes it a bit bigger than the RAV4, but they’re both similar in many ways. Not only does the 4Runner have a good rating from J.D. Power, but it’s also a safe and reliable SUV. On top of that, just like the RAV4, the 4Runner is also a good option for adventures. 

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