As new cars become increasingly unaffordable for buyers, owning a car you’re happy with is arguably more important than ever. Buyer satisfaction is included as a category in the Consumer Reports Ownership Survey, which asks new car owners if they would choose their car again if they had to start the car-buying process all over again. The more owners who answer “yes”, the more satisfied they are with their car. In the compact SUV segment, some models score particularly well in this regard. Cars like the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V Hybrid and Subaru Crosstrek are consistently rated highly by CR members, but one car stands out as particularly outstanding. That car is the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid, and pricing for the 2025 model year starts at $46,265 (including a $1,450 destination fee).
However, praise for Toyota’s compact SUV isn’t universal. JD Power did not rate the plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4 specifically, but gave the 2025 RAV4 an overall rating of “average” for the driving experience based on owner reviews. Meanwhile, owners surveyed by JD Power were particularly impressed with the Nissan Rogue and Buick Envision, giving them “great” ratings for their driving experience.
While the RAV4 plug-in hybrid topped CR’s survey, buying these highly rated compact SUVs is still a safe bet. Of course, they’re more likely to satisfy their owners than cars like the Range Rover Evoque and Mercedes-Benz GLA, both of which are among the cars owners are most likely to throw away within a year.
Read more: 8 Enthusiast Cars That Are Ridiculously Overrated
RAV4 getting overhaul for 2026 model year
2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid Available in Three Different Trims – Toyota
While 2025 RAV4 plug-in hybrid owners are still very happy with their new cars, anyone thinking of heading to a dealership to buy their own car may have to wait a while. The new generation of cars will go on sale for the 2026 model year, and we recently tested the hybrid 2026 RAV4 . We found the revamped plug-in hybrid model to be more advanced than its predecessor, with its all-electric range increased from 42 miles to 52 miles thanks to a new, larger battery.
The electric motor provides power at low speeds, but even without battery power, the car is rated up to 41 mpg, depending on its trim. Toyota hasn’t announced pricing details for the new model yet, but there’s already a lot to like. Owners have already given the current RAV4 plug-in hybrid high marks, and so far there’s no sign that buyers will have any interest in the upcoming 2026 model.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.