When it comes to the new hybrid car market, consumers really are spoiled for choice. Brands across the globe are throwing considerable resources at electrification, with gasoline-electric hybrids being the strongest product in terms of demand by a massive margin. The two front-runners in the American hybrid market are Honda and Toyota. These are two brands that are typically associated with affordability, efficiency, and reliability, while Lexus introduces quality to the mix with a noticeable price increase. For many prospective buyers, reliability is a very important factor when considering a new vehicle.
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- Base Trim Engine
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Dynamic Force Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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176 HP @5700 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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163 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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41/38/39 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Toyota
- Model
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RAV4 Hybrid
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- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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145 HP @6100 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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138 lb.-ft. @ 4500 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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43/36/40 MPG
These two longstanding Japanese brands typically benefit from the best reputations in terms of reliability, but the big question is which brand stands out on top, especially when looking at their HEV ranges? The best way to approach this is by analyzing each respective brand’s most popular HEV SUV option, which is the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. These are two monikers that enjoy a strong and long-standing reputation among American car owners, primarily thanks to their impressive reliability track record. Adding HEV drivetrains into the mix improves their efficiency and long-term cost factor.
The Honda CR-V’s Standout Reliability Standards
J.D. Power gives the Honda CR-V range an 84/100 quality and reliability score, an 85/100 score for resale, 83/100 for the driving experience, and 81/100 dealership experience score, bringing its overall consumer-verified rating up to 83/100. iSeeCars holds a similar sentiment with the CR-V Hybrid, highlighting that it will cover 13.8 years or 169,210 miles before encountering any major mechanical issues, with a 30.1 percent probability of reaching 200,000 miles, earning it an 8.2/10 reliability score. It will also lose 43 percent or $14,755 of its value after five years, resulting in the Japanese HEV SUV earning an 8.0/10 retained value score.
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid True Cost To Own
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $678 | $702 | $726 | $752 | $778 | $3,636 |
| Maintenance | $183 | $632 | $353 | $2,098 | $2,371 | $5,637 |
| Repairs | $0 | $0 | $87 | $209 | $305 | $601 |
| Taxes & Fees | $1,776 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $2,148 |
| Financing | $2,123 | $1,713 | $1,273 | $798 | $290 | $6,197 |
| Depreciation | $3,145 | $1,800 | $1,702 | $1,997 | $1,891 | $10,535 |
| Fuel | $1,106 | $1,139 | $1,174 | $1,209 | $1,245 | $5,873 |
| True Cost to Own | $9,011 | $6,079 | $5,408 | $7,156 | $6,973 | $34,627 |
According to Edmunds, the base Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid loses $10,535 of its $35,630 base MSRP over the course of five years and 60,000 miles, which is an incredible value retention rate by midsize SUV standards. You can also expect to spend $5,637 on maintenance and $601 on repairs. Using similar metrics, CarEdge indicates that the very same model loses 34 percent of its value, resulting in it being worth $23,507.
What CR-V Hybrid Owners Have To Say
The Honda CR-V Hybrid has a 4.2/5 average score on the Edmunds consumer review section, 62 percent of which are five-star ratings. Owners indicate a good ride quality, spacious interior, and impressive fuel consumption returns to be standout benefits, but some have criticized it for featuring uncomfortable seats, substandard safety systems, and limited outward visibility.
We also have to point out that there are some comments criticizing this model’s reliability, but these are a handful of owner-submitted reviews, which we cannot use to paint an overall picture of its mechanical integrity. There are currently three active recalls for the Honda CR-V Hybrid related to an improperly installed fuel house, a high-pressure fuel pump leak, and a bad power-steering motor.
The Honda CR-V’s Comprehensive Standard Warranty
Honda includes its standard three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty with every CR-V Hybrid sale. You also get a five-year corrosion warranty over an unlimited mileage range. If you have a replacement part fitted, the manufacturer covers it for one year. Accessories get a three-year or 46,000-mile warranty.
All hybrid systems are covered for a comparatively short three years or 36,000 miles, but the battery pack gets the market-standard eight years and 100,000-mile coverage. For peace of mind while on the road, you also get a 36-month or 36,000-mile roadside warranty in the package. There are also in-house extended warranty packages that vary in years and miles, if you plan on keeping the car for longer.
Honda’s Impressive Consumption Returns
The Honda CR-V’s hybrid drivetrain system achieves a pretty impressive 43/36/40 MPG EPA consumption estimate on the city/highway/combined cycle for the front-wheel drive option. The all-wheel drive model returns a slightly worse 40/34/37 MPG result. The 14-gallon gasoline tank gets you 560 miles of range in front-wheel drive guise, which the all-wheel drive system lowers to 518 miles.
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid EPA Estimates
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s Equally Impressive Reliability Standards
The RAV4 Hybrid benefits from Toyota’s strong presence in the hybrid market , where it is recognized as a leader due to its early adoption of hybrid technology and consistent refinement of its models. J.D. Power‘s valuation of the RAV4 Hybrid, which consists of a reasonably impressive 80/100 quality and reliability rating, resulting in an 80/100 overall score. iSeeCars backs this with an 8.7/10 reliability score, citing that it will benefit from a 13.4-year lifespan and cover 163,295 miles without any reliability issues. All of these figures are slightly worse than the CR-V’s scores, but they are still very attractive for those wanting a reliable midsize HEV SUV.
According to CarEdge‘s depreciation calculator, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid retains more value than most HEV SUVs in the U.S. thanks to its strong brand reputation, high consumer demand, and proven long-term reliability. Toyota has built a reputation for producing durable vehicles with low maintenance costs, which translates to higher resale values.
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE True Cost To Own
According to Edmunds, you can expect to spend $34,400 over the course of five years and 60,000 miles on the base Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE. $4,974 accounts for maintenance, $690 for repairs, $9,891 for depreciation, and $6,030 for fuel.
What RAV4 Hybrid Owners Have To Say
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid currently has a 4.4/5 average score on the Edmunds consumer review section, 71 percent of which are five-star ratings. Key benefits include its fuel efficiency, spacious interior, and ride quality, but there have been some concerns surrounding its loud road noise, infotainment system, and dashboard. The NHTSA only lists one active recall for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid related to a possible instrument panel failure, which in the real world would make it a more reliable option compared to the CR-V Hybrid.
Toyota’s Class-Leading Hybrid Warranty
Toyota issues the RAV4 Hybrid with a standardized warranty package as standard, which includes a 36-month or 36,000-mile basic warranty, 60-month or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and 60-month coverage for corrosion with unlimited miles. The brand also covers all hybrid components for 96 months or 100,000 miles, while the battery features a class-leading coverage of 120 months or 150,000 miles . You have the option of extending the basic warranty package up to 10 years or 125,000 miles via Toyota. All models also include the ToyotaCare package, which consists of two years or 24,000 miles worth of scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.
Highly Attractive Fuel Consumption Returns
The RAV4 Hybrid’s system will return a 41/38/39 MPG fuel consumption on the city/highway/combined cycle and return a 566-mile range on a full tank of gasoline. Bear in mind that this is a worse result, because it is only available with the brand’s all-wheel drive system. Comparing it directly to the CR-V Hybrid’s all-wheel drive variant actually makes Toyota’s contender a more appealing option. The Woodland returns a 38/35/37 MPG result with a slightly less preferable 536-mile range due to its larger wheels and multi-terrain tires.
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid EPA Estimates
| RAV4 Hybrid | Woodland Edition | |
| Fuel Consumption (City/Highway/Combined) | 41/38/39 MPG | 38/35/37 MPG |
| Range | 566 Miles | 536 Miles |
| Fuel Savings In Five Years | $2,250 | $2,000 |
| Annual Fuel Cost | $1,200 | $1,250 |
| Cost To Drive 25 Miles | $1.99 | $2.10 |
| Cost To Fill The Tank (14.5 Gallons) | $45 | $45 |
Sources: J.D. Power, iSeeCars, Edmunds, the NHTSA, and CarEdge.
