Toyota RAV4 vs. Honda CR-V: $5,935 Less Over 5 Years, RAV4 $40,957 vs CR-V $46,892

Cost examples updated November 7, 2026

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The two examples

Both examples use the site's standard method: 10% down, 8% APR, 60 months, 7% sales tax, $900 in fees, 12,000 miles a year, $4.153 a gallon (the EIA national average for the week ending November 2, 2026). Only the vehicle inputs differ. The RAV4 example is the XLE AWD at $32,710 including destination; the CR-V example is the EX-L AWD at $37,950 including destination, the volume trim of each, not the base.

Five-year costs, bucket by bucket

Depreciation: RAV4 $8,308 (worth ~$24,402 at year five) · CR-V $10,968 (worth ~$26,982)
Insurance: RAV4 $10,800 ($180/mo) · CR-V $10,800 ($180/mo), a tie on national averages
Fuel: RAV4 $8,592 (29 mpg) · CR-V $8,899 (28 mpg)
Maintenance: RAV4 $3,000 ($600/yr) · CR-V $4,500 ($900/yr)
Tax, fees and interest: RAV4 $10,257 · CR-V $11,725

Totals: RAV4 $40,957 (about $683 a month) · CR-V $46,892 (about $782 a month). The RAV4 costs about $5,935 less over five years, and note where the gap comes from. Depreciation is still the biggest piece: the RAV4 keeps about 75% of its value against the CR-V's about 71%, and loses $8,308 against $10,968. The RAV4 also wins on upkeep allowances, $3,000 against $4,500, helped by two years of included ToyotaCare maintenance, and on tax, fees and interest, because its entry price is about $5,240 lower. Its payment is lower too: $662 a month against $765.

Formula

Both examples use the site standard method: 10% down, 8% APR, 60 months, 7% sales tax, $900 in fees, 12,000 miles a year, $4.153 a gallon (the EIA national average for the week ending November 2, 2026). Only the vehicle inputs differ. The RAV4 example is the XLE AWD at $32,710 including destination; the CR-V example is the EX-L AWD at $37,950 including destination, the volume trim of each, not the base. RAV4 buckets: depreciation $8,308 plus insurance $10,800 plus fuel $8,592 plus maintenance $3,000 plus tax, fees and interest $10,257, which is $40,957, or about $683 a month. CR-V buckets: depreciation $10,968 plus insurance $10,800 plus fuel $8,899 plus maintenance $4,500 plus tax, fees and interest $11,725, which is $46,892, or about $782 a month. The gap is $46,892 minus $40,957, which is $5,935.

The gap's biggest piece is depreciation: the RAV4 holds a better percentage of its value, about 75% kept against the CR-V's about 71%, and loses fewer dollars, $8,308 against $10,968, a $2,660 difference. The RAV4 also wins on upkeep, $3,000 against $4,500, helped by two years of included ToyotaCare maintenance, and on tax, fees and interest, $10,257 against $11,725, because its entry price is about $5,240 lower. Fuel is close: the RAV4 at 29 mpg runs $8,592 against the CR-V at 28 mpg at $8,899, a $301 difference. Insurance is a tie on national averages at $180 a month each. The payment is lower too: $662 a month against $765.

The hybrid rematch is the lopsided one. The RAV4 Hybrid is rated 39 mpg combined and holds value like almost nothing else in the class: iSeeCars measures roughly 25.3% depreciation over five years, against about 34 to 37% for the CR-V hybrid, at 37 mpg combined in AWD form. The gas comparison above is the honest, closer fight, and the hybrid comparison is the strongest cost argument either vehicle makes. The CR-V still pulls ahead on the cabin, but no longer on resale percentage.

Where the RAV4 pulls further ahead: the hybrid

The RAV4 Hybrid is rated 39 mpg combined and holds value like almost nothing else in the class, iSeeCars measures roughly 25.3% depreciation over five years, against about 34–37% for the CR-V hybrid (37 mpg combined in AWD form). On the numbers gathered for these pages, the hybrid comparison is the lopsided one, and it is the strongest cost argument either vehicle makes. The gas comparison above is the honest, closer fight.

Where the CR-V pulls ahead

The cabin. Drivers consistently rate the CR-V's cabin and ride a notch above; that is not a cost, but it is part of what the extra sticker buys. On resale percentage, the RAV4 now pulls ahead: it keeps about 75% of its value to the CR-V's about 71%.

What would change the answer

These totals stand on stated assumptions, and your own quotes can move them: insurance (a $25-a-month difference between your two quotes is $1,500 over five years), your mileage (at 20,000 miles a year, fuel lines grow and the hybrids take over the conversation), and your resale market at year five. That is precisely why both models have their own pages here, RAV4 true cost and CR-V true cost, where every input can be replaced with your own numbers.

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Calculation transparency

Scope. Two worked examples, the volume trim of each, the RAV4 XLE AWD and the CR-V EX-L AWD, on the site standard method over 5 years, gas compared first and the hybrid rematch second.

Rules and time period. Common basis: 10% down; 8% APR; 60 months; 7% sales tax; $900 in fees; 12,000 miles a year; gas at $4.153 a gallon, the EIA national average for the week ending November 2, 2026; only the vehicle inputs differ; resale values are stated assumptions, the RAV4 worth about $24,402 at year five and the CR-V about $26,982; insurance is a tie on national averages at $180 a month each.

Scope and limitations. Educational estimate only. Your own quotes can move the totals: insurance, mileage, and your resale market at year five. The hybrid comparison is stated on the numbers gathered for these pages, not a separate worked 5-year total. Cabin and ride quality are not costs, but they are part of what the extra sticker buys. Prices vary by car, shop, and city. Get a written quote for your own car before you decide.

Source links checked November 7, 2026. Figures: Purchase prices, gas mileage, insurance, upkeep, and value loss from the Driveonomics RAV4 and CR-V cost pages; gas at $4.153 a gallon, the EIA national average for the week ending November 2, 2026. The RAV4 depreciation figures are now from the current iSeeCars edition, and the iSeeCars benchmark is linked from the RAV4 cost page. The CR-V depreciation figures are now from the current iSeeCars edition as well, 28.9% over five years, and the benchmark is linked from the CR-V cost page.

Primary sources: EIA, U.S. weekly retail gasoline prices; Toyota RAV4 true cost; Honda CR-V true cost. How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.

Definitions

Depreciation. The value a car loses over time. On this page, the RAV4 loses $8,308 over five years and the CR-V loses $10,968.

Resale value. What the car is worth when you sell it. The RAV4 is worth about $24,402 at year five and the CR-V about $26,982.

Upkeep. Maintenance, the work that keeps a car running. On this page, $3,000 over five years for the RAV4 and $4,500 for the CR-V.

ToyotaCare. Two years of included Toyota maintenance, which helps the RAV4 upkeep allowance.

APR. Annual percentage rate, the yearly interest rate on the loan. This example uses 8%. For context, Experian reported average rates of 6.35% on new cars and 11.19% on used cars in the second quarter of 2026.

Sales tax. A tax on the purchase price, charged by your state. On this page, the examples use 7% sales tax.

Questions people actually ask

Which costs less over 5 years, the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CR-V?

The RAV4, at $40,957 over 5 years, or about $683 a month, against the CR-V at $46,892, or about $782 a month. The RAV4 costs about $5,935 less over five years.

Why does the RAV4 win by so much?

Depreciation is now the biggest reason: the RAV4 keeps about 75% of its value to the CR-V's about 71%, and loses $8,308 in depreciation against the CR-V's $10,968. The RAV4 also wins on the entry price, about $5,240 less to buy, tax and finance, and on upkeep allowances, helped by two years of included ToyotaCare maintenance.

How does the RAV4 Hybrid compare with the CR-V hybrid?

The RAV4 Hybrid is rated 39 mpg combined and holds value like almost nothing else in the class: iSeeCars measures roughly 25.3% depreciation over five years, against about 34 to 37% for the CR-V hybrid, at 37 mpg combined in AWD form. On the numbers gathered for these pages, the hybrid comparison is the lopsided one, and it is the strongest cost argument either vehicle makes.

Where does the CR-V pull ahead?

The cabin. Drivers consistently rate the CR-V cabin and ride a notch above. On resale, the RAV4 now pulls ahead: it keeps about 75% of its value to the CR-V's about 71%, so buy both, sell both in five years, and the Toyota returns more of its lower price.

What would change the answer?

Your own quotes can move the totals: insurance, where a $25-a-month difference between your two quotes is $1,500 over five years, your mileage, where at 20,000 miles a year the fuel lines grow and the hybrids take over the conversation, and your resale market at year five.