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The Toyota RAV4 range is due to get a long list of upgrades towards the end of this year, with price rises of up to $2700 expected. It is unclear what this means to the price for orders that have already been taken.
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Toyota dealers have been advised to expect sweeping upgrades across the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid range – as well as significant price rises – within the last three months of this year.
At the same time, a number of Toyota dealers are now quoting waiting times of up to 18 months – to avoid customer disappointment – even though most examples are delivered between six and nine months.
Dealers have been advised to expect price rises of between $1500 and $2100 on model grades, while top-end variants could go up by between $2100 and $2700 – according to a bulletin sent to Toyota dealers.
While the price rises are significant, the good news for buyers on a budget: the more affordable petrol variants of the Toyota RAV4 remain an option across most model grades, even though more than 70 per cent of demand is for the petrol-electric hybrid.
The challenge now for Toyota dealers is balancing the final price for vehicles ordered long before the technical upgrades were announced.
Customarily, car companies and car dealers are obliged to honour the price agreed to on the sales invoice when the car was ordered by the customer.
However, since the coronavirus pandemic, production delays have stretched arrival times for so long, that the vehicle ordered is often no longer made – and an updated version has replaced it.
Drive understands Toyota is considering applying two prices to future signed orders: one with today’s price, and a forecast of what the price might increase to if extra equipment is added on the production line as part of a running change.
Annual upgrades – or running changes – which coincide with technical updates, extra equipment, and modest price rises are common in the car industry.
Running changes to cars and pricing have historically not been a major concern because there has been a steady supply of new motor vehicles – and stock levels were so high customers often had the choice of the new or the old model when both were in stock during change-over periods.
However, with current extended delivery delays of three to 14 months across most major brands, many new-car buyers are faced with a higher purchase price than what they signed up to – because the cost of car has increased due to technical upgrades and extra equipment.
Customers who don’t want to pay the price premium on vehicles impacted by a technology-related price rise, are offered a refund of their deposit. Most buyers, however, pay the increase because they don’t want to lose their spot in the queue.
In the meantime, every model in the 2023 Toyota RAV4 line-up is due for a technical upgrade in the second half of this year.
Here is a list – model by model – of the changes expected from October 2022, according to information shared with dealers.
Toyota RAV4 GX Petrol and Hybrid (expected increase: between $1500 and $2100)
• Satellite tracking module
• Cloud-based navigation
• 7-inch instrument display (up from 4.2-inch)
• Intersection collision detection
• Emergency lane-keeping assistance
• USB-C charging ports (rather than USB-A)
Toyota RAV4 GXL Petrol and Hybrid (expected increase: between $1500 and $2100)
• Satellite tracking module
• Cloud-based navigation
• 7-inch instrument display (up from 4.2-inch)
• Intersection collision detection
• Emergency lane-keeping assistance
• USB-C charging ports (rather than USB-A)
Toyota RAV4 XSE (expected increase: between $2400 and $3000)
• Satellite tracking module
• Cloud-based navigation
• 12.3-inch instrument display (up from 7.0-inch)
• 10.5-inch infotainment screen
• Intersection collision detection
• Emergency lane-keeping assistance
• USB-C charging ports (rather than USB-A)
• Mandatory premium paint $675
Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Petrol and Hybrid (expected increase: between $1500 and $2100)
• Satellite tracking module
• Cloud-based navigation
• 12.3-inch instrument display (up from 7.0-inch)
• 10.5-inch infotainment screen
• Intersection collision detection
• Emergency lane-keeping assistance
• USB-C charging ports (rather than USB-A)
Toyota RAV4 Edge Petrol and Hybrid (expected increase: between $2100 and $2700)
• Satellite tracking module
• Cloud-based navigation
• 12.3-inch instrument display (up from 7.0-inch)
• 10.5-inch infotainment screen
• Intersection collision detection
• Emergency lane-keeping assistance
• USB-C charging ports (rather than USB-A)
• Projector headlights
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