Shifterati

Toyota RAV4 · 5th gen (2019–2025)

2021 Toyota RAV4

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Learn

What changed

  • The Prime, the first plug-in RAV4, in SE and XSE grades, with AWD standard and Supersonic Red new to the RAV4.1

What it came with

  • 2.5L four-cylinder2

    203 hp

  • Hybrid3,4

  • Plug-in hybrid (Prime)1

    Up to 302 hp and 42 miles on the battery. From 2021

Transmissions
8-speed automatic2
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive2, AWD2,1, AWD with torque vectoring2
Trims
LE2,3, XLE2,3, XLE Premium2, Limited2,3, Adventure (2019–2024)2,5, XSE3,1, SE1, TRD Off-Road (2020–2024)6,5
Packages
Woodland Edition7

Colors

  • Magnetic Gray Metallic with Ice Edge roof 6 Rare
  • Midnight Black Metallic 6,7,8
  • Lunar Rock 6,8
  • Ruby Flare Pearl 6,8
  • Silver Sky Metallic 8
  • Blueprint 8
  • Magnetic Gray Metallic 8
  • Super White 6
  • Supersonic Red 1
  • Cavalry Blue 7
  • Ice Cap 7

Interiors

  • Black Cloth 8
  • Ash Cloth 8
  • Nutmeg Cloth 8
  • Red stitching and trim SofTex, TRD Off-Road 6
  • Red accents and stitching SofTex, XSE 1

Compare with another year

Buy

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

  • Prime stalling in EV mode 2021 One source so far

    What to check: Ask a Toyota dealer whether the software recall was done.

    Some 2021 Primes could shut down under hard acceleration in cold weather. Toyota recalled them for a software update.

    Sources 9

  • Corroded high-voltage cable 2019–2022 One source so far

    The Car Guide, a Canadian site, reports that Toyota extended cover for early corrosion of a high-voltage cable on select 2019–2022 RAV4 Hybrids, to 8 years or 160,000 km, and that it seems not to cover the Prime. No US program was found in the sources read.

    Sources 10

Rare catches

Rare options, colors and interiors to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

  • Rare Magnetic Gray Metallic with Ice Edge roof Color

    TRD Off-Road only6

Recalls

  • 20V698000 2021

    Headlight aiming caps may be left open, so the beam can be moved sideways.11

  • 22V239000 2021–2022

    Stability control switched off may not come back on after a restart.12,11,13

  • 23V041000 2021

    Hard acceleration in EV mode in cold weather can shut the powertrain down. The software is updated.11

  • 23V478000 2021–2022

    A rectifier damaged in production can make the DC-DC converter short circuit and overheat.11,13

  • 23V865000 2020–2021

    A short circuit in the passenger occupant sensor can stop the passenger airbag deploying.14,15,16,17

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

  • Sought after: The 2021 2021 One source so far

    SlashGear lists the 2021 among the used RAV4s to consider, and puts it on top of the 5th gen for its Consumer Reports reliability rating, though owner satisfaction is lower.18

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.

Sources

  1. Toyota Newsroom (2021 Prime)
  2. Edmunds 2019 review
  3. The Drive (2019 RAV4)
  4. Green Car Reports (Hybrid fuel tank)
  5. Edmunds 2025 review
  6. Toyota Newsroom (TRD Off-Road)
  7. Toyota Newsroom (Woodland Edition)
  8. Edmunds 2022 specs
  9. Green Car Reports (Prime stalling)
  10. The Car Guide (hybrid cable)
  11. NHTSA recalls (2021 RAV4 Prime)
  12. NHTSA recalls (2022 RAV4 Hybrid)
  13. NHTSA recalls (2022 RAV4 Prime)
  14. NHTSA recalls (2020 RAV4)
  15. NHTSA recalls (2021 RAV4)
  16. NHTSA recalls (2020 RAV4 Hybrid)
  17. NHTSA recalls (2021 RAV4 Hybrid)
  18. SlashGear (best years)