This Reliable Crossover SUV Costs Less To Maintain Than A Toyota RAV4

There are many reasons why the Toyota RAV4 isn't the smart buy it used to be, and maintenance costs, in particular, can be an important consideration when shopping for a compact crossover SUV. CarEdge projects that, over 10 years, a RAV4 can rack up $6,005 worth of upkeep expenses. With 2026 combustion-engine-powered RAV4s starting at $31,900, and hybrid variants listing for another $10,000 more, repair costs can increase the cost of ownership by upwards of 19%.

If you're in the market for a new vehicle and want to minimize potential upkeep costs, electric vehicles (EVs) tend to require less maintenance overall than hybrids or cars fully powered by gas. For example, the Subaru Solterra is a similarly sized, fully electric Crossover SUV that could prove more affordable to maintain long term. Starting at $38,495 for the 2026 model year, the Solterra might have a higher starting sticker price than some RAV4 trims, but CarEdge estimates its 10-year maintenance costs to be just $4,811. This difference suggests that keeping the average Solterra for a full decade would only increase your ownership expenses by 12.5%. 

Drivers find the Solterra to be solidly built and trustworthy on diverse terrain, and in unforgiving climates. Updates to newer model years also show that Subaru is working hard to maximize this model's dependability. The Solterra does come with some potential sources of financial strain that a RAV4 might not, but even unpopular Subaru models are lauded for their reliability and the Solterra's rising sales numbers suggest that more drivers are catching on to this EV's viability.

Despite being generally cheaper to maintain than gas-powered alternatives, EVs like the Solterra do have one potential problem area: the battery. A Solterra's battery is designed to withstand 15 years of fairly heavy use, but since it only first entered the market with its 2023 model year, it's too soon to confirm the car's real-world longevity. Notably, many people who bought early Solterra units have complained online about the battery's performance, citing issues with its charging ability and range. However, while replacing an EV battery can easily cost around $10,000 – the batteries on newer Solterra model years have a much better reputation than the initial 2023 version. This means it could be worth shopping for newer models of this particular vehicle to get the most bang for your buck.

Before committing to any EV vehicle, you may want to also consider the cost of insurance. EVs are generally more expensive to insure than hybrids or cars with combustion engines. With that said, you can still likely find an affordable premium if you qualify for certain car insurance discounts. According to Recharged, the average annual insurance premium for a Solterra in 2024 was $2,490, which is estimated to be between 20% to 30% more than a combustion engine vehicle. While that might seem expensive, it's worth factoring in that EV drivers spend roughly 60% less on fuel costs every year so you're still likely to save money overall or, at a minimum, have offsetting expenses.