2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD is a hybrid rated at 40 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 41 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 44% better combined MPG than the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year (27.7 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD at 125 MPG.
- The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD has gained 7 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 32 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $3,250 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 40 MPG |
| City MPG | 41 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 38 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,500 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 223 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD compares
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returns 40 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year average 27.7 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 44%.
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD at 125 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2021 model year (across all classes) returns 27.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2021 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 375 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $750 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,500 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $2,500 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD
The EPA has rated the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD across 10 model years, from 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD through 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returned 32 MPG. The most recent 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returns 39 MPG. That is an improvement of 7 MPG over 9 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 MPG | 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2024 | 39 MPG | 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2023 | 40 MPG | 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2022 | 40 MPG | 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2021 | 40 MPG | this page |
| 2020 | 40 MPG | 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2019 | 40 MPG | 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2018 | 32 MPG | 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2017 | 32 MPG | 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| 2016 | 32 MPG | 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
Compare against other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2021
If you are cross-shopping the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD leads this group at 125 MPG, 85 MPG ahead of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD.
Specifications
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (av-s6), sending power through all-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S6)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 7.4 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD.
-
Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returns 40 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year by about 44%. -
What MPG does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 40 combined MPG, 41 MPG in city driving, and 38 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,500 for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD use?
The EPA lists the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD, returned 32 combined MPG. The most recent 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returns 39 MPG, an improvement of 7 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 223 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 3,345 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD?
City driving returns 41 MPG and highway driving returns 38 MPG. A flat (or city-better) split is the signature of a hybrid or electric drivetrain, where regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost in stop-start city traffic. -
What engine is in the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD have?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD comes with a automatic (av-s6) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD at 125 combined MPG. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD returns 40 MPG, a gap of 85 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.