Long suffering Toyota RAV4 Hybrid buyers hit with big price hikes

We’ve documented the extraordinarily long delivery wait times for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – in some cases up to three years – extensively since COVID-related supply restrictions began in 2020, and now many customers are facing shock price increases as their outstanding orders are filled.

As supplies free up and deliveries ramp up, several disgruntled Toyota RAV4 Hybrid buyers have contacted carsales to complain about significant transaction prices since they first placed their order – and the lack of clarity provided by dealers around ‘price-protection’ guarantees against general price hikes, but not model upgrades.

One carsales reader said their dealership slapped an extra $7000 onto the drive-away price nominated on the original sales contract dating back to November 2022.

When the final price was questioned, dealership staff couldn’t provide a direct explanation and, when challenged, said the customer was welcome to cancel their purchase.

“I asked the sales manager what made the price increase so much. He didn’t answer me directly and said there are a few updates on the car but couldn’t list it all or how it’s added up,” said the RAV4 Hybrid customer.

“He said this is a new price coming from Toyota. I did not agree with his answer, but he said if I don’t agree with this new price then I just need to email back to cancel the purchase.”

The going price for a RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid 2WD in November 2022 was $45,750 plus on-road costs, but that figure has now grown to $51,410 plus ORCs due to a string of inflation-fuelled price increases and subtle equipment upgrades.

Vehicle manufacturers are under no legal obligation to price-protect outstanding orders against potential increases, however, Toyota Australia changed the T&Cs of its price-protection policy in May 2022, further complicating communications between dealers and customers.

We suspect the extra $7000 tacked onto the final drive-away price is a combination of the $5660 increase in the vehicle’s RRP and the subsequent increase in statutory costs like stamp duty and perhaps other delivery-related costs.

This is one of several similar enquiries we’ve had from unsatisfied RAV4 customers being asked to pay a lot more than they agreed to at the time of purchase. An August 2023 edition of our ‘Your Questions Answered’ column was headlined by a similar situation relating to the exact same RAV4 variant.

In that instance the customer was asked to front up extra $4000 at the end of an 18-month wait for a vehicle ordered in March 2022 and delivered in August 2023, with part of the premium being a $1500 ‘general price increase’ charge that Toyota Australia described as some sort of accident.

The advice given then still applies now: familiarise yourself with the contract T&Cs, stick to your guns and hold the dealership accountable. It’s the least they can be if you’ve waited years for your new car.

If they can’t tell you exactly why the final price has increased, there are plenty of other capable and competent mid-size electrified SUVs for you to choose from – all of them with far shorter wait times.

“This is a first ever ridiculous outcome I received from such a trusted car brand,” another customer said.

“Is this the new normal that Toyota wants to treat all of its loyal customers with after making them wait for such a long period of time?”

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