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Toyota RAV4 2.5 VVT-h Excel CVT 4WD Euro 6
The full-hybrid RAV4 in Excel trim with four-wheel drive, Euro 6 rated. A self-charging hybrid, with a battery warranty that can be extended by an annual health check.
| Marque | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Model | RAV4 |
| Engine | 2.5-litre petrol with electric motors (VVT-h full hybrid) |
| Trim | Excel |
| Transmission | CVT (electronically controlled) |
| Drive | Four-wheel drive |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Stop-start | Yes |
| Body | Five-door SUV |
VVT-h marks Toyota’s full hybrid: a petrol engine and electric motors working together, with the battery charged by the car rather than from the mains. On the four-wheel-drive version the rear axle is driven by its own electric motor.
What to check on this specification
The hybrid battery and Toyota’s health check
Toyota’s hybrid battery and components are covered by a manufacturer warranty for a period defined in years and miles, and — this is the part that matters on a used car — the cover can be extended year by year beyond that, up to a cap measured from first registration, by having a hybrid health check carried out at an authorised dealer. Each check adds a further period of cover.
That turns the service record into the warranty: a car with an unbroken run of hybrid health checks may still be covered, and one that missed a year may not be. Ask to see them.
The rear motor and its wiring
On four-wheel-drive hybrids the rear axle is driven electrically, and reviewers have flagged corrosion and failure of the high-voltage cable running to the rear motor as a known fault. Look underneath with a torch, and treat any four-wheel-drive warning as something to investigate before purchase.
Other reported faults
Reviewers of this model note a coolant bypass valve that can fail and cause overheating and leaks, along with the usual population of ignition coils, water pumps and air-conditioning compressors. Check the coolant level and colour and look for staining around hose joints.
The CVT
A hybrid transmission does not shift in the conventional sense. What you are testing is smooth transition between electric and engine power, no hesitation when pulling away, and no unusual noise under load.
Ownership notes
Toyota has finished near the top of manufacturer reliability rankings and the RAV4 has taken class honours as a used large SUV, so the model’s reputation is earned. The checks above are about the individual car rather than the design.
A hybrid is a petrol vehicle for emissions-zone purposes, and a Euro 6 petrol clears the Euro 4 standard the London ULEZ asks of petrol cars.
About this page
The address you are on was part of a used-car dealer site that no longer exists. The individual vehicle it once described was sold years ago; there is no stock here, nothing is for offer, and no enquiry goes anywhere. What has been kept is the specification the address itself encodes, written up as a reference for anyone looking at the same combination of model, engine, transmission and emissions standard on the used market today.
Nothing here is advice about a particular vehicle. Every point above is a thing to check on the car in front of you, and the official services linked below answer against a registration number rather than a model name.