Replacing my Rav4 hybrid with a Maverick hybrid - I'm not sure what to do

[ExpoGuy]

I have a 2025 Rav4 hybrid XSE. I have owned it for a little more than a year. Great SUV and great mpg.
I like the vehicle, but don't love it. Why you ask? Because it's not a truck.

A little background...I owned a 2003 Toyota Tacoma for 22 years. It was the most reliable vehicle I have ever
owned. And it was a small truck, which I like. But it was time to move on to a new truck, and the Maverick
had my attention. So in 2024 I placed a deposit for a 2025 Maverick Lariat hybrid with the 4k tow package.
As soon as I paid the deposit, the sales manager came to me and told me some bad news...my Maverick
my take up to 9 months to arrive. Interesting that wasn't said BEFORE I placed the deposit.

After about 3 months I decided that I couldn't wait that long, so I cancelled the Maverick and bought the
Rav4 hybrid. It's a great vehicle, but I found that an SUV isn't for me. And I sure miss having a truck.

I'd like to buy a 2026 Maverick Lariat hybrid, and sell my Rav4 hybrid. Carvana is offering me $2200 more
than the amount I own on my Rav4. Seems like a sweet deal, right?

But when I discuss this with friends and family they say I'm nuts. That I would be making a big mistake.
After all, a Maverick will not be as reliable or long lasting as my Toyota, they say.

Anyone else make such a move? How did it work out for you?

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[Mudduck]

I believe if you went through all of Toyotas recalls VS all other makes recalls, you would see exactly how "averagely dependable" Toyota actually is. This isn't the 80s anymore and that echo of Toyota build quality is just something that fanboys parrot.

My opinion, unless you're married and need to convince your S/O, do what you want, buy what you can afford.......(Most of the people you are asking/discussing with already have).

Life is short. Money is made up. Happiness is up to you.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Everyone will have their own opinions/thoughts. I think if I was in your shoes currently I would hang on to the Rav 4 a little while longer. Bide your time for a while with it and a small utility trailer. I would think within the next year we'll start seeing/hearing stuff on the forthcoming refresh of the maverick, I think it's slated to be updated for the 2028 model year. Also Ford's new mid sized EV pickup is suppose to be launched in 2027. So my advice = chill out for a year with your Rav 4.

 

[KeithNC]

You're driving a vehicle with positive reviews and reliability reports, and thinking of switching to another vehicle with positive reviews and reliability reports.
For the record, Consumer Reports predicts slightly better reliability for the Maverick hybrid than the RAV4 hybrid.

Either of these is a solid choice. Maybe you should go with the one that makes you smile.

 

[Bob The Builder]

The most reliable vehicles I have ever owned were my 3 Rangers for 33 years straight and my current Maverick for 2 1/2 years. I have never owned a Toyota so cannot speak for them.

At the end of the day you gotta do what you gotta do and my opinion ain't worth a plug nickle.

 

[Hunters Edge]

I have a 2025 Rav4 hybrid XSE. I have owned it for a little more than a year. Great SUV and great mpg.
I like the vehicle, but don't love it. Why you ask? Because it's not a truck.

A little background...I owned a 2003 Toyota Tacoma for 22 years. It was the most reliable vehicle I have ever
owned. And it was a small truck, which I like. But it was time to move on to a new truck, and the Maverick
had my attention. So in 2024 I placed a deposit for a 2025 Maverick Lariat hybrid with the 4k tow package.
As soon as I paid the deposit, the sales manager came to me and told me some bad news...my Maverick
my take up to 9 months to arrive. Interesting that wasn't said BEFORE I placed the deposit.

After about 3 months I decided that I couldn't wait that long, so I cancelled the Maverick and bought the
Rav4 hybrid. It's a great vehicle, but I found that an SUV isn't for me. And I sure miss having a truck.

I'd like to buy a 2026 Maverick Lariat hybrid, and sell my Rav4 hybrid. Carvana is offering me $2200 more
than the amount I own on my Rav4. Seems like a sweet deal, right?

But when I discuss this with friends and family they say I'm nuts. That I would be making a big mistake.
After all, a Maverick will not be as reliable or long lasting as my Toyota, they say.

Anyone else make such a move? How did it work out for you?

I just don't understand your post? You had a truck for 22 years and know that you are unhappy and unsatisfied with a SUV. Also it's not a price issue because you posted 2200 +. I wouldn't care what the Internet posts or what family or friends say. You have to live with whatever decision you make everyday whether paying the note, driving, accessing it, maintenance etc. Make a decision that you can and will enjoy every day. The second guessing or riding the fence would be tiresome if not outright impossible for anyone. Just saying.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Take the hit in the Toyota $
And get the Maverick
If that's make you happy!
Life's too short, living a happy life is the goal

 

[Escapologist]

Tell them the next gen Rav4 is so good it's gonna crash the value of that one. Unless the new one has major issues that might even be the case, just from prior gen looking old. That gen though, known for recurring roofrail mount leaks, and HV battery cable corrosion, which Toyota keep doing "kick down the road" fixes to.

 

[Cherokee]

I'd like to buy a 2026 Maverick Lariat hybrid, and sell my Rav4 hybrid. Carvana is offering me $2200 more
than the amount I own on my Rav4. Seems like a sweet deal, right?

But when I discuss this with friends and family they say I'm nuts. That I would be making a big mistake.
After all, a Maverick will not be as reliable or long lasting as my Toyota, they say.

Anyone else make such a move? How did it work out for you?

1st off stop listening to to your friends and family. Everyone’s got opinions, so what.

Here’s mine, From now on I’m a Ford guy,
I used to be a Toyota guy but would not want one anymore.
Why you ask ? Nunya business. My opinions should not mean a thing to you.

Man up, do your own research and find out for yourself why this old dude will buy and drive nothing but Fords from now on.

I got 528,000 trouble free hard miles out of a 2008 2.7Ltr Taco,
Got 394,000 trouble free miles out of a 1996 Jeep Cherokee made before Dodge ruined them.
That 394K was out of a 4.0Ltr straight six designed by AMC in 1957 and converted to EFI in the early 80’s
I’ve had more Fords than any other make.
And overall less repairs.

Most every guy will trade in for a new vehicle long before they would wear one out.

My 2024 Ecoboost AWD Lariat is everything I wanted and all I needed. Due to the complexity of the Maverick I have the extended warranty.
I have an insurance policy add on that gets me a new never titled Mav if I total this one for any reason within the first five years of ownership. I’m good to 100,000 miles or five years old.

My loaded Mav has spoiled me.
It’s hard to point out one reason why, But three things stand out.

An unbelievable ride,
The 121” wheel base Rawks !
V-8 power,
And Its so quiet In the cab the B&O shines.

Buy what ever you want not what people want you to buy. They have different opinions.

Do not deal with that dealer you mentioned.
I saw my Hot Pepper Red Lariat on the show room floor. I drove it home about two hours later. Screw that special order mess. Don’t be so dang picky, It’ll drive you nuts and shorten your life.

Don’t let other people influence you.
But !
I think you should buy the Maverick.
:’P

 

[ExpoGuy]

I just don't understand your post? You had a truck for 22 years and know that you are unhappy and unsatisfied with a SUV.

Simply put, I made a mistake. I thought I'd like owning an SUV. But I was wrong.

I like a truck's bed better. I find it handy. I can throw lawn equipment, bricks, washing machine,
and construction material in the bed. If the bed gets dirty I can wash it with a garden hose.
Not so easy with an SUV. For me, driving an SUV is like driving a car with a big box behind me.
If not for the cameras I'd have a very limited view when backing up. To be honest, it annoys me.

Want to know what I do in my spare time? I visit a lot of internet sites that deal with trucks.
Dealerships, review sites, YT channels, etc. I love reading about trucks. What does that tell you?

As someone said, life is short. I better get a Maverick!

 

[Hunters Edge]

Simply put, I made a mistake. I thought I'd like owning an SUV. But I was wrong.

I like a truck's bed better. I find it handy. I can throw lawn equipment, bricks, washing machine,
and construction material in the bed. If the bed gets dirty I can wash it with a garden hose.
Not so easy with an SUV. For me, driving an SUV is like driving a car with a big box behind me.
If not for the cameras I'd have a very limited view when backing up. To be honest, it annoys me.

Want to know what I do in my spare time? I visit a lot of internet sites that deal with trucks.
Dealerships, review sites, YT channels, etc. I love reading about trucks. What does that tell you?

As someone said, life is short. I better get a Maverick!

Yeah, I like a truck as well. Dog gets sprayed by a skunk or wet fur you don't have to smell it. You already mentioned the ease for throwing stuff in back. What's really nice if throwing a deer or dirt in back you don't have to plastic wrap the carpet. Also if you get a flat you don't have to empty everything in the back. You know sitting outside while you get the spare tire and get back on the road. Of course that's after loading all that stuff back in the vehicle. Lot more work with a non truck. You should really look at the difference between your old Tacoma and the Maverick. It's going to get better mileage and ride a lot better and that body roll will be gone. Take one for a test drive, see if it's what you want.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[identifyasatruck]

Simply put, I made a mistake. I thought I'd like owning an SUV. But I was wrong.

I like a truck's bed better. I find it handy. I can throw lawn equipment, bricks, washing machine,
and construction material in the bed. If the bed gets dirty I can wash it with a garden hose.
Not so easy with an SUV. For me, driving an SUV is like driving a car with a big box behind me.
If not for the cameras I'd have a very limited view when backing up. To be honest, it annoys me.

Want to know what I do in my spare time? I visit a lot of internet sites that deal with trucks.
Dealerships, review sites, YT channels, etc. I love reading about trucks. What does that tell you?

As someone said, life is short. I better get a Maverick!

i placed my special order in Aug 2024 and was also told a long wait time. i picked it up in January2025 (6 months).
Since i dont make any money out of this....i vote you take the $2,200 (thats a few free months of your car payment returned to you) and think of your Rav4 year as an educational cost.

 

[Busa789]

I bought a 2022 Camry in 2021 that I intended to keep until at least 2027. I bought it in anticipation of my retirement (I did retire in 2023) so I'd have a sensible, dependable car that was efficient and lower cost. It was. It had zero recalls, and zero failures during the 60k miles I put on it. It worked exactly like it was supposed to. The problem was I didn't know the Maverick existed until about a month after I had bought the Camry, and kind of always wished I had gotten a Maverick. I do a lot of helping friends with remodeling stuff, work around the house, whatever, and I was hauling stuff in the trunk of the Camry because it didn't make sense to drive my F150 for that small amount of stuff.

Fast forward to February of this year. I was looking at Mavericks, now they have AWD with the hybrid, and they are actually available on the lots. I built one the way I wanted it, and waddya know, my dealer had almost exactly that truck in stock as a leftover, late build 2025. I bought it. The Maverick experience has been much better than my last two F150 purchases so far, and I'm glad I jumped when I did.

 

[Scupking]

If you want the Maverick now go for it. Other option is since you have a new vehicle wait for the second gen Maverick that should be coming out around 28.

 

[ExpoGuy]

If you want the Maverick now go for it. Other option is since you have a new vehicle wait for the second gen Maverick that should be coming out around 28.

2028, I don't think I can wait that long!

What would really excite me...a Maverick hybrid in Tremor trim. For me that would be heaven.

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