2020 RAV4 vs CR-V: Five-Year Ownership Cost Compared
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V both cost $34,800 over five years. See how each vehicle spends that money and which one fits your situation.
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The Short Answer
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 and the 2020 Honda CR-V come out exactly even over five years of ownership, each totaling $34,800 at an average of $580 per month. There is no winner on pure cost. Every major expense category, from fuel to depreciation to insurance, is identical between the two models according to our data. That means the decision comes down to something other than price: reliability reputation, driving feel, cargo layout, and which vehicle fits your life. The sections below break down where that $34,800 goes and which model earns the edge on factors that matter beyond the bottom line.
Cost Breakdown: 2020 Toyota RAV4
The RAV4's biggest five-year expense is fuel, which runs $1,710 per year every single year, totaling $8,550 over five years. That flat line reflects consistent driving assumptions and stable fuel economy. Depreciation hits hardest in the first year at $3,400, then falls to $2,600 in year two and continues dropping to $1,600 by year five. Buying a used RAV4 at 50,000 to 70,000 miles means the steepest depreciation cliff has already been absorbed by the original owner. You step in during the flatter part of the curve.
Maintenance costs are relatively low in the first two years at $250 and $290, which reflects the RAV4's Toyota Care-style service intervals and generally simple drivetrain needs. Year four jumps to $1,350, which likely captures a larger scheduled service interval such as spark plugs, coolant, or transmission fluid on higher-mileage vehicles. Year five drops back to $815. This is a predictable pattern. It is not random, and it gives you a clear view of when to set money aside.
Repair costs start at $300 in year one and climb steadily to $850 by year five. That climb is gradual rather than sudden, which reflects the RAV4's reputation for avoiding catastrophic failures. Insurance stays flat at $1,440 per year, and registration fees drop from $400 in year one to $200 in year five as the vehicle's assessed value decreases.
Cost Breakdown: 2020 Honda CR-V
The CR-V carries the exact same cost structure as the RAV4 in our data. Fuel costs $1,710 per year for five years. Depreciation starts at $3,400 and steps down to $1,600. Maintenance spikes in year four at $1,350 before falling to $815 in year five. Repairs climb from $300 to $850. Insurance holds at $1,440 annually. Registration fees shrink by $50 each year from $400 to $200.
The CR-V's 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was the subject of well-documented oil dilution concerns in earlier model years, particularly in colder climates. Honda made revisions to address this, and the 2020 model year reflects those updates. Still, buyers in cold-weather states should be aware of that history and ask for maintenance records before buying. The turbo engine can also be more sensitive to oil change intervals than a naturally aspirated motor.
Like the RAV4, the CR-V's used purchase price at 50,000 to 70,000 miles puts you past the sharpest depreciation drop. The year-four maintenance spike at $1,350 applies here as well, and smart buyers should budget for it rather than be surprised by it.
Five-Year Cost Comparison Table
| Cost Category | 2020 Toyota RAV4 | 2020 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|---|
| Total Five-Year Cost | $34,800 | $34,800 |
| Average Monthly Cost | $580 | $580 |
| Fuel (5 years) | $8,550 | $8,550 |
| Maintenance (5 years) | $3,250 | $3,250 |
| Repairs (5 years) | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Depreciation (5 years) | $11,600 | $11,600 |
| Insurance (5 years) | $7,200 | $7,200 |
| Registration (5 years) | $1,500 | $1,500 |
How Costs Change Year by Year
Both vehicles follow the same year-by-year cost trajectory, so this section covers the shared pattern and what it means practically.
Year one is the most expensive year for depreciation at $3,400, but the cheapest for maintenance at $250 and repairs at $300. Your total spending on the vehicle feels manageable. Fuel is steady at $1,710. This is the honeymoon phase of used car ownership.
Year two stays calm. Depreciation drops to $2,600. Maintenance ticks up slightly to $290. Repairs rise to $400. Nothing alarming is happening. Both vehicles should still feel relatively fresh at this mileage range.
Year three brings repair costs to $500. Depreciation continues falling to $2,200. Maintenance holds steady at $545. This is the most balanced year of the ownership cycle, with no single category running unusually high.
Year four is the year to watch. Maintenance jumps to $1,350, the highest single-year maintenance cost of the five-year window. This likely reflects a major scheduled service. Repairs climb to $650. Depreciation softens further to $1,800. Budget in advance for year four. It is the tightest year in the cycle.
Year five settles back down. Maintenance falls to $815. Repairs reach their peak at $850, but depreciation drops to just $1,600, the lowest of any year. Registration also hits its lowest point at $200. Year five costs more in repairs than any prior year, but lower depreciation and registration help balance it out.
Reliability Comparison
This is where the two vehicles separate. The numbers in our cost model are identical, but real-world reliability data tells a more specific story.
According to RepairPal, the Toyota RAV4 earns a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, ranking it second among 26 compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost for the RAV4 is $429, below the compact SUV segment average. Owners report fewer unscheduled repairs than average, and the severity of those repairs skews toward minor issues.
The Honda CR-V earns a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, ranking it first in the compact SUV segment. Its average annual repair cost is $407. On paper, the CR-V edges the RAV4 slightly on both rating and average repair cost. However, the CR-V's 1.5-liter turbo engine has a documented history of oil dilution in certain conditions, particularly short trips in cold weather. This does not show up dramatically in average repair cost figures, but it is a real concern for some owners.
Both vehicles are strong reliability choices. The RAV4's naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine has fewer mechanical variables than the CR-V's turbo setup. If you drive short trips in a cold climate, the RAV4 may offer fewer headaches over time. If you drive mostly highway miles in a mild climate, the CR-V's turbo performs well and the oil dilution risk is minimal.
Fuel Economy in Real Life
Fuel economy figures for both vehicles are available on fueleconomy.gov.
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 with front-wheel drive is rated at 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive version comes in at 25/32/28 mpg combined.
The 2020 Honda CR-V with front-wheel drive is rated at 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive version rates at 27/32/29 mpg combined.
At the combined ratings, both FWD models deliver 30 mpg. The AWD CR-V at 29 mpg trails the AWD RAV4 at 28 mpg by a single mile per gallon in favor of the CR-V. At 12,000 miles per year and a fuel price of $3.50 per gallon, the difference between 28 and 29 mpg works out to roughly $5 per month. That is not a meaningful factor in any purchase decision. Both vehicles are competitive fuel economy performers in the compact SUV class, and the $1,710 annual fuel cost in our model applies to both equally.
Which One Should You Buy?
The cost data does not make this choice for you. Both vehicles cost exactly the same to own over five years. So here is the practical split.
Buy the 2020 Toyota RAV4 if: you want the simplest possible drivetrain, you drive short trips in cold weather, or you live somewhere with harsh winters. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine has no turbocharger to worry about and a long track record of reliability across hundreds of thousands of miles. The RAV4 also tends to hold its value slightly better in certain markets due to strong resale demand. If low mechanical complexity and predictable service needs are your priority, the RAV4 is the right call.
Buy the 2020 Honda CR-V if: you want a slightly more refined interior, a fuel-efficient turbo engine for mostly highway driving, or you prioritize cargo space and rear passenger room. The CR-V offers a bit more interior flexibility and a slightly sportier driving feel. If you live in a mild climate and drive longer trips where the turbo engine runs at proper operating temperature, the oil dilution concern is largely a non-issue. The CR-V also ranks marginally higher on RepairPal's reliability index, which matters if that ranking influences your confidence in the vehicle.
Neither vehicle is a bad choice. At 50,000 to 70,000 miles, both have shed their worst depreciation years and are entering the most cost-stable phase of their ownership cycle. Pick the one that fits how you actually drive.
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