Which RAV4 has which battery?
| Sold new in Japan? | High-voltage battery | |
|---|---|---|
| Third generation (XA30, from 2005) | Yes, until 2016 | None: petrol or diesel (NZ-new short-wheelbase cars were diesel) |
| Fourth generation (XA40, built 2012 to 2018) | No, export only | Hybrid: nickel-metal hydride, a 204-cell pack under the rear seats |
| Fifth generation (XA50) | Yes, from 10 April 2019 | Hybrid: 1.6 kWh nickel-metal hydride or 0.9 kWh lithium-ion |
| Plug-in (sold in Japan as the RAV4 PHV from June 2020) | Yes | 18.1 kWh lithium-ion, charged from the wall |
One quirk worth knowing about imports
A RAV4 that came in from Japan can't be the fourth generation, because Toyota never sold that one there. So a Japanese-import RAV4 hybrid will be a fifth-generation car or newer, and the mechanic still needs the VIN to tell which of its two battery types is fitted.
Won't start? Check the small battery first
Every RAV4 has a 12-volt battery, hybrids included. On a hybrid it powers the auxiliary electrics and starts the system, so a flat one leaves the car dead even with a healthy pack. When people search for a RAV4 battery, this is usually the one they need, and car battery replacement covers the test.
If the RAV4 sits for long stretches or only does short hops, the MTA says the battery may never get a full charge back. A longer drive about once a month helps.
What a RAV4 hybrid battery replacement involves
Diagnosis comes first. The mechanic reads the hybrid system's codes, checks how evenly the pack holds charge, and looks at its cooling, since AA New Zealand says clogged filters are a common cause of hybrid battery failure. Sometimes the fault is a fan, a sensor or a connection, and the pack stays.
If it does need replacing, the high-voltage system is made safe before the pack comes out, and the new one is tested once fitted. Toyota New Zealand takes back old nickel-metal hydride packs for re-use or recycling and stores lithium-ion ones, so ask where yours is going.
Warranty and servicing on an NZ-new RAV4
Toyota New Zealand's standard warranty asks you to follow Toyota's schedule with the right parts and fluids; you don't have to use a Toyota store. Most Toyotas are due every 12 months or 15,000 km.
Toyota Service Protect is the exception worth weighing. On a RAV4 under 10 years old with fewer than 150,000 km, every scheduled service at a Toyota store adds a year of breakdown cover that includes the hybrid battery. If your car qualifies, that's a fair reason to keep it with the dealer. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.
If we owned this RAV4
We'd confirm the generation and battery type, then check the warranty position before spending anything. If the car is outside cover, we'd want the 12-volt test, a hybrid scan and a cooling check in one visit, with the readings in writing, and only then talk about a pack.