RAV4 Prime Wait Time: How Long to Expect and How to Reduce It?

Since gas prices keep increasing, you may be considering getting a hybrid. And if you have a family, you likely can't do without a solid SUV. After a brief research, you found the car that fulfills both these needs - the RAV4 Prime.

The Toyota model has enjoyed great reviews ever since it came out. There's only one catch - the waiting time is excruciatingly long. Just how long do you have to wait? And what can you do to reduce the waiting time?

In this article, you'll learn the following:

• How long is the RAV4 Prime wait time?
• 4 reasons why the RAV4 Prime wait time is so long
• What makes RAV4 Prime so popular
• 5 methods to reduce the RAV4 Prime wait time

How long is the RAV4 Prime wait time?

The RAV4 Prime wait time is among the worst ones on the market. Recent statistics suggest the waiting time is between 18 months to 2 years. However, you may have to wait for as long as 3 years to get your RAV4 Prime depending on your location. And even if all goes well, the minimum waiting time is usually around 1 year.

These values are just rough estimates. Your waiting time can vary a lot depending on factors such as local demand.

Why is the RAV4 Prime wait time so long? 4 main reasons

Now that you know how long the RAV4 Prime wait time is, you might be wondering why it is so long. Luckily, we have the answers. Several factors contribute to the abnormal waiting time. Most of them have to do with the economy and the supply-demand balance.

Here are 4 reasons why the RAV4 Prime wait time is so long:

• High demand
• Local availability
• Post-covid economy
• Long production time

1. High demand

This is perhaps the main reason why the RAV4 Prime wait times are so long. The new Toyota hybrid is one of the top-notch models on the market, meaning everyone wants it. Even despite the high price. The demand is so high that the brand simply doesn't have enough factories to keep up with it. This is true not only in the US but around the world as well.

Sadly for consumers (and luckily for Toyota), this demand will likely not fall any time soon. Thus, you should order a new RAV4 Prime as early as possible to reduce your waiting time. Even so, it may take over a year before you get your hands on your new Toyota hybrid.

Some people even order a RAV4 Prime just so they can sell it second-hand for more money. This challenges Toyota's manufacturing capacity even more.

2. Local availability

The waiting time for your RAV4 Prime will vary from one dealership to another. Depending on your city's size and population, the demand may be higher or lower than usual. This means that two different dealerships have different waiting times.

If you live in a large city, the waiting time for your new RAV4 Prime will likely be long. However, you could order it from outside the city to reduce it considerably. Although the shipping time may be a bit longer, it's never as long as the production itself.

3. Post-COVID economy

Covid has left its mark on the economy of the 21^st century. And with an economic decline came the need to scale back equipment and downsize companies. Almost every corporation in the world was touched by this decline and Toyota is no exception.

The RAV4 wait time was ridiculously long even before the pandemic. But as covid progressed, Toyota had to adapt to the economic recession. As a result, the waiting times became even more outrageous. Some Toyota enthusiasts had to wait for almost two years to get their RAV4 Prime.

And although the pandemic is more or less over, the damage is done. Companies are continuing to recover from the economic declines but it will be a while before things get back to normal.

4. Long production time

Another factor that influences the RAV4 Prime wait time is production. Although hybrids have some advantages over regular cars, they're much harder to produce. This is because of the more complex assembly.

This means that the waiting time for RAV4 Prime will always be longer than for non-hybrid models. And although some companies simplify the manufacturing process by removing some components, Toyota didn't go down this path. While it would make the waiting time shorter, it would be at the cost of safety and performance.

This isn't something you can bypass unless you choose to go for another model.

What makes RAV4 Prime so popular?

The demand for RAV4 Prime is ridiculously high. But why is it so?

This hybrid SUV comes with several features that make it stand out on the market. For instance, its fuel economy is above reproach. It can last for over 40 miles without consuming any fuel. Since gas prices keep going up, this can help you save a lot of money.

The SUV also features top-notch safety technology, minimizing the risk of accidents. Its other perks are quality-of-life enhancements such as a stellar infotainment system and a roomy interior.

How can you reduce the RAV4 Prime wait time? Our 5 helpful tips

Although the RAV4 Prime wait time is painfully long, it doesn't have to be that way. You have several options that can help you reduce it. As with most things in life, faster usually means more expensive.

Here are our 5 tips that will help you reduce the RAV4 Prime wait time:

• Change dealership
• Ease up on customization
• Order your vehicle early
• Buy your RAV4 Prime second-hand
• Consider other models

1) Change dealership

Although the demand for RAV4 Prime is high, it may vary from one dealership to another. You can ask about the estimated waiting time at your local store. If you don't like it, you can consider ordering from another city. Dealerships in bigger cities usually have to deal with higher demand so this can be a good way to reduce it.

2) Ease up on customization

A good thing about ordering a car is getting to customize it as much as you want. However, this can work against you in terms of waiting time. The more you customize your RAV4 Prime, the longer it will take before you see it.

Of course, you shouldn't settle for whatever's available right now. We're simply pointing out that excessive customization sometimes means longer production. If you don't care much about looks, you can go for more basic colors to speed up the process.

3) Order way ahead of time

This is a very straightforward tip. The sooner you order your RAV4 Prime, the sooner you'll get it. If your old car is already acting up, you should start looking for a replacement immediately. And once you choose what you want to get, order it immediately.

This way, you'll have a functional car while you wait for your new RAV4 Prime.

Some dealerships also have the option to place special orders. Although these are generally more expensive, it means you'll get your RAV4 Prime much faster.

4) Buy RAV4 Prime second-hand

This is easily the fastest method that will reduce your RAV4 Prime wait time to zero. However, it's also the most expensive one.

Some people order RAV4 Prime just to resell it. They often set the price much higher than Toyota's original deal. It can sometimes be as much as 25% more expensive. These resellers do this to earn extra money on the markup. And since the demand is so ridiculously high, they can afford to do so.

Just keep in mind that individual sales can be risky since you don't know who you're dealing with.

5) Consider going for a different hybrid

The last method is to simply give up on the model. Although RAV4 Prime is a great hybrid, there are many great alternatives you can choose from. And luckily, you can get your hands on them much faster.

We recommend either Honda CR-V or Ford Escape Plug-in as solid RAV4 Prime alternatives. Both hybrids are just as reliable and don't have such ridiculously high waiting times.

Our final thoughts on the RAV4 Prime wait time

Although the RAV4 Prime is an excellent hybrid SUV, it has one major downside. You'll likely have to wait for over a year before you get it.

The waiting time is long for several reasons. Perhaps the most important one is the high demand. Since RAV4 Prime comes with countless useful features, many people want it. The demand is so high that Toyota simply can't keep up with production. Availability also varies depending on your location as some factories are under greater load than others. And lastly, the production rate has been lower ever since the covid pandemic.

Luckily, you can lower your waiting time if you're willing to make sacrifices. For instance, you can look for the RAV4 Prime at another dealership with lower demand. And the sooner you order it, the sooner you receive your new hybrid.

The fastest way you can get your RAV4 Prime is by buying it second-hand. However, the prices will likely be incredibly expensive. And if all else fails, you can consider getting another hybrid model instead.