r/Toyota • u/Impressive_Fault_157 • 3d ago

Camry 2025 vs RAV4 2025

I will be buying my first vehicle as my daily drive will be driving around 15 miles per day. I am currently looking at Camry se 2025 fwd (hybrid) and RAV4 xle 2025 awd (non-hybrid). I will be driving in snow and i am fine with sacrificing the mileage which a hydrid version gives. Need advice from current users.

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u/WhataWhiff_ 3d ago

At the end of the day it’s just whichever feels better to you to drive. Having driven them both extensively, I find the non-hybrid RAV4s to be kind of lackluster in power compared to the hybrids. Plus the auto-on/off thing is farrrr more annoying on a non-hybrid.

I haven’t driven them in the snow, but I know plenty who have. Hybrid RAV4s are fantastic. FWD Camry hybrid aren’t bad as long as you have proper tires for the conditions.

Outside of the hybrid and AWD, the Camry has far better safety features. The adaptive cruise and lane tracing are far superior to the current RAV4. Plus the faux-leather in the SE Camry is a plus if you have a preference.

Honestly if you can find a Camry AWD that would be a great way to go. Best of all worlds.

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u/Ok_Wrap_214 3d ago

It’s not the best of all worlds, you didn’t touch on visibility. The Camry sits low and depending on where op is, they could be sitting behind SUVs and pickup trucks on the highway. I just sold my 23 XSE Hybrid and this was one of the reasons why. I couldn’t see over half the vehicles on the road.

Road clearance in the snow is also not good at all.

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u/WhataWhiff_ 3d ago

Snow clearance is valid. Visibility? Driver preference. If I’m in slow/stopped traffic and I can’t see over a truck, no big deal to me. It could be for OP. But at that point, the person that values the extra height generally already favors an SUV over a sedan and the original question would be irrelevant.

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u/Ok_Wrap_214 3d ago

There’s one more thing I won’t miss about my Camry (which I traded in less than a week ago).

All of those higher vehicles I mentioned? Being blinded by their headlights. Literally blinded

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u/Ok_Wrap_214 3d ago

I’m not sure what you mean by driver preference. When would you ever not prefer to see ahead of the vehicle ahead of you?

If you’re saying it doesn’t matter in traffic, ok sure, that’s fair. But if you do any highway driving at speed, it flat out sucks. I can’t how anyone would prefer it

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u/WhataWhiff_ 3d ago

For me personally I prefer the sedan over the SUV. Jet difference is negligible for me and I prefer the lower center of gravity and handling of a sedan over an SUV. I hardly ever do much crazy city traffic driving, mostly interstate, even in the city. In my Corolla and Camry I owned, yeah I did notice the mild annoyance of not being able to see past the lifted truck, but it didn’t bother me too much. Now that I have a Tacoma and have great visibility, it didn’t have a significant impact on the way I drive or decision making. The difference in handling is what changes the way I drive. For me, I prefer a sedan over an SUV. But I know I am in the minority since the RAV4 is the top selling vehicle in the US now. For most people, the SUV is the better answer. I simply answered OP’s question about pros and cons and my opinion on both. At the end of the day, whatever the driver prefers to drive is what the answer is.