Toyota RAV4 service intervals: all models covered

Regularly scheduled maintenance will keep your car running smoothly, but what are your Toyota RAV4 service intervals? With five generations of Toyota’s pioneering SUV officially sold in the UK, and a variety of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines offered, it can be hard to keep tabs on when a scheduled service should take place. Here we highlight the time and distance limits for every version of the RAV4 officially sold in the UK, so you can keep on top of your car’s service schedule.

All RAV4 service intervals alternate between Intermediate and Full services. We have listed intervals for those versions of the Toyota RAV4 that were officially sold via the UK dealer network, but this will still be a good guide for owners of grey import versions of the RAV4 that have been shipped into the UK.

First-generation Toyota RAV4 Mk1 service intervals

Years: 1994-2000

The first-generation RAV4 used the Toyota model code XA10. It was a new model that differed from previous Toyota SUVs by featuring unibody construction, where the chassis and bodyshell are all one entity, rather than having the body bolted to a separate frame. This made it lighter, more efficient and more car-like to drive, and with its arrival, the RAV4 became the first contemporary compact SUV.

The first RAV4s arrived in the UK in 1994, and the car came as a short-bodied three-door model with a side-hinged rear tailgate. Later, in March 1995, a five-door version with a 400mm longer body arrived. With it came a more practical interior, with increased rear legroom and a bigger boot. In 1998, a soft-top RAV4 Cabrio arrived, based on the short wheelbase model. Minor updates in 1996 and 1998 saw styling and tech improvements for all models.

All versions of the first-generation RAV4 came with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The majority had four-wheel drive, while front-wheel drive arrived in 1996 on the entry-level versions.

• 2.0 petrol: Annually/10,000 miles

Second-generation Toyota RAV4 Mk2 service intervals

Years: 2000-2005

With a new model came the XA20 model code, and the RAV4 Mk2 arrived in 2000. It again came in three and five-door body styles with a side-hinged tailgate, but this time around there was no soft top Cabrio option. An update in 2003 kept the RAV4 looking fresh against a new crop of compact SUV rivals, while the engine options were greater than they were for the last car. The UK saw 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol units offered – the former with front-wheel drive – while a 2.0 D-4D diesel (4WD only) was also available.

• 1.8 petrol: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.0 petrol: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.0 diesel: Annually/10,000 miles

Third generation

Years: 2005-2012

The XA30 generation RAV4 was the first version to be offered without a door-mounted spare wheel, although it still featured a side-hinged tailgate. A three-door version was available in Japan for a short period, but only the five-door version made it to the UK as an official import. Once again, front-wheel drive was offered on lower-spec cars, but the majority of RAV4s had four-wheel drive. While some other markets received 2.4, 2.5 and even 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines, the UK made do with a 2.0-litre unit, although most sales were taken by the 2.2-litre diesel alternatives, badged D-CAT then D-4D. Front-wheel drive was now available with the diesel engine.

• 2.0 petrol: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.2 diesel: Annually/10,000 miles

Fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 Mk4 service intervals

Years: 2013-2019

There were significant changes during the life cycle of the XA40-generation RAV4. In terms of body style, it was conventional enough because it was offered solely as a five-door compact SUV, with no short-wheelbase alternative. The side-hinged rear door had also disappeared, replaced by a more conventional top-hinged tailgate. It was in the drivetrain where the big changes took place.

At launch in the UK, there was the option of a 2.0-litre petrol or the 2.2 D-4D diesel as before – and the choice of front or four-wheel drive – but the latter was replaced by a BMW-sourced 2.0-litre diesel from 2015-2018. It’s worth noting that this 2.0-litre diesel has slightly different service intervals than have been seen previously, with the attention needed every 12,500 miles, and the schedule over 10 years running as follows:

There were significant changes during the life cycle of the XA40-generation RAV4. In terms of body style, it was conventional enough, because it was offered solely as a five-door compact SUV, with no short-wheelbase alternative. The side-hinged rear door had also disappeared, replaced by a more conventional top-hinged tailgate. It was in the drivetrain where the big changes took place.

At launch in the UK, there was the option of a 2.0-litre petrol or the 2.2 D-4D diesel as before – and the choice of front or four-wheel drive – but the latter was replaced by a BMW-sourced 2.0-litre diesel from 2015-2018. It’s worth noting that this 2.0-litre diesel has slightly different service intervals than have been seen previously, with the attention needed every 12,500 miles, and the schedule over 10 years running as follows:

• Intermediate/Full/Full/Full/Intermediate/Full/Intermediate/Full/Full/Full

In 2016, Toyota added a petrol-electric RAV4 Hybrid to the line-up. This was the same system used by the Lexus IS and NX, featuring a 2.5-litre petrol engine as part of the setup. It came with either front or four-wheel drive.

• 2.0 petrol: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.2 diesel: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.0 diesel: Annually/12,500 miles
• 2.5 hybrid: Annually/10,000 miles

Fifth generation

Years: 2019-present

With Toyota committing to the electrification of its line-up, the XA50 that arrived in 2019 was launched in the UK exclusively with an updated version of the 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain that was introduced with the XA40 RAV4. That meant no more diesel engines, and no more conventional petrol units, either. As before, front and four-wheel drive versions were offered, with the 4WD version adding a second electric motor to the rear axle to provide additional drive. A second version of the RAV4 arrived in 2020, the plug-in hybrid PHEV model. This used the same 2.5-litre petrol engine as the standard hybrid but added a bigger battery and a more powerful electric motor.

• 2.5 hybrid: Annually/10,000 miles
• 2.5 PHEV: Annually/10,000 miles