I always buy my choice of a car fully optioned (iow all factory packages). I picked up a 2021 Lexus LS350 with the Luxury package, panorama S/R etc and it cost me a tad over $50,000.
From what I see the RAV 4 top of the line is about $50k as well and I think you said it has an additional dealer mark up as well. Even with the tax credit which is no good if you pay little or no taxes due to smart management of investments it seems for comfort and and luxury on longer trips and resale value the Lexus is a better value.
I’m not the typical driver since I only drive about 3500 miles per year and seldom keep my cars past 4 yrs so I lose the most % in that time but still my cars always bring me top dollar + because of the low, low mileage and pristine shape I keep them in. But I wonder about the resale on the RAV Hybrid because of the high cost of the battery replacement.
“But I wonder about the resale on the RAV Hybrid because of the high cost of the battery replacement.”
I’ve known EV drivers for years now but I’ve never known one that replaced a battery. EVs or ICEs, most Americans waste more money on cars than anything else in their lives.
Like I said, it is probably my wife’s last car. She’s not that old, but old enough, and drives little enough. Lady’s choice. The Rav4 Prime is “only” about 42k (not the XSE, the SE). She wouldn’t know what to do with all the added electronics in the XSE.