The latest figures are in, and they neatly capture the direction the car industry is taking. After several years in which electric vehicles were strongly favoured, buyers now appear to be stepping back from them. The clearest sign is that the best-selling vehicle so far this year is a non-plug-in hybrid.
Electric vehicles lose momentum as hybrids regain ground
The global automotive market continues to confound expectations. While the spotlight has been on the electric champions - Tesla and China’s BYD - it is a hybrid model that takes the crown as the world’s best-selling car in 2025. With more than 2.1 million households won over between January and October 2025, the Toyota RAV4 is enjoying standout commercial success.
This surge for the RAV4 reflects an industry that no longer seems sure which path to commit to. Estimated at 80.4 million vehicles sold (+2% year on year), the global market is shifting towards a more pragmatic mindset. After rapid growth in previous years, electric-vehicle sales are beginning to show signs of slowing - particularly in Europe and China - where range and price remain decisive issues. Hybrid technology, especially Toyota’s non-plug-in approach, is benefiting from this change, with 20% growth in global sales.
Toyota RAV4: the return of the king
Looking more closely, the RAV4 now holds 2.5% global market share in the SUV segment, ahead of the Tesla Model Y (2.4%) and the Honda CR‑V (1.8%). On the technical side, the Japanese SUV brings compelling credentials: a hybrid powertrain, output from 218 hp, a controlled 6.4 l/100 km combined-cycle consumption figure, and above all a total range close to 800 km. Crucially, these results are achieved without relying on charging infrastructure - a major advantage in many markets.
Pricing, Europe and China: the RAV4’s strongest levers
With an entry price around €44,950, the RAV4 has clearly found an audience in Europe. In France, close to 1,500 RAV4s are already being sold each month, even as the overall market has fallen by more than 6% since the start of the year. China, which accounts for nearly a third of global vehicle sales, is also embracing locally adapted models and is helping to underpin these results.
Unveiled in May 2025, the 6th-generation RAV4 continues in the same vein, combining technical updates with a broadly stable pricing strategy of around $37,000 (approximately €34,000). In doing so, Toyota reinforces its status as a pioneer in the segment, having chosen not to pivot fully to electric vehicles while much of the rest of the industry did.
SUVs and driver priorities in 2025
This dominance is also helped by changing buying habits. SUVs now make up 45% of global registrations. Above all, consumers want a versatile vehicle with strong range and lower fuel consumption, as rising fuel prices are pushing energy costs sharply higher. The RAV4 appears to meet each of these expectations.
2025, then, is shaping up to be remembered as the year the hybrid car returned to favour, even as (almost) the entire industry bets on electric vehicles. For now.
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