2016 Toyota RAV4 2.5L Hybrid electric (clean) · SN65 CDL

The vehicle was presented for its most recent MOT on 14 January 2026 and achieved a clean pass with no defects or advisories recorded against the test. Reviewing the five-year DVSA history confirms a wholly unblemished record, with each annual test from 2022 through 2026 returning a pass and no recorded advisories on items such as braking components, suspension, tyres, exhaust emissions, or structural integrity. This consistent absence of advisory notes suggests that wear-related components have not yet reached the threshold where a tester would feel obliged to flag them, and it indicates that the previous keeper has generally maintained the vehicle to a satisfactory standard. While a clean MOT history is reassuring, it remains a snapshot of pass-or-fail outcomes and does not guarantee that components on the cusp of failure or items not directly examined under the MOT regime, such as the clutch, cambelt, or internal engine condition, are in sound order. At 73,855 recorded miles over approximately ten years, the vehicle is running at an average annual mileage of around 7,386 miles, which is broadly typical for a family SUV of this vintage and suggests neither excessive long-distance use nor extended periods of standing. There are no obvious gaps in the MOT record that would indicate the vehicle has been off-road for any prolonged interval, which removes some of the usual concerns surrounding seized brake calipers, perished rubber components, and stale fluids that affect very low-mileage examples. That said, the mileage is not so high as to have inflicted severe wear on the major mechanical assemblies, although consumable items such as brake discs, pads, tyres, and suspension bushes will inevitably have reached an intermediate stage of their service life given the vehicle's age. Given the clean MOT record and the moderate mileage profile, a prospective buyer should now focus on age-related deterioration rather than chasing specific failure items flagged in the history. The tyres warrant close visual inspection for sidewall perishing and cracking, which occurs as a consequence of rubber degradation over time rather than tread wear, and any tyres manufactured before 2020 should be regarded as due for replacement on safety grounds even if the tread depth remains legally compliant. The 12-volt battery, approaching the end of its typical five to six year service life, should be load-tested prior to purchase, particularly as cold-start performance will be critical through the coming autumn and winter months. Brake discs should be examined for lipping and surface corrosion, and the caliper slide pins should be checked for free movement to confirm they are not binding, a common issue on vehicles that see primarily urban or short-journey use. The test drive should include a thorough assessment over varied road surfaces, with particular attention to any clonks, knocks, or creaks emanating from the front suspension, which would indicate worn anti-roll bar bushes, drop links, or top mount bearings, all of which are common wear items on a RAV4 of this age. The transmission, whether manual or automatic, should be exercised through all gears to confirm smooth selection and the absence of vibration or fluid slippage, and the cooling system should be checked for evidence of leaks or perished hoses. Service history verification is essential, with particular emphasis on confirmation of cambelt replacement, which on a 2016 Toyota RAV4 is typically due at either 90,000 miles or ten years, whichever arrives first, meaning this service is imminent and represents a significant upcoming maintenance cost. Brake fluid and coolant should also be regarded as time-expired rather than mileage-expired, as both degrade chemically over time and are commonly overlooked by owners who service by distance rather than by calendar.