2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review: No Reason Not To

The hype surrounding battery electrical automobiles may lead you to imagine that gasoline goes away quickly. Our motoring future is undoubtedly an electrical one, however infrastructure chokeholds and additional product growth wants put that realization just a few years down the street. Within the meantime, plug-in hybrid choices make extra sense for a lot of consumers than full EVs, and the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is among the many better of them.

Plug-in hybrids are usually dearer than related gas-only vehicles, and their battery packs typically intrude on cargo area. And in lots of instances, the minuscule quantity of electric-only vary they provide isn’t sufficient to make up for these faults. The RAV4 Prime, although, addresses these complaints head-on with enticing pricing (due to its federal tax credit score eligibility), equal utility in comparison with the usual RAV4, and a surprisingly giant EV-only vary that, for a lot of, may imply just a few journeys to the gasoline stations per yr.

For a lot of, the RAV4 Hybrid nonetheless makes probably the most monetary sense, however for these with entry to common house charging and a brief commute, we predict the Prime is the way in which to go.

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The RAV4 Prime’s design is a little bit of a blended bag. We admit it’s extra good-looking than the Ford Escape PHEV or Honda CR-V Hybrid, however it stirs far much less emotion than the brand new Hyundai Tucson, for instance.

Our check automobile got here in XSE trim, which carries a $3,300 premium over the lesser LE however appears significantly better. The XSE brings a two-tone paint scheme, on this case, enjoyable Supersonic Crimson paint contrasted by a black roof, A-pillars, and wheel arches. The 19-inch five-spoke wheels are additionally an improve and do an excellent job in making the Prime look extra premium and fewer financial system.

Inside is a sea of drab black with just a few pink accents breaking apart the monotone theme. Functionally, the format is clear with a 9.0-inch touchscreen sitting atop the sprint and large HVAC dials immediately beneath. There’s additionally a pleasant storage slot on the sprint simply forward of the passenger to stow a telephone or different free objects.

With just a few exceptions, the RAV4 Prime passes the comfy crossover check with flying colours. Included within the XSE Premium Bundle are good options like a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated and ventilated entrance seats, and heated rear seats. We additionally appreciated the massive panoramic glass roof and a wise key system that permits you to unlock the automobile with any of the doorways, not simply the entrance two.

Other than the steering wheel, this can be a leather-free inside. The seats come trimmed in SoftTex, which we’ve complimented many instances up to now for being darn-near nearly as good as actual leather-based. It’s smooth, comfy, and stands up fairly nicely towards a spilled cup of espresso – ask us how we all know. The Prime is dear sufficient to warrant extra seat adjustability than the included four-way energy, however it’s nonetheless simple to get comfy, particularly due to the supportive aspect bolsters.

Cabin area is satisfactory sufficient to drive for hours at a time with out feeling too cramped. Entrance passengers get a decent 37.7 inches of headroom and 41.0 inches of legroom. These within the again make do with 39.5 inches of headroom and 37.8 inches of legroom. The Ford Escape PHEV does higher with inside area, providing 40.0 inches of entrance headroom, 42.4 inches of entrance legroom, 39.3 inches of rear headroom, and 38.9 inches of rear legroom.

The best factor in regards to the automobile’s design is the intelligent packaging within the cargo space. Toyota managed to suit the huge 18.1-kWh battery pack fully beneath the trunk flooring, so there isn’t an area penalty. With the second row in place, the Prime affords 33.4 cubic -feet of area, and as much as 63.1 cubes with these seats folded. This stacks up properly towards chief rival Ford Escape PHEV’s 34.4/60.8 cubic-foot capability.

Our highest reward goes to the Prime’s unbelievable on-road journey. Although its suspension format is not any totally different from different variations of the RAV4 we’ve pushed, the Prime feels extra composed and calm to drive. Possibly it’s the additional weight from the low-mounted battery pack, however this RAV4 does a superb job of defeating the nastiest stuff that South Florida roads need to throw at it.

We’re additionally impressed by the amount of wind noise that enters the cabin, which is low, save for freeway driving below electrical energy, the place the gasoline engine isn’t out there to drown out the sound. Solely in that situation does the Prime get noisy. This automobile is refined to ranges that knock on the door of luxurious crossovers; nicely completed, Toyota.

Each RAV4 Prime comes customary with a 9.0-inch touchscreen, together with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota ties the upgraded audio system to the Navigation bundle, and the pairing prices $1,620. We are saying no deal, although, as a result of the in-house navigation isn’t practically as intuitive as what your telephone can do, neither is the 11-speaker JBL setup unbelievable. However simply as with the numerous different RAV4s we’ve pushed, the infotainment is usually simple to work with, if somewhat gradual to reply sometimes.

Baked into the Premium bundle are just a few worthwhile upgrades that jazz up the Prime’s tech capabilities. A ten.0-inch head-up show, wi-fi charging pad, and surround-view digicam all come alongside if you tick that choice field. The RAV’s head-up show doesn’t look all that clear and lacks the configurability that we’d prefer to see. Nevertheless, the surround-view digicam appears crisp and makes parking a a lot simpler event.

Hilariously, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is the second quickest automobile within the model’s lineup, solely trailing the Supra. It’s faster than the 86 sports activities automobile, and ditto the Camry and Avalon TRD fashions, which is a part of what makes the RAV4 Prime so lovable.

Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electrical motors, complete system output is a hearty 302 horsepower. Even for a 4,400-pound porker just like the Prime, that’s loads of shove to get it shifting. Toyota says you’ll hit 60 miles per hour in simply 5.7 seconds, and we’re not inclined to say in any other case. Time and time once more, the electrified crossover put a smile on our face with brief freeway blasts. After just a few moments of pedal-down driving, the torque runs dry and the Prime feels extra like its gas-only sibling, however off the road, this automobile is unexpectedly fast. Having pushed nearly each model of the RAV4, we imagine that the Prime is definitely probably the most energetic from behind the wheel.

Other than the plentiful energy, although, the Prime isn’t going to set your hair on fireplace. Preserving in thoughts that it competes towards a category of quite uninteresting automobiles to drive, this isn’t actually a difficulty. Toyota tuned the steering to be calm and well-mannered in on a regular basis driving conditions – very mild from lock to lock. This automobile could be faster than an 86, however it certain as heck doesn’t deal with like one.

Toyota Security Sense 2.0 comes customary on the RAV4 Prime. With it comes automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise management that works to zero mph, lane-keep help, and blind-spot monitoring. Save the surround-view digicam, each necessary piece of security equipment on this automobile comes customary, which elements into its excessive rating.

We’ve discovered the system up to now to be good at its job. Utilizing the adaptive cruise management solely takes two button pushes, and works nicely to observe the vehicles in entrance and behind. Toyota’s lane-keeping tech isn’t as easy as some others, however it works nicely maintaining the automobile centered within the lane.

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration hasn’t crash-tested the Prime but, however the same RAV4 Hybrid scored 5 stars total, providing you with a sign of how secure the automobile is.

Gasoline-sipping effectivity is the one greatest purpose to purchase this automobile, and on this regard, it thrives. With a drained lithium-ion battery, the Prime nonetheless achieves a decent 40 MPG metropolis, 36 freeway, and 38 mixed – that mentioned, an everyday RAV4 Hybrid will get 41 metropolis, 38 freeway, and 40 mixed owing to its lighter weight. Nevertheless, with the 18.1-kWh pack brimmed, the Prime will do 94 MPGe and journey on EV energy alone for 42 miles.

That latter determine is the one to give attention to right here. With over 40 miles on faucet, most individuals’s every day work commute needs to be doable with out utilizing a drop of gasoline. In our real-world check, together with predominantly metropolis and a few freeway driving, we noticed 43 miles of EV vary. Amongst all plug-in hybrids available on the market, crossover or in any other case, this quantity of vary ranks close to the very high. When you’ve got entry to common charging, the Prime needs to be a powerful consideration, regardless of being dearer than the hybrid. Juicing as much as full vary takes 4.5 hours at house with speeds of three.3 kW or 2.5 hours should you’ve chosen the sooner 6.6 kW functionality out there on the XSE mannequin. The RAV4 Prime runs on 87 octane gasoline.

Let’s put that low pricing rating into context with some rationalization. The RAV4 Prime XSE begins at $41,425 (though some sellers are asking extra). There are two add-on packages out there, and this check automobile options each of them. Including navigation comes together with the JBL premium audio system for $2,435. Or, the XSE Premium takes that combo and goes additional with lots of the aforementioned choices like heated/ventilated seats, wi-fi charging, and a panoramic sunroof for $5,760. The Climate bundle with heated steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers for $375, together with the $425 shade of Supersonic pink paint and vacation spot cost convey us to a complete worth of $49,831.

Although the Prime doesn’t at present have any direct opponents which can be on sale, the section can be getting extra crowded quickly. Ford’s delayed Escape PHEV will value $32,650 and Hyundai has but to disclose the associated fee for the upcoming 2022 Tucson PHEV.