2021 RAV4 Prime | Review & Road Test

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The 2021 RAV4 Prime is the plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4. While most of it is the same as the standard RAV4 there is clearly a difference in the powertrain.

The RAV4 Prime is powered by Toyota’s 2.5-liter inline 4 and three motors, two up front and one in the rear, giving all RAV4 Prime’s all-wheel drive.That engine/motor combination also gets the Prime 302 combine horsepower.

This is the second-fastest Toyota in the lineup after the Supra. Can you feel it when you accelerate? Er, yes you can! The power mates to a CVT, which delivers power in adequate fashion. There’s not the ability to one-pedal drive, but there are paddle shifters here to decelerate or when descending a hill will help with battery regen.

Because this is a plug-in hybrid you can operate the RAV4 Prime on pure EV power. That pure EV range here is estimated at 42 miles, which if you’re commuting doesn’t take you far from home, that’s a lot of miles without filling up the gas tank. One of our editors squeezed 46 miles out of it.

Toyota does a nice job balancing the brakes between regenerative braking and actual real hydraulic brake feel. Aside from a grabby bite at the top of the pedal, the brakes feel pretty normal. Electric-assist power steering has a nice weight and feels precise. No dead spots. So objectively effective.

Overall the RAV4 Prime drives much like the hybrid RAV4. It feels powerful but in a seamless way. There’s nothing clunky about all of the parts working in concert together. And with addend noise damping materials the ride in the cabin is quiet and comfortable.

Other touches that you can option in your RAV4 Prime include a full-color head-up display, SofTex seats (no leather available on the Prime at all), a 9-inch touchscreen, and a height-adjustable power liftgate.

The RAV4 Prime still gets Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa standard, on both SE and XSE trim levels that are available, as well as Toyota Safety Sense, Toyota’s suite of driver assistance features that includes blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure alerts among other goodies.

From the outside the only way to tell this is a Prime is front and rear gloss black bumpers, (say that five times fast) a slightly different grille that’s painted, and a front lower spoiler. Higher XSE models get two-tone paint and 19-inch wheels.

Pricing for the base SE starts around $38,100. The higher XSE jumps up to around $41,430 including destination.

The EPA rates the RAV4 Prime well. (40 hwy/36 city; 94 MPGe)

Making the Prime even more interesting, Toyota claims they’re only selling 5,000 of these here in the US. So this might become something of a unicorn.

If you’re looking for a solid compact SUV with an alternative powertrain that’s only .7 seconds slower to 60 miles an hour than the 4-cylinder Supra, well, the RAV4 Prime should definitely be on your list.

00:00 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
0:27 Hybrid Powertrain
1:18 Electric Range
1:43 Driving Feel
2:30 Features
3:00 Styling
3:16 Price
3:37 Fuel Economy

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Комментарии

Really like this thing. Toyota slowly conservatively entering into electric cars

bradyb

Both it and the v6 Camry are tied for the second fastest Toyota’s in the line up. Both do 0-60 in 5.7-5.8 seconds

naveenthemachine

It’s too bad battery shortages are affecting availability.

havok

Only 5, 000 for the USA?

Toyota is really dropping the ball on EV's huh

BadDriversOfTheIllawarra

“Ohh, can you feel that acceleration? You betcha bottom dollar you can, mister. That some high-quality zip. Zip like that doesn’t grow on trees don’tcha know.”

bbens

Current version of RAV4 is excellent. There are few improvements suggested by many youtube and auto review sites but most unpleasing is dashboard infotainment area. The screen is tiny 7" with big bezel and on top big frame around it, and seems sticks out taller making it just unpleasant, out of place, distraction. For 2022 mid cycle, when Toyota redesign interior dashboard, Infotainment screen area; please put some efforts and make it pleasant. And make smaller those 2 big knobs for temp control. Other than that, it's good mid SUV. Make infotainment screen minimum 8" with smaller frame around and with independent Audio Plus convenience package, 10". Everyone following Tesla to offer larger infotainment screen for safety to visualize GPS or other info quickly while driving. Larger screen is safety more than look.

raypat

I wish they would focus on making more of these

Langer

I own a Rav4 Prime XSE. I removed the spare tire, car jack, the tow hook and replaced the 30 pound lead acid batter with a 9 pound lithium Ohmmu battery. I removed over 100 pounds of dead weight. I'm getting 5 seconds 0 to 60 with Braggy and also got 53 mpg average.

badimpulses

That red with black roof is probably the best color combo. Well I’m think so.

toyotaxp

Only 5, 000 being sold in the United States? Lol. Why even bother.

ccruz

can't believe this thing is faster, while being 700lbs heavier, than my 306hp lexus GS.
WTF?!

kkp

This XSE in Canada doesn't qualify for any rebates, so it climbs to almost $70k CAD all in. That is overpriced as hell. A shame because the base SE trim feels as cheap on the inside as the LE and XLE trims regarding materials, fit and finish.

ShafinRehman

I own the RAV4 just like this video but in Metallic Gray. Love it got it August 20th in the first wave sent to the east coast. Already have 4800 miles on it but 1800 miles was from the drive back to Texas from Connecticut where I found it.

internetabyss

I've owned 2 Priuses since 2008, and last February I put my name on a Southern California dealership's wait list for a RAV4 Prime. But in September I figured I might as well go all-electric and put down a deposit on a VW ID.4. I wish Toyota would bring out a new EV.

timdsd

Definitely a must-have. Good luck finding one. Oh well, time to move along to the regular hybrid XSE, it's awesome too. A guy can dream about gettin' ready for the future now tho.

nerbherder