Making the Top-Selling Crossover Better
Not satisfied with the RAV4 being the best-selling crossover SUV in America, Toyota is introducing the all-new 2021 RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), to join the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota is making sure that when someone says the words “hybrid” you immediately think the word “Toyota”.
Prime, in Toyota-speak, means that vehicle plugs into a charger. The Prius Prime was the first Toyota plug-in, and now the RAV4 gets a plug and a cord. So why bother with a third RAV4 version–what does the RAV4 Prime offer that you can’t get in the RAV4 Hybrid?
Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity, for two days, to drive a prototype model of the all-new 2021 RAV4 Prime XSE Premium. This Flash Drive review will hit the high points, followed by a Road Test review after we have driven the RAV4 Prime for a longer period.
Performance and Efficiency
The all-wheel drive (AWD) 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime comes in two grade levels–SE and XSE–both powered by the Toyota parallel hybrid drivetrain where the electric motor can power the car by itself, the gas engine can power the car by itself, or they can power the car together. The base engine in both the RAV4 Hybrid and Prime is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, non-turbocharged engine with two electric motors. The Hybrid has 219 horsepower (hp), with the RAV4 Prime putting-out 302 hp, making it the quickest four-door Toyota model with 0-60 mph times of 5.7 seconds.
The EPA rated the RAV4 Prime at 40 mpg city/36 highway/38 combined with a 94 MPGe or Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, and a 600-mile total driving range. MPGe is a measurement of how far a car can travel electrically, on the same amount of energy as is contained in 1 gallon of gasoline. Our limited time with the RAV4 Prime didn’t give us much seat time, but we were able to get in a 90-mile run where we averaged 55.6 mpg.
Toyota engineered the RAV4 Prime to default to electric mode where it will remain until the battery is depleted, or the HV/EV Hold button is pressed. We achieved our fuel economy number by running in electric-only mode in-town, then running in hybrid mode on the highway. This is a much appreciated tool as the RAV4 Prime is more efficient in-town running only on electricity, and then more efficient running in hybrid mode on the highway. With a fully charged battery and experimenting with the HV/EV Hold button, it would be possible to get very close to the EPA estimated 94 MPGe number. Pushing and holding this button will recharge the battery as you are driving. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific. Your numbers may differ.
Where the RAV4 Prime shines is letting the computer find the most fuel efficient way to combine electricity and gasoline. The system is sensitive to even the slightest fluctuation in road inclines and declines, more-so than the driver can feel. There is a green EV icon on the gauge cluster that goes on and off as the system imperceptibly knows it is time to save gasoline by using electricity.
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Prime uses an 18.1 kilowatt-hour Lithium-ion (li-ion) battery, which is charged through the regenerative charging system, which converts energy into the battery when applying the brakes or coasting, and plugging in. Charging times will be:
120V Level 1 12.3 hours
240V Level 2 4.5 hours
240V Level 2 2.5 hours
Note: The fastest time is available on the RAV4 Prime XSE Premium model with the optional onboard 6.6 kW charger. Otherwise, the other models have a 3.3 kW onboard charger.
The RAV4 Prime is not capable of using a 480V Level 3 DC fast-charger.
Driving Experience: On the Road
Toyota says driving and performance characteristics drove the development process for the RAV4 Prime. Since they were playing with 302 hp and instant torque, Toyota began with the electronic on-demand AWD system, with rear and front-mounted electric motors that use a planetary power split system. The planetary system is a bit complicated to explain, but let’s leave it that Toyota has been using this technology for many years on many different cars and crossover SUVs, so it is proven and reliable.
The under-seat battery placement resulted in a low center of gravity, making for good handling. The RAV4 Prime weighs in at 4,235 pounds for the SE and 4,310 pounds for the XSE, both of which are more than the 3,755 pound RAV4 Hybrid. 18-inch alloy wheels are standard on the SE trim line, but 19s come on the XSE. Our brief time in the RAV4 Prime reminded us how nice all the RAV4s are we have driven. They are all smooth on the highway and easy to maneuver in-town, with the AWD helping with a stable and confident ride. We only took a few corners aggressively, but we noticed the AWD helped reduce understeer. Again, when we have the 2021 RAV4 Prime for a longer period, we will report in more detail on its cornering and handling characteristics.
The previously mentioned regenerative braking system, with four-wheel discs and ABS, are aided by the steering wheel-mounted paddles, which slow the RAV4 Prime with the motors, not the brakes. If you aren’t familiar with driving an electric car, one of the benefits is how long the brake pads last before needing replacement. For many owners that have mastered using the paddles and motors to slow and stop their car, they never will need a brake job.
Exterior and Interior
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Prime carries over the redesign of the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid, with sharpened edges and lines, leaving behind the more rounded styling of the previous year. It sits a bit taller and boxier than in the past and has a more aggressive look. The hexagon-hatched grille, swept-back LED projector headlights and vertical LED daytime running lights are the key front end design features. Hybrid badging is subtle with the blue Toyota logo on the nose and power lift gate and “Plug-in Hybrid” on the front fenders and hatch.
Climbing inside, the interior is clean and basic, and-well equipped with features such as push button start/stop, one-touch power windows and a power tilt and slide moonroof. The multifunction full-color gauges, in the 7.0-inch information display, are large and well-placed for ease of viewing. The optional digital rearview mirror, and 10-inch head-up display are both safety and convenience features.
The XSE package came with black SofTex-trimmed heated front seats, with red topstitching. SofTex is a synthetic leather seat material designed for wear, easy cleaning and resisting spills, and uses a manufacturing process that is more environmentally sensitive than conventional synthetic leather. The driver’s seat is power adjustable, with the passenger getting four-way manual adjustments. Out back, the split and reclining 60/40 rear seats were flat-folding and separated by a center armrest with cup holders. Rear seat leg and headroom is average for this size crossover, with two adults comfortable and three on a short stint. The storage space, with the rear seat in the up position, can handle four bags on a long road trip. The rear seat passengers also get heat and cooling vents and USB power ports.
The leather-trimmed, tilt and telescopic three-spoke heated steering wheel has controls for audio, hands-free Bluetooth telephone operation and the full-speed adaptive cruise control. The dash centerpiece of the RAV4 Prime is the color 8.0-inch touchscreen on the SE, and a 9.0-inch on the XSE. There are two available sound systems, with the JBL Premium Audio system an option on the XSE model.
A big thank you to Toyota for having volume and channel selection knobs for the AM/FM/HD radio with SiriusXM, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. There are USB ports up front, in the center console, and a 120V/1500W port in the rear cargo area. Toyota’s Safety Connect includes a Wi-Fi three-month trial. For those long, fuel-efficient road trips, having Wi-Fi for up to five devices will keep the back seat passengers happy and quiet. Qi wireless charging is standard on the XSE trim line.
Safety and Warranties
The 2021 RAV4 Prime is well-equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, Toyota Safety Connect and the Star Safety System. Active and passive safety features include eight air bags, vehicle stability and traction control, brake assist and smart stop technology. The advanced driver pre-collision technology includes lane departure alert with steering and lane tracing assist, adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection. Additional safety features include remote keyless entry and a tire pressure monitoring system.
The 2021 RAV4 Prime comes with these warranties:
Basic Warranty – Three years/36,000 miles
Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
Hybrid System – Eight years/100,000 miles
Hybrid Battery – 10 years/150,000 miles
Pricing
The 2021 RAV4 Prime comes in two trim levels–SE and XSE. These base prices exclude optional packages and equipment, but include the $1,095 delivery, processing and handling fee.
SE $39,195
XSE $42,520
The RAV4 Prime qualifies for federal and state tax credits that could reduce your final cost. Clean Fleet Report recommends contacting your CPA to be completely clear on the tax credits. Not relying on the dealer to provide this information will serve them and you best.
Also worth noting is that in several states the RAV4 Prime qualifies for the coveted car pool stickers, allowing the driver with no passenger to use the HOV lane. This is no small thing when trying to get anywhere on a freeway, especially for those of us living in California. Make sure to check with your DMV to see if this benefit is available in your state.
Observations: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Compact and midsize crossovers are quickly replacing the sedan as consumer’s vehicles of choice. The competition in the crossover category is fierce, so to get recognized there has to be something really special when a manufacturer comes out with a new model. Toyota, with its all-new 2021 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid, has covered this in at least two areas: speed and all-electric driving range.
With its 302 horsepower, competing crossovers had better think twice about racing the RAV4 Prime, which is both quick and fast. This adds a fun factor as crossovers, while nice vehicles, don’t usually raise the excitement factor. But the RAV4 Prime can’t be just about speed off the line. Toyota can claim the RAV4 Prime, with 42 miles, has the highest all-electric driving range of any PHEV crossover.
The 94 MPGe rating places Toyota into a lofty space of high-mileage alternative fuel vehicles. The RAV4 Prime is a quality vehicle being added to the already very successful RAV4 family. Toss-in Toyota reliability and an outstanding battery warranty, and the RAV4 Prime could be in your garage for many, many years.
You will pay more for a hybrid versus a gasoline-powered car, and more for a RAV4 Prime over a standard RAV4 or RAV4 Hybrid. If you drive most of your miles in town or in rush hour traffic, then you will benefit greatly from the pure electric drive mode of the Prime. The EPA numbers will undoubtedly be conservative once you learn how to squeeze-out every last drop of fuel and watt of electricity. The combined 38 mpg number is impressive, but even more so is the 42 miles of all-electric driving range. Since most people drive less than 40 miles a day, this means you conceivably can go a very long time before adding fuel to your tank. And as any electric car owner will tell you, there is a great satisfaction of zipping past gas stations.
The smooth operation and seamless transition between gasoline and electric, the interior fit and finish, and the drive/ride attributes of the RAV4 Prime make it a serious contender for anyone looking at a crossover, regardless of its power source.
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.
Whatever you buy, Happy Driving!
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and the manufacturer.
Related Stories You Might Enjoy—Unplugged RAV4 Alternatives & More PHEV Crossover Action
Road Test: 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Road Test: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure
News: Ford Escape PHEV Details
Road Test: 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Road Test: 2018 Kia Niro PHEV
Road Test: 2018 Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV
News: Tesla Model Y Unveiled
Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
29 thoughts on “Flash Drive: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV”