2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime

　　

2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　, rating written byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The RAV4 Prime is the plug-in hybrid version of Toyota's popular compact crossover SUV. Compared to the standard hybrid, the Prime has more powerful electric motors and a larger battery that allows for 42 miles of all-electric range. That means it's not only the best option for commuting in the RAV4 lineup, but it's also the quickest of the bunch, needing only 5.6 seconds to hit 60 mph.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV Insights

Trim:RAV4 Prime SE

　　SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $40,300 MSRPXSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $43,625 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　42 miles

　　EPA Estimated Electric Range

　　The RAV4 Prime will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

Hybrid Parts Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.

　　

Charging at Home

　　4.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$85/mo

　　RAV4 Prime

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　To access that extra range and power, you'll need to plug in the RAV4 Prime, and to really get the most out of it, you'll want to charge it overnight. Toyota says the SUV can fully recharge on a standard household in about 12 hours. Having a 240-volt home charger reduces that to about four hours, or two and a half if you opt for the available enhanced onboard charger. If you don't have the ability to charge at home or at work, you might be better off going with the regular RAV4 Hybrid. Check out our Expert Rating for a complete breakdown of the RAV4 Prime to help you decide if this plug-in hybrid SUV is right for you.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the RAV4 Prime drive? The RAV4 Prime gets up to speed much better than its standard or hybrid siblings. In zzdcar' testing, it reached 60 mph in an impressively quick 5.9 seconds. The regular RAV4, for example, needs a comparatively unhurried 8.9 seconds. The RAV4 Prime is also smooth and easy to drive under typical commuting conditions.

　　Unfortunately, Toyota has failed to back up the muscular powertrain with any sort of dynamic athleticism. Handling is pretty abysmal, with prevalent body roll and vague steering that makes it hard to judge the right amount of input. The electronic driver assistants also freak out at the smallest provocation. Another demerit comes from the brakes. The RAV4 Prime's pedal feel is overly soft. Panic-stopping performance in our testing was below average for a small SUV.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the RAV4 Prime? The driver's seat has enough adjustments to allow you to easily find a comfortable seating position. But the front passenger seat has fewer adjustments, which might lead to a few complaints on long trips. The available simulated leather upholstery (Toyota's SofTex) breathes well and is definitely helped on hot days by the available seat ventilation. The rear seats are also praiseworthy for the better-than-average thigh support.

　　The RAV4 Prime's ride quality is biased more toward comfort than performance, delivering a smooth ride over road imperfections. Road and wind noise is abated to pleasant levels, though the gasoline engine sounds unrefined when you're aggressively accelerating. Otherwise, it's pleasantly muted.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below