2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime SUV

　　

2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　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 Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular vehicles on sale today. The RAV4 Prime is the plug-in hybrid version that allows owners to reap some of the benefits of an electric vehicle while not having to contend with range anxiety. That's because the Prime can be charged like an EV and travel on electricity alone. Once the battery is depleted, it operates like any hybrid and still delivers impressive fuel efficiency. You're essentially getting the best of both worlds, and it's especially advantageous for those with shorter commutes.

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Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV Insights

Trim:RAV4 Prime SE

　　SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $43,690 MSRPXSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $47,560 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

　　10 yrs or 150,000 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

　　No rebates available in 58067

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　Not Available

　　RAV4 Prime

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Powerful and efficient

Most people don't think of performance in relation to Toyota hybrids. The RAV4 Prime is a bit of an outlier in this regard, with a stout 302 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive. It accelerates to 60 mph in an impressive 5.9 seconds, which is a full 3 seconds quicker than the standard RAV4. Despite this, the Prime is notably light on gas. On a full charge, the RAV4 Prime is estimated to offer 42 miles of electric range and in our testing it was easy to exceed that number. Once the battery is depleted, it gets a strong 38 mpg combined when running as a standard hybrid. Considering the average daily commute is 41 miles, you might rarely need to visit a gas station.

　　

Competitors to consider

The RAV4 Prime stands out among rival plug-in hybrids with its powerful output, but we suggest also checking out some of the higher-rated choices. These include the PHEV versions of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Niro and Ford Escape. They offer similar fuel economy but hold an advantage for delivering more comfort, more features and better driving dynamics. Check out our Expert Rating to see where the RAV4 Prime leads and where it follows.

　　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

　　7.9

　　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 in 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 synthetic 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.

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