2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Hybrid XSE AWD: The Brand’s First Plug-In Compact Crossover

 

Highlight: The RAV4 Prime is the only one in its electrification segment to offer an all-wheel drive configuration.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $49,388 (Base LE MSRP: $39,275)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; LED daytime running lights; all-wheel drive; a vehicle stability system; a traction control system; a pre-collision braking system with pedestrian protection; a lane departure alert system; a sway warning system; automatic high beams; road sign assist; lane trace assist; a radar activated cruise control system; a brake hold feature; a hill assist control system; a trailer sway control system;  a blindspot mirror with a rear traffic cross alert system;  a vehicle proximity alert system; a compact spare tire;  a back up camera; and a tire pressure monitoring system 

Standard Equipment (Base SE Model): 18-in black painted alloy wheels; 120-v charging cable; a dual zone automatic a/c system;  an electric parking brake; a dual chrome exhaust tip; active grille shutters;  a variety of driving modes: cloth seats; heated front seats; a power’s driver seat; a leather tilt/telescopic steering wheel; a keyless entry system; a push button starter system; a rear cargo tonneau cover;  and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen

Standard Equipment (XSE): 19-ich wheels; red painted shock absorbers; back up camera with dynamic guidelines; leather like seats; a lane tracing system;  steering wheel mounted paddle shifters;  a black fabric headliner; a 9-inch infotainment screen;  vertical LED accent lights; electronic blind spot system; a two tone exterior color; power driver’s seat; a soft touch dash; an anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer

Options:  a color coded HUD (heads up display system; a 10-inch infotainment system; leather-like seats; a power panoramic roof;  a 360-degree camera; heated and ventilated front seats; a power front passenger seat; memory operated driver’s seat; an adaptive front lighting system;  LED projector headlights; automatic level  and pan controls; automatic high beam headlights; a foot activated power liftgate; a front and rear parking assist system; a JBL 9-inch touchscreen; 11 speakers; SiriusXM; a heated leather steering wheel; heated rear seats; a rain sensing windshield wipers; special color; and all weather liner package

Other Trim Level:
SE

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a 6-speaker AM/FM/HD

Apple CarPlay Compatible: Yes

Android Compatible: Yes

Amazon Alexa Compatible: Yes

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Hybrid System Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 miles

Hybrid Battery Warranty: 10 years or 150,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder turbo/177-hp

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Fuel Mileage (Electric + Gas): 94 MPGe

Standard Gas: 38 MPG

Towing: 2,500

What’s New: The electrified RAV4 is an all-new addition to the Toyota family.

Why: Toyota has finally gotten the styling right on the larger, bolder looking RAV4. With its more athletic design, the compact crossover no longer wears a bland exterior and interior design. Buyers who purchase the RAV4 no longer has to sacrifice style and a premium interior for dependability.

The stylish two-tone electrified RAV4 is outfitted with an all-wheel drive configuration. The RAV4 Prime has a driving range up to 40 miles on a full charge. Most drivers will feel relatively comfortable driving off the electric charge without having to tap into the gas tank, unless they have to drive beyond the 40-mile range.  Toyota has also added a hold feature allowing the driver to determine, when they would like to use the charge as opposed to the gasoline.

According tofueleconomy.gov, the vehicle has a battery driving range of 42. In our real world test, our vehicle had a range of 44 miles. And when combined with the gasoline, the RAV4 Prime has a driving range of 600 miles. To put this in perspective, the RAV4 hybrid has a combine driving range of 40 MPG, while the RAV4 Prime has a 94 MPGe.

Currently, there is a $7,500 federal tax credit, which helps to offset our near $50,000 price tag. Also there could be local and state incentives too to aid in offsetting the cost.

Its quite obvious that Toyota has placed more emphasis on the interior cabin. Its noticeable from the higher grade quality of materials that was utilized to trim out the vehicle. In the competitive compact crossover segment, Toyota has gone as far to add a new digital instrument cluster, a wireless smartphone charger, an iPad-like infotainment screen and a more pronounced layout for the designer speakers. In the previous RAV4, Toyota has fallen short in the area of providing an appealing interior. However, with consumers hunger for such amenities, Toyota realized in order for the RAV4 to remain number one in this segment, they had to up the ante.

The RAV4 is also available with such amenities as an oversized sunroof, larger 19-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a swipe-and-open, foot-activated rear liftgate and a digital camera similar to one that first appeared in the Cadillac brand a few years ago.

Moreover, an all-electric model is also in the pipeline for 2021, making it the first in the segment to head down this road or play in this lane, so to speak.

Lastly, Toyota has made a number of the self-driving features most automakers are charging extra, as standard equipment. No matter what trim buyers opt for, one can expect everything from a lane departure assist system to a radar activated cruise control system to be available at their finger tips.    

But: One of our major concerns is that the digital instrument gauges in our RAV4 Prime literally fades out during periods of direct sunlight. This could be a safety hazard. We though this was as a result of the beaming sun streaming inside of the panoramic roof, when the sunshade was open. However, we immediately realized that even with the sunshade closed, the gauges were still impossible to view.

With this being a plug-in hybrid, we would like Toyota to place more of an emphasis, using the gauges highlighting the driving range, when using the battery. The EV battery charge meter should be displayed in more of a prominent role.

While this is better than the typical 14 or 15 mile range we’ve experienced on most pug-ins, we’re eagerly awaiting for a 60-mile driving range. Its take 3 hours to recharge the vehicle when using a 120-v charger. Toyota should add a quick charger application, which would allow users to recharge the vehicle in less than 30 minutes.

Lastly, both of the competitors in the segment based on the 2020 data offered front-wheel drive configurations, which typically offer a longer driver range.

Verdict: Being that the RAV4 is Toyota’s best-selling vehicle, it was a great move for Japanese automaker to give the vehicle a more premium look and feel – both inside and out. In one of the hottest vehicle segments in the industry, Toyota realized it could no longer rest on one's laurels.

The RAV4 is available in three powertrains: gasoline, hybrid and plug-in. With the current federal tax incentive, the RAV4 Prime is worth considering, especially for those who have relatively short commutes. And for those with longer commutes, one doesn’t have to be totally reliant, since the vehicle runs off of gasoline too.

In our opinion, this is the best RAV4 yet. Its quite obvious why Toyota is beating the competition, after spending a wheel behind the wheel of the all-new RAV4.

Competition:  2020 Ford Escape Plug-In; and 2020 Kia Niro Plug-In