2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Review: Fast and Frugal
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Review: A New Normal
"The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime makes the future seem normal."
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It's fast
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Shatter the myth of the gas-guzzling SUV
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Competitive in the cargo space
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Intuitive infotainment system
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Refined driving quality
With the Hybrid-Prius and the Plug-in-Hybrid-Prius Prime, Toyota wrapped green technology in an extroverted design and used design to trumpet its success. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime takes a different approach.
The Prime looks like an ordinary RAV4, Toyota's bestseller. Like the Prius Prime, the RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid with better mileage than the current RAV4 hybrid model. However, the Prime is not only the most economical RAV4. It is also the most powerful and fastest accelerating RAV4.
The RAV4 Prime is available in two configurations. The SE starts at $ 39,195, while XSE models like our test car start at $ 42,500. That means the base SE is around $ 2,000 more than the most expensive RAV4 hybrid. However, due to the size of the battery, Toyota expects the Prime to qualify for a tax credit of $ 7,500 to compensate for this difference.
Design and interior
In contrast to the Prius Prime, whose design differs significantly from the standard Prius, the RAV4 Prime looks like any other RAV4. Black exterior trim, another grille, model-specific wheels and badges are the only hallmarks of the Prime. The RAV4 itself looks like a rugged off-roader, but has the same TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform as cars like the Corolla and Camry.
The interior is practically unchanged, which is not a bad thing. Chunky buttons and strategically placed rubber grips give the interior a sturdy feel while improving usability. The free-standing infotainment touchscreen is easy to reach from the driver's seat, but somewhat difficult for the passengers in the front seats. The front seats were fairly comfortable, but the lower cushions of the rear seats were flat and unsupportive.
Chunky buttons and strategically placed rubber grips give the interior a sturdy feel while improving usability.
While Toyota pinned the design down, the quality of the interior material remained. The Prime is the flagship of the RAV4 series, but the interior didn't seem to be an improvement over cheaper models. The faux leather seats looked like they had been taken out of a taxi, and trim parts seemed to have been sourced from Rubbermaid.
Toyota claims that the battery mounted under the floor has no effect on the interior. However, this is not a segment-leading interior, since the RAV4 already lagged behind most of the competitors. The RAV4 Prime offers more rear headroom than the plug-in hybrids Ford Escape and Mitsubishi Outlander, but the Escape offers more rear legroom thanks to a sliding seat in the second row. The Toyota also offers more cargo space than the Ford and Mitsubishi. The RAV4 and the Outlander also have 120 volt outlets in their holds, around power tools, camping gear or whatever you want to connect on the go.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The basic RAV4 Prime SE has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as an integrated WLAN hotspot. The XSE trim level has a 9.0-inch touchscreen – the largest available in a RAV4. An optional premium package for the XSE adds a head-up display. This is the only way to use this function on a RAV4.
The infotainment system is easy to use, also thanks to the protection of analog controls for the most important functions. The digital instrument cluster display is known to anyone who has driven another Toyota hybrid. It packs a lot of information in a relatively small space, but is easy to acclimatize. Overall, the infotainment experience offers nothing special, but does its job in a simple way.
The infotainment system is easy to use, also thanks to the protection of analog controls for the most important functions.
The RAV4 Prime comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which includes: Autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist recognition), traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and lane tracking assistant that offers small steering inputs to keep the speed centered on the car .
The standard package of driver aids is comparable to other popular brands, although the lane tracking assistant should not be confused with the more aggressive steering assistance functions of Ford, Nissan and Subaru. The Toyota version is more of an improved lane keeping assistant than a real steering aid.
Experience driving
The RAV4 Prime tries to outperform in two very different disciplines: performance and efficiency. An updated version of the RAV4 hybrid powertrain is used to achieve impressive numbers.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine delivers the same 176 hp as before, but with the additional grunt of two electric motors, the overall system performance increases to 302 hp. That is 83 hp more than the RAV4 Hybrid and much more than the plug-in hybrids Ford Escape or Mitsubishi Outlander. The Escape is also only equipped with front-wheel drive, while the two Japanese vehicles have all-wheel drive.
The Toyota, according to Toyota, a number previously reserved for sports cars, can travel between zero and 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds. This makes the RAV4 Prime the fastest four-door Toyota currently sold in the United States (only the Supra sports car is faster).
The four-wheel drive hybrid system is similar to other Toyota vehicles. The rear wheels are driven by a special electric motor without a mechanical connection to the front wheels. As with the RAV4 Hybrid, this rear engine is also used for torque transmission to steer performance from side to side to improve road handling and increase traction on slippery surfaces. A "trail" driving mode also helps with the latter.
The RAV4 Prime is the fastest four-door Toyota currently sold in the United States.
On the go, the RAV4 Prime felt as fast as the numbers suggest. It was not just the extra power, but also the way that power was delivered. The Prime felt like an electric car and instantly delivered a surge of torque on every stroke of the right pedal. This steady, urgent acceleration took place regardless of the state of charge of the battery. A slight buzz was the only indication that the gasoline engine was on.
Like the Mitsubishi Outlander, the RAV4 Prime also has paddle shifters that can be used to adjust regenerative braking to slow the car down without using the brake pedal and recovering some energy. However, the effect didn't feel as dramatic in the Toyota as in the Mitsubishi, and you'll have to upgrade from the SE to the XSE to get these paddles.
Toyota also tried to make the Prime more refined than other RAV4 models by getting thicker laminated glass, more soundproofing, and a different suspension set-up. The Prime felt significantly quieter and more comfortable than other RAV4 variants, but maybe Toyota should have gone in the opposite direction with a sportier chassis. As it is, the chassis cannot use this 302 horsepower.
Fuel consumption, range and safety
The RAV4 Prime proves that electricity does not have to come at the expense of efficiency. Toyota cites 42 miles of electric range with an efficiency of 94 MPGe. This is more electrical range than a first-generation Chevrolet Volt with identical efficiency. When it debuted in 2010, the Volt was a purpose-built vehicle that is considered a “moon shot” by General Motors. Therefore, it is remarkable to see similar numbers in an ordinary crossover. The RAV4 Prime also offers almost twice the electric range of the Toyota Prius Prime, albeit with much less efficiency.
The Prime beats the Ford Escape and the Mitsubishi Outlander in electric range, although the Ford is more efficient with 100 MPGe. Toyota had no fuel consumption values for gasoline available at the time of release, but according to the car's on-board computer, we had an average of 42.5 mpg.
With the standard 3.3-kilowatt on-board charger, a full charge takes 12 hours at a 120-volt household socket or 4.5 hours at a 240-volt charging station at level 2. A 6.6- available in the XSE version kW charger shortens the charging time of level 2 to 2.5 hours. This is as good as it gets as Toyota doesn't offer DC fast charging on the RAV4 Prime (it's standard on the Mitsubishi Outlander).
Safety ratings for the Prime are not yet available, but the standard RAV4 received the "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS), with the highest rating being missed due to poor headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the standard RAV4 with five stars.
Toyota offers a three-year basic warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain, as well as free scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles. The Prime battery has its own 10-year 150,000-mile warranty, and other hybrid system components have an eight-year 100,000-mile warranty. Overall, the RAV4 has a good reputation for reliability because many hybrid models can easily handle a taxis service.
How DT would configure this car
The technically friendliest incarnation of the RAV4 Prime is the XSE with the optional premium package. The XSE has some technical functions that the basic SE equipment variant does not offer, including a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen and charging the Qi mobile phone. The premium package ($ 3,765) includes a head-up display, a more powerful 6.6 kW on-board charger, a socket for the cargo area, a video rear view mirror, a 360-degree camera system and a parking assistant with automatic Front and rear braking.
The Prime itself is the best RAV4. Just as the RAV4 Hybrid outperforms the petrol model in terms of performance and sophistication as well as mileage, the Prime offers the CV of this crossover more power and even more efficiency. If you have the extra money, the Prime turns the RAV4 from a pretty good car into a world hit.
Our opinion
The Toyota RAV4 Prime 2021 proves that the future doesn't have to be unusual. This plug-in hybrid breaks new ground by being normal. Instead of just trying to make a statement, the Prime is bringing green technology into a car that people are already buying. With 302 hp, the RAV4 Prime shows that the future doesn't have to be boring.
The RAV4 Prime is also the class of its (admittedly small) competitive field. It outperforms the Mitsubishi Outlander in terms of cargo space, performance and efficiency, while offering more technical functions. The Ford Escape plug-in hybrid lags behind the RAV4 Prime in terms of electrical range, but offers greater efficiency. The Ford is also below the Toyota and starts at just under $ 35,000. However, the Escape itself isn't our preferred little crossover, and the plug-in hybrid doesn't have all-wheel drive.
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the Kia Niro PHEV are not only suitable for SUVs, but also cannot keep up with the triple threat of performance, electrical range and cargo space from Toyota. The Kia is also not available with all-wheel drive.
Should you get one?
Yes. The RAV4 Prime is a true all-rounder.
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