2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review: The Best Plug-In Hybrid
Impressive fuel economy, along with ample incentives and rebates make the new Toyota RAV4 Prime a no-brainer choice for many.
Few new vehicles have created a stir quite like the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime. When it was announced in late 2019 the headline figures were shocking. With 302 horsepower on tap, the ability to haul your family around while doing 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, and a claimed 94 MPGe, the RAV4 Prime seemed like an incredibly capable ride, and now that Drive, Break, Fix, Repeat has spent a week behind the wheel of one, it’s easy to agree.
An evolution of the popular RAV4 Hybrid, the Prime swaps out the standard 1.6 kWh battery pack for a much larger 18.1 kWh unit, and is now able to be plugged in and charged up to achieve a commendable 42 miles of pure EV range, and drive up to 600 miles on a full tank of fuel.
In the real world, DBFR saw just over 47 miles of pure EV range from a full charge, five more than advertised, which is excellent. The only other plug-in hybrid currently on sale that can best this is the limited production Polestar 1, which can do up to 60 miles of pure EV driving, but costs almost four times as much as the humble Toyota. An available 6.6kWh AC fast charger allows the Prime to be fully charged up in about 2.5 hours.
Similarly, the real world fuel economy proved to be commendable. Even with a haphazard and somewhat lazy charging schedule, over 299.6 miles of driving the Prime returned a real world figure of 61.5 mpg, verified at the pump. With more diligent charging, the numbers would only go up from there. It’s also worth noting that even with a non-optimal driving and charging schedule behind those numbers, that’s over 20 mpg greater than what DBFR saw out of the RAV4 Hybrid.
ALSO SEE: 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review: Adventure Is Out There, If You Want It
On the road, the RAV4 Prime feels amply powerful, with the combination of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, cribbed from the Hybrid, working seamlessly with the electrified powertrain. It also feels fast, especially at around town speeds, thanks to the instantaneous electric power delivery. Toyota has pointed out that with 302 horsepower on tap, the RAV4 Prime is the second fastest accelerating vehicle in the Toyota line-up, just behind the Supra. Sorry to the Toyota 86 fans out there, don’t even try and race the Prime from stoplight to stoplight.
There are two trim levels available for the Prime, SE and the top of the line XSE, like this test vehicle, which features a softex synthetic leather interior, wireless phone charging and a 9-inch “audio plus” infotainment display, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. An available $5,760 Weather with Audio and Premium package bundles in a bumping JBL audio system, the aforementioned 6.6 kWh AC fast charger, heated and ventilated seats, a large panoramic moonroof and a bird’s eye view parking camera system, among other goodies.
ALSO SEE: 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review: Should You Buy It?
When optioned up like this, the RAV4 Prime’s cabin is a delight, and will leave occupants wanting for nothing. While the theme may be a bit too black-on-black-on-black for some, the material quality feels high and, like all RAV4 models, the Prime makes great use of its available interior volume, feeling very spacious. Even road noise, which has proven to be a bit of a trouble spot with recent Toyota models, appears better dampened in the Prime, perhaps due to the additional heft of the batteries stashed away in the floor.
Prices for the RAV4 Prime carry an almost $10,000 price premium over a comparable RAV4 Hybrid, starting at $39,275 for the RAV4 Prime SE and $42,600 for the RAV4 Prime XSE, before options. This loaded XSE tester rings in just under $50,000, which is a large chunk of change for a Toyota, and enough to give pause to many prospective buyers.
But don’t be put off, because the Prime is a plug-in hybrid, and able to achieve such an impressive EV range, buyers can quality for up to $7,500 worth of federal rebates, and more with available state incentives. Here in Los Angeles, qualified buyers can knock up to $8,500 off the price point, making the Prime just a few grand more than a comparable RAV4 Hybrid, which is an incredible value.
With the RAV4 Prime, Toyota has managed to make a vehicle for consumers that want to have their cake and eat it, too. It’s fast, stylish, well-equipped, and massively capable as a plug-in hybrid. That such generous rebates are available also means that many buyers could swing the price difference over other RAV4 models, and its competition. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the no-brainer choice.
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