Recently, Toyota has launched the 2021 RAV4 and it is the second quickest model in Toyota’s current lineup. the 2021 Toyota RAV4 prime races to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.7 seconds and it can do a really respectable 42 miles of range in pure EV mode. It’s 2020 and a mundane SUV like the RAV4 can accelerate like a sports car.
New Toyota RAV4 Prime gets up to 42 Miles Of Pure EV Range
The New 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, with an 18.1 kWh battery, has received 42 miles of pure electric range and 600 miles total. This makes it the top PHEV in the mainstream segment.
The headline figures of the RAV4 prime are 302 horsepower combined from a 2.5 litre inline 4 cylinder petrol engine and three permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor-generators, which 83 hp more than the RAV4 hybrid and 99 hp more than the standard RAV4 it is mated to a CVT. The RAV4 Prime has a combined fuel economy of 94 MPGe according to EPA. It can do about 84 Mph on EV only and can tow up to 2500 pounds.
Things to know about 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Price and Features
The RAV4 starts at $39,220 which is more than $9000 than a standard RAV4 Hybrid LE. The entry-level Prime SE is adequately equipped with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, heated and supportive cloth seats, and 18-inch wheels. If you spend $3345 on top of this you can upgrade to the XSE. It adds a 9.0-inch display, two-tone paint, a wireless charging pad, synthetic leather seats, LED accent lighting, 19-inch wheels, and paddle shifters. Since it is a hybrid, It also features regenerative braking which can be used to charge the Lithium-Ion batteries of the car. Both the variants of the car feature Toyota’s impressive list of safety equipment, including adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, and pedestrian detection. The XSE trim adds cross-traffic alerts and parking assist for the front and rear.
Design
The RAV4 in its fifth generation comes with butch and muscular design that is fitting of an SUV and contemporary at the same time. The Prime cannot be specified in the outdoor-themed Adventure or with the TRD package though it does feature a Trail mode that instructs the stability control to send torque to the wheel with the most traction. The interior is ergonomically pleasing to the eye with easy to use to control the stereo volume and Air conditioning features. The touch screen infotainment system feels premium and fits in well in the dashboard unlike Toyota’s of old where the infotainment system used to look like an aftermarket fitting, the resolution though is tad bit outdated as compared to the likes available in Hyundai’s and KIAs.
Interior and Cargo Space
Overall the cabin and the tech feel pretty good, fitting for a car at this price point. The batteries are placed under the floor as a result no passenger space is lost and is the same as with the other variants of the RAV4, the back seat remains spacious enough to accommodate full-size adults. The cargo space at 33.5 cubic feet is a bit smaller due to the hybrid system and the cargo floor is slightly raised. The Engineers at Toyota have surely done their homework to make sure the Prime delivers a higher level of refinement as compared to the other models in the RAV4 of the lineup. To help make the interior a quieter and more relaxing during EV mode, where you more likely to notice road and wind noise as there is the sound of a petrol engine is absent to drown out these noises, Prime has laminated front side windows plus additional sound damping.
The rear electric motor is primarily used to gain traction at low speeds this comes in handy especially when you are doing launches, not that you need to because let’s face it, no RAV4 owner is ever going to visit a drag strip on the weekends and by the time you reach a speed of 40 mph the power is distributed almost entirely to the front wheels. Like all the Toyota hybrids the RAV4 too will provide a seamless transition between petrol and electric drivetrains.
Charging
Both the variants of the car (SE and XSE) comes standard with a 3.3-kWh onboard charger, while the XSE has the potential to charge more quickly. For an additional $5760, the RAV4 can be equipped with the Premium package, this upgrades the charger to 6.6 kWh and also adds a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area, along with a panoramic roof, a head-up display, heated outboard seats in the rear, and ventilation for the front seats.
Compared to the standard charger, the more powerful systems reduce the charging times by two hours when connected to a 240-volt supply, requiring 2.5 hours according to Toyota. When connected to a 120-volt outlet, Toyota claims it will take 12 hours to recharge the battery. Though the MSRP places the Toyota RAV4 Prime at the top of the RAV4’s model line up, the Prime currently qualifies for a $7500 federal tax credit from the Government (US only). With that discount, the Prime sounds like quite a juicy deal, being quicker and slightly less expensive than a fully kitted out RAV4 hybrid Limited model and with significantly more electric range.
The Toyota RAV4 like most of its competitors in its class might be getting a little too carried away with the “Sports” part in its SUV credentials with its sporty styling and loud paint options. Even though the power figures and the acceleration numbers suggest a sporty package on paper, on the road it may not make much sense unless your primary motive is getting away fast from the traffic signal. The RAV4 weighs in at 4400 pounds which is 579 pounds more than the hybrid you might want to prepare yourself for some unnerving moments if you are planning to attack the corners the same way you do in say a good old fashioned sports car.
Final Words
Taking everything into consideration the Toyota RAV4 seems like a pretty good family SUV and a sweet deal if you are in the market for an SUV/crossover that can transport your family and your dog comfortably over a long distance but also want to please your eco mentalist wife because as they say “a happy wife means a happy life”.
