When it comes to a decision between a hybrid or EV I would absolutely go with hybrid and Toyota. Toyota has been involved in hybrid vehicle manufacturing since 1997. They have perfected the blending of electric and ICE technology to provide the best of both in the Rav4 Prime. In limited situations an EV might be a better option (commuting where charging at home is always convenient) but in most other situations a hybrid like the Rav4 Prime is a better option. With the Prime you charge at home when it's convenient, charge on the go and always have fuel available no matter where you are in the country. There is no need to plan for charging if you're making a trip from NY to FL. You start the drive from home with a fully charged battery/gas tank and drive. When the battery is low you switch to ICE mode, continue driving while you charge the battery. If you run low on charge and gas you pull off of ANY exit on I-95, fill the gas tank in 10 minutes and you're off again driving in ICE mode and recharging the battery on the go. A lot remains to be done with respect to EV infrastructure and battery technology (full charge from 10% to 90% in 10 minutes or less) before EV's can compete with ICE vehicles. Until then hybrids are the way to go.
Great review! FYI My Rav4 Prime is averaging 56 miles of range when in EV mode. Toyota's advertised 42 miles is very conservative. If your daily commute is in stop and go traffic or speeds below 45 miles on average (not at highway speed nor climbing a lot of steep hills) you can expect closer to 50-55 miles of range. I primarily use EV mode when putting around town, taking the kids to school and sports, grocery shopping. Then I plug it into a standard 120v outlet in my garage overnight. The only time I tend to burn gas is when taking a road trip. The nicest winter feature is the "A/C ON" button on the keyfob. It will preheat or precool the cabin before you get in. You can also preheat the cabin while the car's plugged into an outlet, to avoid eating into your range.
Thanks I was waiting for someone to say something about plugged in and using ac on atvsame time. Just pre ordered mine. 2022 custome build. Wait time 3 months
Note that you CAN programme the key-fob so when you open using your key, your chair settings establishes. My Toyota dealer said I cannot but a guy on UA-cam showed how to so now I and wifey have our individual settings whenever unlocking the car.
I just bought one today and was a bit overwhelmed by the dashboard. I was also unhappy that my mostly highway drive home gave me only 36 mpg. My main reason for buying this car was to reduce my carbon footprint. So I really appreciated your explanation of all of this. I feel better about my purchase now. It's plugged in and charging. Thank you.
Hope all goes well for you now that you can have it charged. Some people have said they get quite a bit more EV range than Toyota estimates so that should help. Enjoy your new RAV4!
I’ve had my Prime for around six months and often get the 40mpg and occasionally get over the 42mpc due to regenerative deceleration. The dashboard, buttons by the left knee and overhead buttons were no problem after regular use. The “angels chorus” reversing sound has yet to grow on me.
It takes sometimes to train battery to be on a normal condition. My initial charging shows 35 mpg and gradually goes up to 45 mpg. Now it shows 42-45 mpg most of the time. My car is 2 weeks old. I expect it to reach 50 mpg when spring- summer time arrives.
…and there is absolutely nothing about the RAV4 or any other PHEV or EV that reduces one’s carbon footprint. These cars only move your footprint across the globe to where slave labor is tolerated by the rest of the globe and workers are exploited for the profit of the 2%ers…all in China-this has nothing to do with Japan.
Excellent job introducing yourself and your channel. So many guys don’t know how to nail this part. When you do it with a smile, you jump off the screen. It’s great! Thanks for working hard and bringing us these cars that would be hard, if not impossible to see on our local dealer lots. Cheers Nolan!
Long term it will be next year when I move into my next house. However with that comment, the country is pushing for all or mostly EV, which includes people with and without the capability to charge at home, so basically who does Toyota want to sell to... Everyone or just people with the capability to charge at home. This is really just short-sitedness on Toyota's part as it would have been so easy to put more powerful charger in the SE version. It shows that Toyota's mindset is still not ready. Regardless of which Tesla you have, you get the same capabilities when it comes to charging and online access. This goes the same for the Toyota app. It is a a wonderful thing on the XSE model, but on the SE it is pretty much useless. I will not pay for the few services on the app because it is not worth it.
Just a friendly tip: Hello Everyone watching this video. When filling up your gas, after the pump turns off, DO NOT TOP OFF YOUR TANKS! There is a vapor line that will fill up with the over flow of gas and cause big problems! 1 the tank will no longer fill up 2 your gauge will not be correctly reading gas levels. 3 It will cost you money to get lines cleared and you might ruin your vapor reservoir tank…””Expensive to replace.” I speak from experience. Oh and it’s not covered, as it not a defective issue… other then that, I LOVE MY RAV4 2021 XSE Prime!
I purchased a Brand New 2024 Rav4 Prime Se and was wondering if you have any gas tank issues when filling up? In the manuel, it says that this Rav4 has a 14.5 gallon tank. It also states that when the low fuel light comes on, there is approximately 2.2 gallons or less left. I'm only able to put a little over 10 gallons and never anymore. This doesn't add up.
Charge (hold) is not only a battery power saving mode, but „holding the button“ turns into the „charge mode“. Charge mode allows drivers to strategically charge the battery with the engine rather than the charge port. A very nice feature as Auto EV/HV managed by the boardcomputer is not flawless. I prefer driving HV mode and turn manually the EV on in lower speeds/start moments where the fuel consumption is known as being high (1st and seconfd gear in ev)… I also turn the charge mode on when driving at higher speeds to transfer every excess into the battery. Thanks for the video. I switched from RAV4 2019 to the upgraded to the Prime and did not regret it!
Am driving a 2016 Rav4 Hybrid. Have had zero issues , except wreck damage. Love the reliability. It is my third Rav4 since 1997 with not one single repair issue except wreck damage. Love the car, comfort, size and I get around 32 mpg all around. I want the Prime but who knows when they will be available in SW Va. and I have no intention of paying over MSRP. Crazy 2021. Oh….road noise is bad in all 3 I have had.
Same here! I even have the worst RAV4 ever made with the faulty piston rings. I bought it after not knowing about this it ended up being out of warranty. It does burn oil, but no worse than friends newer Subarus that have been tested and are operating with, "normal, expected amounts of oil burn." No repairs needed and she hasn't let me down despite being "defective" hahaha
I can definitely see the benefit of having this vehicle and honestly, if I lived in a house and not an apartment, I would definitely put this on my list. However, I'm not knocking the regular version either. Especially since I am now a proud owner of one once again.
Yep. Since owning Toyota I feel bad for anyone who hasn't. There are few others manufacturers I would even consider, especially used. They just work and keep working
I ordered my 22 limited RAV4 hybrid it took about 60 days to get here but what I don't like is that yes you can order them but what if you want to test-drive before you buy LOL
Thank you for this excellent review. Just thought you should know that this is possibly the best review of this car I have seen... and I've seen them all! You go into details that I actually need to know as a driver and not just overall impressions that other reviewers tend to give. I have a Rav4 petrol and was going to buy an EV, but as I occasionally have to do a long drive and with rubbish chargers here in the UK, I have decided to buy the Rav4 Plug in. Well done again for your clear and concise explanation of the controls and tech.
I was fortunate enough to have received one of these cars about one month ago. It is a fantastic car to drive. As they are so hard to get, I said I would take any model the dealer could get their hands on. I would have been happy with the SE, but got the XSE with the technology package. I think the XSE is not really worth the upgrade over the SE, the technology package on top of the XSE gives you all the desirable features. When Nolan says that this or that feature is optional on the XSE, you actually have to buy the technology package which gives you all those options, they are not individually available (at least not in Canada).
@@nanowar1192 I basically paid the price on the Toyota Canada website for the XSE with technology package. It was a bit more but the dealer said there are a few extra costs when the go to the east coast. If the dealer added any extra cost it was pretty minor. I know they now have a waiting list they figure will take two years to clear. We were lucky to get on the top of the list, lucky timing when we decided to put a deposit down.
I realize this is an old video. Just to add ❤to this … I took delivery of mine here in Ontario last week. I paid just a touch under $63K Canadian with the Technology package (tax in), full list MRSP. The tech package is definitely the way to go. I ordered mine Dec2021 so the wait although long, was worth it!
The information is so much easier to understand for a non car enthusiast person like myself especially compared to other reviews where I’m like yeah idk what that means or if I care about that. So THANK YOU
He did a good job of explaining a lot about this Rav-4 Prime. He made a nice case for day to day living with this. I think this would be a great vehicle if you don’t mind spending $50,000 plus any dealer market adjustments that will be several more thousand dollars. I could see myself keeping this around for 10 years if I bought it.
Wanted this RAV4 really bad but I'm apt dweller and have no way to charge it and the dealer markups on this vehicle were insane so I settled for a RAV4 Limited Hybrid instead
Note that the camera guidelines may have to be calibrated to show up properly. Do that by turning the steering wheel fully to first one and then the other side.
I'd seriously look at a Tesla if there was a model I liked. The Rav4 is a well designed vehicle and the PHEV is a perfect vehicle for this present decade to transition from ICE to fully EV. The ability for daily commutes to be 100% electric from A/C charging at home overnight is ideal and on longer trips provides an efficient method to greatly improve gas mileage.
Honestly it’s the 2 tone paint (black on red and the rims and it still keeps the rugged truck looks of the normal Rav4 honestly I would choose this over the Prius.
My sister and I have had Highlander hybrid and love them. We just got the 2024 rav4 prime. 2 days old and still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles.
i have a remote start system modification specific to the rav4prime that prevents the shutting off of the remotely started car. It also offers several other enhancements to remote starting this model of vehicle.
The Mazda CX5 also shuts off the car when you open the door during remote start warmup. At first I didn't like it then I thought it over and realize that feature is a good security measure. Otherwise, if you get off the train in winter and find nothing but broken glass where your warming car once was would not be make for a good night
You realize nobody can drive away with it unless they have the key. Same with unlocking it etc. Vehicles that don’t shut off when the door opens will shut off if you try to shift without the key…or even if you try to shift without pushing the start button with the key.
Thank you! I’m only 5’9” so I can’t speak too much for tall people, but it seems daily roomy and just as much as many other vehicles. I certainly didn’t feel cramped and the guy who usually brings vehicles is around 6’4” ish and he didn’t complain lol
It's perfect for me and I can afford it. Problem: You can't get one unless you pay an extortion fee of ten thousand dollars or so to the dealer and wait months. Guess I'll wait.
Shop around. I paid MSRP for mine. Once you factor in the federal and state rebates and credits, it's a hell of a deal. Especially the SE model. I paid around $42k with the weather package, got $10k back in state and federal rebates. It's the nicest, quietest, most powerful vehicle around for $32k - with MADE IN JAPAN quality (all other Rav4's sold in the US aren't made in Japan).
I would like this Prime give me at least 100-150 miles on the electric, keeping the cost same or lesser. This could be with Tesla batteries. It would nail the market.
Bigger battery is heavier and it would reduce the cars' efficiency. The battery weight should be minimal for the car's best mpg. However, ranges are different for different owners so I think the ranges was designed to satisfy the majority.
@@beemrmem3 Dont use that useless analogy because its no different than saying “people dont need to go 0-60 in under 2seconds” you cant say one thing and leave out the other. Especially when most travel more than limited speed postings.🤣
I'm with you on the long distance drives. I bought a hybrid and it's nice, but it looks like PHEV's are the way to go. Best of both worlds, no compromise, maximum versatility AWD, towing, performance, efficiency, wow! I wonder how this compares with the Tucson?
There is a compromise which is efficiency, maintenance and upfront cost. Although EVs are still very expensive so for now PHEV are an affordable ish middle option.
I would say it would be perfect If it was a series hybrid rather than parallel, still making 302 hp and with a 40 kwh battery and a smaller gas engine. Would allow the use of more grid power, but still never get stranded.
I just drove my RAV4 Prime SE to NY for the weekend, and the drive was great, car is very responsive and quick. I was easily able to zip in and out of the NY traffic. I cannot leave a comment without mentioning that 5 hours to charge for just 47 miles (mine gets 47 miles) is just disrespectful to Toyota's customers. Since I currently cannot charge my car at the house, I have to take my car somewhere to charge and on an L2 charger it takes 5 hours to fully charge, 5 hours that your car is out of commission to be able to use electric. Toyota, hope your listening, 2 1/2 hours should be the max and you have that capability, I don't know what Toyota Executive thought that was a good idea. Just in case you didn't know Toyota, you have so many potential customers that live in apartments and Townhouses that cannot charge at home...think about it
The Lexus NX450h+ version claims to be rechargeable in 2.5 hours. "A more powerful charger is also available and reduces charging time to about 2.5 hours when using a 240-volt station." Perhaps the 2022 Rav4 version also will have this option.
@@ricknash3055 yes, I could have gotten the RAV4 XSE, which charges in 2 1/2 hours, but the dealerships would not come off the markup to $60,000 and that was just too much for a RAV4... The higher voltage charger cannot cost too much more... Wake up Toyota... Just because you are in the lead of the non-electric cars doesn't mean you can't be dethroned
@@Monkeyseemonkey79 when I move to my new house, I will have the ability but it comes down to does Toyota want to sell to everybody or just the folks who have the ability to charge at home... You don't see this with Tesla all of there vehicles charge at the same pace it is just a matter of how big is the Tesla battery... And don't get me started on the Toyota app... It is useless in the SE... And after a year of free usage they are going to expect us to pay for it, but it has no value in the SE so why would those customers pay for it???
@@MrMarkwill62 Clearly Toyota didn't design this as a car for everyone. It's a car for people who have access to an outlet and drive less than 50 miles most days, while enjoying the option to take road trips without having to worry about range anxiety. That's the whole value proposition of a PHEV. If you want faster charging and more electric range, buy a dedicated EV.
Great 👍 video , great 👍 vehicle , but if you have to spen money in ⛽ gas and electricity to charge an electric battery , at the end you won't save money. I would like to see this vehicle full electric ⚡👍
I'm still waiting for mine a year later. Toyota just isn't delivering! I passed up a brand new used one about four months ago as the asking price was greater than retail. Fingers crossed it arrives before Christmas or at least before my 2009 Escape Hybrid with 734,000 km gives it up!
@@ericsandman4508 Nope... still waiting. Dealer says they have one coming. Just not sure when. Escape now has 774,000 km. It's a feisty machine but I fear ot willl stop working soon.
So this vehicle can be used as a regular hybrid vehicle and/or use the EV mode? I've been trying to figure out why people would chose Prime VS Hybrid but maybe that's it, because it's hybrid plus you can plug it in for extra electric range.
Several reasons: it's a higher build quality (made in Japan: more sound deadening, laminated glass), it has far more power when the batter and engine work in unison (300+ hp and 0-60 time of 6 seconds), and yes you can drive around town for around 50 miles without burning any gas. It's an awesome option, but I would NOT buy one if you don't have the ability to plug it in every night. If you don't have somewhere to charge it daily, just buy the regular hybrid.
Well I would definitely recommend it because it has a lot more power. For a lot of people that was the main reason why rav4 hybrid was not an option. The battery will always stay around 20% so you won’t lose that power when you need it. And you can still use it if you can’t efficiently charge it but yea you are not using the fullest of it. Regrading the price, you are lucky you can buy it for that cheap , I had to pay 70k dollars for it (67k euros actually)
Not sure if you knew from your testing of the Mazda CX-5, which I have, and my Mazda turns off when I open the door as well like this Rav-4. It’s a little odd. My dads Ford F-150 stays on. Not sure why this is but I’m sure Mazda and Toyota have their reasons. I just start the car and turn it on again.
Apparently it's a safety feature. It keeps the radio and dash on, but kills the engine (if you're in 'D'). If you are in 'P' and open the door, the dash beeps and asks if you want to keep the vehicle on. I imagine that is because lots of hybrid drivers don't realize the car is running because it's silent when in 'P' - so Toyota will automatically shut of the vehicle after a few minutes if you open the door and don't select 'Keep vehicle on' when the car asks you.
I agree with the auto shut off when you open the door, its pretty stupid. If the car unlocks it know you have the key. Why do they shut off the engine is pretty annoying
The car doesn't look as luxurious as the NX and RDX. But the price of this XSE is as much as the Lexus NX F Sport and Acura RDX ADVANCE. However, it didn't have the distance pacing and luxury feel as the NX and RDX
The infotainment system is really a clunky, outdated thing.. The cameras have terrible resolution.. Hoping the 2022 model adresses the weakness of the RAV4...
This is such a hard choice to the RAV4 Prime or Tesla Model Y. Model Y has more cargo space, maintenance is a-lot less as theres no gas engine, and cost less in fuel per mile. especially after the 40 miles mark. RAV4 is almost half the price!
That’s better than nearly all other plug in hybrids currently on sale. Plus it’s more efficient with the gas/hybrid powertrain once it runs out of pure EV compared to others too
too many edges, too busy.. I would have liked a smoother understated exterior. That awful screen with those thick bezels and early 2000s tech is a show stopper for me. Biggest selling point is horsepower and MPG.
Actually, no. For this price range I would rather buy the Lexus NX 450 h+. I don't care about brands just for the brand name but I just don't see the value here. I would rather spend the money on a Lexus plug in with AWD.
@@cp-chipheo9528 The SE RAV4 Prime makes sense for me after the tax rebate. ~ $33k. The XSE does not at over $42K after the rebate. The NX 450h+ will definitely be over $50k but if it has a $7500 rebate i will definitely consider it. If not, no. Even a RAV4 regular hybrid doesn't make sense since my Subaru limited legacy gives me 34-35 mpg on the highway, 30 mpg combined and the cost fully loaded was $28k.
My guess is the electric range will keep going up and the gas tank and ICE will get smaller. Full EVs aren’t quite where they need to be (yet) for mass adoption. This is the perfect compromise while we wait for battery improvements.
Look at the Model Y Long Range. It takes just 15mins to add 200mi of range. That's as long as any fill up at the gas station. It might not have "600mi" of range, but it wins in so many other areas. Safest car on the road, best driver assist features, best connectivity/infotainment, tesla cams record activity near your vehicle while it's unattended, and automatically record accidents, and many more features.
Probably the Santa Fe. May not be quite as fast as the rav4 but it’s more luxurious, nicer inside, better technology, better design, better AWD capability, and it’s more traditional. Also the 10 year warranty helps a lot
Oh Yeah That RAV4 More Like a Ford Escape,Chevrolet Equinox,Kia Sorento,Mazda CX 5 & This Hybrid RAV4 Prime With Tesla Model Y So That it's The Rivals of Toyota RAV4
Wouldn’t say that, the SUVs you are getting in that price range are all similar to him in performance, and from all the phev suvs and suvs with price lower the. 80k€ I consider the rav4phev the best choice
@@qqqwark I don't agree, but I respect your opinion... there is few people like you they don't mind to pay this much or more for just a crossover with poor luxury options. Good luck.
I agree. The "luxury" extras are really poor value and should be avoided. I paid only $41.5k for a Rav4 Prime SE with the weather package and moon roof, roof racks, mud guards. and all weather liners. After $10k in state and federal credits/rebates, the net cost is $31.5k. It's a hell of a vehicle for $31.5k.
Still feels a little foreign to hear and talk about electric range and charging and so on and how it works. I’m still not sure a lot of the general public understand this. I’ve been trying to explain to my parents and step parents and it’s not sticking. They just say, “oh well we don’t want to worry about range we will drive gas engines until we can’t buy them anymore. We have time!” Lol
The accent lights are nothing special. Corollas have something very similar. I’d rather have something actually helpful, like fog lamps. I can’t believe that Toyota doesn’t have the aptitude to include fog lamps on their top-of-the-line sporty version of the RAV4. And furthermore, Toyota’s too damn cheap to even include a lock/close button on the hatch in addition to the currently installed single close button on a RAV4 with a sticker north of $50,000! And I thought honor was something the Japanese respected above all. I guess times change.
When it comes to a decision between a hybrid or EV I would absolutely go with hybrid and Toyota. Toyota has been involved in hybrid vehicle manufacturing since 1997. They have perfected the blending of electric and ICE technology to provide the best of both in the Rav4 Prime. In limited situations an EV might be a better option (commuting where charging at home is always convenient) but in most other situations a hybrid like the Rav4 Prime is a better option. With the Prime you charge at home when it's convenient, charge on the go and always have fuel available no matter where you are in the country. There is no need to plan for charging if you're making a trip from NY to FL. You start the drive from home with a fully charged battery/gas tank and drive. When the battery is low you switch to ICE mode, continue driving while you charge the battery. If you run low on charge and gas you pull off of ANY exit on I-95, fill the gas tank in 10 minutes and you're off again driving in ICE mode and recharging the battery on the go. A lot remains to be done with respect to EV infrastructure and battery technology (full charge from 10% to 90% in 10 minutes or less) before EV's can compete with ICE vehicles. Until then hybrids are the way to go.
Great review! FYI My Rav4 Prime is averaging 56 miles of range when in EV mode. Toyota's advertised 42 miles is very conservative. If your daily commute is in stop and go traffic or speeds below 45 miles on average (not at highway speed nor climbing a lot of steep hills) you can expect closer to 50-55 miles of range. I primarily use EV mode when putting around town, taking the kids to school and sports, grocery shopping. Then I plug it into a standard 120v outlet in my garage overnight. The only time I tend to burn gas is when taking a road trip.
The nicest winter feature is the "A/C ON" button on the keyfob. It will preheat or precool the cabin before you get in. You can also preheat the cabin while the car's plugged into an outlet, to avoid eating into your range.
Thanks I was waiting for someone to say something about plugged in and using ac on atvsame time. Just pre ordered mine. 2022 custome build. Wait time 3 months
That's exactly how I plan using it, once I'm finally able to get my hands on exactly what I want, at MSRP.
This is the best and most comprehensive review for rav4 prime I’ve seen so far
Glad to hear it!
Note that you CAN programme the key-fob so when you open using your key, your chair settings establishes. My Toyota dealer said I cannot but a guy on UA-cam showed how to so now I and wifey have our individual settings whenever unlocking the car.
I just bought one today and was a bit overwhelmed by the dashboard. I was also unhappy that my mostly highway drive home gave me only 36 mpg. My main reason for buying this car was to reduce my carbon footprint. So I really appreciated your explanation of all of this. I feel better about my purchase now. It's plugged in and charging. Thank you.
Hope all goes well for you now that you can have it charged. Some people have said they get quite a bit more EV range than Toyota estimates so that should help. Enjoy your new RAV4!
Lucky you! Wish I had one!
I’ve had my Prime for around six months and often get the 40mpg and occasionally get over the 42mpc due to regenerative deceleration. The dashboard, buttons by the left knee and overhead buttons were no problem after regular use. The “angels chorus” reversing sound has yet to grow on me.
It takes sometimes to train battery to be on a normal condition. My initial charging shows 35 mpg and gradually goes up to 45 mpg. Now it shows 42-45 mpg most of the time. My car is 2 weeks old. I expect it to reach 50 mpg when spring- summer time arrives.
…and there is absolutely nothing about the RAV4 or any other PHEV or EV that reduces one’s carbon footprint. These cars only move your footprint across the globe to where slave labor is tolerated by the rest of the globe and workers are exploited for the profit of the 2%ers…all in China-this has nothing to do with Japan.
Excellent job introducing yourself and your channel. So many guys don’t know how to nail this part. When you do it with a smile, you jump off the screen. It’s great! Thanks for working hard and bringing us these cars that would be hard, if not impossible to see on our local dealer lots. Cheers Nolan!
Long term it will be next year when I move into my next house. However with that comment, the country is pushing for all or mostly EV, which includes people with and without the capability to charge at home, so basically who does Toyota want to sell to... Everyone or just people with the capability to charge at home. This is really just short-sitedness on Toyota's part as it would have been so easy to put more powerful charger in the SE version. It shows that Toyota's mindset is still not ready. Regardless of which Tesla you have, you get the same capabilities when it comes to charging and online access. This goes the same for the Toyota app. It is a a wonderful thing on the XSE model, but on the SE it is pretty much useless. I will not pay for the few services on the app because it is not worth it.
Just a friendly tip:
Hello Everyone watching this video. When filling up your gas, after the pump turns off, DO NOT TOP OFF YOUR TANKS! There is a vapor line that will fill up with the over flow of gas and cause big problems! 1 the tank will no longer fill up 2 your gauge will not be correctly reading gas levels.
3 It will cost you money to get lines cleared and you might ruin your vapor reservoir tank…””Expensive to replace.”
I speak from experience. Oh and it’s not covered, as it not a defective issue… other then that, I LOVE MY RAV4 2021 XSE Prime!
I purchased a Brand New 2024 Rav4 Prime Se and was wondering if you have any gas tank issues when filling up? In the manuel, it says that this Rav4 has a 14.5 gallon tank. It also states that when the low fuel light comes on, there is approximately 2.2 gallons or less left. I'm only able to put a little over 10 gallons and never anymore. This doesn't add up.
Charge (hold) is not only a battery power saving mode, but „holding the button“ turns into the „charge mode“. Charge mode allows drivers to strategically charge the battery with the engine rather than the charge port. A very nice feature as Auto EV/HV managed by the boardcomputer is not flawless. I prefer driving HV mode and turn manually the EV on in lower speeds/start moments where the fuel consumption is known as being high (1st and seconfd gear in ev)… I also turn the charge mode on when driving at higher speeds to transfer every excess into the battery. Thanks for the video. I switched from RAV4 2019 to the upgraded to the Prime and did not regret it!
Nolan this vehicle just may change my mind about EV's/HV's. Thanks for the insightful review.
Am driving a 2016 Rav4 Hybrid. Have had zero issues , except wreck damage. Love the reliability. It is my third Rav4 since 1997 with not one single repair issue except wreck damage. Love the car, comfort, size and I get around 32 mpg all around. I want the Prime but who knows when they will be available in SW Va. and I have no intention of paying over MSRP. Crazy 2021. Oh….road noise is bad in all 3 I have had.
Same here! I even have the worst RAV4 ever made with the faulty piston rings. I bought it after not knowing about this it ended up being out of warranty. It does burn oil, but no worse than friends newer Subarus that have been tested and are operating with, "normal, expected amounts of oil burn." No repairs needed and she hasn't let me down despite being "defective" hahaha
@@joe1071 what year is your rab4
@@joe1071 what year is your rav4
@@judiel3088 2008
I can definitely see the benefit of having this vehicle and honestly, if I lived in a house and not an apartment, I would definitely put this on my list. However, I'm not knocking the regular version either. Especially since I am now a proud owner of one once again.
Yep. Since owning Toyota I feel bad for anyone who hasn't. There are few others manufacturers I would even consider, especially used. They just work and keep working
I love how they are reviewing cars you can't buy / find.
you can't buy or find a corolla.
Corollas are wayy easier to find than R4Ps right now
@@nickzourikian4555 irrelevant. there are zero cars on my local toyota dealership regardless of model.
I literally just bought a rav4 prime this week and only had to wait 2 weeks for it... xse
I ordered my 22 limited RAV4 hybrid it took about 60 days to get here but what I don't like is that yes you can order them but what if you want to test-drive before you buy LOL
Thank you for this excellent review. Just thought you should know that this is possibly the best review of this car I have seen... and I've seen them all!
You go into details that I actually need to know as a driver and not just overall impressions that other reviewers tend to give.
I have a Rav4 petrol and was going to buy an EV, but as I occasionally have to do a long drive and with rubbish chargers here in the UK, I have decided to buy the Rav4 Plug in.
Well done again for your clear and concise explanation of the controls and tech.
I was fortunate enough to have received one of these cars about one month ago. It is a fantastic car to drive. As they are so hard to get, I said I would take any model the dealer could get their hands on. I would have been happy with the SE, but got the XSE with the technology package. I think the XSE is not really worth the upgrade over the SE, the technology package on top of the XSE gives you all the desirable features. When Nolan says that this or that feature is optional on the XSE, you actually have to buy the technology package which gives you all those options, they are not individually available (at least not in Canada).
How much did you pay? And do you know the prices for se?
@@nanowar1192 I basically paid the price on the Toyota Canada website for the XSE with technology package. It was a bit more but the dealer said there are a few extra costs when the go to the east coast. If the dealer added any extra cost it was pretty minor. I know they now have a waiting list they figure will take two years to clear. We were lucky to get on the top of the list, lucky timing when we decided to put a deposit down.
I realize this is an old video. Just to add ❤to this … I took delivery of mine here in Ontario last week. I paid just a touch under $63K Canadian with the Technology package (tax in), full list MRSP. The tech package is definitely the way to go. I ordered mine Dec2021 so the wait although long, was worth it!
The information is so much easier to understand for a non car enthusiast person like myself especially compared to other reviews where I’m like yeah idk what that means or if I care about that. So THANK YOU
He did a good job of explaining a lot about this Rav-4 Prime. He made a nice case for day to day living with this. I think this would be a great vehicle if you don’t mind spending $50,000 plus any dealer market adjustments that will be several more thousand dollars. I could see myself keeping this around for 10 years if I bought it.
Wanted this RAV4 really bad but I'm apt dweller and have no way to charge it and the dealer markups on this vehicle were insane so I settled for a RAV4 Limited Hybrid instead
Note that the camera guidelines may have to be calibrated to show up properly. Do that by turning the steering wheel fully to first one and then the other side.
I'd seriously look at a Tesla if there was a model I liked. The Rav4 is a well designed vehicle and the PHEV is a perfect vehicle for this present decade to transition from ICE to fully EV. The ability for daily commutes to be 100% electric from A/C charging at home overnight is ideal and on longer trips provides an efficient method to greatly improve gas mileage.
Honestly it’s the 2 tone paint (black on red and the rims and it still keeps the rugged truck looks of the normal Rav4 honestly I would choose this over the Prius.
Great Video. My wife and I have one on the vessel headed to us. So excited, we have been waiting since April for our red XSE.
My sister and I have had Highlander hybrid and love them. We just got the 2024 rav4 prime. 2 days old and still trying to figure out all the bells and whistles.
i have a remote start system modification specific to the rav4prime that prevents the shutting off of the remotely started car. It also offers several other enhancements to remote starting this model of vehicle.
Always a great review, looks like a nice practical vehicle..
Very informative . I order mine last week, prime in Sweden waiting list approximately 8 months
The Mazda CX5 also shuts off the car when you open the door during remote start warmup. At first I didn't like it then I thought it over and realize that feature is a good security measure. Otherwise, if you get off the train in winter and find nothing but broken glass where your warming car once was would not be make for a good night
You realize nobody can drive away with it unless they have the key. Same with unlocking it etc. Vehicles that don’t shut off when the door opens will shut off if you try to shift without the key…or even if you try to shift without pushing the start button with the key.
Excellent review! We are now considering a hybrid RAV4.
I forgot to charge my rav 4 Prime today. I'm alright because I still have 3 gallons of gas which gives me more than 100 miles range
If I had 50K , I wouldn’t think twice
One of the best PRIME reviews and I've seen a ton! How tall are you? How comfortable is leg/hip room for tall driver?
Thank you! I’m only 5’9” so I can’t speak too much for tall people, but it seems daily roomy and just as much as many other vehicles. I certainly didn’t feel cramped and the guy who usually brings vehicles is around 6’4” ish and he didn’t complain lol
It's perfect for me and I can afford it. Problem: You can't get one unless you pay an extortion fee of ten thousand dollars or so to the dealer and wait months. Guess I'll wait.
Shop around. I paid MSRP for mine. Once you factor in the federal and state rebates and credits, it's a hell of a deal. Especially the SE model. I paid around $42k with the weather package, got $10k back in state and federal rebates. It's the nicest, quietest, most powerful vehicle around for $32k - with MADE IN JAPAN quality (all other Rav4's sold in the US aren't made in Japan).
@@Monkeyseemonkey79 great info
Great in-depth video! Thanks!
Great job! Thorough and clear.
Just to clarify, in this version these seats are made of natural leather. In the lower trim they are synthetic leather.
2 tone design and the moonroof isn't my thing, therefore I give priority to SE version.
Moon roof just a potential place for leaks down the road in my harsh climate.
I would like this Prime give me at least 100-150 miles on the electric, keeping the cost same or lesser. This could be with Tesla batteries. It would nail the market.
I’d be happy with 150 mile range, a 1.5 liter ICE generator with 10 gallons of fuel, and a solar roof.
MOST people don’t need that much range for daily driving. When you do you have the gas motor. 100 mile range would just make it more expensive
Bigger battery is heavier and it would reduce the cars' efficiency. The battery weight should be minimal for the car's best mpg. However, ranges are different for different owners so I think the ranges was designed to satisfy the majority.
@@beemrmem3 Dont use that useless analogy because its no different than saying “people dont need to go 0-60 in under 2seconds” you cant say one thing and leave out the other. Especially when most travel more than limited speed postings.🤣
I own 2 prius so far. I still get 48 to 51 with 222000 mile NO PROBLEMS AT ALL
How is the navigation system and its display? Will you have a video on that system soon? Thanks for this video.
I'm with you on the long distance drives. I bought a hybrid and it's nice, but it looks like PHEV's are the way to go. Best of both worlds, no compromise, maximum versatility AWD, towing, performance, efficiency, wow! I wonder how this compares with the Tucson?
There is a compromise which is efficiency, maintenance and upfront cost. Although EVs are still very expensive so for now PHEV are an affordable ish middle option.
The Charging cord goes in the cup on the spair tire.
The complaint about the charge port is not really warranted. Tesla's charge port is on the back left quarter panel and I have never heard a complaint.
l have decided to by the hybrid...lm loving it and l can't wait.
I like it Nolan and the good thing is the Car cost only $ 73k in Germany, thank you Toyota.
Only?!
@@DUNGSTA yep it´s funny.
Lmao only
@@2004cyrus I mean 50k is a lot but 73k is nuts for a RAV4.
@@alengreen589 totally unreasonable
Can we discuss the Toyota Toxic Mold Class Action Litigation??
...
I would say it would be perfect If it was a series hybrid rather than parallel, still making 302 hp and with a 40 kwh battery and a smaller gas engine. Would allow the use of more grid power, but still never get stranded.
I just drove my RAV4 Prime SE to NY for the weekend, and the drive was great, car is very responsive and quick. I was easily able to zip in and out of the NY traffic. I cannot leave a comment without mentioning that 5 hours to charge for just 47 miles (mine gets 47 miles) is just disrespectful to Toyota's customers. Since I currently cannot charge my car at the house, I have to take my car somewhere to charge and on an L2 charger it takes 5 hours to fully charge, 5 hours that your car is out of commission to be able to use electric. Toyota, hope your listening, 2 1/2 hours should be the max and you have that capability, I don't know what Toyota Executive thought that was a good idea. Just in case you didn't know Toyota, you have so many potential customers that live in apartments and Townhouses that cannot charge at home...think about it
The Lexus NX450h+ version claims to be rechargeable in 2.5 hours.
"A more powerful charger is also available and reduces charging time to about 2.5 hours when using a 240-volt station." Perhaps the 2022 Rav4 version also will have this option.
@@ricknash3055 yes, I could have gotten the RAV4 XSE, which charges in 2 1/2 hours, but the dealerships would not come off the markup to $60,000 and that was just too much for a RAV4... The higher voltage charger cannot cost too much more... Wake up Toyota... Just because you are in the lead of the non-electric cars doesn't mean you can't be dethroned
I wouldn't buy a PHEV if I lacked the ability to charge at home. It's not designed for you.
@@Monkeyseemonkey79 when I move to my new house, I will have the ability but it comes down to does Toyota want to sell to everybody or just the folks who have the ability to charge at home... You don't see this with Tesla all of there vehicles charge at the same pace it is just a matter of how big is the Tesla battery... And don't get me started on the Toyota app... It is useless in the SE... And after a year of free usage they are going to expect us to pay for it, but it has no value in the SE so why would those customers pay for it???
@@MrMarkwill62 Clearly Toyota didn't design this as a car for everyone. It's a car for people who have access to an outlet and drive less than 50 miles most days, while enjoying the option to take road trips without having to worry about range anxiety. That's the whole value proposition of a PHEV.
If you want faster charging and more electric range, buy a dedicated EV.
Great 👍 video , great 👍 vehicle , but if you have to spen money in ⛽ gas and electricity to charge an electric battery , at the end you won't save money. I would like to see this vehicle full electric ⚡👍
Depending where you live full el is not really saving you money, especially if you consider that time is money too.
Great review thank you :)
Outstanding review! Thanks
I'm still waiting for mine a year later. Toyota just isn't delivering! I passed up a brand new used one about four months ago as the asking price was greater than retail. Fingers crossed it arrives before Christmas or at least before my 2009 Escape Hybrid with 734,000 km gives it up!
I feel your pain… Only exists in virtual reality, YT and Fb for most potential buyers right now
end up getting one?
@@ericsandman4508
Nope... still waiting. Dealer says they have one coming. Just not sure when.
Escape now has 774,000 km. It's a feisty machine but I fear ot willl stop working soon.
Great job & I buy this used PHEV SUV 1 day.
Good luck finding one.
So this vehicle can be used as a regular hybrid vehicle and/or use the EV mode? I've been trying to figure out why people would chose Prime VS Hybrid but maybe that's it, because it's hybrid plus you can plug it in for extra electric range.
You can use it purely as EV. Especially if your trips are normally within 40 miles.
On our normal everyday driving (cept for long trips) we never use gas
And it’s not a slug like the hybrid which is a big plus
Several reasons: it's a higher build quality (made in Japan: more sound deadening, laminated glass), it has far more power when the batter and engine work in unison (300+ hp and 0-60 time of 6 seconds), and yes you can drive around town for around 50 miles without burning any gas. It's an awesome option, but I would NOT buy one if you don't have the ability to plug it in every night. If you don't have somewhere to charge it daily, just buy the regular hybrid.
Well I would definitely recommend it because it has a lot more power. For a lot of people that was the main reason why rav4 hybrid was not an option. The battery will always stay around 20% so you won’t lose that power when you need it. And you can still use it if you can’t efficiently charge it but yea you are not using the fullest of it. Regrading the price, you are lucky you can buy it for that cheap , I had to pay 70k dollars for it (67k euros actually)
Great review!!!
Terrible looking inside for that price..... Just choose way better looking Lexus with similar price
Absolutely. No brainer. I would rather spend the money on NX 450 h+
Not sure if you knew from your testing of the Mazda CX-5, which I have, and my Mazda turns off when I open the door as well like this Rav-4. It’s a little odd. My dads Ford F-150 stays on. Not sure why this is but I’m sure Mazda and Toyota have their reasons. I just start the car and turn it on again.
Apparently it's a safety feature. It keeps the radio and dash on, but kills the engine (if you're in 'D'). If you are in 'P' and open the door, the dash beeps and asks if you want to keep the vehicle on. I imagine that is because lots of hybrid drivers don't realize the car is running because it's silent when in 'P' - so Toyota will automatically shut of the vehicle after a few minutes if you open the door and don't select 'Keep vehicle on' when the car asks you.
Thank you I’ll have one in 2025.
I agree with the auto shut off when you open the door, its pretty stupid. If the car unlocks it know you have the key. Why do they shut off the engine is pretty annoying
Great Video!!!
Best review so far. Thank you.
Hi ! So the standards for drive which mode use better,
Prefer plug-in hybrid. Hate the idea of being stuck with EV-dead battery.
Do you have a video on the '21 Rav4 driver assistance features?
Full Review: The Toyota RAV4 Prime is still not available without dealer markup
Not true but you do have to shop around.
So true, they asked 50k for the xse, 42k for se.
The car doesn't look as luxurious as the NX and RDX. But the price of this XSE is as much as the Lexus NX F Sport and Acura RDX ADVANCE. However, it didn't have the distance pacing and luxury feel as the NX and RDX
Lexus NX-450+ is coming to town. You will pay the premium as you request. Toyota RAV4 Prime is fine for most of us.
why my roof can’t open with two cross bars on?
I'm in VIC Australia so no way I am getting either ev or electric. Unlike others we pay tax on the number of Kms the car makes in one year.
Black roof not a good choice for hot, sunny summers.
The infotainment system is really a clunky, outdated thing..
The cameras have terrible resolution..
Hoping the 2022 model adresses the weakness of the RAV4...
I really was interested in the car, but Toyota decided it really didn't wanna make this car for the masses and it's not available anywhere near me.
Yeah that’s seriously a shame!
There are no cars of any kind available anywhere near anyone. Pandemic.
Most excellent.
This is such a hard choice to the RAV4 Prime or Tesla Model Y. Model Y has more cargo space, maintenance is a-lot less as theres no gas engine, and cost less in fuel per mile. especially after the 40 miles mark. RAV4 is almost half the price!
maybe the best but indicatores in idiotic place they should be in a strip above headlights
Excellent nice RAV4
In regards to the panoramic roof does the glass actually open up to the outside environment or is it simply glass just to look through?
I have one and yes it does open😊
😁 Top of the line RAV4 in Denmark with all the Taxes.......$86,000🤢
That's all? Your taxes are too low.😉
67k € in Croatia
Gezzz.. only 38 miles for the battery? Common
That’s better than nearly all other plug in hybrids currently on sale. Plus it’s more efficient with the gas/hybrid powertrain once it runs out of pure EV compared to others too
I wish you could actually buy one
The video shows a deep red.
,,,until the bz line comes out next year.
too many edges, too busy.. I would have liked a smoother understated exterior. That awful screen with those thick bezels and early 2000s tech is a show stopper for me. Biggest selling point is horsepower and MPG.
Actually, no. For this price range I would rather buy the Lexus NX 450 h+. I don't care about brands just for the brand name but I just don't see the value here. I would rather spend the money on a Lexus plug in with AWD.
nx 450 would cost extra 15K. Besides, nx450 made in Canada. rav 4 made in Japan
@@cp-chipheo9528 The SE RAV4 Prime makes sense for me after the tax rebate. ~ $33k. The XSE does not at over $42K after the rebate. The NX 450h+ will definitely be over $50k but if it has a $7500 rebate i will definitely consider it. If not, no. Even a RAV4 regular hybrid doesn't make sense since my Subaru limited legacy gives me 34-35 mpg on the highway, 30 mpg combined and the cost fully loaded was $28k.
huh i love the Rav4
I prefer and already own a Camry hybrid.
Where is everyone buying these RAV4 primes. I have been told 12 to 18 months.
needs triple the battery and half the gas tank...
This! We’re a happy owner of a Prime xse, but I really do wish they halved the gas tank and improved the battery.
My guess is the electric range will keep going up and the gas tank and ICE will get smaller. Full EVs aren’t quite where they need to be (yet) for mass adoption. This is the perfect compromise while we wait for battery improvements.
Look at the Model Y Long Range.
It takes just 15mins to add 200mi of range. That's as long as any fill up at the gas station.
It might not have "600mi" of range, but it wins in so many other areas.
Safest car on the road, best driver assist features, best connectivity/infotainment, tesla cams record activity near your vehicle while it's unattended, and automatically record accidents, and many more features.
I would prefer an EV.
So buy one?
50K for RAV4 ?
is the HUD blurry, some people are commenting on that
This or Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe
This is much nicer and would be more reliable with "bank of Toyota" resale value, but more expensive.
Probably the Santa Fe. May not be quite as fast as the rav4 but it’s more luxurious, nicer inside, better technology, better design, better AWD capability, and it’s more traditional. Also the 10 year warranty helps a lot
Oh Yeah That RAV4 More Like a Ford Escape,Chevrolet Equinox,Kia Sorento,Mazda CX 5 & This Hybrid RAV4 Prime With Tesla Model Y So That it's The Rivals of Toyota RAV4
Mazda CX-5 Signature
@@mbenton6 yes
Too pricey for this Rav4, It's really over priced $50,000 🤣😂💸💸
Wouldn’t say that, the SUVs you are getting in that price range are all similar to him in performance, and from all the phev suvs and suvs with price lower the. 80k€ I consider the rav4phev the best choice
@@qqqwark I don't agree, but I respect your opinion... there is few people like you they don't mind to pay this much or more for just a crossover with poor luxury options.
Good luck.
I agree. The "luxury" extras are really poor value and should be avoided. I paid only $41.5k for a Rav4 Prime SE with the weather package and moon roof, roof racks, mud guards. and all weather liners. After $10k in state and federal credits/rebates, the net cost is $31.5k. It's a hell of a vehicle for $31.5k.
I agree. Just buy the SE base model. You don’t need all the gimmicks. The slightly smaller wheels on the SE give it better EV range.
NO GROCERY BAG HOOKS 🪝 ?!? 🤦♀️😆😎
Wow
I prefer PHEVs like my Pacifica. It too has over 500 miles range on a full charge and full tank. Plus it seats 7!
Lol no one cares unless it seats 8...
No one cares because we don’t want minivans lol that’s for huge ass families
The Pacifica won’t do to well off road. No one wants minivans. Family size keeps getting smaller.
If you happy with your minivan what are you doing here?
RAV-4 is the Fastest Toyota... the Supra is a BMW
NIce
50k? I’ll have to pass.
Still feels a little foreign to hear and talk about electric range and charging and so on and how it works. I’m still not sure a lot of the general public understand this. I’ve been trying to explain to my parents and step parents and it’s not sticking. They just say, “oh well we don’t want to worry about range we will drive gas engines until we can’t buy them anymore. We have time!” Lol
The accent lights are nothing special. Corollas have something very similar. I’d rather have something actually helpful, like fog lamps. I can’t believe that Toyota doesn’t have the aptitude to include fog lamps on their top-of-the-line sporty version of the RAV4. And furthermore, Toyota’s too damn cheap to even include a lock/close button on the hatch in addition to the currently installed single close button on a RAV4 with a sticker north of $50,000! And I thought honor was something the Japanese respected above all. I guess times change.
1x(3/8/22)…1….19:00……21…24….27….
😎👍🏻