Is The Toyota Rav4 Prime The Best Plug-in Hybrid You Can Buy? Maybe...
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Toyota has always chosen to focus on plug-in hybrid, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell technology over electric vehicles, and its history features many times when Toyota tried its damndest to kill electric cars for good.
But as its hydrogen fuel cell vision starts to fail and plug-in cars become the dominant zero emission choice, the Japanese automaker has upped its plug-in hybrid game from the days of the early Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
Its 2021 RAV4 Prime is the most accomplished plug-in hybrid from the brand we've seen - and while we're always going to recommend a fully-electric car over a plug-in hybrid, not everyone can go all-electric.
And as we're about to explain, the 2021 RAV4 Prime is actually one of the best transitional vehicles we've driven to date.
Here's why.
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Presenter: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Cameras: Kate Walton-Elliott, Michael Horton
Audio: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Editor: Michael Horton
Colorist: Winter Tashlin
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
©2021, Transport Evolved.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XLE
Supplied by Drive Shop on Behalf of Toyota North America
Transport Evolved retained all editorial control
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I've probably viewed every review of the RAV4 Prime on UA-cam. Yours is one of the best! Now if only Toyota could meet the demand.. And the price gouging would stop.. ;-)
$10,000.00 above MSRP in Florida, USA, March 2022
Thanks for an excellent review. I just purchased a Prime of the same trim you drove. I've driven hybrids since 2009 and wanted to move to EV this year. Sadly, I agree the market has improved but the infrastructure isn't there yet. My wife has range anxiety and we do make several trips a year that include highways that are not on any electric highway plans and the charging infrastructure simply isn't reliably available. We all have different needs. PHEV meet a real need at present. I am confident they will become obsolete in a few years, but right now they clearly meet a need and the RAV4 Prime is at the top of the class.
Thank you for showing a plug-in! I know far too many people that like EVs but are too worried for [insert reasons varied per person]... It's nice to see something middle ground: not full EV, not all gas, something that's easily accessible too!
Just wanted to say, you look happy driving this even when pointing out the things that could be made better.
its too bad, its the worst of both worlds.
In Australia, the Toyota Rav4 Prime PHEV is the best Plug-In Hybrid you Can't Buy.
You can buy the MG PHEV which isn't horrible. What you really need is a government that gets behind EV. What you have right now, in Canberra, is an international joke when it comes to green power.
I don’t think you can get them much of anywhere. They’re not making very many. About 20K per year in the US, which is somewhere around 5%ish of total RAV4 sales.
I’m planning to buy one.
You said “budget oriented car” according to Toyota. 40,000.00 is not budget friendly 😭😭😭
Thank you for supporting Toyotas efforts to fight the electrification of transportation.
@@no_more_free_nicks did you realise that Toyota is not the only car maker in the planet? I would buy a full plug in prime IF it was available
Lastly, Hybrid is only a stepping stone to full electric
@@peterxyz3541This vehicle should have been made 5 years sooner. The all electric vehicles are multiplying, and so are chargers. The minute you don't need the gas powertrain, you don't want it.
our MY was 42K, we were lucky. no way id touch this.
I am 1300 mi on mine and only half a tank gas used. And for those times I've had to use gas I would not have been able to use an EV.
100% satisfied with my purchase. It works well for my needs.
As a former RAV4 owner, I did have a solid look at the RAV4 prime. But it's lack of availability when I was shopping for a new car made it a non-starter. Instead, we decided to downsize and went for a 2022 Kona electric. Now that we aren't regularly hauling multiple people and a cello on a regular basis, a smaller vehicle is fine for most of our uses. Very interesting review on the RAV4 prime, and possibly a well positioned car to move those hesitant to go full electric to cross the fence. High speed charging station locations are still few in number on major highway stops where we are, so this may be a good option for many.
It's good to see you featuring a PHEV. For those of us living in a charging desert or who drive far off the beaten path, they make a great solution. I find it disappointing when EV evangelists insist I must choose BEV and nothing else. There are still many people for whom a BEV will not get them where they normally drive. I hope Toyota keeps upgrading this model for the near future.
A Highlander Prime would be the sweet spot if they could keep the all-electric numbers close to 50 miles.
This might actually be a perfect vehicle for our family. My wife works only 14 km away from our home so she could most certainly use all EV mode for work but when we need to tow our ATV or go camping about hours away from our home, this has the credential to do so. I do want to purchase a 100% electric vehicle but it would mean having to keep our gas vehicle to perform those other tasks to our satisfaction. As a side bonus, when we are tenting I have to figure out where to get power for a CPAP machine, this has an electrical plug in the back that feeds from the battery pack so that would solve that problem.
This was a very inspiring and balanced review from an EV channel I must say. If I was going to purchase a PHEV replacement for my current PHEV today, the RAV4 would be my top pick if budget would allow it. But one thing that speaks against the RAV4 for me at least is that the arguments for getting another PHEV have been reduced over the last years. There are now more BEVs to choose from and the infrastructure has improved.
Lol.... she said BEVs or plugins doesn't work for everyone, the rav4 prime has almost 600 miles of range and is perfect for those who also likes overlanding or camping really far from the grid, going to remote places....
@@carholic-sz3qv I think the PHEVs are good for testing the waters with electrification regardless if you’re an adventurous person or not. :)
@@JanHenrik541 it is good for what EV are not, simple is that. There is a reason why gasoline and diesel and gas exist
@@carholic-sz3qv There are valid reason to drive an PHEV or another ICE equipment vehicle for some, no denying that. But part of the reason gasoline and diesel are used on a wide scale has something to do with the developed infrastructure that is in place which makes it convenient. More people could technically have driven a BEV today (upfront costs aside) with improved infrastructure. Lack of fast charging options along the route to take us to some of our destinations was one of the reasons why I ruled out BEV the last time I purchased a car.
@@JanHenrik541 bullshit!! Where are the electric vans? electric trucks? electric bikes? Diesel is excellent because it's good enough to power the heavy duty machines/equipments for 24/7 gasoline is mostly for smaller vehicles or performance vehicles. Another excellent point of ICE is the fact that its stupid easy to increase the range.
Great review as always! While a PHEV is not for me, I do recommend them for some people who are just getting started in the EV journey and aren't comfortable with the still complicated world of DCFCs for road trips. One thing that strikes me is that Toyota gets all the details right. All the features are there: AWD, towing/bike rack hitch, Android Audio/Apple Car Play, roof rack, 6KW charging on a PHEV, uncomplicated controls. While we all wish they would have gotten into the EV market sooner, that seems to indicate they'll get EVs right when the finally get them out there.
Thanks for the comprehensive review. The “Volt of SUV’s” or medium-sized family haulers. Happy to hear the electric range was achievable. Many reviews only show 30-35 miles electric, but most of those were also in wintery (
Im getting close to 50 miles on my charge
I like the comment about "Just enough range to make you want to drive electric", because I had the very same feeling with my 2014 Volt.
It did steer us firmly in the direction of switching to a Bolt when it came time to replace it when our 3rd child was coming. ;-)
So yeah, Plug-In hybrids are like a bicycle with side wheels, you grow out of it.
I agree, a little taste of electric drive can make people want more. My CR-Z had enough electric assist to make me want more - I upgraded to an i3 Rex. I expect that my next car will be a BEV.
The Rav4 Prime is a huge amount of fun to drive thanks to the 302hp and after 5000 miles I've averaged, with a fair number of weekend excursions to the mountains, an astonishing 65.5mpg equivalent. With the price of gasoline, I'm certainly pleased with my decision. I have a 550 mile range when I'm going cross-country and never have to worry about finding an (overpriced) supercharger station or waiting better part of an hour to get to 90% charge. So until EV's come with at least a 500 mile range, 5 minute recharge (10% to 90%) and the cost of supercharger power drops, I am entirely happy with my 'bicycle with side wheels'. Electric one day, just not today.
@@davidgapp1457 Well, you recite stats like a Toyota salesman 😉
Let me just say that having eperienced the pure joy of silent instant acceleration, starting every morning from home with a full battery, and costing 8 times less per km, I'm never going back to a fossil car. 😅
Plug-in hybrids can still be useful as "training wheels", but they still have all the fuel systems that breaks down three times faster, and are now more expensive to make tgan pure battery.
Then again, I'm glad if you're happy for your purchase, just keep in mind it'll probably be the last available gas car you'll ever buy. 😎👍
@@brunoethier896 I mostly agree with you. I expect this will be the last gasoline powered car I buy. However, I use the gas engine so rarely I expect it will last a long, long time. Plus the planetary gear system is a whole load simpler than an automatic box so should last a long time too. In any case, wait until your electric control system fails and you get slammed with bills that are more than 20x the actual worth of the components. At least when I go up into the mountains I don't have to think about where I can find uber expensive electricity to keep my beast sated. Because the cost of the average supercharger here in Arizona is 43c per kwHr which, if you do the maths, comes to more that TWICE the cost of gasoline for the same miles. And while you probably get 99empg I am currently averaging, weekend trips included, 66.5mpg. Which is good enough for me. Plus most of my driving is silent while I'm in-town so no difference there. In any case, after rebate my car costs the same as a gasoline Rav4 Premium and about half the equivalent cost of an electric SUV. I can live with that.
@@davidgapp1457 Yeah, you have a point about the cost of electricity. Luckily 90% of charging is done at home where you can benefit from off peak rates.
It also matters where you are, because here in Québec (Canada) our gas prices are double that in the US, and we pay 7cents (so about 5 US cents) per kWh.
If I had range anxiety, this is exactly the kind of vehicle I would be looking at. They did this the right way, being able to drive it fully electric. I would be able to round-trip work with grocery stops without fumes.
My biggest objection to PHEVs is actually that you now have two systems to maintain. It's not an "I hate it" it's that I fix broken things for a living and the simpler/fewer are parts involved, of course the better off it is.
Is is just me or is that ground clearance a little lower than the old little Rav4s? I feel like it might be just an illusion.
I actually like two systems. I can use R4P as EV for 95% of my driving so I still have a pretty much new engine after 100K and I know many R4P owners are doing it. If the battery is weak, you can use the car as a hybrid. I think I have two systems for the price of one (with rebate) if I buy a PHEV.
Yes two systems to maintain BUT the electric part is pretty well maintenance free and the ICE part is hardly used at all so it adds up to less maintenance than a purely gasoline only vehicle. And it's a Toyota..... need I say more?
Seems like a good car for my mom and grandma.
They both do road trips a few times a year, which are possible in EVs but they don't like the extra time EV road trips take.
Most of the time they drive less than 40 miles per day then park in a garage that could recharge it.
The battery in the Toyota Rav4 Prime is big enough to qualify it for the full federal EV tax credit.
Great overview Nikki, but you forgot some of the "quirks and features" :)
Limited production means it is very difficult to get.
Exactly. I don't see the point of all these videos about Toyota PHEVs when they're basically not on sale in most countries of the world.
Indeed…. Too little, too late, and can’t buy one in most states….
@@yggdrasil9039 R4P is sold in 40 countries.
@@johngoreham8352 Exactly. So not sold in 155 countries.
I enjoyed the critical review, Nikki. Good work. Seems like lots of “reviews” are glorified puff pieces that only highlight the positive, but you went into considerable depth with some of the shortcomings. And EVERY vehicle has them.
If supply was sufficient and I was in the market, it would be on my list. But the next time I’m in the market will be when my F150 Lightning arrives at my local Ford dealer. Which might take awhile. 😴
Prius Prime design goals:
1/3 great PHEV (25-mile range)
2/3 really energy-efficient car (4.6 miles/KWh, 55MPG)
RAV4 Prime:
2/3 great PHEV (42 mile EV range)
1/3 efficient crossover (38MPG)
Just a little sidebar - A parent on my Scout troop has a reservation in for the F150 Lighting, and he currently drives a 200k+ miles Corolla said to me - “If Toyota made an electric car, I’d buy it tomorrow.”
What an amazing review. Whilst a PHEV would never be my personal choice, it will be for some. You gave an outstanding presentation of the car, its features and what it was like to drive. I just love that your reviews are not shouty or gimmicky, just excellent reporting which is so enjoyable to listen to/watch. Terrific work. 👍🏻
I think they should have given a larger battery pack. They are great cars.
The editing is looking great.
My only issue is you had it parked in a boat trailer only park :P at least you wern't alone.
Great review. This is the best (and most fun) car I've ever owned and I highly recommend it. I drive 75 miles/day so I've learned how to optimize efficiency in electric mode. I get 48-50 miles in electric mode by staying with electric up to about 50mph and switching to hybrid at full highway speed. The hybrid system is more efficient anyway at top speeds. Gas mileage averages 36mpg, (32mpg at 80mph - 40mpg in suburban/optimal conditions.)
This is still the only car on the market that meets all of my needs - luxury interior, SUV, lots of power and good handling, performs well on rural and dirt roads, and still fits in my small garage. I don't think that I could go all electric but I look forward to the next generation of PHEVS with larger batteries.
Only criticism is that it really is not designed to go off-road and you can seriously damage the car if you scrape the undercarriage.
Your push for all-electric is way premature. I will never own one before they fix the charge rate and/or the range. On trips, I drive at least 600 miles in a day and often times more than that. That's at least two and most likely 3 stops to charge. Charge stations are unreliable and not in areas convenient to hang out while the charge is being completed.
UUUUUGGGGHHHH. In California, the toyota mafia wants $10-$20K over MSRP plus a bunch of dealer installed options like $1000 paint protection. It was cheaper to buy a Tesla which we did in April. We will be replacing another old ICE car but will definitely look at other EV options. The only reason why we're not buying another Tesla is our concern with Tesla's repair center and their ability to get parts. With so many new EVs coming out, toyota is last on my list. Our previous cars prior to the Tesla included a celica, camry, sienna, prius (plus a lexus rx300). We are no longer a toyota family. I can see talking about other EVs and the new companies but including anti EV toyota sucks.
Thank you for mentioning the focal physics! No one mentions how irritating that is
The Politics of Work Chargers. My wife's work prioritized the limited chargers (In parking garage, out of snow, close door) to BEV's. Especially Nissan Leafs. They basically banned Plug-in-hybrids. So when my wife replaced her 2006 Prius, she waited for a long range BEV. With a 60 mile round trip commute, it had to be at least 150 miles, more like 200 Miles. She ended up getting a 2018 Model 3 dual motor LR. She was happy wiith the Prius, but happier with the Tesla Model 3. Over 3 years on the Model 3.
How far do you have to drive with gasoline to recharge the battery from zero to full?
It will only charge to 80% or about 32 miles. On the highway I usually get 1 mile EV added per mile or so driven.
@@robertrobinson5711 Thanks for the info.
Hi Nikki. I have had a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for 4 years (just changed it for an ID.4). The Rav4 Prime now makes rounds around it on each and every aspect and I doubt Mitsubishi could do better with their next generation Outlander PHEV supposed to come in 2022. Living in Qc, Canada, winter temps lower than 7°C (45°F) always forced the engine to startup for 5 mins before letting the electric drive take over, which means short commutes were mostly hybrid and gas hungry. Also, heating the cabin takes something like 30% of the stored battery energy, cutting almost in half the electric range. To summarize, my plugin hybrid behaved differently in winter. I was sometimes able to commute for almost 2 months on a tank in summer but had to fill it at every other week in winter. Do you know if it is also the case with the Rav4 Prime?
The car has the facility to heat the cab, while on the charger. In this way the car battery is just used for the actual driving. Comes in handy in defrosting or cooling the car
Quality review, thoroughly enjoyed.
In the USA Prius plug in came out in 2012 I have one .
Two things: 1. Toyota corporates view on BEV's has been extremely negative, and Toyota has taken political actions adverse to BEV's. 2. I have seen posts on this model where dealers are asking for many thousands over list. Very short supply. That being said, if you can get one at or near list, it is well engineered and likely to be very reliable.
8:16 - uh exhaust pipes, why do you even talk about ice cars at all?
Great overview. The only thing that surprised me is the TE is only now testing the R4P. As of the last reporting period it was outselling (out-delivering) the ID.4, Mach-E, and pretty much every other EV crossover near to its cost point in America and in 39 other countries. Nice shot of the spare tire at time stamp 9:09. You won't find that feature in any other EV crossover near its price point. As you pointed out in your January 2012 Green Car Reports story, "98 percent of all single-trip journeys are under 50 miles in length....the average daily drive total for urban-based cars was just 36.5 miles, while rural-based cars drove an average of 48.6 miles." Your conclusion was spot on. Cue the haters...
Fantastic review! The RAV4 Prime makes my fourth plug-in hybrid and it is without question the best one so far. Approachable. Reliable. Practical.
I looked for a RAV4 Prime but there is only 1 down here in South Florida. Toyota should be selling 100,000s RAV4 primes, Prius Primes, Sienna Primes, and Camry Primes. They are making it easy for Tesla to steal their Customers. Nothing new or special about regular hybrid’s.
Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE starts at $42k. Very expensive. How many of you can afford $940/month car payment over 48 months?
man, no one should be taking out 4 yr car loans. cash or bust.
@@laloajuria4678 Not everyone can pay cash.
I agree payoff ASAP. If you need more than 36 months you bought too much car.
Thanks Nikki. Great effort, great review.
As a long term PHEV driver, I have a suggestion for you and your viewers. I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs here as I know you've driven many a PHEV. Bear with me.
Instead of driving in EV mode at the start of every trip and then allowing the car to revert to Hybrid mode once the battery is depleted I have found a better way.
Most of my driving includes some long stretches and quite often a section of motorway at higher speeds. During these times, I'll manually set the car to Hybrid (or battery SAVE mode) as the petrol engine is at it's most efficient here. This is also handy for those times I encounter unexpected traffic snarls or construction zones where i can use some of the battery charge to sit or edge along slowly without the petrol engine. I will then estimate how much range I have left so that by the time I get towards home, I'll re-enable EV mode to utilise the remaining charge. If I can get it into the garage with near zero kms I've done well!
Additional benefits include more efficient cabin heating and a healthier engine as its used at highway speeds and duration.
You will find your efficiency figures improve and the car's computer should love you and will show this by estimating longer ranges on subsequent drives.
Side notes: A spare tyre At last!
Earlier in the video you mentioned the paddles were used to select the 'faux' gears but later on you mentioned they were used to select the level of regenerative braking. Are they multi-functional or was that a boo boo?
keep up the good work,
This is essentially how I drove my Volt when I had one. I’d maximize EV range by using it on surface streets and low speed highways, then switch to hybrid mode when I got to the high speed highway, and then switch back to EV when I distance left on the trip and EV range were about the same. I think you’re right that it’s the best way to drive a PHEV - Winter
Agree that it’s an excellent PHEV cross over. I wanted one. Can’t get them in most states so a pointless car in the end. It seems to mainly be available where Toyota gets the most green points.
I live in Georgia but purchased mine from New Jersey with $0 markup, $1200 delivery fee.
Where there is a will there is a way.
@@davidfelfoldi2252 Problem is that Toyota won’t service them in areas where they don’t sell them. At least that is the case here (WA)
The best plug in hybrid you can’t buy……3 yr waitlist.
the problem with hybrids is that you get the worst of both worlds.
"Toyota tried its damndest to kill electric cars for good."
and that alone is enough reason (for me, anyway) NOT to buy a toyota.
Not really, this vehicle will allow many to drive locally or commute in EV mode while allowing long drives in regions with limited charging infrastructure. PHEVs do have their role in certain situations, particularly for those that cannot afford a new long range EV
You get 42 miles of all-electric with an extremely clean & efficient gas-engine as backup.... exactly what's needed to get the plug-in resistant to buy a plug-in.
The Tucson plugin blows it away for less.
I would be more happy to see 4 of this cars than one fully electric on the road if the bottle nack is battery production. Of course only in case that people actually charging them regularly.
@3:30…three electric motors actually. Two in the transmission (mg1 & mg2) + one on the rear axle.
Can you charge with Tesla level 2 cable adapter with prime as well?
If you're driving 40 miles per day of commuting, can you charge that much at home per night? I.e. is the charging speed fast enough for that? Sorry if I missed that detail in your review.
Yes, I have this car, it takes me 4,5 hours to fully charge - 230v, 16A, 3,7 kw homecharger. It's a wonderful car - I seem to do an average of apr. 140 miles pr gallon, driven 10.000 miles so far. Very eco-friendly, I suppose.
That's a pretty cool RAV4, my Mom has a '21 Corolla hybrid. It's an awesome little car, it's quick, it's very responsive, and it's getting on average 49+ mpg. I love the cruise control. The backup camera is nice, and the Bluetooth system is also quite good. Great sound system. And the transmission's dedicated 1st gear, along with the CVT makes all the difference in the world. Way better than her '11 Prius.
I drove a 2021 Corolla Hybrid after a 2005 Prius and wasn't that impressed. My 05 Prius got better fuel economy and acceleration was only slightly better in the Corolla.
Have the hybrid not the plug in and have to say I only notice the cvt when I have to overtake on country roads where time and space us limited so foot to the floor time. I'm happy with my car the all wheel drive design model , moved from a Crv petrol automatic not a hybrid and 2 or 3 little things I miss is the Nearside mirror mot dipping when I put the car in reverse, only one map pocket in the drivers seat _ none in the passenger and no lumbar support. Both cars were one I
Up from the base model.
Big fan here, love your videos! Couple of nits to pick. My understanding is that the heart of the Toyota hybrid system is a planetary gearset with the smaller motor on one of the components, the gas engine on another component and the larger traction motor always spinning at a speed proportional to the wheels on the third component. “CVT” usually brings to mind some kind of armored belt sliding in some variable radius pulleys. Toyota hybrids achieve CVT much more elegantly than that. So every Prius could be considered “dual motor”.
One might choose hybrid mode on an expressway if there’s a significant amount of low speed travel anticipated later in the trip. Stop-and-crawl traffic is best handled in EV mode.
Well done as usual! Another super-informative video from TE. I so appreciate your perspective.
Thanks for this levelled review. In Brazil with continental size and no electric car infra, this seams a good alternative. Can I get a strong reprimand to Toyota CEO when buying it?
Toyota made the first crossover in 84, what about Toyota crossovers from the 80s like the Corolla Wagon AWD or Tercel 4WD, not to mention Honda had a Civic Wagon 4WD and Mitsubishi had a number of 4WD/AWD wagons/minivans sold by the Chrysler Corporation. Nissan had a few too, like the Access AWD and Prairie 4WD. BTW, the Access may have been the first vehicle with sliding doors on both sides. The Japanese clearly were decades ahead on crossovers, but the RAV4 was actually a latecomer.
Two charging capacities @ time 9:00: 3.3kw charger or 6.6 kw hour. *Question, if you have a 6.6kw charger , can you use a 3.3kw charger???*
Excellent review of othe Toyota Rav4 PHEV.
great piece of engeneering but not a great car for me personally. why? coz i would hardly ever use the engine, specially in winter months when i don't really go on long trips. also, its freaking expensive and i could probably get an electric car(my 30kWh leaf which has been goood enough for pretty much everything so far or a cheap new car like a corsa e) and a weekend car(probably an mx5 or a z4).
The whole charging for remote starting thing just crossed them off my list.
Yes, charging for something that has little practical use and wastes fuel while creating additional emissions
@@jamespaul2587 The RAV4 Prime uses the high voltage battery for remote preconditioning. Zero emissions.
AHEM! Suzuki Sidekick would like a word.
Will you review the new and improved 2022 {not yet in the USA} xc60 Volvo recharge t8 ?
I believe a few original RAV4 EVs survived and are still in private hands? Like the ranger and S10 of the same generation, and unlike the EV1.
Nikki here. As said in the video, I used to own one. So too did Kate Walton-Elliott and her wife.
@@transportevolved true true, and someone else maybe owns them now? Only point was that they still exist in the wild, right?
I wonder if there is an estimate of how many did and still are road legal and registered...
Anyway, ya the prime is a good PHEV, thanks for the review.
4:45 what other plug in hybrid that you drive in long time is better
I got interested in alternative forms of transportation when my parents bought a brand new Toyota Prius back in 2005. We were part of a hybrid car club where we talked about hybrid cars and our miles per gallon.
For someone who will be towing a small trailer for 200 to 300 miles it seems that the plugin hybrid is far superior to the BEV(?) At what charge density will the BEV compare well with a plugin hybrid for towing?
A great car and great presentation
I agree stop talking about ice cars
At least don't advertise them.
Trailer tow weight @ time 9:57, Answer 2,500 pounds which is …kg
"Is The Toyota Rav4 Prime The Best Plug-in Hybrid You Can Buy? ". No, because for most people you can't actually buy one.
Nikki, you were in high school in 1994? You look much younger than that. I assumed you were a few years younger than me, but clearly I was wrong.
Nikki here. I was born in 1979 ;)
"In an ideal world everyone should be driving an EV." To finish that sentence you need to add "Which, in reality, can only be re-charged reliably day or night by electricity from a coal-fired power plant." In an "ideal" world everyone should be 'free' to drive what they want.
Your comments betray the fact you're using oft-debunked claims.
Also, "Freedom" is subjective.
Great vid! You are a natural
So why is it so difficult to purchase a hybrid!
Comprehensive! Now if only I could find one...
Good timing, on the day Toyota announces that they'll be adding 30 plug in vehicles before the decade is over.
Does it have rear-sear climate? I can't find anyone covering what's in the back sear lol.
It has climate vents for the rear seats, but not a separate zone.
It’s not the best plug in you can buy, since it’s impossible to buy them!
Hey Nikki, I thought you had said that you owned a Chevy Volt? If that's the case, this RAV4 is wasaaayyyy better than that. Plus it's a car that you can get into and start driving immediately, no learning curve! Plus it's one of the most reliable cars on the road. I know it's not a fully Electric cars, but this is one of the best, most practical, and most popular cars!
She has a bolt not volt. Her friend Aaron who works on the channel has a volt
@@markfitzpatrick6692 that's good! Either of them is way, WAY inferior to that Toyota, even if it's not a full BEV.
“Marketed for someone who can’t afford a full size truck or SUV?” Respectfully, one could purchase a proper 4Runner Limited for the same price or less. Anyone purchasing a Rav4 Prime is doing so out of piety or love of hypermiling in relative comfort. Cheers.
I had a late mondel LE for work and it got decent gas mileage. I will say the trim in this version is such a step up from the base model even it it retains the hard plastic dash and door panels. My biggest concern is availability on the east coast. You can just barely find any Hybrids let alone a Prime and then pricing to me is a bit unreasonable.
❤Rav 4. Well said!
Toyota is a real world company. Can Toyota catch up by playing wait and see?
They probably can. A great many places in the world can't use electric cars yet so they have years of ICE income to try to catch up. It is more a matter of will power. The Toyoda family, and Japan in general, can't let go of oil and thus their never ending quest for hydrogen, which requires the oil industry to create and ship.
Look closely at bZX4 for evidence that Toyota has been progressing all along. Longevity has been the priority, rather than speed & range like other automakers.
A bit sad this channel covers PHEVs, as they are only designed (especially by Toyota) to slow down the transition to affordable and capable full BEVs.
When everyone has equitable access to charging at all times, we’ll happily yeet PHEVs to the curb. Right now, for many people, they are the only choice for mostly electric travel.
Its old before you buy it with the EV6.
In Washington state the rav4 prime is the EV hybrid you can't buy. And I drive to Oregon but it sells during the 150+ mile drive Dow 😤😡
2.3 miles per kWh is pretty piss poor.....not impressed.....I still love my Volt.
Wow!
Wonderful review. I admit I pretty much would shun a hybrid, it’s pseudo electric while overly complex. I’ll be car shopping mid year 2022, it’s entirely possible if insane car market doesn’t improve…. Perhaps, just perhaps. (Nikki…. More shorter videos please!)
Put simply this vehicle seems like a good idea till you actually price it out. It is $15,000 over priced. Toyota clearly doesn't want to sell these.
It is $55,834.68 CAD. Compare this to the base Tesla Model 3 $59,990. You might argue you'd need to compare it to the Model Y as it is an SUV but strictly as getting an electric vehicle the Tesla makes more sense. IF the Canadian government brings back the incentives the Tesla would be even cheaper.
Lol.... the toyota can also be cheaper and that price is because of the demand, tesla aren't cheap either, that rav4 has about 600 miles of range and its perfect for those who likes overlanding/camping, going to remote places.... it has a great ground clearance and awd system and power output to make life easy. All tesla are basically pavement princesses.
The Canadian government did not remove the incentives, Tesla raised its prices to move it out of the requirements to get the incentives. Right now there are to plug in full electric SUV’s that should be on one’s radar. The IONIQ 5 and the ID.4 which both qualify for the $5,000 federal government incentive.
It doesn't make any sense to hall around two drive trains , the only thing it does improve is brake life. That is what taxi drivers have discovered.
Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid: 18,1 kWh battery, max. electric range 75 km, 22 g/km CO2, power 225 kW, ugly SUV, starting price (NL): €51,495
Mercedes-Benz C Class e Estate: 25,4 kWh battery, max. electric range 111 km, 15 g/km CO2, power 230 kW, classy estate, starting price (NL): € 56,570
So if it has to be a hybrid, maybe save up a bit longer? (Of course maintenance will be much more expensive too for the Merc, but on the flip side it most likely has a nicer interior.)
Ioniq5 and Kia EV6 is cheaper...oh and cleaner....
I use a new Sienna Van at work. Very cluttered inside. Rear seats for midgets only. Rav4 & Sienna designed WITHOUT concern for Aerodynamics, or smart build contours.
Very nice but v expensive. 4H more better
Great way for Toyota and their customers to look green while guzzling gas.
Nonsense, grow up, the food you eat, the things you buy online even the tesla you drive are made possible with oil, even building and maintaining the grid, roads infrastructure in general nothing is electric.
The same as is said about laws, that they were made to be broken APPLIES to the charger door on ALL EV's. A simple solution would be to allow them to have a small magnet on the inside of the flap and allow that flap to fold totally half circle to snag onto the reverse side of the fender so as to not rip it off entirely. A simple adjustment to the hinge mechanism would allow the charger door to fold and attach itself to the fender or hood with a clasp to hold it there or that MAGNET to secure it into place.
The reason they don't is to ensure that like the laws that were made to be broken this Charge Flap door is expected to need replacing because of the why not clause that broken parts need to be serviced at a dealer... RIGHT?!?
Honestly Toyota has really ruined their reputation for me in the last few years, especially this greedy "remote start" subscription model. I know that seems like a silly hill to die on but its so representative of the toxic thinking Toyota now has.
A PHEV with 40-50 miles of electric range gets praised; a BEV with 100 miles just doesn't cut it? (I refer to the general EV reviewer consensus). Seems like PHEV being compared to gas and other PHEV; BEV only to other BEV. To drive one of these electric most of the time takes a very particular set of circumstances or almost religious dedication. We could not wait to get rid of our PHEV.
It's all about personal circumstances, for me 100 miles and 200kw charging would be amazing as long as there were regular chargers, but for others they need to drive 300 miles each way every other day they will never be happy with an ev, (although I can't help thinking it's more of a mindset problem for some) a phev with a 50 mile range is better than an icev which is the only alternative for some.
4:36 This piece of shit is the best piece of shit.
Stop living in the past Toyota, hybrids are as outdated as steam engines.
No they're not. They're a better option than EV where I live.
pluginhybrids are the best!
@@toby9999 Antarctica? ;)
The only other place without a charging infrastructure is Australia.
@@toby9999 How can you call it an option when production numbers are so low?
@@martythemartian99 Brasil. Here the charging infra is almost inexistent in most regions. Check plugshare and see...
Is it "the best plug-in"? ... No... fails miserably. Look at it's "Moose test" results...
Is Toyota the most disgusting company? - absolutely YES!
They might have to compete with GM for the title of most disgusting company.
This thing uses more stinking fossil fuel than any of the pure ICE vehicles I've owned in the last twenty five years. It's just a dirty wasteful anti-social SUV with a coat of green paint.
Which AWD pure ice vehicles did you have that got over 38 MPG?
I love your work but find 40 min reviews too long; at times repetitive, no need to talk about mud flaps and very few people have previously driven a priest. All this for a compliance car that Toyota deliberately underproduces for a shrinking market. Premium price, budget materials and tech, with the "worst of both worlds" weight, complexity, maintenance and depreciation. Is it really good value based on TCO and environmental impact?
Priest not priest
You youngster. 😆