2 Reasons the Toyota RAV4 Prime Is the Ultimate RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 Prime is the closest that the RAV4 gets to being an EV without committing. The RAV4 is America’s most popular small SUV because it’s practical, affordable, and has decent gas mileage. The RAV4 Hybrid takes things a step further, offering even more miles per gallon and increasing the small SUV’s driving range. The RAV4 Prime is, in many ways, the final form of Toyota’s most popular nameplate.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime is the first-ever PHEV RAV4
In December 1997, Toyota began production on what is considered one of the most impactful hybrid nameplates of all time: the Toyota Prius. The Prius gets plenty of hate for its acceleration and quality, but it was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle ever. Even if you despise the Prius, it deserves kudos for being a vital part of the foundation that Toyota built a portfolio of hybrid vehicles upon.
Today, Toyota is beginning to offer plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as well. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a vehicle that uses a gas engine along with electric motors and a battery to offer drivers two different power sources.
PHEVs rely on gas, but they can also be charged to run on just electricity for a limited range. This adds to the total driving range of an already efficient hybrid powertrain system. PHEVs aren’t quite EVs, but they’re the next best thing. They’re certainly more convenient than EVs because they don’t take nearly as long to charge and still get most of their total driving range from a gasoline-powered engine.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime achieves 38 miles per gallon combined. It has a 14.5-gallon gas tank. That works out to roughly 551 miles of driving range. Impressive, but not groundbreaking. Once you add the small plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s 42 miles of electric-only driving range, its total range of about 593 miles starts to turn heads. That’s almost 144 more miles of driving range per full gas tank than the gas-powered OG RAV4. The RAV4 Prime’s fuel efficiency is only the tip of the iceberg.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the most powerful RAV4 ever
Power isn’t exactly synonymous with the Toyota RAV4 nameplate. In fact, many consumers opt for the Honda CR-V because of its acceleration and driving dynamics. The RAV4 Prime, on the other hand, is a powerhouse.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime makes a massive 302 horsepower, a byproduct of its unique powertrain system. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds, making it Toyota’s quickest SUV model. The RAV4 Prime is ridiculously powerful for a small SUV. MotorTrend claims that the RAV4 Prime is the quickest Toyota non-sports car model.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime is the RAV4’s future
The future of the automotive industry could be electric, but we certainly haven’t reached a point where EVs are convenient yet. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure has a long way to go. Then, mining for EV battery materials is another issue that automakers are already encountering.
The RAV4 Prime is the future of the RAV4 because it is the best of both worlds. It uses gas and electricity to provide an ownership experience that’s nearly unparalleled in its segment. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is the ultimate RAV4.
