It seems like every year, there is a highly anticipated vehicle coming out that no one can wait to get their hands on. In 2019, everyone was eagerly awaiting the new mid-engine Corvette. In 2020, it was the Ford Bronco. Now, it’s the 2021 RAV4 Prime.

So what’s the big deal about the RAV4 Prime? Sure, Toyota knows how to make a reliable vehicle, but has the Japanese automaker figured out a way to bring something truly spectacular to the 2021 RAV4 Prime? U.S. News seems to believe that Toyota has.

Everyone trusts a Toyota

Whether you like Toyota, there’s no doubt it’s the top automaker in the world. Tesla is on the rise, but it has yet to topple Toyota from that throne. So why is Toyota able to dominate the auto world?

It all comes down to reliability. Yes, Toyota has had more than its fair share of recalls, but the Japanese automaker doesn’t hesitate to issue a recall, rather than simply ignoring the problem.

Whether you buy new or used, Toyota vehicles are something you can rely on. In fact, when Consumer Reports conducted a study to see which used vehicles are the most reliable over a three year period, Toyota had five vehicles out of ten to make the list. That’s data you can’t argue with.

You might want to hold off until you can buy a 2021 RAV4 Prime

If you’re saving up to buy a new vehicle, you might want to wait for the 2021 RAV4 Prime to hit your local showroom. Especially if you want to go green.

Toyota released a statement in it’s press room that stated, “The RAV4’s first-ever plug-in model has up to 302 horsepower with an ability to do 0-60 mph in a projected 5.7 seconds, which makes it the quickest four-door model in the Toyota lineup.” That’s some serious speed for an SUV, and while that’s great, there’s more. 

One of the factors that turn some people away from electric or hybrid vehicles is the uncertainty of how far they can go on a single charge. That’s a solid fear to have, especially given that many rural areas don’t have charging stations. If that’s you, then get a RAV4 Prime.

While Toyota advertises that the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime could go 42 miles on a single charge, that wasn’t quite accurate. Kelley Blue Book put that to the test, and found that the RAV4 Prime can actually go 46 miles. Given the fact that the RAV4 Prime is a hybrid, however, you probably won’t have to worry about that. It’s no wonder that critics are recommending consumers go with the RAV4 Prime over the Tesla Y.

The wait might be longer than you’d think

Tragically, Toyota isn’t going to release many of the 2021 RAV4 Prime. According to Car and Driver, America was due to get a mere 5,000. That’s right. Just 5,000 vehicles. Now Toyota thinks that this might be a little overzealous, so we’ll be getting even less than that. 

The MSRP is $39,220, making it one of the most affordable hybrid SUVs on the market, but there are rumors that the price will be raised due to the scarcity of the 2021 RAV4 Prime. Many Toyota dealerships declare that they won’t do this, but many are. In fact, some dealers are charging $10,000 over the MSRP.

With that said, it’s not clear when the 2021 Toyota RAV4 will become available. The places where the RAV4 sold the most in the past will most likely get the majority of the RAV4 Primes available. That means that unless you live in one of those areas, you might be in for a long wait.