The RAV4 has been a long-standing home run hitter for Toyota for several years, but the 2021 model is even better than we could have expected. With the rise of hybrids, we weren’t surprised to see the RAV4 get a hybrid option and the Prime has a lot to offer wrapped into one surprisingly affordable package. You can drive this Toyota SUV in fully electric or hybrid mode, and either way you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable experience.

Exceeding our expectations

The new 2021 RAV4 maintains its modest exterior, modern front fascia and headlights, and boxy SUV design. This isn’t disappointing though, because Toyota gave the overall look of the car all of the upgrades it needed without making it look overly obnoxious. A sleek black roof and A-pillars give this car a sporty profile, and the large alloy wheels give it an aggressive side-profile to be reckoned with.

The RAV4 Prime also offers pretty decent mileage, with up to 42 miles on electric power alone and a reported 400 miles with the full hybrid system. The seats are comfortable enough to enjoy all of the range that the car has to offer, even though you probably won’t travel that far every day. It also comes with a 10 year or 150,000-mile warranty on the battery to ensure this car will last much longer than you will probably have it.

The RAV4 Prime isn’t just a boring hybrid SUV either, and it shifts as smoothly as a luxury car. Toyota claims that it has a zippy acceleration, making it from a complete stop to 60mph in 5.8 seconds, partly thanks to the electric all-wheel-drive capabilities.

A touch of luxury and sport

The interior is where the RAV4 really shines. The faux leather is soft to the touch and wrapped around the well-cushioned, comfortable front and rear seats. The dashboard and center console are minimally designed and laid out to have everything within a comfortable reach of the driver.

The cabin of the RAV4 is well insulated to minimize road-noise, and combined with the almost silent fully-electric mode it’s almost like you aren’t really driving at all. The suspension is designed to perform well on the road as well as off, just as good as previous model years if not better.

The new 2021 Toyota RAV4 has the potential to be the best RAV4 model year ever according to Consumer Reports, but only time will tell. There are still some minor improvements that could be made to make it even better, but so far it hasn’t just lived up to our expectations, but exceeded them. It does come at a higher price than the stand RAV4, making it more expensive than some may have hoped, but with all that it has to offer it might be worth the price difference.