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Will a rose by any other name smell just as sweet? Will Toyota SUVs with different titles have the same athletic and fuel efficient performances? My apologies for crudely quoting Shakespear, but this is important. Some Toyota models have new names. 

Some Toyota SUVs have new names 

The Toyota SUVs with new names are the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Toyota Prius Prime. These SUVs are now known as the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. 

Toyota made this change because Americans are getting more comfortable and familiar with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or ‘PHEVs.’ 

PHEVs have an electric motor and a gas-powered engine. They can use the electric motor alone, a mix of electric and gas power, or only gas to travel. You can also plug them in to generate an electric charge, but the regenerative brakes also provide electric juice. 

Before, the Prime title indicated that the related model was near-luxurious with more range and horsepower. 

But it failed to allow drivers to quickly understand which powertrain the models came with. Reportedly, more people know what PHEV is compared to understanding the Prime title. 

The 2025 Toyota Prius PHEV parked on a pavement lot
2025 Toyota Prius PHEV | Toyota

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Prime is equipped with a 2.4-liter inline-four engine, two electric motors, and an 18.1-kWh battery pack to generate 302 hp. 

It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. It has an EPA-estimated electric range of 42 miles and gets about 94 MPGe. With gas-only it gets 40 mph in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway. The RAV4 PHEV can travel about 600 miles between fill-ups. 

The 2025 Toyota Prius PHEV has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. It cranks out 220 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.3 seconds. 

Also, the Prius PHEV has an EPA-estimated electric range of 44 miles and gets about 127 MPGe. With gas alone, it gets about 53 mpg in the city and up to 51 mpg on the highway. It can travel about 650 miles between fill-ups. 

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.