A vehicle that can do lots of things well has to be the most important design goal of a mainstream manufacturer. The more things it is good at, the more it will be in demand. It might surprise you to know that a hybrid SUV is one of the market’s most accomplished vehicles.
Yes, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is that vehicle, and it is one of the best all-rounders you can buy – if you can find one.
The RAV4, now in its fifth generation, has long been one of Toyota’s best sellers, and it currently comes in three flavours – gas engine, regular hybrid, and plug-in hybrid. The latter model is what they call Prime, and like all the other PHEVs on the market, it is to many folks the best combination of electric capability and gas engine flexibility. In the case of the RAV4, on a full battery charge, it gives you an indicated 70 kilometres of electric range, one of the longest distances in any PHEV, and more than enough for many folks to never have to use the gas engine in a typical day of commuting or running the family around to places – as long as you charge it fully every night. Yes, a pure EV has a few hundred km of range, but the PHEV offers the insurance of the gas engine, the elimination of range anxiety, and 979 km of combined total range.
Aside from its means of propulsion, the Prime, like any RAV4, is a roomy, versatile family-oriented SUV. Wisely, we think, Toyota has not tried to cram in a third row of seating, so the RAV is a five-passenger vehicle with lots of room for people and their cargo. In fact, there is no real diminution of cargo space as is sometimes the case in battery-equipped vehicles, as they are located low in the middle part of the chassis, ahead of the gas tank, which yields not only space, but a nice low centre of gravity for better handling.
The cabin is a comfortable place to be, especially in our high-line XSE with Technology Package tester, with firm, supportive leather-and-vinyl seats, the front ones being adjustable electrically in various directions. There are lots of bins and cup holders everywhere, and an 11-speaker 1,500-watt JBL audio system with satellite radio. Most of the vehicle functions can be viewed or controlled via the 9-inch screen, and Apple Car Play and Android Auto are included. Overall, it’s an attractive interior with nice fit-and-finish, although in its solid black, it is perhaps a bit austere-looking.
Safety is something everyone wants in a family vehicle, and Toyota takes a back seat to no one with a full suite of electronic features called Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. There is Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), and Road Sign Assist (RSA). All RAV4 Prime models are fitted with eight airbags (including a driver’s side knee airbag), LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) on all rear seats, and Safety Connect (Emergency Assistance in the event of a crash).
Being an SUV, the majority of RAV4 buyers would want some all-wheel drive capability, and the way that is accomplished is to equip it with an electric motor up front for normal driving in good traction, and another one in the rear that kicks in when AWD is needed, with no mechanical connection to the power unit up front. We didn’t get the chance to experience the Prime in a low traction situation, so we can’t comment on how well the AWD works.
The other benefit to having one engine (a 2.5-litre four) and two motors is power, and lots of it. The engine puts out 177 horsepower as it does in lesser RAV4s, while the front motor adds 179 hp and the rear one, 53 hp. The total is not 409 hp, as the engine develops its power and torque at higher revs and the motors at 1 rpm, but the rating is 302 hp, with the instant pulling power common to electric motors. With this power comes speed, to the tune of a zero-to-100 km/h time of under 6 seconds, making this the second-quickest new Toyota, behind only the Supra sports car. It also allows for towing a 2,500-pound trailer.
Given the power available, we have to say that the chassis of the Prime is not quite up to that level of performance, with comfort-oriented suspension and steering settings, and brakes happiest in normal family motoring. We’d love to see some tweaking of these systems, to make the Prime a bit more of a sporty vehicle, but maybe that doesn’t meet Toyota’s mainstream objectives for the RAV4. Oh well…
So, you are interested in buying a RAV4 Prime. There is the base MSRP – $44,990 for SE, $51,590 for XSE, $56,990 for XSE with Technology package – to consider, but there is also availability to take into account. Originally, a year ago, supply was such that Toyota only offered the Prime in Quebec and B.C., which had (and have) government rebate programs. It appears now that they are being offered in the other provinces, but supply may be tight and demand high in your area, so that has the potential to affect the price you will pay – or how long you’ll have to wait. You should check with your dealer for the latest situation.
If you do score a Prime, though, you will have a vehicle that does a lot of things – economy, capability, comfort, performance – very well indeed, all with the kind of reliability and durability that people have come to expect from Toyota.
Specifications
- Base price (MSRP as tested): $56,990
- Type: 4-door, 5-passenger midsize SUV
- Layout: Front engine / front & rear motors / AWD
- Engine: 2.5L DOHC, 16-valve I4
- Power: 177 hp
- Motors: 179 hp (front), 53 hp (rear)
- Total Rated Power: 302 hp
- Transmission: CVT auto
- Weight: 1,950 kg
- Fuel Consumption (LE/100km): 2.5
