10 Reasons I Hate my 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime

[@barrysiffredi4595]

10). Narrow rear door opening 9). Not as much rear seating room as regular RAV4 (also must upgrade to xse to get rear pockets on front seats) 8). Charging speed could be better (240V 5-6 hrs) 7). Has a REVERSE 60/40 rear seat 6). Infotainment display would have problem with iPhone connection - volume control (fixed/updated) 5). When driving, could not flip to maps setting on display while taking a phone call (fixed/updated) 4). Smart key (keyless entry) rarely works 3). Braking system is “grabby” 2). Gas engine has to be running to use defrost 1). Below -20F , you do not have any heat on electric only. Must use gas engine and turn off eco mode.

[@pxnification]

Thank you. Saved me 20 mins lol

[@echlinwright]

Thank you very much

[@Waxwingeco]

Thank you! Saved me watching the video.

[@andraeneal9134]

Thank you. That sums up the video!!!

[@OOICU812]

Sounds like nit picking. Thanks.

[@maxxawesome7412]

The 60/40 seat configuration was actually a selling point for me. I wanted to be able to put 2 paddle boards in and have my wife still fit in since they’d go all the way over the front passenger seat. This way she can ride behind driver seat with two boards inside. If we don’t want to use the racks.

[@JamesKlafehn]

Im glad it works for you! Thanks for watching!

[@Prawatyotin]

Aren’t most cars 60/40 splits?

[@JamesKlafehn]

@@Prawatyotin Yes. My point was that all other cars I have ever owned have been opposite. So 60/40 and not 40/60.

[@MrJamesLuz]

@@JamesKlafehn that is more of RAV4 problem than specific to the prime. Unless the prime is different than a RAV4 hybrid?

[@uncopino]

wow i never thought about that. that's really handy

[@kevinjohnson2024]

The heat below 20 and the defrost gasoline only seems to be a "you can't have it all" problem. Its a HYBRID. There is a petrol engine because it not supposed to be all electric. If you use the battery to power a resistance heater your going to loose significant all battery miles. Personally I am thrilled that Toyota was intuitive enough to maximize the battery life and not dribble drain it with unnecessary power loads. Run the damn engine for 5 min to defrost the windshield and heat the cabin or buy a full electric.

[@omersaeed3164]

That’s exactly what was thinking too

[@daehoonnoh5228]

Exactly. I was thinking WELL DUH!! Anyone would expect such issues with a hybrid under such extreme temperatures. Just buy an ICE if you're living in such areas.

[@ObraBass]

O man, I just ordered mine, and when I saw this video i got frozen, but after watching it I relaxed, because none of the things bothers me except maybe narrow back door entrance

[@nczioox1116]

Thinking of getting mine tomorrow. How you like it?

[@ObraBass]

@@nczioox1116 I was waiting for almost 4 mounts for mine, and just got it last week. Everything is mostly what I expected. Only thing that I do not like is the quality of the plastic covers at the rear door and interior of the back pack. The rear door rattle like crazy and it's annoying like hell. At the dealer they said that there is no help with this, and the cause of rattle is installation in between metal door and plastic inside cover. The same thing with the other new car at the shop. In my 11 years old BMW there are no noises after all that time. However, the hybrid engine and cvt gear box are excellent and these are the reasons I bought new RAV4. My first Japanese car....will see how it goes

[@cellobert]

I just got mine earlier this month and drove across the country (got it in NY state as they’re not available in Washington state… I was there for work) So far I love it! So much more comfortable than my ‘13 Ford Fusion Energi and the EV range is 3x better. There are a few things I like more in the Ford but on the whole I’m SO happy with it! MPG on the 2200 mile trip was 41mpg. Only plugged in once in Minneapolis. Love hearing people’s concerns though! Thanks for posting!

[@jessebooth2371]

So you’re saying an inch really makes a difference eh. 🤔

[@oneiros1401]

size does matter lmfao

[@danf2]

I knew it! 🤭😄

[@vn01208503]

yea ask your wife

[@lyanne5525]

Of course it does! He needs to get his kid in and out.

[@sammmyds39]

😂

[@rogergeyer9851]

Somehow, whining about the car working exactly the way it should and it needs to given the real world / physics is SUCH a first world problem.

[@kevinwarrick7190]

Your list are not real complaints. You actually convinced me to look into buying the rav4 prime. Thanks for sharing!

[@hendrikboeschoten6496]

why buy an Hybrid , if you do not want to use gas engine , buy 100% electric !

[@rjherrera97]

I was thinking the same thing. Most of the things he complained about didn’t even happen in the video

[@Naiphoenix]

Yes think so

[@errcoche]

"White people problems!". He should have opened with a warning that there are almost certainly better ways to use the next ten minutes. That said, his No.8 is something I am seeing on the Sonata Hybrid I just bought. Brakes are not good for low speed maneuvering.

[@JamesKlafehn]

@@errcoche WTF. So my problems are because I am white? That is so racist. Leave and never come back or I will gladly block you from ever watching and commenting on another one of my videos. I post this stuff for free. I dont deserve your racism.

[@stanleylee5242]

Minor issues.. I want this car so badly but having a hard time getting one. It’s got a high resale value, AWD, very quick acceleration and 40 mpg. It’s got everything I’m looking for in a car. I’m so done with my gas guzzling Corvette, Tundra and Jeep Wrangler right now.

[@samusaran7317]

Kind of poor for a plug in....

[@fredbuzzell117]

@@samusaran7317 but how many plugins run sub 6 sec 0-60 and a can actually do well offroad.

[@samusaran7317]

@@fredbuzzell117 Its a bridge technology that is aging out rather quickly. If one has a family I guess it could work out well though all considering.

[@nw1018]

I know right? How the F do you buy one of these there is only a dozen in the whole country on dealer lots.

[@realbigdady]

@@nw1018 in langley bc Canada there is a two year waiting list.

[@thomashopkins403]

Hey James. Looks like you have some cool after market accessories added to your 2021 RAV4. Is there a video with a list of them or can you provide a list? Thanks for what you do!

[@Sheppert89]

Hey, about your problem with keyless entry. I have the same problem with my 2016 RAV4 Hybrid. And I noticed it always happens when my smartphone is close to the key. If I keep them seperated everything just works fine. Maybe that is also the case for you.

[@JamesKlafehn]

I keep them in opposite pockets.

[@albinandersson3767]

Same with my subaru outback. Otherwise it works great. (didnt have the key in the same pocket as the smartphone, the pockets were kind of stacked)

[@jbj8525]

I noticed that when my smart phone is next to my key fob, the door won't open. I have a CRV and will be buying the Prime.

[@tylersmith4265]

Might be chip cards in the wallet. Had the same issue with my Mazda. Alone it always works but with wallet or phone in the same pocket it's finicky.

[@dartox3038]

The gasoline engine starts when the defrost is activated because your AC compressor also kicks in to remove the cabin humidity that causes the need to defrost the windows. That compressor adds quite a load, similar to driving up a hill that triggers the gas engine.

[@stevepowsinger733]

I was wondering if the compressor runs on the electric motor or not. My truck has start-stop, which is useless if the AC is on.

[@Ralith09]

AC will run on EV mode no problem. It will defrost it down to 14 or 17 I believe, below that the heat pump can't function efficiently enough so ICE is turned on. In my Prius Prime, if I leave it on Defrost/floor combo, it won't turn ICE (where full defrost instantly turns ICE on).

[@wgemini4422]

But EV cars can do it fine. I can understand it would significantly lower the range, but right now, it is actually making me doubting my order as here in Canada, 20F (-6C) is pretty much every day in the winter. Hopefully normal heat with defrosting does not turn it on?

[@Frosstbite23]

Definitely has electric AC compressor.

[@supercal333]

@@wgemini4422 You should complain to your dealer for not warning you about this issue. All dealers in Canada should tell their customers before they buy one of these.

[@RayanMADAO]

I don't understand why buy a hybrid and complain about the gas engine being used

[@desertdan100]

The rear seat split is smart safe. If you want to haul something of size, you want it on the other side of the driver for space and in case of a collision.

[@karlaquintanilla5658]

That’s what i was thinking. Very smart engineering honestly

[@yusufchoudry414]

@atombrain111 if she dies, she dies

[@Timpala44]

I actually prefer the 60/40 split that way. It makes it so you can haul more long items inside from rear to the dash and still have room for a passenger behind the driver. One example is a Christmas tree. No need to have to strap it to the roof. Another is lumber.

[@nevco8774]

Yet modern cars provide 40/20/40 split accommodating all the needs.

[@uncopino]

or kayaks, or longboards, or shopping at ikea... that's one thing to consider. you're totally right

[@eylerwerve]

Break grab may be related to rust on the brake rotors, which accumulates in all cars but is usually worn off immediately. In cars with regen braking, the brake rotors don't get used as much, so you don't clean them off quickly. As a result you have 'grabby' brakes when they do kick in. A few seconds of aggressive braking (engaging the rotors) following periods of rain or snow may be enough to reset the pads.

[@jamesnusky6257]

I just bought this the other day. I love the cabin room. I came out of a Honda Accord. great car, but it was tight for me getting in and out. I am surprised by the stereo in the RAV. Sounds very good. I love the sport mode. So far so good. I bought the bright white one. It had the black trim package. Roof and rims are blacked out. TY for the video.

[@PNWwonder]

I just sold my 2006 accord with 200,000 miles and bought a 2021 hybrid XLE premium with 33k, I love mine too!

[@pmh1nic]

Thanks for the honest review. Some of the issues won’t be issues for me since I’m short and don’t have kids. I’m also old so having the rear hatch open and close slowly is a plus :). As for heating, with a hybrid the battery output capacity is much lower than a pure EV. Heating the car on battery especially at low temperature is really going to drain the battery so Toyota opted to limit that option. It’s a compromise between range, comfort and the alternative of using the gas engine for heating.

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

The problem with going with a heat pump is that they simply are less efficient the colder it gets outside, because it works by extracting heat from the surrounding air. Of course, when it's cold outside, it takes much more energy to suck the heat out, since there's so little of it. I wonder why they went with the heat pump. If you live in a place that gets cold in the winter, this is simply unacceptable. Imagine going 4 months (or longer) trying to decide whether or not you want heat or the fuel savings.

[@FuncleChuck]

5:30 that’s exactly as advertised, and probably enough for most people. 18 kWh battery, 3.3 kW charger, yeah it’s going to take nearly 6 hours to full charge. As someone who would drain it daily, it would be charged again every morning - and even a 120/12 “extension cord charge” at work would get me over half a charge while at work.

[@visualizncustomiz2150]

About the folding rare seats, its better this way so incase you have a long pole or something, you can fold down the passenger rare+ passenger seat and haul it. When you are hauling, its safer to keep kids at home since you might leave the trunk hatch open

[@N20Joe]

I don't see why it's a problem for the ICE to turn on for heat. The whole point of EV is that you don't waste energy as heat(efficiency loss, especially when cold), so now that you want heat, it's no problem at all that you're using the engine to partially move the vehicle and partially provide heat.

[@JamesKlafehn]

If you want to use gas to heat the car you might as well buy a hybrid. I am an ev guy. I would like to have heat in the winter like every other ev. Had I known about the lack of heat in the winter I wouldve bought a hybrid and saved $10,000

[@ranger2316]

Kind of a first world problem(s)

[@2004cyrus]

We are spoiled in America

[@Kee_Didnt]

Does this strike you as a third world car? lol

[@ranger2316]

@@Kee_Didnt No, I was trivializing your complaints ..., hence first world problem ... : : -)

[@JohnnyKReviews]

Glad someone posted a real negative review. Too much BS positives on this

[@dorisvogt5353]

Jim I have no issues with the door lock and unlock. I don't "pinch" as you mention just simply touch the top of the handle towards the front (where you note to pinch it). While I haven't experienced the breaking nor the no heat issues, I have the dragon growl I reported to Toyota. The heat pump is angry and growls at me upon start up in cold temps; but keeps me toasty warm. LOL so I guess I will take the growl over no heat. Keep us posted on the opening where the mouse was, possible to block that vent or opening? Interesting. Never owned a Tesla, but love this car as I didn't want charger anxiety for road trips for EV and is the main reason I bought the R4P. Even with bitter cold weather in Upstate New York (yup, no sun) I still average 88.1-91.6 mpge and smile as I pass the gas stations. Is it perfect, no; but i still love it!

[@kgb4187]

Same, no problems on my 20 XLEh. Can touvh anywhere around the front to lock it.

[@kgb4187]

@atombrain111 What are you talking about? You can use the fob too. It's not a Tesla.

[@fakcofee]

I have a 2012 Prius and I can’t believe they didn’t fix the brakes that just grab all of the sudden 🤦‍♂️ How many more years does Toyota need?

[@InternetDude]

My 2021 R4P has the granny brakes in hybrid mode too.

[@joshuacole101]

I have one and will second the heat pump issue. A couple issues not mentioned are that the buttons in the door and overhead arent backlit. To lock the car or turn on the overhead lights is really hard when you can’t see them.

[@stay_in_adventure]

They have aftermarket buttons that are backlit

[@76spyder64]

100% true. door and indoor and overhead buttons are sorely lacking in backlighting. We shouldn't have to buy aftermarket to fix this problem

[@davidkonieczynski7268]

I appreciate the candid discussion of pros and cons. While no product is perfect, the RAV4 Prime is a significant investment (and cost premium vs alternatives) for most people. I have now owned my RAV4 Prime SE for 4 months and while my experience isn't aligned with all of the issues listed in this video I appreciate the perspective and that it might be applicable for other buyers with different needs and expectations. In the spirit of adding to the discussion here's my top 5 pros/cons. Big picture I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this vehicle for most people. I love most things about it. Pros 1. Ride quality in electric and electric/hybrid mode - very refined with quiet cabin and good acceleration (every day driving). 2. Great EV range for PHEV - I started with 34 miles range, and its steadily increased to 50 miles range. 3. Comfortable drivers position - great visibility, good seat support. Sunroof, heated seats, heated steering wheel enhance driving. 4. Good EV battery position - low center of gravity, does not project into cargo space. 5. Lights - remarkably good for stock, very good visibility in most conditions. Cons 1. Some lower quality cabin materials (vs XSE) - hard plastic doors, non-lighted window switches, hard/slippery finish in storage bins. Hard to justify given positioning within RAV4 lineup. I also own a base-model 2020 Prius Prime, which I expected to be lower fit and finish than 2021 RAV4 Prime given the big difference in overall price. However that is not the case, the interior of the Prius is more refined. Odd. 2. Tires - underwhelming. Will definitely invest in separate rims and snow tires for Winter 21/22. 3. Passenger seat - no height adjustment. Would be ok to be manual adjustment, but nothing. 4. Wired Car Play. Its inconvenient to attach phone every single time. Fortunately Carlinkit 2.0 [$100 / Amazon] works very well with head unit to enable wireless Car Play. Recommended upgrade. 5. Occasional instability when braking; well known with Toyota hybrid vehicles - braking "skips" momentarily under heavy braking conditions on rough road surface (eg, man hole covers).

[@elindenstein]

I'm looking at an SE now with a moonroof/weather package. How is it in the two years since you wrote this comment?

[@christinearmington]

5’3” retired - so none of this matters so much, except probably grabby brakes and keyless entry. Thanks 😊. Still waiting in the southeast.

[@bryanloki6560]

Why do you keep comparing the cars to full EV this isn't even close to a Full EV you're comparing a plug in Hybrid to Full EV i mean thats like comparing oranges to apples literally

[@turo3066]

Toyota made those door openings narrow to force us fat Americans into larger SUVs 😂

[@koyrehme4361]

The older body he was comparing against had a three row option, which is probably why the opening is wider.

[@JamesKlafehn]

yup! haha

[@verynick]

Or lose weight hahah

[@ЮрийГригорьев-ь8х]

James, I had the similar issue with keyless entry on my Ford. I figured out what the issue was. When I was next to some big powerlines, it would not work very well possibly due to EM interference. Could that be in your case? Also, for the heater below 20F, I think the issue is that Toyota used heat pump as a heater. If I'm not mistaken heat pumps work only so well up to certain temperature. I have heat pump in my house in NC. It works awesome there. I never saw a heat pump in NY.

[@williem8510]

Yeah heat pumps are not great for temps below freezing

[@rkgsd]

So much focus on the back seat and back door. That's all well and good if you've got a family to deal with, otherwise not an issue for the rest of us.

[@sansupadri4418]

VERY TRUE! It’s a GREAT CAR! And it’s TOYOTA!

[@StepDoku]

damn you hate every car out there??? were you not the same guy that went to buy a tesla and towed it but denied or tried to hide the fact that you towed it when you tried tinkering with some hacks???

[@jfcn474]

I will buy one soon, exactly like this one, a nice car.

[@sansupadri4418]

GREAT CAR! It’s TOYOTA🙌🙌🙌

[@dsstewbaby9]

Why don’t you trade it

[@brwa5176]

Other than charging being a bit slow, my experience with the RAV4 Prime has been great! I literally never have a problem with the keyless entry.

[@JamesKlafehn]

Im happy for you. I like the car overall but these are my annoyances. I did get the keyless issue on camera in the video I am uploading right now.

[@JamesKlafehn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpjSZauIbt2Ve5I

[@brwa5176]

@@JamesKlafehn I think I may know why you are having a problem and I'm not. I only tap on top to lock, I do not pinch top and bottom. That might be confusing it?

[@JamesKlafehn]

@@brwa5176 I dont understand.

[@brwa5176]

@@JamesKlafehn I thought you might be having trouble locking the car and you mentioned that you pinch (top and bottom) to lock it. I only tap on top and that always works for me. However that won't help for your unlock issue. I've never, not a single time had the unlock issue either. Possibilies might be your car has a defect, your hand is weird ;-) or if you happen to also be touching the lock area on top around the same time, maybe that is the cause?

[@InternetDude]

I had key problems too same thing, they ordered a new key and I take it next week to get fixed. Other key has been flawless.

[@1974gladiateur]

Go get an Escape so it will give you real reason to complaint about.

[@JamesKlafehn]

LOL are they bad? I would never.

[@tammyhiggins1013]

Amen. I owned an Escape before my Rav 4.

[@CharliePlays95]

I feel like they are I have one and I personally hate the escape I’ve had it for 2 years and it’s just small it’s not comfortable and it sucks on gas lol

[@paulstein9258]

Door openings are so important. My wife, we are elderly, has arthritic and sciatica uses. Her physical therapist said sedans are part of the problem. He suggested suvs or vans for people that have difficulties. We traded our sedan on the new Toyota Venza. Fantastic easy in/easy out access. My wife is so much more comfortable. Glad you are making that point.

[@JamesKlafehn]

Thank you for the comment! Yours is the first I have responded to in months. People have been fucking assholes! I never wanted to be a youtuber. I just did this to help people. I caught so much shit I decided to take a step back. I am so glad it helped you and thank you for your comment!

[@vonhub27]

So sorry. You ARE helping people-I'm sure more of them than the nasty ones harassing you! I'm in Minnesota and it just started getting really cold. I wondered what the heck was going on with cabin heat - there not being any!!! Thank you for explaining. Other than that, I love the car. @@JamesKlafehn

[@LandscapeLuke]

Thanks for the review. Very insightful. Trying to decide which car is best for a combination of off-roading and fuel efficiency.

[@lilmoris1]

Land Cruiser with the 5.7L V8 engine

[@KAIHTSAI]

does the charging at home increase your monthly electricity bill a lot? thank you! (I am considering seriously to buy RV4 plug in hybrid)

[@nevco8774]

The issue about using ICE to heat the cabin in your RAV4 Prime is inherited from HEV technology Toyota has for 20 years - I have it in Prius 2005 not heating at all when it is very cold outside except after driving at least 5 miles with ICE on. In a lot of videos on KZbin RAV4 Prime was praised for its heat pump so I am very amazed to learn about your frustration with it.

[@gregnote771]

If you had to do it over, what would you buy instead? Subaru? Mazda? Used NX?

[@jon325]

The door unlocking, you say you have to "put your hand behind the door handle" to unlock it - I assume you already know that you have to grip (or at least touch the inside of) the handle for it to unlock. I'm only mentioning this since I've never experienced the problem you describe on my R4P. Also, for those that may not know (I didn't until I read it in the manual), by default settings, keep holding the handle (manual says for approx 2 seconds) and all doors will unlock (at least it works that way on my XSE). Thanks for the vid - we all have little things we don't like, or that don't work well in our particular situations. Overall I think the R4P is nicely done.

[@chrisb3983]

Thanks for the tidbit about holding the handle! I'll have to give that a try next time I drive my R4P SE.

[@MrMikebutkus]

You should have (my 2019 w/tech package) 3 lines on the top of the door. Touch that, should lock and unlock.

[@DUNGSTA]

This guy likes to pinch his door...

[@jon325]

@@MrMikebutkus doing that specifically locks it, yes

[@jon325]

I failed to mention another possibility, which may be less obvious. The key fob uses weak radio waves to operate, so it is subject to interference. Window tint with a metallic content? Key fob in pocket with cell phone, coins, etc.? Vehicle parked in a location where strong radio waves or electrical noise exists? You get the idea...

[@MegaSelby]

I have a RAV4 Edge (Adventure). Just petrol. The engine warms up in no time. I think you are picky. It looked from your photography that you had the seat at a different angle to hit your knees. The newer model is larger than the old one. Is it to do with the batteries under the seat? Also the back cargo space is much wider in the newer model than the older one.

[@eddieyutub]

So important that we share our real experience with the products we use. Thank you! Toyota also got the same problem as Tesla with new technology such as smart key.

[@bassetdamaris]

Hi I do love your videos, and I just purchased a rav4 xle prime 2021, and I notice noise wind inside when I take the expressway, I see another youtubers installing extra wind stoppers , but do you have the same problem?, do you have a better suggestion?, I was thinking of put some kind of small plastic or something inside of the existing seals on the doors, I do not know it that made sense let me know and thank you

[@Sedonalegendhelenfrye]

Loved your candid overview of this vehicle, why can't we see more of this in reviews? Also think your concern and care for your son (and wife who sits in the rear with him) is wonderful, he is blessed.

[@JamesKlafehn]

Thank you so much for your positive comment and thank you for watching!

[@charlescoker7752]

How much to replace the battery? Including installing? Will you be able to sell it. When you get ready to trade?

[@PackFan-tv5pj]

Toyota Hybrids have a 10 year 150k mile warranty on the hybrid battery and hybrid system. Check out the mileage on NYC hybrid taxis which often have 400k miles and still OEM battery pack.

[@olemissjim]

Does it turn on a steering wheel heater and/or seat heaters? I’m in Florida so we only care about A/C.

[@jdubdoubleu]

You need to complain about the video before he responds

[@bradh6185]

Great to hear these real world observations. It's interesting what some of the big KZbin reviewers leave out.

[@danac3416]

I got a 2022 RAV4 Prime. Just this last April 2024. I'm on my 5th tank of fuel. So far I like it very well only wish the seating area was better. Mostly else is just figuring out how everything works. Once I got 220 plugin put in at the house for it my charging time is usually about 4.5 hrs. I'm mostly going make sure I use up fuel about 5-7 weeks.

[@seanplace8192]

I experience the 'brake grab' issue in my Chevy Volt as well. It's no where as bad as what you described, but I definitely feel when the friction brakes start grabbing when stopping. Tesla handles this better where the brake pedal is friction brakes only. This way there's no issues with trying to blend regen and friction brakes together. The low temperature cabin heating thing also occurs in the Volt. Below 15f, the engine will turn on randomly to heat the battery and/or the cabin. It doesn't require any interaction from the driver though, it just happens automatically.

[@nipez23]

A lot of EV vesrions on the used market, would you recommend getting one?

[@capcom4eva]

The gas probably comes on under 20 degrees to preserve the small 42 mile range or protect the cells. Does your range halve or significantly decrease in sub 20 degree weather? The KZbinr car care nut, master mechanic & hybrid specialist did mention that when the gas kicks on, to not force the hybrid into EV mode with the EV button, that the engine comes on to protect the battery pack and that the Toyota engineers built and programmed this safety feature in & know what they are doing, FWIW, but I’m no engineer, so what do I know. Glad you enjoy it, bro, even with these minor inconveniences. It does look to be superior to the Model X in dependability, & that’s what counts, especially not getting stranded in a snow bank in freezing temps, lol!

[@iamsmok]

If your keyless entry issue only happens in winter, it might be because batteries don’t like cold. The battery in your keyfob gets weaker when it’s cold, so it can’t give a strong enough radio signal for the car to feel it’s near. I always keep my fob in the inside pocket of my jacket, so it’s warm and works fine.

[@JamesKlafehn]

It happened since new, in August.

[@conradshoup4375]

This a terrific RAV4 Prime video. Thank you for making it. I had seen your positive reviews, and was glad to see the few areas where the RAV4 Prime falls short. The issue with the heater was not discussed anywhere else. Your videos contributed to me making an informed decision (I'm probably buying the RAV4 Prime). Keep up the great work.

[@wgemini4422]

Totally. This greatly concerns me as I am ordering a Rav4 Prime as well. Heat is kind of important in Canada. This is the reason I am not getting a Prius prime as I heard a lot of bad things with engine turning on in the winter. I was hoping Rav4 Prime would do better.

[@ritapatel6771]

Thank you SO much for making this video. I have a 2012 Toyota Sienna and I have complained for years about their heater system. It DOES NOT heat up forever! Only after you have started driving for about 15 minutes does it START to defrost. I also had problems with the brakes for the first year. They would Hydrolock below -20C and I couldn't move the van at all. They kept it for days and lubricated all the areas to prevent it from happening repeatedly. Now I am looking for a new vehicle that is NOT a Toyota. Too many issues between the brakes and not heating up in Winter. You would think that for the price Toyota charges for their vehicles they would make simple things like heat and brakes work better.

[@jackkim2708]

Do you mind if I ask how much you paid for it? Trying to buy a used one and it seems like the used one have a higher pricing than the new ones. I am confused.

[@kens97sto171]

the issue with the mouse nest in the charging area definitely needs to be looked at. I would suspect that the mice are climbing up the charging cable into that spot. You might try and see if you can keep the charging cable from being anywhere on the ground. You definitely do not want them making a house inside the chassis of your car. Brakes being a bit grabby has been a common issue with Toyota hybrids for a long time, I have a 2008 Prius and below 8 miles per hour the friction breaks blend in, I have the opposite problem, if the brakes are cold they tend to kind of judder when grab like when you go to a car wash and you get your brakes wet and for the first few seconds they grab a bit weird., but once I drive around for a while or after I do some hard braking and they warm up it doesn't behave this way anymore. your problem could have gone away because it took some time for the brake pads and the brake rotor surface to wear into each other. The key fob issue is interesting I have the smart key access in my 2008 Prius also and sometimes it doesn't react correctly but not to the degree you're talking about. I think your skin has to actually touch the back side of the handle I've never tried it with gloves on myself but that could be the issue since you have a lot of winter where you live you're more likely to have gloves on. But there could certainly be a fault with the smart key access receiver inside the car I would definitely have that looked at. I'm surprised the heat pump system can't maintain heat at 20° f. I wonder if they went with a somewhat small heat pump. I've seen people do car camping in Tesla's at minus 20 Celsius and it can maintain cabin heat without any problems. I'm kind of surprised also that they didn't just make it somewhat automatic, and that if the system cannot maintain the set cabin temperature that the gasoline engine automatically starts.

[@BlueDroneBlues]

Maybe a mouse blocker on the charging cable where the mice can't get around it and into the car.🐭

[@sko1beer]

Mice and Tesla’s don’t go well together fun fact even the model 3 has 2 miles of wires in that car

[@mr88cet]

Hey James - 14:56 - #9 or #2 😂: Are you *sure* that the engine has to run to defrost the windshield? I ask be our *Prius* Prime has two defrosting controls: one that uses the usual engine heat plus Email conditioner, and another one that only uses the heat-pump/AC system and works fine with the engine off. I strongly suspect that the RAV4 Prime probably also has that system, but I don’t know…

[@brwa5176]

Again while I really like my RAV4 Prime, my biggest gripe would be no lighting of the buttons on the ceiling for the moonroof, overhead lights, etc. and the buttons on the door.

[@tigger62]

I have the XLE Premium Hybrid and it has the same issue. The lack of lighting on the door buttons is especially bothersome.

[@pkfilseth]

A thousand times yes. Not being able to see these buttons when driving at night is making me crazy! What was Toyota thinking? This seems like an obvious thing.

[@etran2719]

Since you owned both tesla and the prime which one would recommend and why? Thank you

[@JamesKlafehn]

Neither honestly. The tesla was a nightmare and the prime was very vanilla. Id recommend the Ford Lightning

[@jomojigz]

Yes in EV mode, heat pump is the source of heating, but heating is only operational at outside temperature -10C or higher. So no heating from outside temperature -11C down to -20C and so on. It will stay in EV mode even when you activate the Defroster but only when outside temperature 15C or higher. If those are not met, the engine will run and the source of heating will be the hot water that radiates the heat thru the heater core.

[@skookapalooza2016]

My parents have a Prius and they use the heated seats when it's cold. Otherwise, the engine will cycle to maintain cabin heat.

[@wingsaber629]

No info about battery degradation, but wonder how much eMPG the pure electric will decline to after a few years. From ~40 electric miles to 20, 30 miles maybe?

[@Ram-sh6lx]

Lol funny thing is those people that complain about toyota, it's always about small stuff. It's never about the motor or the transmission or anything that's super costly to fix. Then just get other brand that don't even last 50k miles and your putting in new motor or transmission.

[@sansupadri4418]

VERY a TRUE!, LOL it’s TOYOTA it’s a GREAT CAR!

[@tatsumakisempyukaku]

I have a 2018 rav4 and with regards to the keyless entry, I noticed that it doesn’t work if my keys are in one pocket furthest from door. At times it doesnt work even if I have the key right up on door. But that’s seldom, but my observation is just that, a correlation I’ve noticed. Idk if it’s actually the source of the issue

[@MayankBadhan]

I was laughing so hard to the point there were tears coming down my cheeks when you said that many of your trips in the winter involve you driving cold 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@JamesKlafehn]

I dont understand. Was that sarcasm?

[@Dwill29s]

My 07 Highlander hybrid limited does the same thing with braking system,let me know if you figure that one out

[@tbanthony]

Door handle unlock: Mine always works. Never had any issue on my Prime SE. A quick touch to the backside of the handle and I have all the doors unlock. My Mazda 3 would auto lock when I walked away. I miss that a little. Toyota just doesn’t offer that on any vehicle.

[@theexmann]

Are you sure the autolock isn't a feature you can set? I have a 2004 Prius and I'm pretty sure the manual said you can set that feature. I think I tested it and it takes about 30 secs to lock if I remember correctly. I didn't like that because I thought it was too long of a time. But I might be wrong.

[@devanfot]

You should be able to set the doors to automatically lock after a certain amount of time in your settings through the Toyota stock system, nothing like auto lock based on proximity though

[@The_Frog_Show]

The Keyless entry system I've noticed it fails when your keys are in the same pocket as your iPhone. For some reasons phones block that signal.

[@cristiancurelaru3896]

I am not sure about the US version, but in CA , the top of the line (Rav4 Prime) has memory seats. However, for some reason, the mirrors are not part of the memory settings like almost every other car I was researching (that have memory settings). To me, that was a lazy or weird or cheap design decision. I don't have this car but we were considering it. And we would trying one car for a while so having driver settings memorized it's a cool feature. The car seemed exciting enough from reviews, then I noticed the top of the line model with tech package or whatever has memory settings, and yes, I can press a button to adjust the seat but ... wait ... I have to adjust the mirrors manually. What ?!

[@creativitybycarilyn6634]

I have seen 2 videos that conflict with yours regarding the gas engine turning on for heat in cold conditions. I wonder if there was a change in the HVAC for 2022. I haven't noticed this yet with my prime XSE that I just got...time will tell. Not cold enough to turn it on yet. I do agree they could improve the access opening to the rear seats. I would prefer electric plug to be located toward the front of car closer to charging outlets. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@laura-ann.0726]

Grabby brakes at slow speed: I have the same issue with my 2019 Prius Prime. At speeds below about 15 mph, the MG rotors are spinning too slowly for the stators to generate any significant amount of electrical current, so the brakes switch over from regen mode to friction mode, and the switch is rather abrupt. The grabbiness is also not the same in "B" mode as it is in "D" or "N" modes, so you have that to get used to also. But I just look at it as another minor quirk. All cars have quirks of one kind or another, and in the Toyota plug-in hybrids, I'd say the overall functionality of the vehicles and the amazing energy and fuel efficiency make the small quirks pretty unimportant. In my Prius Prime, the most annoying thing is that the stereo has no "Folder" mode for MP3 music on a CD or thumb drive that's organized in folders. Charge time: The 5 hour charge time with the standard 3 kilowatt L2 is a much more serious issue for the Rav4 Prime. My Prius Prime also has only a 3 kW charger, but the traction battery is only 8 kW/hr, compared to 18kW/hr in the Rav4 Prime, so my Prius charges in only 2.5 hours from dead flat. I agree completely with James that Toyota really needs to make the 6kW charger standard on all the models that have a traction battery larger than about 10kW/hr. I'm also not a fan of the 18" wheels on the Rav4 Prime: the selection of A/T tires is way smaller for 18" wheels than it is for 16" and 17" wheels. I'd want to put BF Goodrich TA/K0-2's on the car, and they are simply not available in the Rav4 Prime's OEM wheel size. Toyota probably use these low-profile tires for more sidewall rigidity and better fuel economy, but for anyone wanting to put serious A/T tires on the car, you will probably have to ditch the 18" wheels and buy new 16" rims in addition to new tires. Defroster turning on the gas engine: Same issue on all plug-in hybrids, including my Prius Prime, and here's why: in order for the car to have an EV mode, the heater/airconditioner has to be capable of running independent of the gas engine, and the solution Toyota uses is a heat pump using a scroll compressor that is driven by an electric motor running off the traction battery. This compressor can pump in either direction, to either heat or cool the cab. BUT - in very cold weather, Toyota discovered that it can't pump nearly enough heat to de-ice a frozen windshield in less than a full half-hour or more, and few drivers would tolerate a delay that long. So, the car's control computer runs the gas engine, which heats up quickly, and the hot coolant is pumped to a heater core in the HVAC manifold, same as in any conventional gas engine car. This system can produce ten times more BTU's of heat into the car than the scroll compressor can, albeit at the cost of some gas burned. But if you have to run the gas engine to heat the interior, switch the Hybrid system to CHARGE mode, and you can recover some of that gasoline as traction battery charge instead of just burning it for heat. No heat in the car in winter unless you run the gas engine: Same in all plug-in hybrids, including my Prius Prime. The simple fact is that Plug-in hybrids just aren't great cars for extremely cold climate use. Another problem is that the lithium-ion traction battery in these cars really, REALLY doesn't like to be any colder than about 35°F; my Prius Prime's traction battery actually has a heater grid in the battery tray to warm the battery if the ambient temperature gets too low. If you left a Rav4 Prime or Prius Prime parked outside overnight in sub-zero temperatures, I'm not sure if the car would even function at all in EV mode for at least 1/2 hour, until the heater grid could warm the battery up to at least +35°F. I live in central California, where it hardly ever gets below 38°F, so I've not had to put up with these cold weather issues to the extent that someone living in, say Minnesota, or Fairbanks, Alaska would.

[@joeeorio4606]

hey James I don't know if its been said before but I think I saw in another review you are supposed to hit the unlock button on the key before removing the cable maybe that's why it sticks

[@wgemini4422]

Yes, I was surprised you could just yank it out. :) That feature can also be disabled.

[@GeekTeligence]

One of my biggest annoyances with the RAV4 Prime is having a wireless phone charger, yet it doesn't support wireless Android Auto. That pretty much makes wireless charging absolutely useless! Oh, and the key fob issues are at the top of my list.

[@scotthagan3189]

What is the key fob issue?

[@daremange2268]

Does the gasoline heat pump kick on for the heated seats as well or were you just talking about ventilation heat?

[@JamesKlafehn]

No you can use the heated steering wheel or heated seats without triggering the gas engine.

[@xzzlonezzwolfzzx]

I think your key fob is broken. Between your remote start having issues and keyless entry. I have zero issues with this.

[@JamesKlafehn]

Both remotes do the same thing. its not broken. IDK why it does this.

[@MaxHasManyHobbies]

Good info, thanks. I wonder how many fixes were made in the 2023 version of the car vs the 2021. I heard there's a redesign planned for the 2025 model.

[@brianfoley1805]

I have the regular hybrid and had no issues with the keyless entry. I just leave the key in my front pocket.

[@theexmann]

I have never had an issue with my 2004 Prius. Well, not quite, I would have issues with it when the battery needed to be replaced on the fob.

[@cxptain3vil193]

It seems that you have performance brakes on ur rav4 based off the thumbnail and I was wondering if that comes from factory or you installed that on your own?

[@Kee_Didnt]

I feel like I'm okay with the gas engine coming on in extreme cold. The way I'm looking at this car is more of a "bridge" car to an all electric future. The writing is on the wall, but I don't want a FULL EV quite yet, and I just want something reliable with really good gas mileage, and an EV mode so that if gas prices surge to $10/gallon for some reason I'm not totally screwed. So if this means I only really drive in EV mode on our warmer days here in Colorado, I'm cool with that-- I'm still getting excellent MPG's, and then once the cabin is warmed up I can kick it into EV mode for a bit lol. Thanks for the video!

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

I love my 4runner, I commute 125 miles a day, also in Colorado! Long live fuel!!!

[@CtrlAltRetreat]

I have been driving a model s for a long time now and now feel like i very much like a lot of the characteristics of electric vehicles but have run into the charge time issues on long trips and when i forget to charge over the night. La driving means you're often going 50-70 miles each way with 10-30 miles of incidental driving during the day. 221 miles means that dealing with that is very inconvenient. Electric handling and engine off in and out of the garage plus the ability to fill up with gas fits my thinking. Also construction on that tesla was terrible so much whistling from the door/window seals. Worst service I've ever experienced from a car company too

[@Kee_Didnt]

@@CtrlAltRetreat Yeah, the Prime sounds right down your alley for sure. I think everyone can agree that Toyota is known for prioritizing reliability and quality, so the Prime feels like a really good bet... Probably going to jump on one within 4-6 months, and I'm hoping that we get enough inventory that I'm not paying significantly over MSRP.

[@CtrlAltRetreat]

@@Kee_Didnt Yeah, I'm going to be looking into picking one up but yeah paying above msrp really bugs me as well.

[@Dennzio1]

wonder if those issues have been addressed....especially the heat thing

[@susanmaclean-pilat3520]

You should do a video about what you love about the RAV4 prime.

[@JamesKlafehn]

I plan on it. I just had to take a little break. The negative comments from this video made me not really want to provide any more FREE content.

[@SoopaBee]

@@JamesKlafehn Toughen up buttercup. Negative comments WILL happen. Just accept that it comes with the territory.

[@JamesKlafehn]

@@SoopaBee Totally true. Humans suck especially when they think they can say anything they want on the internet where they cant get punched in the face. But I spend a lot of time making FREE videos for people to watch. If they want to be rude I have no problem blocking them so they can never watch my FREE videos.

[@JerryDLTN]

Does it have remote start to warm up your car before getting in it?

[@nicholaskeenan4226]

Great video man, I have a 19 rav4 xse hybrid and have the fuel tank issue, almost two years and still no fix from toyota!

[@JamesKlafehn]

Thank you for watching! If you liked it feel free to share. Thanks!

[@kgb4187]

Fuel tank has had a fix for a few months now

[@nicholaskeenan4226]

After the "fix" still only getting about 13 gallons full and less than 400 miles a tank

[@521mickey]

What about 2023 model ? Same issues ? Please do a review on 2023 model thanks!!!

[@JamesKlafehn]

I dont have a 2023. Honestly, there are cars in the past that I have missed... Ill never miss this car.

[@aaronosborn7395]

I had a mouse get in through my cooling vent for the battery in my Prius. Ended up making its way to the squirrel fan for my AC. Unfortunately I turned on the fan and chopped the mouse up the bits the inside of my car stunk for months while Waited for the little pieces to decompose that I wasn’t able to reach in and get out after tearing have to dash apart. So be careful about mice getting in

[@BlueDroneBlues]

Locations you may not want a camera

[@benjamintucker9829]

Keyless entry not working, do you keep the fob in same pocket as wallet? RF blocking wallet may be blocking signal.

[@JamesKlafehn]

No its not. Its in my front left pocket all by itself.

[@scootsmcdoots80]

Great video. Glad I haven’t had some of the issues that you’ve had, I’ve been lucky. My Prime is supposed to be coming this week and am looking forward to using it. Currently driving a ‘19 Rav AWD.

[@InternetDude]

I also have a R4P that will be here soon, I'm getting excited!

[@JamesKlafehn]

Thank you for watching! Dont forget to hit that thumbs up for me. :)

[@scootsmcdoots80]

@@JamesKlafehn done and done

[@dretech]

So, the heated seat & steering wheel don't work without ICE when temperature dips -20F? Or just the cabin heater?

[@JamesKlafehn]

Those work but they arent very strong and that doesnt help my 3 year old sitting in his car seat.

[@dretech]

Ouch, that's very true. Would you mind sharing your thought process on why you decided on the XSE instead of SE with Monroof and weather package? I definitely prefer the ride of 18" on the SE but I like the vertical accent light on the XSE. Perhaps I'm missing something.

[@JamesKlafehn]

@@dretech I wanted an XSE with the premium package but I couldnt find one anywhere. This SE was my only option. To this day I still havent been able to buy an XSE. So it was either buy an SE or not own a Prime.

[@robertbujold1926]

If I carry inside a long and wide object on the right side and I advance and lower the passenger seat forward, Id rather have my 60% behind on the right down for the large object there.

[@brettmagnuson8318]

same. I actually think this is the reason toyota may have made this change. I appreciate this feature.

[@skinlab133]

Exactly this. The 60% in my Santa Fe is behind the driver and it's MUCH less useful since I can't exactly move myself out of the way :). LOVE that it's on the passenger side!

[@dealerovski82]

Isn't it a given if you drive a hybrid that it uses the engine for heating?

[@korswe]

Reason 11. Paying thousands more than MSRP.

[@warrenb8228]

Because of the $15,000 dealer markup on these, I’ve decided to just wait. They’re crazy if they think I’m paying for two cars... for one.

[@afrprincess07]

@@warrenb8228 How do you know when a car has been marked up?

[@AaRey7]

How did you like the flex?

[@danielalexander799]

Great video. None of your complaints count as a negative from my point of view.

[@nevco8774]

By the way the 6.6 kW internal charger is standard in RAV4 Prime sold in Canada - go figure why it is not in the USA.

[@gianniclaud]

These are non issues for most people lol

[@2004cyrus]

He said that at the end basically

[@boyscoutlegend]

If you look for a problem, you will certainly find one.

[@2004cyrus]

@@boyscoutlegend yes

[@Chris-sf2lk]

This guy will find a problem in everything I am sure

[@peterkauss5852]

Check the vehicle out before you buy.

[@thelosteddies]

It's so nice to finally see an honest review of a Toyota that isn't some fanboi making excuses for short comings. My volt has great brakes with no issues, will run the defrost without the engine on, has a 7.2kw charger and no horrible Toyota infotainment or annoying sounding turn signal. I have yet to see a Toyota that isn't overrated and fugly. Toyota service departments are just as big as other brands too.

[@qazasdfg1234]

The prime was not designed to be a full electric car . Yet you complain of it not being so. Good video though.

[@TheV8nissan]

My escape phev has done the opposite braking where you just don't have brakes because the regenerative quits for a second and you haven't engaged the discs yet