Is The Most Expensive New Toyota RAV4 Worth It? RAV4 Prime Review

[@leekongvue9961]

This is by far the best review of the Rav4 Prime. Extremely thorough in every aspect of the vehicle. Every review needs to be this indept. Keep up the good work, you have my respect.

[@knight024]

Yeh most people that review cars aren't master mechanics :D

[@taxi251]

Agreed 💯

[@kevinthant2952]

I got my 21 Rav4 Prime when $7500 tax credit was available, lucky compared to now. It is a wonderful vehicle, best of both worlds, if not winter I can get consistently between 43 to 50 miles on full EV charge which is enough for daily driving around town. On high way no range anxiety with gas engine. Engine power is good, has been very reliable with “Made in Japan” build quality. Truly this is as close as you can get to owning a unicorn 🦄 car

[@Cleofizoid]

Erm, I don't think you know what "unicorn" means...

[@elusivellama]

J VIN gang

[@hectorilicea1352]

Agreed! I love mine!

[@pbear216]

Same here! I paid $38k for my 2021 Prime SE and got the full $7500 rebate which brought me down to less than I paid for the 2020 Rav4 Hybrid XLE I traded for it. I absolutely love the Prime and it is better in almost every way than the Hybrid or gas only (I have owned all 3 and still own the gas only XLE and Prime SE). The only thing I like about the gas only is the engine sound.....

[@zi0cat]

Me too...and 1200 New York credit

[@kevboio6211]

I'm a technician at one of the local Toyota dealers in my area and there actually was one case where I had a customer come in with their Rav4 Prime and it had the hybrid system malfunction message along with the 2 main DTCs you would find pointing towards corrosion buildup on the Y6 connector. It is a pretty much identical process for diagnosing and getting the vehicle written up for parts replacement, but where things got interesting is Toyota actually requested me to send back the HV battery and install a brand new one. There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with the battery that was already equipped. If I were to guess this was such a unique and unexpected scenario that they wanted to do some research on the battery to make sure the corrosion wasn't in turn causing any damage to it. The process for replacing the HV frame cable was much more in-depth. Far more components interior and exterior had to be removed than the standard HV Rav 4. Actually turned out to be a lot of fun for the most part, but still had its moments, especially dealing with the 2 nuts bolting on the 12v cables to the main harness.

[@nikolabjelic9100]

Did it have the new cut out case or the old closed one? Not all Primes have the new (open) version.

[@pecan11]

I bet u r right. How many car companies will go to the trouble and find out more. Interesting bec I am sure if there is a problem, they will want to fix ASAP and take care of any issues.

[@joychung3639]

I'm shopping for a RAV4 hybrid and it have a engine immobilizer. The seller offer a top line trim and say it also have engine immobilizer with anti-theft system that not available on base model. Did you know what is the different?

[@MarzNet256]

@@joychung3639 All new models come with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment on all trim levels. He's full of it.

[@johnnytorres277]

@@joychung3639 Dont ever trust car salesmen. Toyota is a fantastic company but when I bought my Tacoma in 2019 , and went to several different dealerships, almost all really the salespeople were really stupid people who knew very little about cars.

[@maxwood192]

Another great video, I have had a Rav 4 for 10 years, great all round SUV, Now done 200,000 KM , no issues at all except service and brake replacement. In my eyes all Toyota's are the best. I would love a Rav 4 Prime, My only concern is we have to have people who know how to fix them when things go wrong, because everything is getting very complicated.

[@James-il3tq]

Good point, especially with such a limited supply most mechanics won't be experienced working on Prime Rav4s (if at all)

[@LVTR-kr3rz]

At last, I got 2023 RAV4 PRIME XSE PREMIUM yesterday exactly as yours shown above with a revised full info screen and a full digital instrument cluster. Thanks for your video.

[@DocMicrowave]

Got the XSE last summer. Same color, Blue Print. No tech package so no panoramic roof, 110v inverter or 360 camera. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed the vehicle. I certainly love modding it with some of my own tech. During the summer I was able to get upwards to 45 miles per charge. My record is 51 miles on one particular day. I owned a ford escape hybrid for 17 years before the Prime and have developed a very light foot to get the most gas mileage possible. Using regen (S-Modes) to slow the vehicle instead of hard braking. No hard acceleration. Eco mode at all times. My daily commute is about 35 miles. So for all intents and purposes I have been driving a full EV vehicle. Not using gas for weeks at a time. However, that mileage has taken a big drop since winter has set in. Thanks to having to use the heater, as well the lower efficiency of batteries in cold weather in general, charging to full takes about 2+ hours longer. Range has dropped to 40 miles or less. I try to use the heat only when really necessary as the second you press that heat button 1-3 miles drops off your EV range estimation on the dash depending on the SOC. (If fully charged, it drops like 3+ miles with heat. If your under 20%, it might drop about 1 mile.) I have concerns about that charging door. It does feel really flimsy. Every once in a while when I think I closed it, it still shows as open on the dash. Have to get out and tap it closed again a couple times. I just have a feeling there will be problems with that door later on. Glad to hear that they addressed the 'cablegate' issue on the rear motor. If I had heard about that while I was trying to research and convince myself to take the plunge and buy the Prime, I would have bowed out for something else. I did not learn of the issue to the fall. Toyota really tried to keep that quiet I guess. Did not see anything about that issue in early information gathering. Not looking forward to that 'expensive HVAC service at 80k.' I'd like to know what that will cost. Overall, I do love the vehicle so far. Have taken it on a couple of 2000+ road trips last year with the family and it has performed well. I love those 300 horses when it comes to entering a fast interstate or passing.

[@JM-lk6wo]

I have a 2021 XSE Hybrid, there has been a good many changes in the Hybrid system between 21 and yours (22 or 23?). I can't go faster than 20 - 25 mph before the gas engine kicks in, interior heat is solely from engine coolant heat exchanger. I really like ours, consistently get about 36 mpg in the cold winter months, average 43 to 45 mpg combined in warmer times. We've had the car for two years now, still learning how to best use some of the bells and whistles. Best of successful long life to your XSE.

[@derrickjohnson5219]

Are you getting 40mpg combined?Let me know because it's still a crossover vehicle.Akso interested in the Civic sport non hybrid car.

[@IRLSuperb]

@@derrickjohnson5219 he said 45 miles total on electricity alone. And less than 40 in winter. I’m assuming he can get over 40mpg on “Hybrid” mode

[@paulstein9258]

@@derrickjohnson5219 2021 Toyota Venza Yes 40 mpg combined. That’s in sport mode. The heater takes longer than gas engines to warm up. The steering wheel is slow to heat up. Marginal recommendation for colder climates.

[@JM-lk6wo]

@@derrickjohnson5219 in warmer months, about 65F or warmer, we get 43 to 45 average combined on a 15 mile commute. Cold weather drops that to about 36F.

[@isaacwhite767]

Not going to lie, I could listen to you all day your simple & in depth explanations are Great !! Keep up the awesome work

[@threeparots1]

The HVAC system on the latest Toyota hybrids is quite good and is quite well designed to maximize efficiency. 4th Gen Prius deactivate heating to the back seats when not in use and only turns the heat on once there is enough heat in the engine and then ramps it up fairly slowly and vice versa in summer. It senses the humidity and brings in defrost automatically too. So you really just set it and forget it..very good, intelligent and understated (by Toyota) system.

[@kens97sto171]

The slow ramp up of the heating system is the same in the 2nd gen Prius.,. no fan output until there is enough heat to actually do something... My only complaint on this rave4 prime.. is the price, and the absolute MESS of pipes and tubing all over the place.. and an 80K drain and refill... so $300 or so every time.. and for me that would be 2 years or less. Take a look at a Tesla under the Frunk... the heat pump system is so compact , neat and tidy, its almost artwork. You could get a Tesla model Y for $53K now.

[@buttsexandbananapeels]

@@kens97sto171 the problem is while the engineering may be efficient, the Tesla Y still isn’t worth $53k. The build quality of teslas is garbage and what happens when Muskie Boi randomly decides those vehicles are no longer supported by software updates? Musk has proven himself an unreliable and unpredictable fraud. He’s looking to make money anywhere he can because he’s an idiot at business. Everything he’s involved with is subsequently suspect. He’s gone from Tony Stark to Phony Farse. I’d buy a RAV4 any day of the week over a Tesla, just not the Prime. I’ll never have to worry about Akio Toyoda buying TikTok and nuzzling up to incel weirdos and fascist morons in order to keep the lights on after writing checks with his mouth his ass can’t cash. The Muskllenium is over.

[@Stinkysniff1]

how much did you buy it for

[@carloscruz7317]

im the proud owner of a 2024 corolla for a few days only now and yes its seriousy impressive. im just in awe of the system and tech.

[@ralanham76]

I actually hate that the Prius turns off the other vents, it makes it almost like there's no AC and it takes forever to cool down. I turn it off every time.

[@raycollington4310]

Your videos are myth busting, so educational and informative. As a regular viewer I'm starting to understand a lot more about how these cars work. Thanks as ever.

[@roamingbeemer]

Had my SE prime for two weeks, love it. I am typically charging it to 95% but today I am going to 100% to see how many miles it says. Currently at 99% and it says 43 miles. This is better than my previous 100%charge which stopped at 38 miles. My biggest reason to buy the prime-the power in the mountains is phenomenal compared to our 2020 Hybrid RAV4 LE. Plus no need to install a 220 charger since I get at least 80% overnight on 120V.

[@jontanneguy4960]

Look up how to hook up the stock toyota charger to 220v using nema connectors. Then you'd just need to install a 220 outlet in the garage.

[@psychiatry-is-eugenics]

Thought it doesn’t charge above 80% ?

[@andrewflynn5619]

52 at 100%

[@infinitenothingness]

​@psychiatry-is-eugenics Charging _while driving_ only gets it to 80% (38 mile range). A charger plug will get it to 100% (50 mile range in summer). My 220v charger will get it from 0 to 100% in about 2 hours. -2022 Rav 4 Prime XSE owner

[@capsmith5876]

I have a 2022 RAV4 Prime XSE Premium. We love it. We get about 57 miles of EV range in the summer, and about 45 in the winter. We buy a tank of gas about once every three months. The only problem we have experienced is a cold start rattle for a few seconds when the engine has not run for a period of 4 weeks or more.

[@randallnelson6921]

This is a concern I've had also. I can do most of my driving in pure EV mode, and I know just sitting and not running, or worse running very short intervals, can be bad for a gasoline engine.

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

@@randallnelson6921 I put Stabil fuel stabilizer in my Rav4 Prime, as ethanol gas is prone to spoiling. I also make s point of running the engine on the highway every month. No rattles so far. The regular Prius has a gas engine that is constantly switching on and off - and it's proven to be one of the most reliable cars out there. Hopefully the Prime will follow in its footsteps.

[@cheethakkoo5171]

​@@randallnelson6921same circumstances. Not enough distance to warrant a plug in. And not enough distance to almost using up the EV mileage and then use the hybrid. But likely to drive in the city/urban only thus wanting the plug in. And of course the pre conditioning the cabin (main reason for a Prime /plug in)

[@XAVargasX0206]

You dont use your car for more than a month at a time?

[@capsmith5876]

@@XAVargasX0206 We don't use the ICE for weeks at a time. Rather, we use the car in battery-mode almost every day. We charge it using a level-2 charger in our garage. The 57-mile range is sufficient for most of our needs. And so on the relatively rare days that we need to travel beyond the range of the battery, we start the engine and experience this cold start rattle. Update: our dealer confirmed the problem, and replaced our cam chain tensioner assemblies. This didn't seem to make a permanent improvement. So, at this point, we have reverted to manually forcing ICE startup as often as we can remember to do it. Not a great outcome, in our opinion.

[@michaelshort8127]

The Prime has a different inverter w/ converter than a hybrid. In a Prime, the converter is moved to under the rear seat and a boost inverter is added to the inverter. This allows for higher output.

[@cohenhs]

I bought my new 2021 prime xse 13 months at MSRP of $42 500 so after the tax credit, which it was eligible for at the time of purchase, it only cost me $35k. At that price, I consider it a steal. I've been able to get 75 eMPG over those 13 months. I just love this vehicle.

[@southbound1969]

We bought a Solara SLE new in 99' . It came standard with not only a full size spare but with a matching aluminum wheel.

[@BrandonMeyer1641]

The blank switch in the dash is to disable auto start stop. It was a feature present on the gas only models when this generation of the rav 4 first came out. I am not sure if it was present on the hybrid as well. I think around the time they updated the headlights of this generation is when they removed the option for people to toggle the feature. I really enjoy it as I live in the city and don’t want the engine to turn off while the engine is still warming up and I’m sitting at a light.

[@ryufrank]

Great review as always! 1 year with my RAV4 Prime (RAV4 PHEV for European market), and I'm still in love with it In my eyes, the extra cost is totally worth it (also government's incentives help). Living in a country with nearly zero charging infrastructure, PHEV was my next best option to an EV, for a reliable, fast and efficient car. Despite your comments on its EV range, over the past year, I have managed to travel 100+Km (60+ miles) on a single charge :) Keep up the good work

[@ryufrank]

@john Smith well, where you live you might not get tax credit. But in my case, in Europe, i did. Not even credit, but cash. I live in a country with 350 days of sunshine. So cold weather is not my concern. ALL EVs are affected by low temperatures anyway. As for my range, Toyota is very conservative with their specs and info they share. You don't have to trust my word, but i can still enjoy all the benefits I'm receiving without you believing :)

[@redbaron6805]

@john Smith There are no tax credits for this modem STARTING IN 2023 genius. There were tax credits for this model until the end of 2022. Details matter when discussing things on here. And there is not a situation on the planet were you will get "zero" or anywhere close to zero EV range. That comment is literally absurd. Battery capacity reduction due to cold temperatures drops around 10% to 15% in cold weather, not by 90% to 100%. So, you are 0 for 2 already and counting...

[@redbaron6805]

@john Smith I'm fully aware of that. But, as cars rely more and more on 4 cylinder engines, they in many cases don't get roasting hot either. I drove a Ford Escape non Hybrid in PA and the heater was never more than just above luke warm, despite me driving it for 100+ miles at a time. As cars get more fuel efficient and waste less fuel, they simply generate less waste heat to heat the cabin, and if you want to be roasted, you need the seat heater on. Also, we are only in February of 2023, and the tax credits expired at the end of 2022. So, there are very few RAV4 Prime's that were bought in the last month of the total, hence vast majority of people that own one today would have got the credit. That still doesn't change the fact that the EV range will never be even remotely close to zero, even in the coldest areas. Sure, the engine will kick on more and the efficiency will be reduced, but it will never be anywhere close to zero or equivalent to a non hybrid version.

[@WISEYOUN]

I must say that this video is giving more information than I want to know. Why did Toyota take the more complicated route for almost everything, from heating pumping to double calipers for braking, custom slip differential, and even custom heat distribution inside the car. These things cost more without significant advantage. If an expensive feature does nothing for the car, why include it? It is noisier than needed. It is more expensive than necessary.

[@redbaron6805]

@@WISEYOUN The reason for the heat pump is simple, efficiency. Gives you more of an electric only range, which is the core reason people buy them. Also, using a cooling system for the battery extends the life of the battery pack, and is basically necessary for electric cars. Hence, once you go plug in Hybrid, the battery pack is now big enough to require cooling. The dual brake calipers are used because the car uses a larger brake system and pads due to the extra weight of the battery pack. It gives you better brake performance, especially in hard braking applications at highway speeds. The "custom" heat distribution inside the car is also done for efficiency. No point wasting heat and A/C on areas in the car no one is sitting in. The noise is just a design issue on the RAV4. It was designed to be an economy car, and hence noise insulation wasn't much of a factor. It is probably an issue they will start addressing as the RAV4 Prime goes up the price ladder. For those that are picky about that would probably be buying the Lexus version of that car anyways, which is obviously far quieter and more premium. People don't buy Toyota's as Premium or Luxury cars, that is what the Lexus brand is for.

[@zzanatos2001]

I bought a RAV4 XSE Hybrid last weekend. It's a 2020 with just 15,000 miles on it. Apparently the previous owner bought it right before the pandemic, so it hasn't been driven much. So far, I love it - especially the lane keeping system, cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, rain sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, etc. - but it's not quite as comfortable as my 4Runner. It does not seem to be loud though. The windshield and side window glass is acoustic, and it seems like it's pretty well-insulated to me.

[@atledavidsen4837]

Thank you for this review. Love your channel. As a pre-taxidriven Toyota owner mostly since 1998 I value any input on "new" models. We are considering this exaxt model (Europe) as our next (taxi-driven) Toyota some time going forward. Have had no issues through the years even though miles have been up to 300.000 when bought. Usually at 3 yrs old. Owned 4-5 yrs. An occasional "odd-ball" in the past like a heater switch has come up, but nothing major. Ever. Regular every year service and brakes from time to time. We went to Toyota hybrids in 2018 and have been very happy with them. First a 2015 Auris Sports Touring Executive(EU-model) and since 2021 a 2018 Prius Executive. The Prius still only has 130.000 miles (less miles during covid) so it will be some time before we change it. But still nice with thorough unbiased reviews. On a model we both want. Which comes in at 70.000 USD new here in Norway after the recent tax rise (it is not concidered "green enough...). So. We wait for the deapriciation so we can have way way less during our ownership. 😉 All the best from Norway!

[@GaryHenson53]

What a great and fair review!! Thank you!! I have a 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE and absolutely love it. I actually think it's much more quite than my older 4Runner Limited. I attributed it to the thicker glass windows and the large battery shielding the road noise. I was worried about the higher cost as well. However, after 2 years of ownership this Rav4 Prime is saving me so much money. I went from $4,000 in fuel costs to about $500 per year. Plus my insurance cost is less then my Prius Prime!! Go figure? Finally the $7,500 tax credit brought the cost way down. I know that's not helpful today. I also know I will never have to replace my brakes because of the regen braking system. OMG... is this thing fast!!!

[@michaeltammaro482]

Stop. That's a blatant lie. $4,000 in fuel costs to $500 in electric. Nonsense.

[@GaryHenson53]

Blatant lie? Strong words. Most of my commutes are under 50 miles. I’m in EV mode most of the time. My Toyota 4Runner doesn’t have an EV mode and only got 15mpg with a V8 engine. Basic math tells you it’s very possible to save that much in gas. Smh

[@rackets7991]

How refreshing to get an HONEST assessment of the pros & cons of the vehicle.. makes it a lot easier to decide if the car is right for your area and type of driving.. Main issue aside from price of EV's is the carbon footprint required to mine & produce the components to manufacture them.. Latest estimate is an EV doesnt become GREEN until it has 90,000 miles on it due to the fossil fuels required to mine and manufacture one.. BTW... The actual cost of charging one wont be known until the govt transfers the tens of billions in tax dollars from gasoline taxes to the electric charging price..

[@robertm3252]

I LOVED your review. I was lucky enough to get a 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE and with everything included but the Panoramic roof (just got the sunroof) including tax for $48k. I love all the features and power. I can still get almost sticker if I sold it today, especially seeing the waiting list is over 6 months, AND I was lucky to get one build and shipped from Japan. I have done some mods to it, to make it feel more original and mine. Mods Done so Far: Fit-Cam Front dash-cam Hood Struts Side mirror sequential blinkers Replaced all door switches with the lighted door switches Center console cover Swapped all rear standard light with LED lights Glove box organizer New Horn (no more wimpy horn) Now sounds like a louder American car horn. LOL People can hear it now. Thank you again for doing this and all your other video's. I live in NY but wish you were closer to bring my car to you. We all would sleep a lot better if we knew our cars were being worked on, by someone like you. Keep up the good work. And keep those great video's coming.

[@howardparker6342]

Purchased a RAV4 Design in March partly on these superb reviews from someone who actually knows them inside out. Absolutely loving the car-it may well turn out to be my best car. Ever. I may change 3-4 years down the one , who knows. The overall warranty speaks volumes for how Toyota view their product, plus if the battery ever needs replacing it may well be much cheaper in the future. The noise comments are interesting having had a Honda CRV Hybrid I don’t remember it being substantially quieter, and having done a short 70mph run it all seemed very acceptable. Great channel and a breath of fresh air.

[@juniorp726]

This man is an educator of automobiles

[@nancyconnolly2210]

Agree…but we bought one for one reason. It’s a hoot to drive compared to any other compact SUV. It’s like driving a full size SUV in comfort because of its weight. Other than the wind noise of the roof racks, it eats up highway miles. Lastly, in every mode including those with the motor on, it has instant response of a full EV. It’s a marvelous transmission and a very good driving experience. So no, it’s not a practical way to get great mileage, but watching cars disappear in your RVM while driving a frumpy RAV4, is a hoot.

[@zeedcee]

Got mine in late Oct.22. Loved every bit of it until one December morning. It starts usually on Ev mode.After driving about 50 -70 metres , the display warns '' the engine has turned on in order to protect the system. Ev mode not available ''. The noise level increases and the battery gets charged constantly. The fuel consumption jumps higher as a result. It has become a part of my daily experience with the car since then. I used to average 4.3 litres. Its higher these days.

[@Icayn]

Turn off your heat.

[@zeedcee]

@@Icayn would have been unreasonable to comment here, publicly, if turning the heating off had solved the problem.

[@JohnJones-lp2pp]

Great job as always!! Most companies are eliminating their base models for retail consumers, but they exist for the fleet market. WE need to stop purchasing new cars to retake buying power and force manufacturers to provide what we want.

[@redbaron6805]

These comments are always comical. People on discussion forums and KZbin keep griping that all cars have too many features now. Those auto manufacturers are just not offering those stripped down models "everyone" is looking for. Then, talk to ANY auto dealer out there in the real world. They will occasionally order or get a stripped down version of a car model that supposedly "everyone" is looking for. But strangely enough, that car sits for months collecting dust, as everyone in the real world has absolutely no interest in buying it and chooses the loaded models instead...

[@christopherwarsh]

😂 I bought a LE car once, never again. If I’m spending $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on a car I’m gonna get some creature comforts. Base model buyers never buy new anyway

[@kevinhenry177]

Absolutely I love the RAV4 prime. Would love to have one but I’m not going to pay $20,000 over MSRP for a used one. Forget getting a new one.

[@trutru9018]

I went in to get one last week. They wanted 61K...I left.

[@mikefly562]

I saw a very lightly used Rav4 Prime at a Toyota dealership near Seattle, and they were asking 92K for it. They had a newer LX570 that was cheaper, and even had a few years old G wagon that was cheaper as well. Seems like the Rav4 Prime is way over priced at the dealers, as there are other plug in hybrids to choose from.

[@micker9830]

@@trutru9018 It's a nice car, but I mean at 61K you can get like a hybrid Lexus RX350, which is a WAY nicer car and will last forever. It's a $40K SUV max, in a normal market.

[@saleplains]

im really hoping i can ride out my old 2000 crv for a few more years to let the plug in hybrid market will chill out.

[@icydeadppl25]

I just bought my Blueprint XSE Premium Package at A-1 Toyota of New Haven CT. They get 4 a week and keep about 10 on the lot. 2k under MSRP and they offer the $6500 lease cash. No haggling, no gatchas, just spent 3 days driving it back. You can fly in to either HPN or HVN for either a 1 hour or 30 minute Uber/Rental drive to the dealership. Frank or Sergei will take care of you and Josh is in charge of finance but he's hard to pin down. Attempting the lease buyout (which they don't understand) but if its all payments the lease due it costs 57k. OTD cash would have been 55k. Fingers crossed I can own it outright this month for under 50k.

[@crystalclarity6766]

A video that’s heavier on technical aspects of this make and model. It’s just what I was looking for. Thank you for this! ❤

[@tonymontana3742]

I thought badging for hybrids was necessary to alert 1st responders to an accident scene since they cannot perform invasive rescue attempts without disabling the hybrid battery??

[@susanmeredith4957]

I bought a RAV4 Limited hybrid last year. Love it. I know people talk about excessive road noise, but I don’t hear it being overly loud. Not ready to go all electric yet.

[@underscr0e]

I am shopping for a rav4 and I am on the fence whether to do the prime for power and efficiency….after watching this…I will go regular hybrid…especially with initial price difference and maintenance down the road…

[@Guerllamo7]

This is probably the most informative auto video I've seen.

[@reinmansmith]

Agree entirely that the price is the killer here….. In the UK the Prime is basically £10k more than the top spec hybrid. I was able to get the standard hybrid model in the same spec/colour as you had, (I love the dark blue metallic and gloss black) apart from my wheels which are gloss black finish, and I worked out that it would have taken me 8yrs of average use before I made any saving because of that £10k higher price! Most of our daily journeys are below the 40 mile so the Prime would have been perfect but for the extra price. I love our RAV4 hybrid and have averaged 50mpg (UK gallons) with 50% of the time in EV so it is a very economical and comfortable car to own

[@rightlanehog3151]

Part of the economic consideration for plug-in Hybrids in the USA and Canada is the income tax discount/rebate buyers may receive. Cars assembled outside of North America like the RAV4 Prime no longer qualify for Federal tax credits in the USA and that may lower the asking price.

[@myefone1536]

​@@phillipbanes5484what type of tax credit?

[@sushi8204]

The bottom bumper shutters are not closing. I took the whole bumper off to install the tighter screen to prevent small stones hitting the radiator. The panoramic roof only available with the Premium Package. XSE without PP does not have the panoramic roof. Also, if you can't get over 40 miles per charge go to doctor and remove some lead from your foot. I am getting over 50. Behind the blank switch there is a block with wires. I was told by people who know that it came from those models that allow to cancel start-stop operation. On Prime only wiring remained but there is no physical button. Some people replaced it with USB-A and C charger. And on 2023 the charger door doesn't seem flimsy.

[@fw1421]

I’ve had 3 Rav4”s and I love my 2011 V-6. It was a tad pricy to me,but $50k for a RAV4 is insane. I’d just get a Hybrid and be happy.

[@omieyouknowme]

We have two v6 limited models and the dealers each time we visit for recalls want to buy it from us. I tow with mine, every week. The prime may be faster off the line but once it's battery is down to recharge the v6 should blow it away. I do wish for better mileage but being able to tow and get 20mpg I don't see the new ravs doing

[@cornycorny2952]

With the 7500 federal tax credit and the 1000 state rebate it became quite comparable in price to the regular hybrid. Without the credits now and high cost of electricity in my home state it would no longer make sense unless you had a solar field.

[@James-il3tq]

@@omieyouknowme I owned 2006 and a 2007 Rav4 V6 from 2006-2019. Never towed with them. Bought a 2019 Rav4 hybrid XSE (tows 1750lbs) and bought a 1100lb 14' camper trailer I often use and tow through Rocky mountains with 2 bicycles on back of the trailer. I have just enough power to comfortably handle the load (adding air bags to rear springs helped a lot). 2019+ Trail/Adventure models rated to tow 3500lbs (same as V6 Rav4) but obviously will be slower. Fuel economy towing goes down roughly 30-50% towing at highway speeds depending on speed and aerodynamics). V6 Rav4s were peppy but not great fuel economy (averaged 20mpg). I'd hate to imagine towing getting 12 mpg 😳

[@omieyouknowme]

@@James-il3tq I tow a 1500lbs boat here in Colorado from Pueblo to Granby. I average 20mpg towing 65mph with. Better than my f350. 70k towing miles, I change trans fluid every 30k miles .

[@pbear216]

I bought my 2021 Rav4 Prime new for $38690 and received a $7500 tax credit which brought total cost to less than I paid for the 2020 Rav4 Hybrid XLE Premium

[@saadtheman1]

100% toyotas will always win my heart 1.reliability 2.resell value 3.drives so smooth 4.cheap on maintence 5.amazing on gas faster than the crv

[@bh8890]

UGLY 111111

[@Semiam1]

AMD, you said it best at the beginning. “Price entering Lexus territory”. I’d rather have a Lexus

[@geauxp]

Well this is what I’m trying to figure out. I was really hoping to get a quieter car.

[@Larss70]

NX plug in is much smaller on inside and outside....no panoramic roof however looks more premium

[@cmambro5]

A plug in Lexus (NX or RX) is even more expensive and usually much smaller. I love Lexus but I don't want to spend close to 100K for a car.

[@TheUtoobs]

@@cmambro5 and much less mileage per gallon. AND premium gas. Totally defeats the purpose.

[@ret1red4life]

I live in China and own a toyota wildlander PHEV. It is the same exact vehicle as the RAV4 Prime although it costs slightly less as there are two Toyota joint ventures in Mainland China that sell different vehicles. The Wildlander is basically a few hundred dollars less and has more stock options on the base model than the RAV 4. It is literally the same exact vehicle with a different look in the front and rear. Powertrain and interior are indistinguishable. We purchased the base model which came out to 241,000 RMB or roughly 37,xxx USD. In China, you get Green license plates with a vehicle like this and you don't have to pay any sales tax. You can also drive it 7 days a week (every province/city has different rules about this. Some cities you can drive every other day with a normal license plate and some you can drive 6 days out of the week) and get to drive in the carpool lane. You also get free parking. It is FWD and gets roughly 80 km on battery alone. It is slower than the American model as it does 0-60 MPH in 6.5 seconds. The only reason I am posting is that I think this base model would be popular in the US. It would be the equivalent of a LE model although still has decent options for the base model. At the same time, I understand toyota's position as the input costs for EVs has increased dramatically since 2021 so they probably aren't making that much on a vehicle like this. Vehicle is really outstanding and I would recommend it to others. I don't know if I would pay 50k USD for one though. Road noise is the biggest issue. Right around 55-60 MPH it becomes noticeable.

[@DIYDaveOK]

My wife got a "plain" (gas) RAV4 in 2020 for (comparatively) a song (actually got it at sticker which was a HUGE deal in late 2020). She loves it. That said, I'm not sure I could justify the cost delta just to get the hybrid/Prime.

[@robertarthur3711]

I was shocked when I drove one, I never realised how lovely this car is, it’s way more luxurious than it looks.

[@flt528]

We love our Prime SE. Don't know why anyone would pay thousands extra for the XSE with larger (less efficient) wheels, slightly different upholstery and the 2-tone top with the weird double sunroof. Amazing car. We regularly get well over 50 miles EV range in the summer, and we love that you just plug into a standard wall outlet overnight.

[@djaztec97]

I'd the XSE mainly because of the soft leather seats. You also get a moonroof and a black roof. I do agree that bigger wheels are unnecessary.

[@NinerK]

For the standard hybrid xse it has stiffer shocks and frame struts to solidify the ride It made a big difference when I test drove XLE and then XSE In the XLE even lifting quickly off the gas the dirt shocks would lunge the vehicle forward. Doesn’t happen in the XSE. Really enjoying our 21 XSE hybrid

[@GetYoJonesOn]

Got my XSE used for $45k. Fully loaded with every single option…. Love it! Also, XSE for leather for cleaning ease w dogs and cooled seats in NM summers are key.

[@p1xma4]

justify your purchase more, I have a GX and don't understand why anyone would go for SE

[@sometotalofallthings]

We got the XSE because I liked the blue ambient lighting in the dash cubby areas. Silly I know and actually prefer cloth seats on the SE.

[@davewilton3101]

I've got a 2019 Honda passport, bought new, that i have had a lot of electrical issues which include a complete electrical harness replacement 8 weeks ago. I've lost track of the number of times it has been in the shop. Anyway, to the topic at hand - Yesterday I drove a Prime XSE followed by a regular hybrid Rav4. I was totally blown away by the quality of the vehicle and the driving experience. Not so the regular hybrid as it was noisy and the interior felt cheap(XSE) plus it was much noisier. I'd sure like to have better info re the Prime on the SE vs the XSE trim levels. The sales people just try to feed you bs. This video is the best I have seen on the Prime and in general was more informative than almost all others. I upvoted and subscribed.

[@jege41]

If you haven't driven the new Honda CRV Hybrid do so, its a total winner, but OMG it's expensive and it's not a PHEV

[@ralphgirard6091]

I have a 2021 Prime and absolutely love it! You mentioned that there is no base model for the Prime. The only trim I could get was the XSE fully equipped. I would have bought a base model, but now that I have the XSE I love it. I never had a car with so many feachers.

[@ChainBrothersMTB]

Thankyou for the honest review - so many reviewers don’t mention the road noise. This is a very important point (for me) and I appreciate the direct approach to reviewing.

[@troydavison1284]

Of course you're only getting 38 miles on the battery in the winter. In the summer it goes up to about 50 miles. One other thing I wish they put grill shutters on the prime but it definitely doesn't come with them. We have been very happy wth our 2021 RAV4 Prime. It's coming up on 19,000 miles and I have not noticed any battery degradation.

[@jackchen5290]

It’s not about just the gas savings, it also has 1) 1000 lb more towing capacity 2) you basically get a moving backup generator without the car always running. The battery + inverter basically gives you enough electricity to host a outdoor concert, or power a induction cooktop, power enough lights for a evening party, or in an emergency power your fridgerator and freezer and lights for your home. 3) in EV mode the car is so quiet and refined it drives like a different car 4) performance of a 6 cylinder car if you need to overtake Comparing a rav4 prime to a hybrid is like comparing a BMW 3 series to an M3. It’s just a different car. P.s. handling for all rav4 is abysmal

[@artemaung5274]

Charge mode is awesome for hypermiling. Most of the time engine is not in optimal RPM+Throttle range unless you're going over 80 or mildly accelerating. So typical hypermiling tactic is pulse and glide - pulse at most optimal RPM and glide with engine off. But doing it on the freeway is bothersome and can irritate other drivers and just isn't good manners. It's also difficult to pull off consistently - you need a good skill to do it. But with charge mode you can make your engine work in the most efficient manner while driving normal speed on the freeway (70mph) without having to deal with pulse and glide. And in surface driving you can just use EV only mode which is the most efficient there. Driving this way you can actually beat normal rav4 hybrid fuel efficiency, because unlike pulse and glide which is a skill to pull off, you can easily utilize charge mode on the freeway and keep your engine virtually always in optimal RPM spot without having to be a hypermiling geek.

[@itzthatdude5]

Just picked up my 2023 RAV4 Prime XSE with PP and the blank switch on the dash turned into turning on/off the 12v inverter in the back. Plus, updated full digital screens too. Very nice touch

[@oy8717]

How much you paid?

[@vulpo]

Same on my 2024 version. It may be that this only comes with the Premium Package.

[@shahsmerdis]

one thing to note is, unless you have access to a charger regularly and you have very good charging rates, the hybrid does better mpg as a hybrid. don't buy the prime has a hybrid. without the EV rebate you will probably never break even on the price difference btwn hybrid and prime. (assuming all MSRP pricing differences)

[@pbear216]

Who doesn't have access to a 120v outlet????? Again, a sign of a non-owner adding stupid comments! All Primes come with a charging cable capable of either 120v or 240v charging on any outlet.

[@shahsmerdis]

@@pbear216 plenty of people in nyc... and nj who live in apt buildings... friend got one and uses it hybrid mode. waste. but they got the ev rebate. hows this a stupid comment?

[@pbear216]

@@shahsmerdis I must be naive, I didn't realize people in NYC and I'm assuming Newark live in apartments with no electricity. Pardon me but it's been 18 years or so since I lived there.

[@erictwickler4247]

I bought the RAV4 Prime with all the trimmings in July 2024. I love this car in every way. The annoyances are so very minor. I am getting 199 MPG charging the battery when needed in warm weather with a full charge 49-mile range. It dropped a little to 119 MPG in colder weather because the engine runs to heat the cabin and the full charge is only 45-mile range. I have also been using "charge mode" when not able to plug in. Your reviews convinced me along with Consumer Repots to upgrade from my red RAV4 Hybrid to the new blueprint color RAV4 Prime! PS I have been using Stabil Marine because I have only filled the gas tank once since July, five months ago. Now I need to try to figure out what the cost of electricity has been since I have been plugging it in!

[@billmoyer3254]

Complicated beast. I'm driving a '15 LE that cost low 20s. Pricing now is unbelievable!

[@bripeck]

Well, that answers the question of the vibration in the heating system when you first start the vehicle on some rare occasions. My 21 RAV4P has that exact trouble. I’ll talk that over with my service rep the next time I take it in for service. Thanks for bringing that up!

[@LarryVanz]

I always go for the lower/middle version. Then if I want, I can customize the car on my terms. A bigger screen, leather seats and a few gadgets don't worth it. Sometimes they have the same engine, transmisión, brakes and safety, besides that nothing is that important.

[@rammanohar8161]

This is the best automobile that money can buy. It has absolutely zero compromises. Can carry some luggage . All wheel drive. 40 MPG 42 miles electric range 302 Hp Looks good Reliability No wonder we can't buy one of these. There is no competition to this car. Better than a gas car, electric car, regular hybrid car.

[@ericr2zz]

Great review, AMD! Thank you. One thing missing on the RAV4 Prime is better lighting on the rear hatch/trunk. One small dinky light on the side is unacceptable at this price.

[@MMPCTV]

There are a few pretty good aftermarket solutions available that mount on the hatch. I picked some up and haven't installed them, because I'm thinking about find lights to mount to the roof that will project light downward..

[@jlewis8829]

And the spare tire on the back.....best rav4 06 to 12

[@ericr2zz]

@@MMPCTV Correct! I just installed the trunk lights on my RAV4 and they work great (real pain to fish the electrical wire, however). My point was this high-end RAV4 should come with them pre-installed.

[@hectorilicea1352]

@@ericr2zz I agree… or the ambience lighting and push button lighting in the SE… even the XLE has this feature that is truly basic. Even the cheapest of vehicles have this convenience.

[@pbear216]

I added a LED light purchased from Amazon for $2 that simply plugged into the existing light wiring and drilled a small hole next to it to mount. Now is super bright back there and can be operated using existing lights switch or set to automatic operation with the hatch opening.

[@petesco5576]

Bought the new 2021 RAV4 XLE AWD gave it back one year later for new 2022 Corolla Cross XLE best move I ever made.

[@Ozzy_08x]

YES! I was waiting to see your take on the RAV Prime and convince me to get it or not!

[@U2WB]

I have to be honest here: I owned a Highlander and then a RAV4. The RAV was the more reliable and better handling of the two, but they both required a lot more costly maintenance than did my Subaru Outback or any of the 3 Honda Accords I've owned. Currently I'm driving the Accord Hybrid and after 3 years, ZERO issues. I'd choose a Honda over a Toyota without hesitation.

[@nightrider2k6]

I was looking at the new accord hybrid sport the other day, they wanted 38k out the door for it here in so cal

[@nightrider2k6]

I own a 2020 civic si , 2021 civic type R, 2023 prius, and 2015 prius, all of them had no issues as well, just curious you never considered getting a prius? why the accord hybrid?

[@davec8921]

The other problem is the extremely long wait to get them, especially in some trims/colours and some markets. Like Ontario Canada for an XSE Tech is 5 years plus right now

[@callummacleod8634]

Loved your video, thanks. I'm starting my third year waiting in Canada for my R4P XSE PP. The top trim level is in short supply. My main reason for wanting to upgrade from a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SE ( a great car as far as I'm concerned) to a Rav4 Prime is for an increased towing capacity from 1500 to 2500 lbs for an RV trailer, along with the 120 volt electrical outlet in the back for camping. I love being able to drive mostly electric most of the time. The R4P will have almost double the electric range around town. The new 2023 version of the Outlander PHEV is attractive and much more available, with both bigger battery and ICE engine, but towing capacity is the deal maker/breaker for me.

[@laura-ann.0726]

I considered an Outlander, but the closest dealership to me is 300 miles round trip, and there are only about 150 dealers in the whole US, compared to several thousand Toyota dealers. Same reason I wouldn't buy a Tesla, too few places to get warranty repairs.

[@jessicamamikina7648]

There might be an economical turmoil but there is no doubt that this is still the best time to invest.

[@dorissteve912]

Best time to invest? thats funny though because in the last four months I have lost more than $47,900 in stock market which is the biggest I have loss since I ventured into stock investment.

[@jessicamamikina7648]

you could be right or wrong . i once had similar problem but now its a different ball game for me because I was lucky to have met FLORENCE YAGODA , a financial manager and stock expert, I have made more than $165,000 in 6 weeks under her supervisions

[@jessicamamikina7648]

Search her name on the web you will see all you need to know about her.

[@jamesmaduabuchi6100]

Thanks for the info . Found her website and it really impressive

[@christopherwarsh]

Your investments don’t pay rent

[@Kee_Diddy]

Idk why nobody ever mentions this regarding charge mode. Take for instance driving down from the mountains in Colorado. Put your car into charge mode because you're already getting the best possible mpg going downhill. Then put it in EV mode when you get to the flats. THAT is why charge mode is a game changer. YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO USE IT.

[@jamesbalsai8752]

This car is almost unobtainable as the wait is a year or more by that time you’d have to get following year model. These delays are really altering a customer’s patience of whether or not consider another brand or just wait for non hybrid version which is a higher possibility of obtaining. The supply chain issues don’t seem to be getting better going on year 3.

[@mplslawnguy3389]

Hybrids are only worth it if you do a lot of city driving, people that drive Uber, or couriers and things like that. The non-hybrid still gets decent gas mileage, minus all the extra tech (that will eventually break).

[@mr3klax]

I agree. I got lucky with my 2023 Venza Limited. It’s Hybrid by the way, as this new reborn Venza is only available in Hybrid. The vehicle was delivered 44 days after pricing came out. So far, we are enjoying it.

[@hectorilicea1352]

Takes a little patience and a little luck. You just have to keep searching. They are available though. When I got my ‘21 Prime, I was really looking for a Prius Prime… price gouging was ridiculous and put the Prius Prime at the same price as a RAV4 Prime, so I switched tracks… I got my RAV4 Prime at MSRP, two months after I reserved it. Moral of the story, is yes. It can be done.😊

[@pbear216]

It depends on where you live I guess. I only waited 2 weeks while they shipped it.

[@toronado455]

@@mplslawnguy3389 Or mobile office/camping where you want to run HVAC parked for long periods.

[@Irishmanbikes]

My sister, Missy, is very interested in buying the RAV4 Prime XSE. Great car.

[@Lordoftheflatbush]

Thanks for this excellent video on the Prime. Charge hold works very well and charges the battery faster then with the 6.6KW charger. When you drive longer distances on the highway you can fully charge your battery without any significant rise in fuel consumption and use EV when entering the city. I never use the cable to charge and never have waiting time to charge. That was the main reason I decided for the Prime. You are the only who covered this. I don’t recognise your remark the RAV4 is loud. I find it extremely silent actually. PS I have exactly the same two-tone color as in your video

[@brianhind6149]

I very much enjoy ALL your videos. I have never found any BS in your videos. This RAV is insanely complicated. Computer controlled everything, each one being a point of failure ! Get rid of all that crap & make the simplest vehicle possible, so that you don't need multi thousand dollar scan tools to diagnose problems. I drive two vehicles. A 97 Dodge Ram with the 6BT Cummins diesel with well over one million miles on it, & a GMC suburban with a 350 & a standard Transmission. These have been the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned. When I see the new diesels with all the SCR crap, & DEF , & insane injection pressures, high pressure pumps & regulators & the rest, I will keep my Cummins, & the 350 in my Suburban is easily rebuildable. I expect that we are going to see the North American Auto industry collapse in the not too distant future. Vehicles are priced out of existence,, we lack techs to repair them , & the price of parts should be the object of a federal investigation . Thanks for your continued videos.

[@jedkaplowitz4891]

I love my 2021 RAV4 Prime. Have the same color as in your video. The one thing I don't like about it (and maybe this is all RAV4s) is the position of the interior door handles. They're too close to the door hinges. This makes it a bit hard to close the front doors. A couple of things I do like about it besides what you mentioned is the heated steering wheel, and the vented seats. So you do get some of those features not found on less expensive cars.

[@thomasmeyers7283]

Have RAV 4 Prime that my wife and I love. The only issue I have is winter EV range with studless Blizzack tires. My range drops 20 percent or more. Though I assume that’s about standard for EV only vehicles. We received the $7500 federal tax rebate and a $2000 sales tax refund too which made the Prime about equal in price to the RAV4 hybrid. It’s no big deal for me to run the gas engine to warm up the car on cold days. I get everything warm and then which to EV mode.

[@scootsmcdoots80]

I have a '21 Prime and live in northern Canada. The heater on electric doesn't work that well in the cold (I didn't expect it to, so it's not a big deal to me). Also, the climate control from the app doesn't turn on when it's too cold, it fails to communicate to the car generally below -10 degrees, when you'd want the heater to work, lol. Great vehicle and I'd buy it again if I was given the chance to do it all over.

[@CHESVADS]

My 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE with Premium Package was built Aug 2021, Got in early October. I love it. I love how it drives around town in EV mode so much better than a regular gas car, and being an old school V8 lover, this satisfices that itch, vroooom! However, I was lucky to still quality for the full $7500 tax credit, which brought it down to regular Hybrid model price, and price of many other cars. If not for tax credit, the Primes price is too high at $50K. If no tax credit, I probably would have went with my 2nd choice, Mazda CX-5 Signature (loaded version) over Rav4 Hybrid loaded; as the Mazda has more upscale interior. I want a loaded car, so Primes MSRP is much higher priced than many others. Handling, the low center of gravity from battery does make it handle better. Prime does everything the standard Hybrid does, only better, but not $7500 better. So Many choices in cars at that price point. Noise, It may be louder inside compared to other cars, but coming from my base model 2005 Rav4, it is is so much quieter. With daily commuting in EV only, and a couple longer day trips per month; I only use 5 gallons of gas per month. So I only keep tank 1/2 full, to keep weight down a bit. My electric bill went up about $30/month. So overall, to propel the car, it costs about 1/3 to propel it, over a regular gas car. Even then, I doubt I would recoup the cars extra cost in 5 years. I'm keeping it 10 years, so I probably will recoup the cost . When I travel, I don't bother looking for charge station. I do use Charge Mode before I reach destination, as I just prefer the quiet EV mode when driving around town. Many say 40 miles in EV sucks, but this car is designed more for commuters like me. Bigger battery, the faster the battery will run down due to the weight. Plug-in Hybrid is the best of both worlds, and makes the most sense with todays infrastructure. Toyota needs to get purchase price right though. Something all EV's need to address though, is winter charging. If you park outside, I see many with frozen chargers, frozen to the car, or door frozen shut preventing charging. I would avoid charging Rav4 Prime in bad weather, just use the gas engine; but for full EV's, they need a better charging door that protects this cable connection from freezing together. Hoods can be purchased to cover charge port, but this protection needs to be built into the car. I do like the R4P's climate with buttons; I don't want to fumble around a touch screen to turn on defrost; I'm DRIVING. Touch screen is fine for programming/settings while in Park, NOT Driving. Driver dash is a bit of information overload; and could be simplified.

[@Psichlo1]

The question isn't whether it's a good car or not. It is a higher end Toyota, meaning not a low tier product, its probably a reliable well built car. The issue is that the cost is incredibly high for what you're getting. You could spend that same amount and get something that is bigger and has a little bit more versatility. Toyota has begun to buy their own press just like Honda did a few years back.

[@Johnsmith69448]

The good thing is that the large demand keeps used prices high as well. I just got my RAV4 Prime, XSE model. I think I will put myself on the waiting list for an outlander PHEV GT. For same price you get a lot more. I will keep an eye on the reliability and issues of the outlander during the 2 years or so I will have to wait for it, and I can always cancel if it turns out to have problems

[@larrymeyer2917]

I started with a Rav4 LE hybrid in 2018, migrated to Rav4 XLE within 5 months when my wife nagged enough to get out of the Town & Country. Ordered the Prime but heard nothing until Aug 2022 when the perfect XSE was ready for me to pick up. Drove that fantastic car for 100 days when I got another phone call, my BZ4X XLE arrived early Dec 22. I absolutely loved the Prime and wife did not want full electric. I must confirm, it was simple and simply great. First tank of 40l of fuel got 4100km. Little worse in winter. So convinced I am, that I believe this should be the goal of every motor manufacturer, fuel consumption is negligible. I DID NOT GO ELECTRIC BECAUSE OF COSTS ONLY…..main drive is to pollute less and got so much in this car, ITS FANTASTIC period. BZ4X is great but is more complicated. And they both cost around $52k CAD excl with some great subsidies here in Canada 🇨🇦. I have a lot more positive to say about these cars.

[@larrymeyer2917]

@text-426 I’m looking forward to your detailed review of the BZ4X. The dealers don’t know the car and the handbook is not great.

[@chinoyhouse8247]

its a great car but I can’t justify the price vs the regular hybrid. I also couldn’t wait for the extreme wait times. with the supply and chip shortages, Im also concerned if this Rav4 Prime will require some electronic parts to be replaced under warranty the wait times for those electronic parts might be very long. So I decided to get the gasoline version for now (got it in 6 months) and wait for the next generation Rav4 when they sorted out the supply issues, cable issues and that expensive price tag. Im happy with my Rav4 though. The standard gas AWD is excellent in the Snowy north. What a car！

[@rickboucher6061]

We aren’t fans of the EVs but love our first hybrid (2017 Prius) so much I sold my old Scion iQ for an AWD Prius. Maintenance is so easy!!

[@c.c.5472]

Hi, another excellent well thought through vid. Thank you! I have had a Prime SE for about 2 mos, and am loving it so far. Even on Hybrid mode there is lots of power and very good mpg - thats where I focused for the 1,000 mile break-in. The transition between hybrid and EV modes is super smooth, about what I would expect from Toyota. The one thing that shocked me, and its the same for all RAV4s, is the very accessible OBD port. Not that mechanics wont like it, but that thieves will be very convenienced. I am considering an OBD lock, but most seem to screw into the OBD, which may be problematic. Amd, do you have any thoughts on this?

[@MaIigs41]

Get an OBD splitter and mount it back into place. Thieves will think there is nothing on it and you can have your tracking device tucked away behind the panels. I don't actually have a RAV4 yet but that's what I have in my ford 150 and it works great.

[@pbear216]

Are you concerned that people will steal your fault codes and fix your vehicle when you're not looking????

[@drio1695]

I too have a 2021 RAV4 prime and agree with many of the comments here. I also feel that electric charging doesn’t make sense unless if you have solar panels to do the charging then it’s a game changer. I generally don’t go more than 50 miles in a day, which is my average range, the extra $1500 I had to pay after my tax rebate was well worth the upgrade from a RAV4 hybrid only vehicle. Truth be told I installed my own solar system so that was a large savings as well. I have a hard time when people have to charge off the grid, their electric vehicles since the gas savings is not nearly as much and does put an extra drain on the grid ultimately. But hay it’s still a semi free country and people can do what they want with their money at least for now. Great job on the video. Keep up the good work.

[@mingwong7729]

Thank you for the review. I can have more idea should I go get it or not. Information is very useful for me to make a decision on my Mom car.

[@timothy5974]

You’re unbelievable, excellent overview. It’s just too pricey for me but no denying a beautiful vehicle. Thanx. 👍

[@StealthTech20XX]

23:44, the blank switch is because many design aspects are shared with the Hybrid and ICE only versions, and this case that switch is blank in the Prime because it is used for the auto-off engine toggle button in the ICE only version. In the ICE only RAVs, the auto-off will turn off the engine when stopped at a red light (to save gas) and use the battery to power the infotainment, lights, speakers, etc. while the battery has enough charge, and the button allows you to turn this off and keep the engine running while at stop lights (because in ICE only models, if the engine is off, your A/C is off as well). This is not needed in hybrids and Prime since the engine already turns off at lower speeds, so instead of a completely different design of the console, they just left that button blank in the hybrids and Primes.

[@DylanTK]

my parents '22 TRD does not have the auto off (blank switch there) and is ICE only. It appears they removed that switch in general at some point...

[@StealthTech20XX]

@@DylanTK Hmm that's interesting, I know they redesigned the infotainment for '23 across all models, but surprised that even some '22 may not have it. My parents have a base '22 LE with the auto-off button. so maybe also trim specific to a degree

[@Im2bz2p345]

On the 2023 RAV4 Prime XSE (with Premium Package), which is the most loaded this car gets, that "blank" button is actually a toggle switch to control the 1500W inverter in the trunk. That way it's not always on and you just toggle it on when you need power diverted back there.

[@StealthTech20XX]

@@Im2bz2p345 oh really? I have the 2021 Prime XSE all features and all options, my toggle switch for the inverter is actually on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, in that row of buttons with the wiper defrosters, 360 camera, heated steering wheel, etc. Guess they moved around a few of the buttons when they refreshed the infotainment for '23

[@turo3066]

I love that in most of your recent videos that there is often a classic well-kept Toyota in the background! I hope to see my 2020 Hybrid back there in 20 years!

[@donswier]

Why all the hate? Supply & demand have concluded that this PHEV offers more value than its MSRP would imply. - 14,000 miles annually all-electric on cheap residential electricity. - Fuel that's 75% cheaper than gas - Unlike BEVs, you're NEVER hostage to public charging that's often occupied, ICED or broken. - Refueling on long journeys in 2 minutes, not 30-360 minutes (don't BEV drivers value their time?🤔) - On a long trip, you'll never be stranded on a rainy night for hours at a strange, dark parking lot with no facilities for your crying kids or whining doggos.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

i love that it has an actual MAP button so that navigation will work when you have no cellular service. You could use a Garmin portable GPS, but that is not as convenient as using a built in system.

[@birdman8180]

Also something to note: While the engines are technically the same for the Rav4, Rav4 Hybrid, and Rav4 Prime, their tuning and and output at different RPMs is all tuned very differently, I assume to account for the extra weight of the hybrid system as well as the pairing with the HEV systems

[@pbear216]

Actually, the gas only has the most powerful engine of them all... the hybrid is slightly lower in output and the Prime is 20 hp less.

[@birdman8180]

@@pbear216 according to their specs sheet the engines they use are exactly the same from what I saw, but they tunes their capabilities to output on a different curve of torque and hp for efficiency purposes

[@pbear216]

@@birdman8180 so less torque and hp for a heavier car increases efficiency....... hmmmm

[@pbear216]

@@birdman8180 it is the Atkinson cycle that creates the reduction in power

[@moorefacts6605]

@@pbear216 combined EV Prime and ICE makes for over 300 HP.

[@madlucio70]

Great video! my 2023 Subarau Crosstrek PHEV also has Charge Mode, EV Mode, and Save Mode (Engine + EV). Of course The Crosstrek PHEV was designed using Toyota's parts bin for its electrical powertrain. My Crosstrek also uses a heat pump, but we just had a crazy cold -30 celcius weekend and even with a heat pump, the engine was running along with the electric motors. I could not use EV only. But -30 real temp (-40 wind chill) it makes sense hehe.

[@Katieandcabot]

Love your channel AMD!! Quick note- the XSE RAV4 hybrid trim (not just prime) has the vertical DRL where the fog lights are supposed to be, so if you want that look, but not the plug in, get the regular hybrid XSE trim! (I personally love it in calvary blue)

[@redbaron6805]

That is a great point which I noticed also...

[@nightfiredance23]

As RAV4 drivers we are used with any sort of weird sounds….. but we love the car because of reliability and low consumptions! I love this car. 42.500 euro my hibrid ❤

[@paulc2548]

Love the Prime RAV4, no doubt, but it costs over 50K...ouch! Anyway, the rear gate lift strut that contains a built in motorized mechanism must be super expensive because the regular (non-motorized) lift gate strut on my 2007 Sienna van cost $95 each already. Love your channel!

[@MMPCTV]

@Phillip Banes I miss split hatches. Sometimes I just need to grab something out of the back.

[@alexshapley8331]

@Phillip Banes Its a really useful feature for us disabled people etc who aren't able to open and close the boot (lift gate) on many other vehicles (which have non-motorised lift gate struts)

[@billmoyer3254]

most likely 20 bucks on Ebay/Amazon

[@matte8441]

It’s around $700 for that lift gate strut here in Canada. They seem to be problematic in the winter but luckily we just delete the codes and re-calibrate so the customers don’t have to pay that much.

[@Rhaspun]

@@alexshapley8331 There should be an option for the customer to decide if they need a powered lift.

[@mr88cet]

Thanks! Great info. 20:15 - At least based upon what I see on my 2017 Prius Prime, Charge Mode is not very useful. It usually ends up more efficient to just drive in Hybrid Mode, rather than charging up in Charge Mode, then driving it off in EV Mode. If you don’t have access to routine charging at home or at work, you’re probably better off with just a regular, non-plug-in hybrid. The main case where I found it useful was when I did _pretty much _*_all_*_ of my driving in EV Mode_ , except for road trips. On those rare road trips, I often found it valuable to burn off more gas toward the end, so that I don’t have a quarter-tank of gasoline fermenting into sludge for a few months, before I take my next road trip.

[@ChrisAllendestroysall]

I love the RAV4s, such a beautiful example of wonderful engineering

[@NOBODY-xt6kj]

Totally agreed 👍

[@haroldkennedy120]

Have a 2021 XSE and racked up 25k miles in one year. Call outs ...window/door lock switches are not back lit, making it difficult to operate at night. Over all, interior lights are poor and an easy upgrade. The biggest issue is the weather stripping placement on doors. The weather stripping is recessed on the interior doors and a lot of road dirt and debris get on clothes when entering back seat. Hand washing vehicle is very time consuming due to the all the trim and angles. Changed tires at 18k miles and car rides and handles better. Great car if you are looking for an EV commuter around town and performance when needed on hi-way roads. Would buy again.

[@markdesign1354]

Hell no, that's not worth it. It will take 15 years to recoup the cost in gas savings. and by then the battery will need to be replaced.

[@Ultrajamz]

Yeah its basically a gamble that gas prices will go up soon and thus speed up the recoup time

[@Scott-pn3np]

The Prime isn't about MPG. Its about quickness. My XLE pulls strong on highway and handles the speed really well, I'm assuming the Prime is a fun ride. But yeah I wouldn't buy 1 until they fix cable corrosion issues properly.

[@michaelburton]

@@Scott-pn3np exactly the prime is the 2nd fastest Toyota made right after the supra

[@wholeNwon]

Ah, the voice of reason.

[@dadgarage7966]

You're not buying this just to save fuel. You're getting a good car in the process.

[@christoffsteenkamp4636]

This is one of the best reviews I've seen in a while. Covers all the interesting facts and questions one would have.

[@earlbaker3996]

Nice car. Not for me though, too much stuff to go wrong in time. In my area I don't know of any independent shops that would work on it. I would never pay 50k for anything that could not haul 1/2 ton . I am going to drive my 18 rav4 le until it's junk and dead. Bought it new and I love 😍 that simple little car. Great review ,educational and entertaining as always. Watching from Trumbull County, Ohio 🇺🇸

[@supersportus]

I had a RAV4, was so disappointed in it. It got louder and louder as I drove it. You couldn't hear yourself think in it. I kept it about a year and it was traded off.

[@Transport_Air_Rail_Road]

Hi, this is the best presentation you released so far. I just ordered my RAV4 prime today. They call it PHEV plug in hybrid electric vehicle in Germany. Hope to have it soon as it is already on the ship. Take care!

[@elusivellama]

Thanks for clearly explaining charge mode. It's like being your own charging station, if necessary, and best used when you're on the highway when the engine is at its most efficient (which also happens to be when most people would want to use charge mode).

[@laura-ann.0726]

Just keep in mind that the ICE does indeed burn more fuel in Charge mode, especially at lower speeds.

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

We are planning on buying one. I hope you can choose charge mode while going down hills, because that would be the optimal time to use gravity to recharge the battery.

[@laura-ann.0726]

@@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity- You don't need to press the Charge Mode button either on the Prius or Rav4 Prime, to engage regenerative braking when going down a hill! Charge Mode only does does 1 thing: it tells the car's computer control system to run the gasoline engine so as to send excess power to the traction battery. If you are coasting down a hill with the cruise control set to a given speed, and the traction battery is not already fully charged, the inverter computer will operate the MG2 and MGR motors in "reverse", i.e. regenerative braking mode. As long as the hill does not exceed about 7% downgrade slope, Regen braking will produce up to 25 kilowatts, sending that to the battery until it reaches about 88% State of Charge, and keeping the car at the set cruise speed. If the slope exceeds about 7%, and 25 kW of regen braking force is insuficient to keep the car from accelerating past the cruise control set speed, or of the battery reaches full charge, the MG1 motor will be engaged in "compression braking" mode. This causes the MG1 rotor to spin the gasoline engine up to about 3,800 RPM, with no gasoline being injected, and the Variable Valve Timing adjusted to make the pistons pump a lot of air in the most inefficient way possible, to add drag to the powertrain and slow the car. If this is still not enough drag force to keep the car from over-speeding on very steep hills, the friction brakes will engage. If you have not set a specific speed on the cruise control, just lightly pressing the brake pedal will put the car into regen braking mode. By watching the power flow/charge diagram, you can keep just enough force on the brake pedal to keep the car in regen braking without engaging the friction brakes (which wastes energy). But it's easier to just use the cruise control and let the car control the regen braking automatically. Note that to really get the maximum use of regen braking, you should climb long upgrades in EV mode to deplete the traction battery is it's full, then there will be available storage capacity in the battery to absorb regen braking energy on the downgrade. If you arrive at the crest of a hill with a long downgrade in front of you, and the battery is full, you are not going to get any benefit from regen braking, and the whole descent will have to be made on compression and friction braking. You are going to love your Rav4 Prime. I've owned a lot of cars in my life, at least 30 different ones, and the Rav4 Prime is easily the most versatile car I've ever owned. It's not perfect there are a few things it cant' do: it can't tow 10,000 pound trailers like my '98 3/4 ton Dodge Cummins diesel pickup truck. It can't haul 15 people like the old Ford Club Wagon Econoline Vans. It only gets 45 mpg instead of the 65 mpg that I got in my Prius Prime. It can't tackle boulder-climbing or deep mud and snow like a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or Toyota Land Cruiser. But it does have AWD. With all terrain tires, it can be taken off-pavement onto rough backcountry roads that would defeat most 2WD vehicles. It can tow small trailers that are no more than 2,500 pounds. It can haul 4 adults (with maybe a skinny teenager between the 2 in the back seat). And it can operate up to 50 miles on cheap home electricity, and get 45 mpg on gasoline when you need to make a road trip. It's very refined. Easy to steer and parallel park. It's very quiet even at 75 mph. It's got a decent stereo. The Toyota Safety Sense features like Blind Spot Monitoring are really nice if you've never had a car with advanced tech. The mix of features and capabilities for $44,500 are an incredible value, as long as you don't need to tow heavy trailers, the one area that is still ruled by pickup trucks and SUV's with actual ladder frame chassis' under the body shell. If you need to tow trailers, get a 4-Runner or a Tacoma with a V-6 engine. But you won't be getting 45 mpg in one of those. Congratulations on getting your Prime, when you actually get it.

[@dlg5485]

If the Prime XSE wasn't so overpriced, I would have purchased one instead of my fully loaded 2023 Outback Touring XT. It had MSRP of $44k, but I paid under $40k with my VIP and Loyalty discounts. I have no regrets, the Outback is a far more luxurious and comfortable vehicle than the Prime. Clearly, I had to give up the fuel efficiency of the PHEV, but I'm loving the Outback otherwise.

[@g-mang-man7924]

My next Toyota, which will be a replacement for my 05 ES330 ( yea it will probably be still running in five more years) had been a new body style Venza, but I know the RAV4 hybrid is actually larger inside. I just wish the price was lower on RAV4.

[@rncondie]

We own 2 Rav 4 Primes 2021 SE. After the $15,000 Federal Tax credit out the door was $37k each Gas is $4.37 I pay .70 cents in electricity to drive to my work which is 28 miles plug it in for free and drive back home. I have been doing that for a little more than 3 years. Do the math. I fill up once every 6 months to keep the gas fresh. I figure in 3 years I have saved $6k in gas alone. We plan to keep both our Rav 4 for 10-15 years. Assuming a 2k annual savings in gasoline we will almost get back what we paid for them after the tax credit in 15 years of use. I believe the Prime purchases with the $15,000 Federal tax credit was a very smart purchase.

[@living4christ]

I just checked the website, their most expensive Rav4prime xse model is $70,164 msrp on Hanlee's Toyota in Fairfield, CA.

[@krushmoto1]

I checked yesterday and it was 53K. You sure you checked Toyota's website and not a dealers?

[@living4christ]

@@krushmoto1 Its a dealer website. Hanlee's toyota in Fairfield, CA.

[@krushmoto1]

@@living4christ my local Toyota dealers (PA/NJ) all have MSRP listed as 53K for the XSE. The Toyota dealer (NJ) that I purchased my Prius prime in 2017 is charging an extra $2500 for 3rd party extended warranty, which I'd pass on. Sounds like your dealer is charging market adjustment but making it look like MSRP!

[@andrehernandez3193]

My wife bought a 2022 RAV4 SE Hybrid in white. That large blank button is meant to be the passenger heated seat control on our SE model. I am not sure if anyone already commented but that why the blank switch is there