This is One Of The Best Plug In Hybrid Cars in 2024 and Here's Why

Plug in Hybrid vehicles are the greatest bridge between regular gasoline cars and electric cars. They give you a balanced use of both.
After testing many plug in hybrids from different manufacturers, We always arrive at the same model which stands out above the rest, The Toyota RAV4 Prime.
In this video we talk about what's good and what's not good about the latest update to the RAV4 Prime.
TCCN Automotive Inc.
Toyota and Lexus Specialist Repair
Visit www.tccnautomotive.com to schedule your appointment today.
Check out the second channel :
/ @thecarcarenutreviews
Recommended Tools:
Basic Scan Tool amzn.to/3Jm6aom
Very good DIY Scan Tool amzn.to/3zF7dvH
Advanced Scan tool amzn.to/3q3L3QQ
Spill Free Coolant Replacement Funnel amzn.to/3uJfKxm
Sun roof drain cleaning tool amzn.to/3GMDlQ9
Good DIY Torque Wrench 1/2" amzn.to/3gE9bnw
Wireless Apple CarPlay for Toyota\Lexus amzn.to/3uKElSo
Very Good Triple Camera Borescope amzn.to/3MrgFs0
*as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow the channel on Social Media :
/ thecarcarenut
/ thecarcarenut
Check out the channel Merch store
/ @thecarcarenut
Make a one time donation to the channel:
www.paypal.me/CCNdonate
Check out the amazon store:
www.amazon.com/shop/thecarcarenut
*as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#thecarcarenut #tccnautomotive #toyota #lexus #rav4prime

[@DouglasRosser]

Me "I want to buy a plug-in hybrid". The Dealer "Are you properly lubed for the ridiculous markup!?!?"

[@SabreLeonheart]

I didn't pay mark up for my 24 Prime. You have to look ... a lot. And be willing to wait too. But it's well worth it! ✨🚗

[@rcDoom]

All new vehicles have huge mark-ups

[@0HOON0]

@@rcDoom The car market has changed a lot in the last couple months. Rav4 Prime is one of the few vehicles still going for above msrp.

[@danduranucsb]

I got mine below MSRP at Longo Toyota. Only waited two weeks

[@DouglasRosser]

@@rcDoom Wrong. Most Stellantis vehicles have huge discounts.

[@davidgekler]

I bought a RAV4 Prime XSE - got it for a bit under 50k. Came off the boat a month ago. LOVE it , despite what ya say...Its a Rocket. I did buy it for the short runs and Long trips I make. I have owned 5 Toyotas - they are THE most reliable cars ever built and why I watch your channel!

[@shawnbl2048]

How quiet is it. Thinking about it great rebate by me but I hear it's loud on highway 🛣

[@davidgekler]

@@shawnbl2048 It's not supper quiet inside like a Luxury car but I am not at all annoyed by it, as it makes me feel more connected to the driving experience. At high speeds I do not feel the Roof Rack is a noise maker but the expansive roof window does allow some noise in but so would any vehicle with this large of a roof window!

[@davevolz6138]

The rack makes a howling noise but motor is really quiet in mine. You can whisper on the freeway and be heard.

[@samsacre]

I agree Toyota is one of the best. I recently purchased a 23 Prius all-wheel-drive limited 0 to 60 in 7seconds I wanted all wheel drive and the Prius prime does come only 2 Wheel Dr, wife currently has a 19 RAV4 hybrid has been tremendous. We're waiting for the sienna plug-in prime hopefully in the next year or so.

[@user-ci8gz3ch8i]

>>> I had a Yaris hybrid - left it unused for 2 weeks and it wouldn’t start as the 12v battery was flat; happened again and then found out this is a known problem.

[@InternetDude]

I had a 2021 RAV4 Prime for nearly 3 years and then traded up to a 24 same model different color. Love it, it’s better than full EV.

[@junior2all]

Same boat (21XSE>23XSE). Did you notice the nice upgrades in camera quality and the cup holders being slightly larger. So nice🎉

[@LeonEaves-qr5hz]

It sounds like you think it’s overpriced. I want if I might to missing in the SE model. Most model appears of all cars appear to be missing first is the two of the first safety mades. The complete automatic cruise control and the lane keeping assist is missing. I think every car should be standard safety devices. My wife will NOT use cruise because it is the base cruise and she is afraid of it.

[@pbear216]

@@LeonEaves-qr5hz I mean, reading this is like listening to Biden speak, but if I am understanding this gibberish correctly, every Toyota has Safety Sense, which includes all the features you mentioned

[@pbear216]

@@LeonEaves-qr5hz the SE has the Lane Keep Assist ( which is useless BTW) and Adaptive Cruise Control. It also has automatic braking

[@brrbrr474]

@@LeonEaves-qr5hz every toyota comes with its safety sense. whether its the lowest le model or the highest limited or xse model it has the exact same safety features

[@michelrea2403]

This is one of the best videos have ever heard. No background noise precise & to the point , very well done. 👍 👊

[@user-po1fy1yi1d]

Bought a new Rav4 Prime XSE in January. Had to wait 4 weeks. Sold at MSRP. Fantastic vehicle. A week ago, fellow member of our church questioned us about the Rav; today he told me he ordered one from same dealer. 2 weeks for delivery. Said it was to replace his Ford PHEV. Had to replace its battery (15,000.00) under warranty a few months ago. That and other problems with the Ford, so he's done, and going Toyota now.

[@DocMicrowave]

Lol, I had a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid. Lasted to 2022. When it was totaled by the City in a freak accident. It had around 220,000 miles on it. It had some issues but the battery seemed to still be operating. Albeit the EV range was maybe half what it use to be. Used the payout from the city to help in purchasing a 2022 RAV4 Prime. I love this vehicle! It's been a great ride so far. And with 17 years of Hybrid driving experience under my belt, I am quite accustomed to trying to extend EV driving as much as possible.

[@alichadharful]

What dealer is that sells on MSRP?

[@user-po1fy1yi1d]

Toyota of Grants Pass, Oregon

[@donswier]

I was planning to get a Prime RAV4 when they first arrived, but the price was more than I wanted to pay. To placate myself, I got a used 2017 i3 REx. 120 miles EV, but with a 2 cyl, 35hp gasoline Range Extender Now at 103k miles, this PHEV or Range Extender concept has proven its value to me. Toyota is 100% on the right track. Prime ALL the things!!! - Sienna - 4Runner - Tacoma -Tundra

[@petejansen7220]

Makes sense,Toyota is the king of hybrids and phev’s ,they have went through all the growing pains already. Toyota has had them out for over 30 years now and have them pretty much perfected. I personally would not want to gamble on another manufacturer that is still learning and have to go through all the growing pains going forward. Vehicles are too expensive now a days and too costly to repair to gamble with inexperience,in my opinion.

[@LOBrien_]

That Rav4 Platform is nearly bulletproof. There's a guy on the Toyota Subreddit who owns a 2020 Rav4 Hybrid XSE with well over 450k miles.

[@jpdoc5722]

nice 👍

[@josephdunkle1152]

I think plug in hybrids make perfect sense. Charge overnight at home, drive back and forth to work and/or short trips with electric. Then if you need to drive on a longer trip, no problem, no searching for a charging station and long charge times, just keep driving and the gas engine kicks in.

[@flt528]

You may be missing the most important point: once the "EV only" range of a plug-in hybrid is used up, it doesn't become a regular gas-burning car. It drives as a hybrid. Our Rav4 Prime gets up to 45mpg after the engine "kicks in." I can drive 100 miles on one gallon of gas (first 55 miles in EV mode and next 45 miles in hybrid mode).

[@tharais]

@@flt528 That's Toyota. The Mazda PHEV's regen - i.e. "regular hybrid mode" - was dismal. Never got above 5% battery charge after initial, plug in charge was used up. Why? Because nothing is free. If the ICE engine is operating for both drive and regen, gas mileage would suffer. Toyota just seems to have created the best hybrid systems. Their hardware and software for elec, ICE motive and, regen algorithms are just superior. They've figured out the best power and operating balance for the two systems.

[@petejansen7220]

I agree it’s a perfect system. On on my 2 nd used low mile phev and absolutely love it,especially the money savings buying it used but also the fuel savings. And when the electric range has completed it’s a hybird and its extremely efficient,with no range anxiety! Best idea ever!

[@randy74989]

You better watch TCCN's video on overusing the "EV" mode and not engaging the ICE motor. It's in his list of videos and you will learn how to better take care of your PHEV.

[@be-kind00]

What is the link? ​@@randy74989

[@N8844H]

When I started looking for a replacement for our uber-dependable and incredibly efficient Prius V, the RAV4 Prime went straight to the top of the list. For all of 2023, though, local dealers attached huge "dealer adjustments" to them. One local dealer even grabbed a RAV4 Prime I located out of state with no markup, then offered it back to me with their markup tacked on! No thanks. They can service the car but they won't sell me one. Anyway, supplies are much better now and even those local dealers have dropped their markups to zero, and, in one case, they're offering real discounts off MSRP. So patience is a good thing, and I'd encourage buyers to look out of their immediate local areas to find the best deals. Just don't mention the details to your local dealer.

[@DrRick-dq4bb]

I own a 2021 and a 2022 Rav4 Prime. Best cars I have ever owned, problem free. We do manage 45 miles all electric range when the weather is decent. Our commute is about 40 miles and rarely visit a gas station. The battery depletion on the 2021 is about 1% after 37K miles.

[@tsdr6830]

"Rarely visit a gas station" Make sure you don't let the gas go stale like the guy in the video says. You don't want to ruin an expensive car.

[@robmalcolm8042]

​@tsdr6830 yeah hybrids and plugs you do need to use the gas and fill it cause your right it's just sitting there getting old

[@sidchen5928]

Love the car, hated the outrageous dealer markups and the intentional controlled limited supplies.

[@ytj22]

Who would be intentionally limiting the supply in this case?

[@blackrifle6736]

@@ytj22 *Ask Toyota...*

[@ytj22]

@@blackrifle6736 Toyota is limiting supply so their dealers can skim money? Or were they short sighted about parts procurement for these models?

[@chrisvig123]

The little imaginary man inside his empty skull

[@piperpilot26]

I don't own a plug-in hybrid, but I do own a hybrid. One of the things I do to avoid moisture buildup in the engine is to make sure I run the engine long enough to achieve a proper warm-up. Usually a highway run or equivalent.

[@pinecedar180]

Never heard of this moisture engine issue in a hybrid. I doubt this is a real issue

[@sudeeptaghosh]

Is your rav4 more expensive than a model y and less features too ? 😂

[@user-ro6fw5li3z]

Moisture is mostly a problem in the winter if just do short trips because the engine isn’t constantly running. There’s a service bulletin about changing the oil more frequently to keep it from turning to foamy sludge.

[@MikeKayK]

@@sudeeptaghosh As it should be, it's a much higher quality and more comfortable car that will last a very long time. Have fun at the charging stations ;)

[@williammurphy6104]

It’s an incredibly big issue for PLUG IN HYBRIDS because a bunch of Plug In owners play this stupid video game called how high can I get the MPG and then they post it online. People in Volts with hundreds of miles per gallon. It’s fake of course. It’s just because they NEVER use their gas engine unless they go on a long trip. There are guys who have nearly 99% EV miles. Almost all of their gas usage is from the maintenance mode which is when it runs the engine to burn off old fuel. That happens after many months. That’s too long for fuel and moisture to sit in the oil and moisture in the engine. Also the engine comes on in a lot of these including the prime where if it’s too cold the engine comes on. But it doesn’t stay on. It just runs occasionally especially if you leave the cabin heat off. These video game playing wanks do drive with their cabin heat off. I do that in my EV but not my plug ins. You want to use as little heat as possible because even in hybrid mode and even on a hybrid it reduces your range but I do use it. Set it to 72-76 ok my plug ins. Instead of driving with heat on blast and window cracked on my Honda lol. Anyways it’s not an issue with Hybrids. Cold starts are an issue but one you don’t need to worry about. Why? Because what cold starts do is they eventually mean you are the guy with the 500k mile hybrid spewing black smoke as it accelerates. Sure you gotta add a quart of oil every tank (probably not that much) but meanwhile you are laughing your ass off on the way to the bank to deposit your entire paycheck. Ok well people don’t drive to the bank to do that anymore but you get my point. There’s a reason why you’ll see certain driveways with a fleet of old beat up Prii in the driveway (Prii is the accepted plural like pre eye). Also why you have mechanics in southern states that only work on Prii or EK/EG civics. They are easy and last a long time and it’s always the same thing that needs to be repaired and the dealer won’t do it for less than the car is worth used.

[@thetrampit]

The other reason I bought my pluigin is that I live near the mountains, and contrary to the sister hybrid, it can hold the recharge on a 20 mile downhill. Plus, I use the EV mode in town and go hybrid out of town. There is no point in depleting the battery at mediun-high speed. Said that, very happy with it and positevly surprised on the mileage in hybrid mode.

[@azerogliev6520]

my hybrid rav4 gets 47mpg on highway. One of the reasons I choose hybrid and not prime.

[@1millionstartups]

As a R4P owner since 2020 I was not surprised it was the best hybrid in 2020 (range, size, acceleration, full EV credit, very limited supply but no mark up). What is surprising to me now is how it's still the best hybrid 4 years later mainly because Toyota won't "prime" more models. Please Toyota, prime instead of putting turbo 4's and turbo 6's.

[@valdius85]

How is the state of the electoral connector in the rear axle? I’ve seen multiple grim videos from mechanics who fix them. I agree with your statements. I’m impressed with Toyota’s hybrid tech just not the rusting rear axle 😮

[@mikeydude750]

It's still an SUV...they need to make actual sedans with Primes.

[@valdius85]

@@mikeydude750 RAV4 is the most popular car in America. Only trucks sales are higher.

[@mikeydude750]

@@valdius85 People are dumb as heck for buying SUVs they don't need. Too many people buying too large a car and whining about how expensive they are.

[@DocMicrowave]

Have had mine since 2022. It has been a great vehicle. Perfect balance. Practically 100% EV vehicle in my daily commutes to work and around town. Great hybrid on the open road when the family goes on 2000+ mile road trips for vacation a few times a year. A great drive without the range anxiety.

[@007fjcruiser]

One major issue you forgot to talk about is the battery connector that rust in US northern states and Canada ,cost to replace the cable is $7000 , until 2023 this problem is still going on , so be aware folks !

[@pauljoseph7565]

I believe Toyota address that issue already. They put a case around it to prevent the rust. Look into it. cheers

[@007fjcruiser]

@@pauljoseph7565 Toyota won’t fix this issue unless you have a warning on the screen, no preventative repair, that meens you can’t travel far from home !

[@pauljoseph7565]

@@007fjcruiser Just a clarification, I meant.the newer models.at least the 23 added the protective cover maybe 2022 also.. Good luck.

[@ibiro868]

Wow 1m subs. Glad to have been here from the start!

[@CarnivoryHODL]

Same!

[@coryallen4714]

I’m a 2024 Honda CVR Hybrid owner it is very quite and the ride is excellent for anyone looking for another reliable hybrid option.

[@chriscook509]

Agreed! I considered the Rav4 Prime last year. Could not justify spending an additional $12,000 over the hybrid model. I calculated that i would need to drive 200,000 miles on electric to be atart saving money.

[@michaelbroderick6830]

Great point 👍 that's why petrol and diesel will still be around for a lot longer. People today can barely afford to buy a new regular car

[@joelnehl]

I bought a Prius Prime Limited 3 years ago, because it was cheaper after rebates than a regular Prius. I really glad I bought it, I drove it 8,000 miles last year and only filled it up 3 times.

[@LotusMorning]

​@@michaelbroderick6830 what do you consider "a lot longer"? In the US all manufacturers have until 2030 to be 100% electric

[@LotusMorning]

I really question your math skills and illicit drug use. Unless you buy new cars and drive 1000 miles per year your calculation makes no sense

[@michaelbroderick6830]

@@LotusMorning search for John cadogan on KZbin and his video on plug in cost. His example was of a Mitsubishi outlander phev. For the extra amount compared to just buying a petrol engine, the owner would would have to drive on electric only, for 7 years, just to break even with the extra cost over a petrol engine. He's quite good at maths.

[@shinyredcobra]

Lol "if you want an electric car, don't buy a bz4x it's a terrible car" haha I loved that tangent.

[@laura-ann.0726]

I bought one last July, after a 2-1/2 year search, trying to find one that didn't have the glass roof (I hate glass roofs, they all eventually leak rainwater, and you lose 2 to 3 inches of headroom). It's the best car I've ever owned, but Toyota only makes a tiny percentage of Rav4 Prime SE's without the glass roof option, and they are extremely rare and hard to find. The towing capacity is pretty limited, but the Rav4 Prime is capable of 45 mpg if you go easy on the gas pedal, and 54 miles of EV range on a full charge is enough for in-town errand running. The driver's seat is a bit cramped for anyone who weighs more than about 250 pounds, and the spare tire well is only deep enough for a compact donut spare, but at least it does come with a spare tire - more and more cars are being sold nowadays with no spare tire at all. The infotainment system has "issues" with Android Auto, a problem common to all 2022 and newer Rav4's apparently, not just the Prime SE that I have. Specifically, when you are trying to pipe a map and navigation app from your phone to the car's malfunction display over Android Auto, the map often freezes up, or crashes completely, and when this happens, the only way you can get it back up is to stop the car, re-boot the car and the cell phone, and re-establish the connection. The big battery gives the Prime a very low center of gravity, and it takes corners with a lot less body lean than the original non-Hybrid Rav4. Even in ECO mode, it has plenty of motor power in the MG2 and MGR motors to accelerate with plenty of get-up-and-go. This car isn't sluggish by any measure, yet it still has amazing energy efficiency and carrying capacity in the cargo area. I'm a bit surprised by Ahmed stating that the car is "loud". My 2023 seems very quiet, except for the EV noisemaker, which is so irritating that I would disable it if doing so did not throw a trouble code in the ECM. I rarely drive faster than 55, so maybe the people who complain about road noise in the Rav4 are driving it a lot faster? Ahmed spends several minutes talking about reasons people might want to consider the Rav4 Prime over a straight EV. I want to throw in my 2¢ worth here: Reason Number 1: If you live anywhere that it gets really cold in winter. The Rav4 Prime is far superior to ANY make or model of EV, simply by virtue of having that gasoline engine. You will be able to heat the cabin to 70°F with no hit on the driving range at all, because all that heat is a waste product of the gasoline engine that would just be blown out of the radiator anyway. Reason #2: If you make long road trips and this is your only car. If you have an EV, and need to make a 600 mile road trip, say from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco, California, you are going to have to stop and charge that car at least twice. Most EV's average 2.8 miles per kW-hr at 65 mph, so that's 214 kW-hr worth of DC fast charging you are going to have to buy along the way, for 49¢/kW-hr. That's $105 worth of power for a 600 mile road trip. The Rav4 Prime, driven at 65 mph, gets 40 mpg assuming no head wind or tail wind to skew the fuel economy either way. If gasoline costs $4.50/gallon, you will burn $68 worth of gasoline for the same 600 mile road trip on the US West Coast. If you live in the midwest or southeast, where gas is $3.50/gallon, a 600 mile road trip in the Rav4 Prime will cost $53 - 1/2 the cost for gasoline compared to doing the same trip in a EV using Electrify America or EV-Go DC fast charging at 49¢/kW-hr. Now imagine a 568 mile road trip in WINTER, from Chicago to Duluth, with a stop in Minneapolis. It's -20°F the whole way, and your EV's range has been cut nearly in half because of the need to heat the battery and the passengers with battery power. Your range is now 1.6 miles per kW-hr, so that trip is going to take 355 kW-hours at 49¢ per = $174 for DC fast charges. The extreme cold is going to increase the air density which will cut a little into the Rav4 Prime's fuel economy, dropping it to 36 mpg. Gasoline on your route is $3.68/gallon. You will need $58.06 worth of gasoline to make the trip from Chicago to Duluth. $174 for DC charging an EV, or $58 for gas in a Rav4 Prime. And THAT'S why PHEV's are a far better choice than EV's if you live somewhere that it gets seriously cold in the winter months.

[@daveallen7767]

I'm not sold yet on hybrid. Our 2022 Altima AWD would get 32 mpg in those conditions using 17.75 gal regular gas costing $65.32 . Purchase price was $30K in 22, AWD, I'm guessing insurance cost must be lower for the Altima, I don't mind keeping some $ in the bank in case my RV tow vehicle ( F150) needs some repairs. Would the Rav4 really pay back or is it just a status thing for you all?

[@laura-ann.0726]

@@daveallen7767- If you have determined that a Compact SUV is what you want, as opposed to a sedan, pickup truck, minivan, or hatchback, then the Rav4 Hybrid is the best you can get, for reliability, low maintenance, and utility. It costs $3,000 more than the non-Hybrid Rav4, and I absolutely believe it is worth every penny of that. The Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, and the computers and electronics that back it, have been in continuous development since the first Prius in 1997. NO ONE ELSE has been manufacturing Hybrids even half that long. For maintenance, you will need to change the transaxle and rear differential fluid at 60,000 miles, and the engine oil every 5,000. Change the coolant at 60,000. Replace the brake pads when they wear out, typically around 100,000. Replace the ignition coils when they start to crap out, generally at 120,000 to 150,000 miles. Replace the 12 volt battery every 4 or 5 years, and that's about it. The traction battery is a NIMH type, and should last 150,000 miles. Fuel ecomomy in the Hybrid is highly dependent on how hard you drive the car. In my Prime, which is very similar to the Hybrid, I get 48 mpg at 45 mph, 45 mpg at 55 mph, 42 mpg at 60 mph, 39 mpg at 65 mph, and 35 mpg at 70 mph. This is assuming flat terrain, and no headwind or tailwind. The regular ICE Rav4 gets about 10 mpg less than the Hybrid at the same speeds. For your $3,000, you get AWD and about 50 net hp more thanks to the rear axle motor, so the Hybrid is peppier off the line and climbs hills with less effort. Just test drive one at a Toyota dealer and see for yourself. If they don't have a Rav4 Hybrid, but they do have a Camry Hybrid, test drive that - both cars have the same engine and transaxle, except the Camry isn't AWD and it's lighter and more aerodynamic, so it gets 51 mpg. I am not a Toyota employee, just a long-time fan of their cars. I've owned a Prius Prime and a Rav4 Prime, and I am sold on the Toyota HSD powertrain as the best compromise and stepping-stone into EV's until we get battery technology good enough to produce EV's with 600~800 mile range that are affordable. I love my Prime, but I will freely admit that there's no way that it will ever save me enough in gasoline to pay back the extra $12,000 purchase price. It's a fun car to drive, but I'll be 70 in a few years and by the time that lithium battery is worn out, I won't be driving anymore and it'll be someone else's problem. The Rav4 Prime has more capabilities than the Hybrid, mainly 55 more horsepower and 70 pound-feet more torque in the MG2 motor, so it can tow a bigger traile,r and handle steep hills better, than the Rav4 Hybrid, but for most people, the Rav4 Hybrid is a better value. Is the Rav4 Prime a "status" thing? No, I don't think so. People that are looking for "status" will likely be attracted to the Lexus Rx450-H, which is basically identical to the Rav4 Prime but with leather seat upholstery, more sound insulation, a better stereo, and a $15,000 markup over and above the already pricey Rav4 Prime. The Rav4 Prime is a specialty car that has a small niche market that makes it ideal for certain buyers: People who live in cities where gasoline is historically very expensive (meaning anywhere in California), and electricity is cheap because they have a not-for-profit municipal electric utility, or a 6 to 15 k-Watt roof-top solar array, can benefit from a PHEV. But $12,000 is a lot of money, and if you don't have it to toss around at a Rav4 Prime, then the Rav4 Hybrid is almost as good, especially is you don't live on the West Coast with our crazy-high gasoline prices. Hope this answers your questions.

[@laura-ann.0726]

@@daveallen7767 - Being perfectly honest and realistic, the Rav4 Prime costs $12,000 more than the Rav4 Hybrid, mostly to cover the cost of the much larger lithium battery. There's no way that most owners will ever recover that $12K in gasoline savings in any less than 280,000 miles, and very few people ever keep a car that long. And it's very unlikely that the original battery in a Rav4 Prime will last that long; and no one can even guess what a battery replacement for a Prius Prime might cost. You have to have other reasons to go for a Rav4 Prime over the Hybrid. It can tow 500 pounds more. The Prime's powertrain has about 60 more horsepower than the Hybrid's, due to a larger MG2 motor in the transaxle; this lets the Prime climb hills with less of a feeling that the car is straining to make the climb. If equipped with all-terrain tires, the Prime has better off-pavement capabilities, again thanks to that larger battery and MG2 motor, but if you are really serious about adventuring off-pavement, you probably should be looking at a 4-Runner or Tacoma, not a Rav4. In my opinion, the Toyota hybrid transaxle is more reliable and will last much longer than the JATCO belt-drive CVT that Nissan uses. It's an E-CVT, meaning there's no belt and no pullleys. It uses a planetary gear power-split device and the MG1 motor to control the speed of the gas engine and match it to the final drive differential. The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive transaxle has been in continuous development since it's introduction in the 1997 Prius, and it's now in many models of Toyota sedans, the Rav4 Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid, and the Sienna minivan. I'm not a Toyota employee, just an owner that believes in their cars. Bottom line, Dave: if you live somewhere with cheap gas and expensive electricity, the Rav4 Hybrid makes much more sense than the Prime. Where I live, in central California, gasoline and diesel fuel are both crazy-expensive, and electricity is cheap because we have a not-for-profit municipal electric service. So PHEV's and EV's are more "justifiable" than they might be elsewhere.

[@mauriciogarcia4190]

@@daveallen7767I’m sure your Altima is fine and all but I wouldn’t even try to convince you to get a plug in. BUT for similar money, I’d die on a hill to consider the new Camry as an alternative/replacement in every conceivable way over that Altima. Base model 2025 Camry is $30k and gets 45-50mpg and most likely has lower insurance rates. More reliable/ proven powertrain. Granted you might score some better trim/equipment (Bose speakers) for the same money on an Altima but that’s about the the only pro I’d give it. Resale value is also a HUGE factor but I’ll let that speak for itself…

[@jon325]

Heat pump portion correction - not NEGATIVE 14 degrees F, but 14 degrees F. Also, I love the 302HP, but I love my R4P for many other reasons too! Thanks AMD, LOVE your videos!

[@UlfTurgeon]

Indeed. I have the new Prius Prime but the HVAC system is quite identical to the RAV4 and it kicks you out of EV mode at around 10 F. Fortunately we don't have that many days below 10 F here so I've been satisfied with my PHEV.

[@pbear216]

Actually, Toyota lies! The heat will not work below about 23°F in EV mode

[@flt528]

Yeah our experience is about 14F is where the engine will kick on if you turn the air heat on. It's not a big deal though - we put it in HV mode at the start of a trip on cold days (by "cold" I mean mid teens or colder) and run the regular heat and seat heaters until the cabin's not so cold, then we put it in EV and leave the seat heaters on.

[@jontanneguy4960]

​@pbear216 if you turn on the front defrost, it will kick the engine on. There is a defrost mode available by changing the vent outlet mode. It is weak but I find it does the trick. Edit: to be clear, the vehicle will stay in EV mode even down to temperatures of -10 Celsius. But the defrost button turns the engine on as the a/c for defrost will not function for moisture removal while the heat pump is operational.

[@pbear216]

@@jontanneguy4960 like I said, the heat pump will not work below 23° F in EV mode. Why bother with the defrost when you can simply switch to Hybrid mode?

[@ariso]

A PHEV with 60 miles of range pretty much eliminates the need for a BEV. Enough battery range for the commute of many, then you have the hybrid engine for busy days and longer trips. Zero range anxiety. As always, thanks for the insightful review!

[@kuyacruzraps]

Got to this channel because of getting a Corolla Hybrid SE 2024... staying on this channel because of how well you storytell and explain your topics. It's like a really good genuine preacher but for Cars, just the facts with kindness. Thankfully I'm in the Chicago area too, so I know where to go when I need help with my Hybrid in the hopefully far future lol.

[@truyentruong9015]

I dont know what you are talking about but going from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds is pretty awesome. And there are plenty who bought it for the 50 miles of all electric and for its speed and power. Catching up to and then exceeding the highway traffic from a dead stop to before the On Ramp ends is a luxury that most non sports car owners don't really have. To be able to pick your spots to merge in bc you can go faster or slow down to find that big space when everyone else is going 80 is something the reg Rav4 Hybrid can't do. So I am very glad that we have a safe reliable vehicle that not only gets us 50 mile of full electric but can also haul azz when we need to.

[@allandoyle5733]

Yep, I agree. I have a 2021 R4P here in Germany and 80-90 mph is quite normal cruising on the autobahn but the additional available acceleration from the battery at this speed is useful. The car will actually do nearly 125mph! EV-mode is useful around town. Charging on a regular German 230V AC plug takes about 8 hours. The only negative point is the placing of several buttons above my left knee (difficult to find when driving). This is my first Toyota but not my last.

[@User.Joshua]

Just purchased a 2024 Prius Prime XSE. It’s an incredible machine.

[@kevinsargent6282]

I’ve had my 2023 Prius Prime XSE Premium since last summer, and it is a real treat. Enjoy! The Toyota PHEV system (and conventional hybrid) is the best drivetrain on the market today, including most EV’s…. Toyota will absolutely crush the market when they get around to making a Sienna Prime. 😎

[@tameraburas7397]

You know what! I am not a fan of long videos, however, I completely watch your videos as it is rich, informative, and answering my questions triggering my mind during watching.

[@flt528]

We routinely get more than the specified 42 miles of range in our Rav4. In the summer we can get 55 miles. The big benefit that a lot of people overlook is the outstanding gas mileage after the EV-only range is depleted. Depending on driving style, we can get 45mpg.

[@pbear216]

There is absolutely no benefit over the Hybrid unless you use it as an electric vehicle only. Because it weighs so much more than the hybrid, it will never get even close to the hybrid's mileage in hybrid mode.

[@flt528]

Well, we use it as an electric vehicle only about 8 days out of 10. And on the days that we do burn gas, we rarely drive more than 60 miles, which means we burn maybe one quart of gasoline. That's a pretty darn big benefit.

[@obsidyenneg4333]

@flt528 55 miles (88 km). Wow. I was pleased with 77 km on a mild winter day. Looking forward to the summer.

[@jml9550]

@@flt528nice. We are Lexus only household for a long time. We test drove the Lexus NX450h+ and love it. But i wasn’t ready to write a $67k check on it. So we bought a NX350h non plug in at a more palatable $52k OTD.

[@flt528]

The stated fuel economy of the Hybrid is 38/41 mpg and the stated fuel economy of the Prime (in hybrid mode) is 38 mpg. In my experience, driving the Prime in hybrid mode averaging 55mph, I get around 40-45 mpg, and driving it at faster highway speeds like 65mph, I get around 38 mpg. So, "not even close to the hybrid's mileage" is not even close to accurate. The Prime weighs 545 pounds more than the hybrid.

[@762N8O]

The one and only time I disagree w AMD- many of us R4P owners DO love the additional pep and acceleration of this vehicle. It is a HOOT with the full 300+ hp.

[@slicksalmon6948]

I completely agree. It’s entirely different from the ICE and Hybrid versions of the same car. In fact, it’s quicker than my BMW X3. I was astonished when I drove it.

[@MrPeterJHarrison]

I bought my RAV4 Prime SE in November of 2021 from Bredemann Toyota. It's been a fantastic car. I've only had one concern, and you touched on it in your video; the charge port door got really loose. I had it replaced under warranty. If the door hinge gives out again I'll see if I can retrofit a better hinge mechanism instead of replacing the whole OEM charge port and door assembly. It's been a fantastic car but, yes, it is noisier than it should be. Taking the roof rails off helps a lot. I also took the time to install sound insulation in the doors -- I already had the doors opened up to replace the (cheap) factory speakers with nice JBL Club speakers -- and that helped block some of the road noise. Ideally, there really should still be more sound-dampening. One last thing. I am one of those people who drives in EV mode most of the time. I use so little gas that I stopped tanking up; these days I add 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 gallons to fill the tank halfway when it drops below 1/4 tank on the gauge. I visit a gas station about once every three months unless I go on a road trip. Most months there are one or two days where the RAV4 Prime's EV mode comes up short and I drive five or more miles on the freeway using gas. So my engine has very little of the start-stop, start-stop, start-stop cycling of a typical Hybrid. When the engine does come on, the engine runs long enough to come up to full temperature and evaporate the condensed water and gasoline from the system. Awesome car.

[@calokraine5901]

😂 buy/ splurge on a Lexus NX 450h if sound proofing is a concern

[@leoprdsoul1]

@@calokraine5901is it a plug in?

[@leoprdsoul1]

Looked it up …the 2025 model starts at $62k!,

[@eastonlee5102]

Stupid charge door design and location! The should have located it near the rear bumper similar to a trailer plug! Less is more......no need for such a large door!

[@scoot77777]

AMD you are my go to guy especially for the Plug in Hybrids! Absolutely enjoy your videos !

[@user-jy8ye4cn9r]

Love watching your videos. They are always so informative. You take the time to explain it in a way that anyone could understand it. Really look forward to them. Thank you for being so upfront and honest and sharing your knowledge

[@seagullsbtn]

There's a significant and irrational price pain point when comparing plug in RAV4 v Hybrid Rav 4.

[@garykinard7553]

Yeah, all the car companys are gouging with this so called green tech. You would have to have a degree from your local university in idiot to even think about this purchase.

[@laura-ann.0726]

The price difference is $12,000, most of which is to pay for the lithium battery (the Rav4 Hybrid uses a much less expensive NIMH battery). In all honesty, most owners will never save enough in gasoline cost with the Rav4 Prime to recover that $12,000, so you have to have other reasons to shell out the extra. The Prime has a more powerful MG2 motor (180 hp vs 120 hp in the Hybrid). And the big under-floor battery does lower the CG and help give the R4P a lot less body lean on twisty mountain roads. And replacing the Hybrid's NIMH battery if it fails after the end of the warranty will likely be a lot less expensive than a Prime battery replacement. For most people, the Rav4 Hybrid will cost less to own over the long haul, unless the price of gasoline skyrockets to $10/gallon for some reason, in which case the Prime's EV mode could be a life saver.

[@colin-nekritz]

The kicker is almost nobody does the math to find that they’re paying all these markups and price gouging for nothing. They irrationally think spending $10K+ more will save them $10K+ in gas. It won’t. Not even close. If with the RAV4 Prime they drove 10K miles a year at 40 MPG at $4 a gallon of gas that’s $1K in gas a year vs the normal RAV4 getting a respectable 30 MPG and $1,333, it would take someone 30 YEARS to make up the cost difference aka paying the green tax. It’s absolutely pointless to pay the green tax markup and a waste of money unless you’re rolling in it.

[@dmitripetrov5536]

​@colin-nekritz I was planned to buy hybrid car back in 2017 simply for saving on gas. I calculated many times about how much I can save on gas to cover $6000 difference higher than gas version (that time was higher, now not more than 3500) , because i am not driving more than 6000 mile each year , I could save and cover that 6000 dollars difference in about 10 years. For me best option is EV car or stuck with gasoline only car.

[@robertthomas9564]

@@laura-ann.0726 Thank Joe Biden for +$50K Rav4 Primes. Biden killed EV tax credits for all Toyotas in August 2022. Under Trump policies, I was able to get my Rav4 Prime for under $33K, cheaper than a Rav4 Hybrid. (Massachusetts also had a $1,500 PHEV rebate back then. Since eliminated by Democrat/Lesbian Governor Maura Healey).

[@davidearrigone9411]

It’s always a pleasure to watch your videos. Such a calm peace and really explain everything in details and mostly tell the true story

[@jerrylitzza8842]

I have a 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE with PP. Best way to drive this car is if your going to exceed 40-45 MPH or Highway, then run Hybrid. Drive city streets in EV mode. Loudness has never been an issue for me. Take the roof racks off. Easy. 80 mile battery would have been better. Charge Mode is NOT economcal. BUT Regen can really recharge the battery.

[@robertthomas9564]

Regen is amazing. On the way home from skiing, we add 5 miles ev range for every 10 miles we come down the mountain.

[@CarnivoryHODL]

Was hoping/praying for a Sienna plug-in hybrid. Maybe in 2030.. 😂 Did just take an order for a ‘24 Sienna XLE for the Summer. Excited! Will 100% keep filters clean. 😎

[@nw1018]

Please please please Toyota make a plug in sienna

[@wiljolley3143]

Fellow Rav4 owner (2018 LE 2wheel drive) Great car with 6 speed actual gears, manual emergency brake, In Artic White, It stills turns heads (when washed lol) Thanks for such a detailed video and for the time to took to inform us.

[@manowerapitiya1471]

Hi AMD, I have been enjoying your channel for about 6 months. YES, I am a avid TOYOTA owner. Started with a 2010 Camry, then on to 2019 Highlander XLE-3rd Row 7 passenger. This vehicle is a beauty. All my friend who see the interior are jealous of my ownership. A little heavy on gas V-6 but a beautiful vehicle. We just got back from visiting Japan 2 weeks ago. I was astonished of TOYOTA 's presence in the vehicle market. 80% of the Taxis are TOYOTA, 60% Hybrids and the rest are the old CROWNS gas engines. Leather interior and so comfortable to ride in. HYBIRD technology has taken over. The highest selling brand is TOYOTA / LEXUS 60% of the market. Next is MAZDA then NISSAN, MITSUBISHI, SUBARU and HONDA. Toyota has other sub brands like DIHATSU and DYNA , the Airport Taxis are TownAce and ToyoAce very comfortable Luxury people movers. TOYOTA has their own city in Japan, in Aichi Prefecture. They have about 19 assembly plants. MAZDA has their HQ in Hiroshima. MAZDA is an emerging producer of reliable quality vehicles. Maybe we should visit all of them as a 'Care Care Nut' group 😂. Beautiful people and country to visit, very respectful and honest population. Very hard workers 10-12 hours daily. Pride in their history is passed on to the younger generation. Only drawback is once you leave the major cities, English is seldom spoken. What's your feedback. Congrats and best wishes. 🏆🙏🚘Mano.

[@SabreLeonheart]

I love my Prius Prime 24 ❤ Best car I've ever driven. As you say good sir, "This is a very nice place to be."™

[@sergiugirnet7540]

I want to say that you are the most knowledgeable and professional mechanic I've ever watched and followed. Nobody ever explained so detailed the electromechanical part. Very much appreciated. Keep the good work.

[@thelabarchitect]

We wanted a Rav 4 prime since it was first released. Only recently did we have a chance to get it. I searched different models like the BZ4X and this video by you sealed the deal! As a mechanic you helped me tremendously with the decision. On Saturday we got one! You are awesome and thank you so much! The vehicle is amazing 🤩

[@heatherschandera8403]

one one guy on Reddit it had his 2020 RAV4 hybrid sold it for new car at 470k miles everything was all original engine hybrid battery everything even seats looked brand new great little suv by dad has a 2023 RAV4 hybrid with 47k miles drives 800 miles a week for sales and life time total mpg is 46.6 it has been a great suv still has 80% of brakes left to just oil change and air filters also we change the oil every 5k miles like care car nut said and keep the car in like new condition wipe down the engine and keep the car in great condition rav4 hybrid is a very good suv

[@dperreno]

Loving my Chevy Volt - first to the PHEV game (ahead of Toyota!) My 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid is still going strong as well. No problems with the powertrain/EV system at all.

[@Nyu0005]

I tried to get one of these. Dealers told me 3 year wait list and $5k mark up. Forced me to consider the Lexus Rx450H+ / Nx450H+ which is also 1 year wait. But I agree, these are more practical in USA than EVs.

[@mustangthings]

3 year wait list 😂

[@CHESVADS]

In 2021, anywhere near me who had any, had $10,000 markup. I found mine in 2021, no markup, at msrp, so it was worth it at the time, to buy a one-way flight to get it, and drive it home. Flight and motel stays a lot less then $10,000!

[@DwayneFuhlhage]

Thanks for the comprehensive and honest assessment. We're still driving a 2012 Chevy Volt that gets plugged in every night to cover my wife's short commute. I'm still waiting for the holy grail modern PHEV that doesn't have the noise and harshness that the first gen Volt got with its awful four cylinder engine. Toyota has my loyalty on the reliability side. Give me a quiet cabin and this would be our next 10-15 year car.

[@jsanders299]

It’s not as loud as he makes it sound. Take off the rack, close the panoramic roof shade. This would crush your volt in every way, fear not! Buy a R4P!

[@kens2623]

My Rav 4 Prime is great! I am able to charge it while my solar panels are active during the day, free energy. At 80 % I have 36 - 38 miles. I live in a Rural area and it's about 10 miles to town and back. When my Primes charged miles get below 20 miles I fire up the engine and drive it home in HB mode. That happens once or twice a week at 40 mpg soit fits me fine...

[@danielrowe5413]

CarCareNut, my input from driving my 21 Rav4 Prime SE Weather Package edition for 55K miles since new: 1. Range typically is closer to 45 miles electric. It saves a lot of time at the pump 2. It is a fast car, you're right that no one cares - everyone buys this for reliability and efficiency. 3. My charge door broke within the first couple months, I'm not sure what happened, dealer fixed it under warranty. It is flimsy. 4. Dealer recommended 10k oil change intervals. However, oil appears pretty dirty after 5k miles. After the 50k service package ended I've started changing at 5k miles, just changed yesterday using Toyota filter and oil. 5. Mine doesn't have a panaromic moon roof but it does have cross bars and a regular moon roof. I consider this a very quiet car, nearly as quiet as my last car - 2010 Lexus 450h. 6. I tow a small utility and small pop up camper trailer with mine a lot, added 1.5" Eibach lift/ heavy duty springs, and it does quite nicely. Uhaul installed 4/7 light plug ins. 7. Thing glues to the road in snow and ice in trail mode. Amazing. Cons: 1. Rear hatch area doesn't have enough lighting. I've added aftermarket hatch lights to fix this, why doesn't toyota do this from the factory? 2. Tires seem to wear out fast, not sure why this is? 3. Mine has the slower 3.3kw charger. I have a Gizzlee level 2 charger and it charges this in about 4 hours. Wish I had the 6.6kg charger. 4. Infotainment system kinda sucks: slow and sometimes glitchy. 5. Still haven't figured out how to schedule my charging - haven't cared enough to figure it out. ***6. Fuel tank has never been able to fill to full. I've only ever had 400 mile gas range. Most gas I've ever put in on empty was 10 gallons. Toyota hasn't wanted to fix this. Do you have suggestions on how to get Toyota to fix this fuel capacity issue as the fuel capacity should be 4 gallons more and closer to 600 miles?

[@azerogliev6520]

You wear out tires because prime is 545 pounds heavier than regular hybrid. Also, my regular hybrid has close to 600 mile range constanlty. I drive a lot of highway trips and regular hybrid gets noticably better mpg on highway. Seats in regular hybrid are much more comfy than in prime. AMD is correct.

[@raggs2007]

In 2022 I wanted to buy a Rav4 Prime. I wanted to take advantage of the old $7500 EV credit before it expired. Worst car shopping experience in my life. There were hardly any to be found due to low production of them and those few dealers that had one marked them up so much as to wipe out the benefit of the tax credit. I have been a long time owner of Toyota's and still own one but I am no longer a Toyota fan and definitely hate dealerships. If Toyota wanted to be serious they should just make one hybrid type and that should be Primes. Don't dangle and bait your loyal customers.

[@flt528]

That sucks. We bought a '22 and none of the dealers around us (called all 12 or so dealers within 100 miles in upstate ny) were marking them up - all charged MSRP. We had to wait 3 months because we insisted on getting an SE in the color we wanted. Great car.

[@simplereef4854]

Totally disagree. My wife hates Plugged in hybrid car, she strongly prefers regular car or regular hybrid car. We do not even care about the $7500 incentive for the Prime, and we never wish to buy that type of car.

[@mauriciogarcia4190]

They were really screwing people those first few years… I feel awful as someone who is only now becoming interested in buying one and seeing them for $2k under MSRP in a couple local dealers via the SmartPath shopping tool on the Toyota website. With the current $6500 credit being used as a down payment for the lease, it’s actually cheaper monthly than a lower trim finance calculation for non-prime models. After doing hours of research this vehicle is a no brainer at the moment.

[@rogerpullin8997]

I drove a Rav4 Hybrid a few weeks ago, we have a Sienna Hybrid and the wife wanted something smaller, it was too small. We got another Sienna, great car.

[@palpatov]

You have made a perfect argument against prime configuration - engines deteriorate when not run regularly. Hybrid make a lot more sense for an in between solution

[@DrRick-dq4bb]

I just run my Rav4 Prime in sport mode once in a while to keep the internal combustion engine in good shape.

[@palpatov]

Sure, and that takes planning. The argument the CCN was using against full EVs was that those require some level of planning for the long distance trips. Same as this. Hybrids OTOH do not require any additional effort whatsoever. Which may explain why the formula did not get wide adoption

[@vinr6867]

Used Rav4 Primes are going for $33k+, at those prices i would just get a regular hybrid or a Lexus 300ES hybrid

[@robmalcolm8042]

True but then you get potentially less reliability and premium gas ain't cheap

[@davidglad]

It seems the main advantage of PHEVs is the tax credits (where eligible) or other manufacturer incentives. Regular hybrids sound awesome enough, but PHEV seems a California or other big city concept: meant to curb pollutants within a big city/metro, but otherwise.. Also them being harder/pricier to get makes everybody else do their research

[@wutaboutthemravens]

Another great review from AMD! Hilarious so many people competed to see who could get the first comments in on this 41-min long video without watching the video. Sad, very sad!

[@ambivertical]

I enjoyed this as a blessed owner of a 2023 xse model. Ty for ur expertise CCN. God bless ya

[@bme7491]

2012 Prius Plug-In hybrid with 150,000 miles....still running like a Swiss watch. Only normal "wear and tear" maintenance needed so far. However, I paid a premium since it was the first year for the plug-in hybrid......$40K out the door.

[@AB-jk7tw]

Love the channel AMD and I agree with you that PHEV vehicles make perfect sense if you can charge at home but if you travel long distances or can’t charge at home, the added complexities, costs and compromises of a PHEV simply don’t make sense to me compared to regular hybrid vehicles.

[@jml9550]

Yep, if you can’t charge at home or don’t have free charging at work, just get the standard hybrid.

[@PeterWilson-dg4hs]

Completely agree with all that you are saying about how to use the EV and ordinary hybrid modes. We have a Prius Prime and have a personal philosophy of deliberately foring the engine on every so often so as to use all the fuel in the tank within 3 months to avoid it becoming stale. The main difference with that philosophy and what you may do with a normal hybrid is how much fuel you buy at any one time. For normal commuting useage we only ever buy $20 worth at a time. That makes $80 per year for commuting and everyday shopping use. We only ever fill it when we want to go on a trip. Otherwise we spend about $300 a year on electricity to give us 10,000 to 12,000 kms a year.

[@visceralpsyche]

Outstanding in-depth review! Am contemplating this exact car here in Japan (they only sell one trim here which seems to be the equivalent of XSE) so your review came along at the opportune time :) Also, your video quality with this review has taken a huge step up so well done (from a professional cinematographer) :D

[@michaelbrenner6862]

Your videos are great! You love your job and it shows.

[@michaels9595]

I was going to background watch this, but i couldn't help but sit and listen great information and breakdown. Good on ya for putting the shortfalls about trims and cabin noise on blast. Hope Toyota is listening.

[@walter772]

Fantastic review! Thank You!

[@phatpinoy23]

I could listen to this man all day.

[@bo4130]

As one of the RAV4 prime owner I got say, I do care about the 5.4 seconds 0-60 time. That’s one of the reason that I was even considering a RAV4 from the beginning

[@marcinmazur2990]

Same story here, I was aiming for a reasonable family car, but you just can not argue with its instant acceleration

[@calokraine5901]

😂 Murricanz are obsessed with gadgets from Japan and China 🇨🇳 😅

[@henryhonda8408]

@@tooltime9260 I couldn't agree more with you! I have a new Prime on order and when I get it I know for sure I won't be checking the crazy acceleration as it's the last reason I'm buying it for. I presently have an XSE hybrid & during my 4 years of ownership it's ALWAYS been in ECO mode as this is the reason I bought it for....... GREAT gas mileage.

[@markstreeter9920]

@@henryhonda8408 It's not that fast anyway, Tesla model 3 performance is a good benchmark for what fast starts at. Just fast enough to give you the tunnel vision like an amusement park ride. I had a Tesla and now a prime and the prime is definitely not fast, but far more practical.

[@louisebrown2887]

They were taking about rust between body panels causing problems with the hybrids

[@normanprice2310]

I've had a 2017 Chevy Volt since new. Over 50K miles and not one problem. Love it. Routinely gets 50 to 60 miles on battery and 45 MPG when engine kicks in.

[@dhrivnak59]

We have a 2021 RAV4 Prime and a Tesla Model 3. The reason for the Prime is to tow our camper and for that use case it does quite well. Most long trips we average over 30mpg and can easily tackle the highest passes in the Rockies with ease. But when not towing we take the Tesla a much more refined and integrated car in our opinion.

[@kybruce1]

What an excellent video and explanation of the technology! We have had our Outlander PHEV (2023) for two months. Absolutely love it. Driving about 80% on EV. Last week we took an 800 mile trip and averaged 26 mpg. Not bad, not great. But it is a trip we will make twice a year. Getting a used one also avoided the high sticker price ($51k) and dealer mark ups that are common with R4P, not so much with Outlander. You're my favorite car review channel

[@azerogliev6520]

I get 41mpg combined for 2 months I own a rav4 hybrid. On a highway trip I got 47mpg. Almost twice as much as your Outlander.

[@Nate_G_SD]

The markup in my area is more than a Model Y. I rented a Model Y, road tripped it 3,500 miles round trip and there’s no range anxiety, navigation tells you exactly where to go. Autopilot made the ride extremely comfortable. I love my 21 Sienna hybrid. Toyota’s powertrain is bulletproof.

[@XX-166]

That model Y isn’t worth what it was by far the day it was bought.. all part of Elons wet dream gone wrong and let’s not talk about the fit and finish and quality issues or waiting to charge multiple times while driving long distances.

[@krash3231]

@@XX-166depends on situation but yeah. I’m sure in some parts of the country it’s a pain. Knoxville has tons of chargers and hardly anyone uses them, only long trip I make in it is to Atlanta and back, and Chattanooga has plenty of chargers as a halfway point between the two. I never charge beyond 80% or dip below 20% to conserve the battery, and that trip I never even get close to 20%, more like 50%

[@XX-166]

@@krash3231 batteries deteriorate based upon the environmental elements and the cycles. The worth is pitiful and ELON hasn’t shown any customer loyalty by placing a huge amount of buyers with loans completely upside down by lowering the prices consistently and drastically to entice buyers. I’ll consider a hybrid before all electric just based upon the ability to complete longer distances without stopping consistently while still being able to use my air conditioning and heating

[@DocMicrowave]

@@XX-166 I'll not forget anytime soon those nightmarish images of dozens of Tesla's piled up and abandoned around dead chargers during a few days of harsh winter a couple months ago in Chicago. Not to mention numerous disabled Tesla's being towed off the roads in the extreme cold.

[@XX-166]

@@DocMicrowave not just Chicago.. it was everywhere on the nation that the cold showed up .. definitely an eye opener when those owners were all stuck trying to find an Uber at the same time in a dead garbage can that wouldn’t charge an or no chargers working.

[@Bulbachar]

Thank you for this video! You made my choice between all electric and PEV so much easier.

[@jontanneguy4960]

Thing is a beast in the snow with the right tires. Winter range does suck but gassing up is simple and everywhere.

[@djsg143]

It's under the radar because of low availability and high markups. PHEVs should not be unobtainable. Also hybrid technology seems to be aimed at compromise and not performance. It would increase adoption if performance was a priority. The powertain in the Prime is really good and others should copy this page and try it out in hatchbacks and CUVs.

[@piperpilot26]

I'm sure with the current technology, performance and efficiency can be blended in a way. But the average. Joe isn't really looking for performance. We're looking for affordability and efficiency tied with reliability.

[@burntnougat5341]

Bmw 330e is skewed toward performance. One of the few performance hybrids that isn't NSX priced

[@djsg143]

@@burntnougat5341 Agreed...kind of a boat though.

[@burntnougat5341]

@@djsg143 that's the price for luxury and hybrid

[@jimharrington7532]

Best Mechanic and channel on KZbin...You are the best of the best!!!

[@melissasmess2773]

Scotty Kilmer is the best. You’re welcome.

[@AlbertEinswine]

@@melissasmess2773 BS

[@gavinsteven2157]

Here in Uk, I have had a Rav4 PHEV for last 15 months and I love it. Charge from solar pv in summer cost zero, and in winter, yes 40 miles is a good figure. However, the self charge function is superb. Every 6 weeks or so I do a round trip of ~700miles and just switch the Self Charge on when on the motorway. I then have 40 miles of EV running around town. Definately recommend it as it it is the best Rav4 I have had. This is my 3rd, last being an Icon diesel that I changed out at 100k miles.

[@tiempoespacial6996]

Excellent presentation, thank you. I just bought the latest RAV4 Prime in Lyon, France. Really happy 🙂

[@jfscotch]

Another great and in depth review!

[@willoverkill8461]

It'd be a better car if you could get one lol Toyota salesman said "just forget we even sell it"

[@Irishmanbikes]

Overall, this is an excellent video. I learned a lot and I told my sister, Missy, who bought a RAV4 Prime SE new in 2023 to watch it.

[@andreasmichel8420]

I wanted one of these RAV4 hybrids. Had my name on the waiting list for 2 years with a deposit for bot a regular hybrid and a plug in. Still no car, so I cancelled and got my money back. Decided to get a non -hybrid corolla cross. No issues.

[@adeleferguson663]

Where do you live? I’m in the US, drove into the same dealership that I bought my last two RAV4’s from, and had my choice of five 2024 RAV4 Primes XSE . This was last week. I picked up my brand new 2024 today. She’s a beauty!

[@robertcrouse2411]

I have a 2021 Prime, I only get 5 gallons of gas at a time and use Sta-bil fuel additive as I may go 4 or 5 weeks between fuel purchases. I drive 80 to 100 miles about once a month to be sure to use the engine and warm up the oil and exhaust system. I try to only charge about 30 to 35 miles except when I plan on using the max range. Once the dealer free oil changes stop I will change the oil myself based on a monthly cycle rather than millage as the engine run time is so little. Love the SUV

[@888Longball]

In colder Canadian cities, parking lots have block heaters that can be used as a level 1 charger.

[@danielbliss1988]

Some Minnesota ones too. Tower up in the far northeast has block heater outlets all along its main street.

[@netwilk]

The charge mode is great if you need battery power for 120V outlet while camping, or need to go into area where you must use EV mode. Otherwise leave it in HV mode, as it's more efficient than charge mode.

[@andrewmiller9826]

Incredible review, laid out perfectly, a gem of a video.

[@sasakurtovic6850]

Hi! Nice summary and I like a lot of what you said. Here in Norway we have more trim options for the plug-in version. I feel you missed out on one detail when it comes to the regular usage of this model. Average fuel consumption of the prime(as it's called there in the USA) is lower than of the regular hybrid. It uses the stronger electric motors and the bigge r battery as an advantage. If you compare regular hybrids average of 5-6l/100km, the prime would use 4-5l/100km. When utilized optimally, on a long trip it can be as low as 3l/100km. A trip of 600km (300km each way) used 2.8l/100km when I measured it. Mostly steady 100-110km/h on the highway and some city driving. Charging mode increases it to 6l/100km when used. Also, the electric heating (heat exchangers) are ineffective below -10°C so the heating doesn't really work well without the petrol engine. But if you just turn on HV mode for a second and switch back to EV, the engine will continue to run a heating cycle and give heat, while driving goes electrically. 😊

[@thetuskers1]

Thanks lot of this overview. I am currently driving a Hyundai Ioniq self charging hybrid and am looking at a new vehicle in the short -term. One question I have is how effective is the hybrid mode in case I am unable to plug in all the time, does the hybrid mode recharge the battery quickly enough to get a good economy? Thanks a lot in case you would be able to share your thoughts! Right now in the Ioniq the consumption hovers around 4.8 to 5.2 combined.. but it's a smaller car and not high powered as well..

[@coloradoboo1071]

In 2021, I sold my old Scion and really wanted a prime but availability was not there. I had to wait almost 8-weeks for my AWD Prius but she’s amazing…55-75 MPG.

[@Ghostmanriding]

I bought the Tucson awd Limited. Great ride, super quiet, 10 year warranty.

[@dipro001]

That LS in the background was what had my eyes throughout the WHOLE video. What a beauty.

[@2pdlpwr]

I'm impressed, except the 20,000 dollar premium over a regular hybrid.... If I could drive in electric all the time. It would take 5 yrs of 3,600 dollars a year for gas before I break even. Why does the 18.5kwh battery cost 20,000 dollars? More than a 75kwh Tesla battery.... .

[@krash3231]

Import costs; prime is made in Japan, all other models including regular hybrid is built in the USA

[@MrRaitzi]

You pay for optionality of use, Japan quality and 10 year warranty.

[@pbear216]

It's not $20k, only $12k, and it used to be eligible for $7500EV credit.

[@zoltanzahony2520]

Plus: have you considered the higher resale price?

[@flt528]

You're comparing the cheapest Rav4 Hybrid to the most expensive Rav4 Prime. The like-for-like comparison is $12k difference, and when we bought ours, we couldn't see any reason why anyone would want the Prime XSE instead of the SE.

[@larrybenson902]

We have the hybrid - love it. Almost got the Prime but no chargers at my office building. The dealer wants to change the oil every 10k , thanks to the Car Care Nut - I told them, every 5000 I'll pay for the ones in between the Toyota care 10 intervals.

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

9:20 I care about how quick the Prime is. Most hybrids are gutless but you can pass anyone, going uphill, in a Rav4 Prime. I love mine and the speed and power are some of my top reasons why.

[@Sunset4Semaphores]

Rav4 Primes are unicorns! Good luck finding one!

[@bigbert2508]

Not anymore. 200 in Boston area

[@robertthomas9564]

@@bigbert2508 That's because Joe Biden & Maura Healey killed the incentives. No more $7,500 Federal Tax Credit and no more Massachusetts MOREV $1,500 rebate. I got my RAV4 Prime for under $33K under Trump era policies. I hope you all enjoy those $52,000 Rav4 Primes brought to you by Bidenomics.

[@williamlocascio8946]

I wish the RAV4 had up/down seat adjustments on the passenger side. You have to go to a Venza to get that.

[@johnmartin7158]

The limited does.

[@mastrtonberry2]

For anyone considering a plug in hybrid, my insurance cost through State Farm for my 2017 Prius Prime is $148 a month for full coverage. My 2022 4Runner TRD Off Road is $93. I'm told that the difference is due to market repair costs of electric vehicles. On the other hand, I have a 20 mile round trip to work every day and have saved thousands upon thousands in fuel costs, but that insurance...

[@markorodriguez1277]

My 2005 Lexus it’s made in Japan!! No rust the paint still looks pretty good 👍

[@errolbeckford1835]

Love the channel i learn alot ❤

[@corpnupe85]

Please don't get trapped into using 'Clickbait' titles. You are too good for that.

[@DocMicrowave]

I have had a 2022 Prime XSE for a couple years now. It has been amazing. The best of both worlds for my use. My daily commute is less than 35 miles round trip. Fully charges over night from a 110 outlet. Weekend trips around town also generallt fall under 40 miles. Weeks can go by without using a drop of gas. 2 or 3 months can go by before a fill up on gas. I take my family on road trips a few times a year. Up and down the east coast, with the longest trip being well over 2000 miles round trip. No worries about finding a gas station along i95. No range anxiety. I run Electric for the first 40 miles. Then hybrid for nearly the entire trip. Turn on the battery charge mode for last 200 miles or so on the highway. Then go all electric when I reach the destination town. It has worked very well so far. Best car I've ever owned.

[@laraoneal7284]

Ty for keeping us informed.

[@Matan365]

I love your videos. I always liked RAV4, and was considering one, took it for a test drive on a freeway, it was so loud and noisy that I said no this is not for me sorry.

[@dtna]

I agree. We don't need all that crap. TMNA PPD and TMC need to rethink how they determine the packing of the vehicle options. More options = more profitability for the corporation and the dealers. 😢

[@manowerapitiya1471]

AMD, Being an Ex-Mercedes Benz / VW Mechanic myself, I really enjoy your sincere evaluation of of machinery. I remember working on 1974 -79 - TOYOTA Corolla and Tercel's. Having small hands I was the only one in the shop who could access starters, ignition coils and other items. Technology has taken over now and its hard to trouble shoot problems by yourself. But I know what the causes are and try and rely on OBD2 readings. Good luck and best wishes. 🌹🚘 Mano.

[@goranjurkovic6796]

Low 5s to 60 and high 13 seconds quarter mile makes it really exciting and dynamic. There are really small amount of cars on the road that would smoke rav4 prime on a traffic light.

[@YukonHawk1]

I can't wait until Toyota starts production on the solid state batteries!!

[@josepharmato8032]

My friend, the Rav 4 Prime isn’t flying under the radar. That car is highly sought after. Last I heard, the waiting list and price were very unappealing.