2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Ownership - Do We Still Like It & What's Next?

Last November, our host, Sofyan took delivery of a 2021 #ToyotaRAV4Prime. Nearly 6 months later, he gives us his take on what it's been like to live with the #RAV4Prime. The #RAV4 #Prime is designed to be the best version of the RAV4 family with 302 HP, up to 42 miles on electric only range, and lots of premium features if you spring for the fully loaded XSE trim with the Premium package.
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[@theredline]

While a Mach E GT is already ordered, what do you think Sofyan should replace the RAV4 Prime with next? It needs to be a BEV or PHEV.

[@rainthier9532]

Maybe check out some Volvo PHEVs

[@KirkKreifels]

Sofyan, looks like you need to upgrade to a Taycan Turbo S 🏁😎⚡

[@mision503elsalvador7]

Of course replace it

[@theredline]

@Kirk Kreifels Tempting! But a wee bit too expensive 😂

[@SkyRL25]

you think you'll miss the Tesla supercharger?

[@charlesvonhusen3064]

Going on 2 years with my Rav 4 XSE PRIME still loving it

[@autonewstv86]

This is the car I will definitely get if I can use a couple of my Bed, Bath and Beyond 20% off coupons at Toyota dealer.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Those do expire you know.

[@nayj.5718]

Not in the store!

[@KevinTkt14]

I can't wait to use my Toyota discount from working there to buy one, plus the 7500 tax rebate, too good to pass up. We're test driving ours later today.

[@theexmann]

You can only use one coupon at a time. LOL!

[@twentythree7889]

*_Nice channel, but his laugh is ANNOYING sorry !!!_* 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@gengstar09]

For a guy who reviewed/owned pretty exotic cars, seeing you in the RAV4 is so nice and gives you a more a relatable influencer demeanor.

[@rishabhluthra6328]

Lol listen what he says in the end

[@sergiobanks274]

We say this to him all the time, he doesn't really care lol.

[@eganfo]

But he’s not keeping it. The MachE!! Good choice. I saw one on the highway this weekend, they look nice in the wild.

[@naveenthemachine]

@@shanejoseph8132 he hates Toyota but says Honda or the Koreans are far better choices than any Toyota or Lexus. (Unless they are stupid fast which most aren’t)

[@naveenthemachine]

@@sergiobanks274 not just him. Even outlets like motortrend or car and driver really really look down at how bad Toyota is for just about every vehicle they put out and say it’s uncompetitive in just about every way

[@InvestBetter.]

Reasons to get the Rav4 Prime 1. With tax credit, considerably less expensive than a Model Y 2. Removes range anxiety with 40 MPG hybrid gas engine 3. Accelerates like an EV, in either all EV mode or full power mode. 4. Small battery means recharging is much quicker than a full EV 5. Made by Toyota, so you have peace of mind for durability, quality and strong resale If you want one vehicle to do it all, and do it well, this is your ride.

[@joe1071]

Yeah, love my Toyota reliability. Even when they're broken they still work 🤣

[@justin26981]

There is no range anxieties with a Tesla.

[@InvestBetter.]

@@justin26981 Whatever helps you sleep at night.

[@gabeeskridge8291]

​@@justin26981Tesla is garbage on wheels. Toyota will wipe them out soon.

[@honestycounts9352]

I also ordered a 2021 RAV4 Prime. It should arrive some time around 2050.

[@nayj.5718]

😆

[@yggdrasil9039]

Yep we are waiting for the RAV4 and Prius Prime to be made available in Australia. Reliable sources indicate that they should be available around 2050 too.

[@marylynnhippe971]

🤣

[@AutomobileGeeks]

😂😂

[@Al3xTrucho20]

Might wait a little longer since they closed the plants in Ontario where they're being built due to Covid.

[@andreleiva5165]

I decided to go with the SE prime and I love it. The upgrades really werent needed for my lifestyle and my car has been a dream. Full electric still makes 0 sense for the amount I drive and I don’t want to wait for recharge times on a full electric vehicle. I think Toyota is on the right path!

[@SquidandCatAdventures]

In Canada, it seems like it doesn't have any sunroof or moon roof. I've got a Prius V and the double moon roof is one of the things I really love just for the natural light coming in (even though they don't actually open).

[@DUNGSTA]

Xse is more sexy

[@nighttimestalker]

I think they did the right thing giving it an option for electric and hybrid. I drive 16ish miles to work through a city. So id go hybrid. But have to hit the interstate on some days for school. Since that's a straight 18 mile shot, id use the electric mode

[@sonyfxi]

Any regrets? Did you buy the 6.6kw on board charging option?

[@andreleiva5165]

@@sonyfxi I sold mine.I think a regular hybrid xse is just as good and half the price. I think dealers are over charging for this and it doesn’t justify what you get for it. I would rarely end up plugging it in and mainly drove it as a hybrid and I averaged 42 mpg when I had it

[@ejohnson3131]

I don’t think this is just a “stepping stone”. I think it’s the best of both worlds. You can drive around and do your errands or commute to work on electric only, but you don’t have to worry about range going on road trips. But whatever, you’re the “car expert”.

[@jasonbenfante6110]

$50k purchase price - $7.5k Federal incentive - $1.5k NYS incentive = 1 dope RAV4 for the same value as a regular hybrid with a lot less tech and 85 less grin power. Add the fact that it’s resale doesn’t factor in the available $9k Groupon we got and presto... Maybe one of the only mainstream vehicles on the planet that actually appreciates after its driven (quietly) off the lot.

[@jenia231]

Hello Sofyan, I think it is important to reiterate, the the choice between EV and PHEV is mainly in the driving pattern / distance you go and the climate. If most of the driving is city and in warm climate, EV will work great. But if you need to get out of the city regularly, cover 400-600 miles in a day every so often, especially in a colder climate, there is no alternative to a good PHEV. I've been stuck in winter mountains because the highway would be closed due to an accident and heavy snow fall - an in all those instanmces an EV would have been a disastrous experience.

[@ivaniuk123]

100 percent agree

[@ivaniuk123]

@thekevincurry country side maybe. Most people live in the cities but those that live out in the middle of nowhere could be driving a good distance. But they aren't city folks so screw them right 🫠

[@LordWaterBottle]

@@thekevincurry because people think they are on the ends of the bell curve, not the middle.

[@kellyfontes7757]

The difference is practical or virtual signaling.

[@usmantariq7997]

My day to day drive usually crosses 60 miles. It's amazing it takes you a whole week to reach only 40.

[@heysogo]

Well when you don’t live in the real world and work from home filming yourself all day you probably don’t have to drive very far for life’s essentials. But for us “peasants” that have normal jobs that don’t pay enough to live in the wealthy areas nearby we have to drive 45 min-1hr to work everyday.

[@blake031299]

@@heysogo did you even read what he said

[@Cleanyourearsbro]

@@heysogo oh the self pitty...

[@Papeeshka]

I would not want to have an electric car that doesn’t have a gas engine to back up my range. As someone from earthquake country out here in Cali, you have to be able to get in your car and move quickly and maybe far in the event of an earthquake or a major fire!!! What do you think the charging points would be like if everyone is trying to leave LA at the same time? Nightmarish!

[@aleshiacote-young9962]

This is why I’m afraid to go full on electric within the next 10 years…

[@faikerdogan2802]

I meannn that's a little fantasy scenario

[@AichElle]

I agree. I live in Canada and the closest city to us is 82km ( about 50 miles) away so we need both and don’t see us ever getting away from gas not to mention how much electricity winter sucks out of those cars. My town in the winter in a Tesla grave yard

[@Superfastjellyfish669]

The point of getting a plug in hybrid like the prime is not having to worry about the battery running out or worry about having to charge it every night

[@vaughntruesdell7408]

The point of buying one with a gas engine is you don’t worry about it running out. You never have to plug in over night because it’s still a hybrid that will charge while driving if you use it that way. The plug is another level of an option

[@Superfastjellyfish669]

@@vaughntruesdell7408 yeah that’s the point yet he doesn’t seem to understand that

[@SquidandCatAdventures]

I like doing camping road trips and I don't want to have to stress about finding enough charging spots and get caught out.

[@AbzAden]

@@vaughntruesdell7408 exactly it’s weird how he doesn’t get it saying the engine is noisy and not needed 40 miles electric is all I need...and u don’t need to charge it every night too

[@SuperJestar]

That's right. No battery anxiety as in "Am I going to make it to the next Chargepoint?". Tesla buyers also buy the R4P for that very reason.

[@rjohns25]

My husband and I have a 2021 RAV4 Hybrid and we use it to carry kayaks, fishing poles and cargo boxes because we do a lot outdoors - hybrid seems to be the best way to go for a RAV ❤️❤️❤️

[@JS-qi1ou]

I don't know I'd take the 8-speed and the TV-AWD limited over the hybrids.

[@Ecuador006]

@@JS-qi1ou i would go with Sh-awd instead

[@JS-qi1ou]

@@Ecuador006 if only I liked Acura, I may go that route in the future

[@payrocoin]

This is totally off topic but, man, the houses over there are gorgeous! I also LOVE how far apart they are from each other so you're not shaking your neighbor's hand through your bathroom window.

[@widowmaker7428]

😂😂😂😂

[@widowmaker7428]

Wash your hands before & after you shake😂😂😂

[@widowmaker7428]

Wipe before you shake too btw😑

[@springer-qb4dv]

"how often do you drive more than 30 miles?" A LOT! As someone who was super excited for EV revolution when Nissan Leaf came out in 2010, EVs are still too inconvenient for long distance trips and rapid refill/recharge. And for that, Rav4 prime beat all the pure EVs out there.

[@skimonkey5855]

simple - it's not for u!

[@mostmost1]

I felt that way also. Why even buy an expensive car and you don't drive over 30 miles a day? Especially a Tesla.

[@twentythree7889]

*_Nice channel, but his laugh is ANNOYING sorry !!!_* 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@dadgameit7677]

Same. I do about 60 to 80 miles a day.

[@staticclutch9932]

Lmao ikr especially in the majority of Canada where you have to drive more then that just to get to a town lmao

[@gazzyT644]

Your audio is off, left channel only.

[@danek893]

First I thought my headphones is broken...😅

[@Nkovic10]

Omg same

[@PlusBones]

It's tripping me up

[@AYouTubeChannelwithNoName]

Just go to settings and adjust the L/R balance

[@Transit_my-way]

I thought I was the only one. I was thinking my headphones were broken 😄

[@ltkwok]

I had a plug in with 21 mile EV range, drove 12k miles a year and got gas once a month (vs. twice before) so I saved 50% on gas. The Chevy Volt (40 ev miles) owners get gas 4 times a year. So I would expect the Rav4 Prime would be about the same. 4/24 = 16% or you would save 84% of the gas. Pretty good without going full EV.

[@chaff5]

I think the reasoning of having enough real world battery charge is exactly why I would get this over a full EV car. If it has enough to get me around day to day then I don't need to lose the gas option. A full EV car is stuck on it range and reaching a charger on longer trips. Plug in hybrids are kind of the best of both worlds; when I go to work or run errands, I'm on battery and I just need to remember to plug it in everyday or every other day. Then if I decide to take a longer trip like visiting family or just a weekend over to the next down, I have gas. I think the flexibility is worth it.

[@betzie2]

I got the SE version last week! After having a 14 year old RAV4 that was super reliable and fast, this one is a great step up for me! I got the metallic gray…very classy looking. Enjoyed your video!

[@RabidNemo]

Still happy with it? I just had the catalytic converter stolen off my 2007 Prius and I'm pretty much done at this point. Time for a new car

[@betzie2]

@@RabidNemo yes! I love mine so far. The best part is getting in the car everyday with a full tank of gas. Have not filled up yet. Quiet, powerful and fun tp drive

[@seanplace8192]

I made the decision a while ago that my next vehicle would be a fully electric one. I already have a PHEV, a 2014 Volt... But then along comes the RAV4 Prime and it's tempting me to stick with a PHEV.

[@pdd3]

8:06 Lugging around the gas powertrain feels like a waste because you can drive on battery alone most of the time. However, on the flip side, you're able to accomplish this with a battery that is about 5 times smaller than one you'll find on an equivalent no-compromise EV. So there's "waste" either way. -- Excellent review!

[@annemoltchanoff5280]

I have one and love it. Fast. AWD. Comfy. Carries a lot. Charges fully overnight. Seats collapse down and can sleep in it. I do notice the range issue he mentioned where it comes down pretty dramatically when high speed long distance freeway driving. Only issue is the handling is not great. But this is the first SUV I’ve owned so perhaps that is how they are. I love coming home and plugging it in but glad I did not yet get an all electric car as where I go often there is no charger available. I have had it since last September, lucked out, and have only seen two others in that entire time. With the electric car rebate it gets this pup pretty close to the hybrid cost. That is depending on the premium you pay….

[@ashwinreddy6702]

With rear seats collapsing down, can you sleep comfortably?

[@annemoltchanoff5280]

@@ashwinreddy6702 yes but i am not tall. I know someone that has one and is tall, he added something between the back seat and front for that.

[@dlg5485]

I'm either going to buy this Rav4 Prime XSE or a new F150 hybrid at the end of the year. They're obviously not in the same class, but I plan to own both vehicles eventually, the PHEV for daily driving and the truck for utility/camping/travel. I think I'll probably buy the truck this year and hold off on the Rav4 because I think Toyota can and will improve upon it, over the next few years. Great update on the Rav4!

[@RAY-THE-WAY]

Minds well buy both haha

[@rtdrtd123321]

@Potato they are doing a tundra EV not Tacacoma?

[@andreleiva5165]

F150 or new tundra 100%

[@JIMvc2]

I have a RAV4 hybrid 2020. Honestly, saves me a lot of money. Average mpg 42+ on both city and highway. Most of my commute is highway and when I get stuck on traffic. The car just goes straight to the battery.

[@rambo4war]

Best to use a fuel stabilizer if your going 5 months with out a fill up. Gas turns to gum and goo over time and will clog up injectors and other things if ur not cycling thru fuel.

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

Does the stabilizer change the combustion characteristics and the engine performance?

[@theMLBfan]

If that backup sound becomes mandated then I really hope they start making it sound better.

[@shivamarya5225]

its kinda like alarm sounds tho, no matter how much of a soothing tone you choose, it'll always become annoying when you listen to it for long

[@updlate4756]

If it's anything like the Volt, you can't really hear it from inside the cabin.

[@SuperJestar]

I have so many people looking at my R4P when I'm backing up and know they're thinking "What's wrong with that thing?". At the same time I'm thinking "Is my car singing?".

[@rsewill12]

@@shivamarya5225 It’s supposed to be annoying enough that pedestrians will take note of it. Notice how loud the backup alarm is on big construction trucks.

[@brokenSnake]

It's meant to sound like something is wrong so people pay attention when you're backing up

[@watchmeconquer9236]

I remember when you had the Honda Fit & Acura ILX lol... u came a long way 😅

[@janinamedina2715]

Your reviews are the only reviews I trust. They are so thorough and honest.

[@miguelnavarro4307]

For me it is this channel and also Raiti’s Rides. The only two I’ll watch.

[@davidmrobson113]

I got my Toyota Rav4 Prime ESX. It is a great Rav4 and makes me smile every time I get in the Rav4. I live in Texas.

[@juliestepp7404]

Thank you for your review. I’m on my 2nd RAV4 now which is a hybrid. You are convincing me to purchase this and your options package are what I would buy too. I 110% agree with you that their phone integration as screen apps/quality are WAY behind. I was hoping that after another 5 years they would get it better.

[@timp1293]

Owner of a Tesla here. I am interested in the RAV4 Prime because, let’s face it, EVs are still very limited in range. My Tesla has 350mi range, but once the battery is below 20%, I begin to get warning of low charge and need to recharge asap, or the battery may be damaged. On the other end, Tesla recommends you only charge to 80% for battery longevity, even though you can charge to 100% on long trips. So with these factors, the actual range for normal driving is only 60% of 350mi before you have to recharge. This is more often than I want. With 600mi on the RAV4 Prime, this is no longer a concern.

[@ajjax89]

Cyber orange!!!!!! Its different and stands out more!!! That shade of blue is everywhere

[@rsenior7140]

five months and only 1,600 miles? Might want to actually drive it a bit before an ownership review.

[@qqqwark]

Well said!

[@ytj22]

Might be wise to burn a bit of gas once in a while too. Fill up slightly more often.

[@barackblows1942]

How do you know how many miles are on the gas engine if you drive mainly it as an EV?

[@updlate4756]

​@@ytj22 Can't speak for the RAV4, but the Volt has a pressurized tank that extends the fuel life. I typically only keep about 1-2 gallons in the tank. Just enough for emergencies. If I know I'll be taking a longer trip, I'll fill it up with enough gas for the trip either at the start of the trip, or sometime 1-2 weeks ahead of time.

[@updlate4756]

Life in the time of COVID. I've only driven my Volt 500 miles since November. Only used about .25 gallons or so. Once to warm up the engine for my first oil change after 2 years of ownership. Another time for a trip that barely exceeded the EV range.

[@markaruski]

What you start talking about at the 6:42 mark is very much like the Chevy Volt ownership experience. Mostly all-electric driving, very relaxing and big minimization of gas usage. But if you want to go on a long trip, it's easy--just use some gas. You're now having the revelation that most Chevy Volt owners have had. A PHEV really works for me and has minimized my gasoline purchasing significantly.

[@gregwatson8246]

Just imagine if Chevy had enough sense to put the outstanding Volt powertrain into a compact SUV like this. Volt Prime !! It’s too bad that most people don’t “get it”, the Volt was amazing

[@FlyingNDriving]

It's a damn shame chevy royally screwed up with the marketing of the Volt and then only made it worse with the volt/bolt name confusion (volt with a Veeee)

[@markaruski]

@@gregwatson8246 Good point! If Toyota is selling a 'Voltec'-type Rav4 and can't keep them in stock, what happened w/ Chevy?! Too bad, I really like my Gen1 Chevy Volt. I hope Chevy comes around on this someday.

[@raiden000]

i called a dealer and ordered my prime today! they mostly laughed the whole process, i must be very funny! im sure ill get my prime very soon!

[@cassondratakemoto7185]

Sofyan, first off I love all your reviews. You are very knowledgeable and detailed in your reviews. Thank you. Also if your family members don't want your Rav4 Prime, my father would buy it from you in a heart beat! He has been on the list for a while. He is being told the color Red will be hard to get. But I am serious, if your family members don't want it please contact me. Thanks.

[@tr7287]

Saw one this color in person today and it looks so good I had to keep looking at it.

[@Weyoun359]

I will patiently wait for the Camry TRD Prime 😁

[@davidgapp1457]

First. It is nearly impossible to buy this car unless you live in the States with zero emissions regulations. So, living in Arizona, there are NO Rav4 Primes available. I'm told that situation won't change until at least 2022. Consequently I phoned around for out-of-State purchase. The typical dealer in LA and San Diego wanted a $10,000 mark-up AND you had to buy a bunch of unwanted extras including a car alarm (which my HOA specifically forbids). I finally secured one with 'only' a $5,000 mark-up. My recommendation? Until electric vehicles come with a 15 minute recharge time and at least a 400 mile range, I'd probably recommend the Hyundai Tuscon Hybrid. More power, in actual use better mileage and a lower price. The Prime is, for most of America, just a magical unicorn.

[@dannggg]

I’ve been looking at this car. This is the best review on it. Thank you for this awesome review.

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

0:16 its interesting to see that whirring noise discussed, them Tesla cars be sounding like an Alien Spaceship hovering. Great review man

[@Jonny8859]

my left ear enjoyed this video.

[@general_klinger6847]

I thought it was just me.

[@taymus13]

Thank you so much for this break down. I'm currently looking at the prime for my first personally car purchase and first hybrid. I haven't been able to test drive one yet so getting to hear your learnings and those little quirks that one can't get from a test drive is really informative and helpful. I personally have a long commute for work so hearing how the city and highway drives compare is a big deal for me.

[@anthonylavelle7229]

Thanks for the update, good to hear. I have had mine for almost 3 months and really enjoying it. Orange seems like a stand out color for your new vehicle, hope you enjoy the new one and not miss the old one ;-) Cheers

[@rontreen3278]

Yeah that orange is a standout color but... It stands out for the cops too so watch your speed I guess and blending in traffic?

[@goodhearted]

You CAN lock and unlock your car with the Toyota app. Just long press on the app icon on the home screen and the option to lock and unlock does come up.

[@michaelpupko2724]

I didn't know you live in Pennsylvania! I am about a half hour south of Wilkes-Barre. You do an excellent job at what you do here. Thank you and keep up the good work! Beautiful car by the way

[@Divetech2]

We have a 2021 RAV4 hybrid. We love this fun hybrid and are getting 46 mpg around town and flat highway driving. We own the Prius hybrid for 8 years and never any service issues. The RAV4 is so much more than the Prius.

[@CarMojo]

2am at my place. wanted to go to bed... not gonna happen for 21 more minutes. thx Sofyan ;)

[@theredline]

You're welcome ;)

[@armandoramos1949]

It's so nice to see and watch your video again. Thanks for the update, I am sure this will help alot of people considering this particular vehicle. More power to you and your channel. Have a wonderful day.

[@snacking5908]

That rav4 really is a good looking car

[@lnguyen2690]

Thz for the video on RAV4 prime. I have a hard time finding for test drive any EV which is available, not mention buying in Texas after cov19. Your video is very detail informative. Keep up the good work.

[@trk8908]

All your videos are so informative - many thanks. A question on EV batteries. Let's say I charge it up on Monday but don't drive it until Thursday. Will it still be at 100% on Thursday? Is there a difference between charge decay in summer vs. winter?

[@tgr.4550]

I hope that you get an answer to your question

[@leblancexplores]

Toyota has some UX issues I would love you to compare against competitors. 1. Rain sensing wipers are binary 2. Car turns off when you remote start it and open door 3. If car is on you can’t unlock or lock it from the key either via fob or handle 4. To open the rear hatch via the button you have to make sure the doors are unlocked 5. The auto birds eye camera feature when at low speeds can be annoying and there’s no “close” button for it All that said I think the drivetrain is superbly engineered.

[@chm2]

I called a dealership inquiring about a RAV4 Prime. They wanted 60k... 10k over sticker. I was shocked at that number...

[@theredline]

It's nuts, especially if you're after the one we have with the Premium package.

[@gazzyT644]

Buy a model Y, it's cheaper.

[@cb9137]

Demand sure seems high

[@sotelo1919]

Go to Costco auto

[@blackwhirlwind1245]

For 60K, I would rather get a MDX if the dealer is willing to sell at MSRP.

[@tatsumakisempyukaku]

I’m a practical person. As such, the rav models have always appealed to me. The only thing is upgrading your home plug- in, gotta find out how much that is. Plus, I’d never go full ev. Our body’s can use fats and carbs for energy. Which to me, means you don’t want all your eggs in one basket. I don’t like the idea of relying on just on gas or just on electric. I like that you can go either or do both.

[@tamchau829]

Thanks for the sharing! I really love the RAV 4 prime. I will wait until they offer Toyota RAV4 Prime with Solid state battery comes out to get more EV range (hopefully 200 plus miles).

[@dosomething6776]

How is the ride? The regular rav4 hybrid is not a great ride

[@mavericky1543]

RAV4 prime, the car that offers great performance, mileage, etc...And just like GPU’s, no one can get one.

[@nczioox1116]

Is it that much better than the XLE or XSE hybrid?

[@MAGICSIX]

Love your videos! Would you choose this over the 2022 Tuscan? I lost my car in the recent flooding in NYC, so looking for an SUV. Any suggestions are welcome!

[@IamJay02]

I hope toyota puts this hybrid system in the new sienna. It definitely needs the extra power and torque.

[@TobyCostaRica]

It’s already in the Sienna/Highlander. It just needs the battery.

[@juucedmari7305]

My commute to work is 45 miles one way I live in Georgia so the fact it has a 500+ mile range makes it well worth the Engine being there

[@AutoGuyVideos]

I will get me one of these RAV4 primes until other EVs are more reliable and improve battery range I drive too many long distances at this point. Thanks for your insightful videos! I have a Prius prime with over 120k and is super reliable.

[@rammanohar8161]

A regular hybrid would better suit your needs

[@Ryezn5057]

@@rammanohar8161 your mean the rav 4 hybrid?

[@rammanohar8161]

@@Ryezn5057 yah or any other hybrid, not a plug in.

[@Ryezn5057]

@@rammanohar8161 yeah I'm thinking the same. Although I might just wait a few years until they sort out plug-in evs.

[@graceburford2398]

How much do owners end up replacing tires with all those burnouts and weight and torque?? The biggest barrier for most people after cost is the range; a lot of Americans have quite the daily commute and we love our road trips! The interior looks like it is a bit cramped on head room but maybe that's just the sunroof surround. On a practical level, I'd love to see how various car seats fit in the new RAV4s.

[@letsgocapsbeatpens]

@Redline Reviews You may want to put a fuel stabilizer in the gas tank if you’re not using the gas engine. Last thing you want is bad gas gumming up the gas engine.

[@AK-rx6hv]

It's a closed system, why would fuel go bad?

[@Kburd-wr6dq]

@@AK-rx6hv oxidation

[@eddiekowalczyk8151]

How much did your electric bill has gone up due to charging?? I lived in p.a few 25 yrs and there electric company ppl prices are not that cheap anymore....Thank you for your knowledge!!

[@Sylvan_dB]

The battery is about 18kwh. Call it 20kwh for easier math. U.S. average electric cost is 10cents/kwh. A full charge would cost $2.00.

[@laura-ann.0726]

When driving city streets, my 2019 Prius Prime goes around 35 miles on it's 8 kw/hr battery, much better than the 25 miles it's rated for. At freeway speeds, this does drop to around 25 miles. But the reviewer is correct: Toyota does rate the range of these PHEV's conservatively. If you keep a light foot on the accelerator pedal and try to take maximum advantage of regen braking by not driving aggressively, you can indeed exceed Toyota's rated battery range numbers by a substantial amount. I am currently on the wait list for a Rav4 Prime.

[@a.joseph4233]

So the car is driving in fully electric mode for the first 40 miles irregardless of the speed at which you are going? Or do you first have to select the EV mode first? Thanks

[@Fakeaorta]

There is a dial that lets you switch between the three different modes. Full electric/Hybrid/Gas.

[@a.joseph4233]

@@Fakeaorta Okay...thanks for helping.

[@aniganti5559]

Audio only on left channel, made me think my headphones broke haha

[@jdbaker82]

I'm really happy I watched your review of this car. Great job.

[@ilimit]

We need a bigger car for our growing family. Been holding off for as long as possible, but the prime looks very promising for a start- up Dad mobile. 50k for the XSE is $$$$ !!

[@hayes40oz]

Yea that’s my problem. $50k is a lot for a Rav 4. You could get a few nice luxury cars for that price.

[@DUNGSTA]

Better get a sienna

[@PikMan214]

how much did the electricity cost? was it cheaper than gas?

[@ericko5148]

Toyota killed it with this one 👏👏👏

[@imranshariff9335]

Thanks for this review. I think there will be a large part of the market for the hybrid electric vehicle for people who want the middle ground. I have a 2020 Volvo XC60 Polestar. It has a 22 mile range. When fully charged and a full gas of tank you can get a range of over 520 miles. My driving is mixed highway and city. I can go to work and back only on the battery power. The torque is amazing in Polestar mode and the brake regen is more efficient in Polestar mode. I changed my home plug to a 220 volt to charge in about 3 hrs. Didn't need an upgraded charger. You can also charge the battery at the expense of fuel. I enjoy going down hills and city traffic because you can regen the battery quicker.

[@VuongNguyen-tc4fj]

I just bought a Pacifica plug in hybrid, 800 miles just 3 weeks 😅

[@DUNGSTA]

Lol shouldn't you keep that to yourself?

[@markbajek2541]

Wow and you can live in the back if you want.

[@AutoMatters]

I have got the exact same vehicle as you, including the color, but no roof rack. It is perfect for my driving needs in San Diego. When I run errands I typically do most of my driving in EV mode, with a very few miles in hybrid mode. I also drive to Anaheim, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, so having an easily refueled gas engine vehicle means that I never have to stop my trip for long. I like the safety features - especially lane keeping assist. I may never use the all wheel drive, but it is nice to know that it is there if I should need it. My only complaint is that the Owners Manual says that snow chains may not be fitted to the Prime. I had been waiting for such a vehicle to replace my plug-in Prius for a long time. Now I have the EV range that I need to meet my around-town needs, quick recharging and lots of luggage capacity for trips.

[@updlate4756]

Drives me nuts when reviewers portray PHEVs as a "stepping stone" rather than as a viable alternative to ICEs, HEVs, and BEVs. They're a reasonable and viable solution for reducing fuel and maintenance costs and dealing with high vehicle emissions. Comparable BEVs typically cost more than PHEVs even after larger government subsidies. We also have battery cell supply constraints, so we can't build enough BEVs to make a dent in emissions until battery cell production is expanded. The more cell resources concentrated into BEVs instead of HEVs/PHEVs, the fewer electrified vehicles we get, the more pure ICEs will continue to be sold every year. PHEVs often have battery capacities 1/4th to 1/5th the size of the packs in BEVs, so you can effectively build 4-5x more of them given the limited cell supply, leading to faster reductions in global personal transportation based emissions. As to lugging around the gas engine... that's the same thing that happens with BEVs. You lug around a much larger battery than you need for daily trips. The extra battery capacity is equivalent to a range extending engine. The associated maintenance of the gas engine in a PHEV is much less than in an ICE car, but a bit more than a BEV with oil changes and engine air filters; but periods between maintenance are longer than a pure ICE car. Sure, you can avoid the extra maintenance with a BEV, but you're paying extra to buy the vehicle. For road trips, fuel costs for DC fast charging aren't much cheaper than gasoline on road trips. (if at all) It can be less convenient too. For daily driving, charging at home will give you a very similar fuel savings as a BEV. For those that work outside the range of a PHEV, if you can convince your employer to add a charger, then you can effectively double the daily EV range of the vehicle.

[@crazykenbei]

Cause the EV mode will get you hooked and you eventually will want more range..and where can you get that? Electric. Less cars from the road will save the planet quicker. Pushing more work from home can achieve the emission goals way quicker haha but most of these car companies don't care about that as it doesn't make them money l

[@updlate4756]

​@@crazykenbei PHEVs are electric. I've owned a PHEV for 3.5 years now and never felt the need for more electric range. My Volt's gets 53 miles, which is higher than most PHEVs. I'm sitting at around 90-95% electric miles, with the overwhelming majority of my gas miles from constant speed highway driving where ICE performance isn't an issue. If society had concentrated on PHEVs instead of BEVs, OEMs would have built a much larger variety of vehicles and range options that are right sized according to customers' daily commuting needs. Personally, I could get by with a 25-30 mile range; most days I arrive home with 25-30 miles of available range remaining. With workplace charging, even L1 (simple 110V plugs), it can effectively double a PHEV's daily range. A 20 mile PHEV suddenly becomes 40 miles. A 40 mile PHEV suddenly becomes 80 miles. PHEVs aren't gas replacers, they're gas reducers, and as long as people are properly educated on what they are and what they should expect, people can absolutely improve their lives, vehicle TCO, and carbon footprint through the use of PHEVs. They're a significant improvement over ICEVs. Sure, it's human nature to want more .. and more... AND MORE... Humans are selfish, which is exactly what's gotten us into our current environmental position. IMO, BEVs should have never been a choice, or at the very least, should have come with a significant price premium. Most people have the very bad habit of doing what's best for themselves, rather than what's best for all of us. As an environmentalist, I agree that new cars aren't the ultimate answer. Society should be doing everything we can to reduce the amount of miles people drive. More telecommuting, 4 day work weeks, protected bike lanes, public transit, carbon tax, etc... While personal vehicles are being produced and sold though, PHEVs are the best overall choice for the environment. You're responding to my comment from a year ago. I've been making the same argument for about 5 years now, and the argument has held up the entire time. PHEVs are the better use of battery resources, are more affordable, we can build more of them, reduce emissions faster with them, and they require no new fast charging infrastructure. In 15-20 years, maybe BEVs will make more sense, and by then, battery chemistries will improve to have higher densities with fewer resources, they'll charge faster requiring new state of the art fast charging equipment (replacing all of the infrastructure being added today), they'll last longer, they'll be safer, and they'll use more abundant raw materials. Meanwhile, in 15-20 years, PHEVs will be hitting end of life, and we can recycle all of their batteries back into their core components and produce new state of the art batteries with them. BEVs were rushed, and frankly, they've been a terrible solution to climate issues. They're too slow to make a big enough impact. WAY too slow

[@FYMASMD]

I have a 2021 le. I regularly get 38-41 mpg on the highway. And high 20’’ in the city. Paid 29k new. That said, 20k more for the prime makes no sense. I like knowing I can get in it and drive cross country tomorrow without waiting for anything. Have 50k on it already and it’s been bulletproof.

[@updlate4756]

Loads of things could be improved in this vehicle in comparison to a BEV company like Tesla... but keep in mind that Toyota simply hasn't sold enough electric vehicles to warrant adding a bunch of full time developers yet. Not to mention the RAV4's MSRP is $11k less than a model Y. After credit, the base version costs over $18,000 less than a base model Y.

[@g1981c]

the sound is all the way to the left and somewhat quiet as well. definitely could use some work. especially that sound when you back up the car - i wouldn't even hear it if i didn't have it on my own car and knew what it sounds like.

[@jtmoney091]

You are my favorite car reviewer. Been watching you for years. This was an awesome video.

[@geekane9462]

I soooo want this car!!! Excellent video quality. The clearest of any video Ive ever seen here. What are you using?

[@Kim-SCUSA]

I always appreciate your comments about the cabin noise. Really helps me with decisions.

[@BroVCam]

The Internet is somewhat buzzing of a GR Rav4 performance variant. Can you research and post a vid on it? I sure hope Yota is working with Gazoo Racing on one! I would be all in on buying one! Thanks Sofyan!!!

[@traviswymenga8766]

I understand your feelings on the gas engine, I avoid it as much as possible. I went from being very hesitant to EV to wanting just EV. And I’m at 1 tank for 2800 kms 😊 Dealership also added a $2k surcharge 😡

[@GREG_T-v9n]

Helpful review thanks. Debating on a used rav prime or phev Crosstrek. I like the rav prime but it's sort of too big so not sure yet.

[@OPC249]

I swear all the mach-e cars are parked at whole foods

[@attackroflchopter4403]

If true I'm surprised the yuppies are buying Fords. Probably to be ironic or some silly shit.

[@bobmiller6543]

You mentioned having tested the Volvo XC60 recharge t8 which didn’t impress you. Now there is a midcycle refresh with the battery pack increased to a 18.7 kWh battery with a 32 mile range and a rear electric motor delivering 142 hp with a total hp rating of 455 hp with 0-60 of 4.5 seconds. Highway driving in pure mode is said to be quite satisfying and the calibration for one pedal driving is described as excellent. Once this car arrives in the USA the first quarter of 2022 you might try to get ahold of one to do a review.

[@TylerMonroe15]

Can you please do a review on the 2021 Mazda CX-5 carbon edition

[@hummadmalik]

Excellent review, I have a request can you please make a comparison video of the Honda safety sense (CR-V) vs Toyota safety sense (RAV4).

[@hereigoagain5050]

Dang! I was feeling smug in my RAV4 XSE Hybrid.

[@theredline]

Still a great looking SUV and even the regular hybrid model is very impressive! Much better than the gas only RAV4.

[@DUNGSTA]

Makes soccer moms so envious...

[@CandycaneBeyond]

I got some good Michelin tires for my Prius prime and I don't get the squeaking. They hug the road and stop better. the ones that come with the car are more gas efficient, but not worth losing safety

[@carbrickscity]

Now let's see how soon he sells his Mach E lol

[@naveenthemachine]

It’s very fast and since he’s super obsessed with fast cars and power he probably will keep it forever haha.

[@sushivision]

@@naveenthemachine nah. He sold his model 3. Not gonna be forever. Maybe 6 months to a year.

[@bartsakowski6012]

I think what makes this special is that it doesn't go out of it's way to be special. If plugin hybrids and electric vehicles are going to gain more of a foothold on the market, they need to feel like regular cars that just happen to have a battery. This is probably the best example of that. Capable, still relatively achievable for non-luxury consumers, and more of an appliance that a show-off car.

[@jackamick]

1600 miles in 5 months?! My Prime literally has 16000. 😅

[@97I30T]

He gets so many press cars that he barely drives his personal vehicles.

[@lukespack]

That is much more reasonable. This is just a toy for Sofyan.

[@turboman2019]

I put 5480 miles on my Y Performance in 101 days of ownership...

[@PoopyButthole]

Anything you agree or disagree with after driving yours for 14,000 miles more than this reviewers?

[@TheJohnp1984]

I was thinking the same

[@darkhorse2reign]

I would love to see two changes: Downgrade the engine to something like 2.2 liter or maybe even 2.0 for weight savings (what about 1.8?) and update the software to allow 95% battery usage. Why? Battery replacement isn't as big a deal as it used to be and the tech in a few more years will make things much cheaper to replace or even upgrade. ... other than that the beauty of a plug in hybrid with nice range is that you get so much FLEXIBILITY with so little downside at either end of the electric or the fuel. I've owned a PHEV since 2015 and purchased two other regular hybrids and I use them all for making money. I'm still in love with the PHEV.

[@mugensamurai]

I kinda feel sad that this is the fastest Toyota made product right now. Awesome car and perfect for all of life's duties but not exactly what we all lusted for when we were younger.

[@patricklin6177]

I think the GR Yaris is not counted.

[@roostertailspice2482]

@@patricklin6177 You're on a US channel Europe and Asian doesn't count.

[@TWARDOWSKY.]

Thx, can you please tell, unfortunately nobody can tell this, what is the fuel consumption but on full range 600miles, wenn the battery are full charged in Auto Hybrid mode?

[@Ryan57Garr]

I would love a Camry XSE prime with similar performance and range. I’m partial to sedans.

[@CristianHernandez-jk7lw]

Prius Prime

[@anchorenthusiast]

@@CristianHernandez-jk7lw good point, but then you’d have to drive a Prius ;)

[@markbajek2541]

Maybe a Corolla prime

[@goldfamily6852]

A guy who owns a Tesla and a Porsche and decided to get rid of it for a Rav4 is something I personally don’t understand. If I can afford it I will forever keep it.