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

[@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.

[@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!

[@billurban1581]

I had a PHEV with a 22 mile battery. For a full year it averaged 58 mpg, and $13 a month to charge the battery. My last ICE averaged 29.7 mpg, so a worthwhile improvement. Nothing wrong with driving 60 miles and burning 38 miles worth of gas. I now have a PHEV with a 41 mile battery, ~80% of miles are on battery.

[@benson098123]

if Battery tech gets to a light weight 60 mile battery hybrid that would be the perfect vehicle for me

[@llavero5]

That's not exactly true, if you've seen the video you'll know that you should use the combustion engine so it doesn't break down, and do oil changes anyway if it's not in use. Therefore, a large battery in a PHEV is not necessary.

[@theexmann]

@@llavero5 It's recommended you use the gas in the tank within 6 months anyway so it's not an issue. You'll use the gas engine enough so that it keeps running great. Toyota recommended service includes oil changes.

[@theantiqueactionfigure]

I would need to put Stabil in this car.

[@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.

[@pauld3327]

He is also the most honest one

[@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

[@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

[@GaryHolt-t3s]

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?

[@GaryHolt-t3s]

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.

[@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.

[@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 👍

[@Dbb27]

That doesn’t make sense. Even if he got it in 2019 he wouldn’t have had it until the summer. So 4.5 years would be 100,000 miles a year or 1,937 miles every week. That’s a lot of driving. Maybe it’s used for a business?

[@XAVargasX0206]

100k miles a year, I call bs 😂

[@michelrea2403]

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

[@philippecasteleyn9327]

And it excels in repetition.

[@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.

[@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 ? 😂

[@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.

[@MikeKayK]

@@williammurphy6104 That was a fun read, thanks 😂

[@shinyredcobra]

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

[@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.

[@edportelli777]

Can you put this cover on a earlier model if you purchase it​@pauljoseph7565

[@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.

[@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.

[@Pooky1973]

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

[@Pooky1973]

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]

@@Pooky1973 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.

[@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.

[@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...

[@DylanTheDriver]

As an owner of a RAV4 Prime, the best thing to do for efficiency is to use EV mode around town in stop and go traffic, and then once on the interstate cruising at highway speed put the car in HV mode (Hybrid Vehicle Mode). This will save your EV range and operate the car as a typical hybrid. Also, instead of not charging the car to force the engine to run you can just select HV mode, and even if the battery is fully charged it will remain fully charged for as long as you’re in HV mode. This great feature allows you to decide when and where you want to be in EV mode to maximize your range and efficiency. All EV’s are extremely inefficient at highway speed, so it’s much more beneficial to be in HV mode and run the engine on the highway. Then, when you get off the highway you have plenty of EV range for stop and go traffic. I easily get about 50 miles of EV range in my Prime, and for me and most people that is more than enough range for everyday use. However, when you are traveling long distances the same car that you can commute with using EV mode exclusively is capable of 550+ miles or more before you have to stop and fill up.

[@TomLawlor-iq6gm]

We have a 2024 Prius Prime. With summer temperatures the car has given us huge EV range. Our best so far was 91Km (56.87 M), but with 6% SOC left. The battery would have taken us to 100Km (62.5 M), or very close to. However, it seems we can't drive in Hybrid Mode until the Traction Battery is exhausted. The only time (with a full, or partial charge), the engine will start is if we are zooming down one of the many steep, long hills around here and slap the shifter into Engine Brake. And even that appears to be dependant on speed and ambient temperature. So, is the RAV Prime somehow different.

[@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!

[@TIRASTEPHENS]

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

[@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 🤩

[@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.

[@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.

[@scoot77777]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@DJ_Megahertz]

I’m so glad you brought up the fact that you live in the mountains. I am in the same situation and I’m wondering if when I go back the mountain can I run exclusively on battery or is it going to struggle and forced the engine to come on? In other words will I even benefit on electric only after I get down the mountain and start to go back up? I understand that it will deplete much quicker, but can it run exclusive electric as you’re going up a mountain at least for the initial I’m guessing 10 miles?

[@thetrampit]

@@DJ_Megahertz If you live on top, and you start your trip going downhill, it would be a waste of energy charging it at 100%. The rate it charges downhill depends also on how steep it is. If you have to "ride the brakes" the charge will be so powerful that the system will limit the charge after a few minutes - even if the batterry is low on charge. But is you can go downhill without touching the brakes (mostly), it will happily charge ay 100%, and it will take 30 minutes to fully charge a flat battery. Starting downhill (like I do, living in the valley, I make sure to use 1% per km I climb, so that I have enough space in the battery to recharge coming back down. The car will climb easily on EV mode, but I tend to use EV on slow-flat sections and HV when I have to power up a climb. The battery can provide 60kWh of maximum power, but at that rate it will delplete in 10 minutes.

[@DJ_Megahertz]

@@thetrampit understood I realize that it will deplete the battery quickly, but I just wanted to make sure that I could run exclusively on EV with a 6% grade elevation change from 6000 feet to 9000 feet. I realize I’ll probably eventually have to go with gas near the end, but I just wanted to make sure it would even work at all exclusively on EV with that type of a climb. Thank you for confirming

[@thetrampit]

@@DJ_Megahertz If you do go ahead in buying a PHEV Toyota, keep in mind that the car will continue to use EV mode when you decide to switch to HV mode, at least for the first minute, when the ICE is warming up. The software will not allow ICE to give power when cold (below 40 C). This is true also if you deplete the battery: 1-100% on the display corresponds to 15-85% of real capacity. This protects the battery and allows the car to behave like a read hybrid even with --% (it will not show 0%). I would strongly reccomend buying a spare, simple, Android phone and, paired with a good OBD dongle, and software like Torque or Hybrid Assistant (I use the latter) to monitor info that the car will not tell you (Temperature (I have ICE, Motor, Inverter) RPM, Power from ICE and battery, Etc.).

[@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!

[@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."™

[@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!

[@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?

[@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…

[@dipro001]

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

[@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).

[@henryhonda8408]

I'm picking up my new Rav4 XSE Prime on friday after waiting 7 months for it. I'm trading in my Rav4 XSE hybrid. To say I'm excited is a total understatement!! Especially after watching this very informative video from the best Toyota mechanic on the planet! God bless you! ❤❤❤

[@mehomuiki3886]

So how satisfied are you? Is it worth it over the hybrid?

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@roncaster2804]

@@CHESVADS Where did you find it?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@burnx45]

@@slicksalmon6948 Exactly why I want to get the Prime, more power is better with 302hp.

[@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

[@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. 😎

[@ax4178]

The word incredible means "not credible". Like incompetant. Or incoherant.

[@User.Joshua]

@@ax4178 so you’re just an alternative facts kinda fella, huh? It must suck to be a miserable goon all the time. Seriously though, cheer up, bud!

[@bookoobeans]

That's only one of the meanings. Another usage is to mean "amazing" or "extraordinary." Also, I find it incredible that you're correcting someone's spelling

[@bookoobeans]

.... When yours is incompetEnt

[@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.

[@SAS9092]

I’ve had my 2017 since Nov 2016 and have over 71,000 miles - 11,000 on gas the rest battery. I’ve only had two dealer covered visits and the oil changed four times & the tires changed once. Best car of the twenty two cars I’ve owned (that included 3 Toyota Highlanders, Infinity J20, a Subaru Outback. I enjoy driving it every time I get in the car!

[@ibiro868]

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

[@CarnivoryHODL]

Same!

[@henryhonda8408]

Same here also

[@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.

[@phatpinoy23]

I could listen to this man all day.

[@f1mikeyboy]

I am a Toyota owner, and have been for many many years. Currently driving a Rav 4 hybrid. I do find that Toyota can work on making their cars quieter. There is no reason, wind, road and engine noise, can’t be lessened. Thanks for the review.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@geraldsmith3423]

I would agree, till I turned on my hearing aid, the road noise. I have a 2024 CR-v 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

[@ahalhalahalhal9701]

​@@melissasmess2773 hes old ass can't fix anything

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@ambivertical]

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

[@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.

[@CatoAleksanderNyquist]

Best car review i ever seen… much better to listen to a mechanic than a seller

[@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.

[@Andrea33301]

Funny you should mention the flimsy charging port. I broke it on the 2021 model and the dealer was kind enough to repair it under warranty. 34K on it now and still drives like a dream. Thanks Ahmed for taking the time to make these videos!

[@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.

[@ax4178]

Why do you heat a block?

[@888Longball]

​@@ax4178because in extreme cold, your oil gets thick and is harder to start. A block heater helps.

[@barkmaker]

I just bought one and don't think the price point was bad for what I got. There were others that offered more features but it's Toyota's dedication to reliability and gas mileage that got the extra bucks from me. That and they hold they value insanely.

[@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

[@rolandbaranov3546]

Thank you for another great video. We got our 2023 Rav4 Prime primum package in October 2023 after 18 months waiting, we love it and don't regret our decision to wait for, by now we have 4200 miles on it and have used 35 gallons of gasoline (120 miles per gallon) There are many things we like about the car, I will mention what Toyota should improve 1: The PWS (pedestrian warning system) it is super loud and annoying compared to other EV cars, especially during reverse since the speaker is located in the front traying to warn people behind the car, Toyota could have easily placed a rear speaker connected to the backup lights. 2: It is nice having the seat to adjust to my/her presets by just having the right key fob but what about the side mirrors, you have to adjust them manually every time. 3: The lighting in the cargo area is very deficient, an LED strip under the cargo cover could make a huge difference 4: Charging schedule need an upgrade, my most expensive electricity is between 5PM and 8PM, I should be able to set the program to stop charging before XX time and resume charging after XX time. 5: Toyota advise services/oil changes based on mileages and not on how many hours the engine had run, unless you keep a record of gallons used it is pretty hard to know, if I continuo driving like now I will reach 6000 miles having used 50 gal, a regular Rav4 (30mpg) will have done 1500mile with that same amount of gasoline. I think plug in hybrid are the way to go for now, a bigger battery capacity will always be greatly appreciated, thanks Toyota.

[@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

[@JFS-b8x]

8:10 i agree with you whole heartedly here. I work for a toyota dealership, and i can confirm toyota does not believe in Electric Vehicles, and they rather sell PHEV/HEV/High efficiency gasoline powered vehicles (Corolla, camry, etc.) for a multitude of reasons. Toyota actually sent out a newsletter to dealers with that statement about their cars. They care about their customers & their employees.

[@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..

[@SpencerRasi]

Thanks!

[@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.

[@jackrobbins963]

I drive a 1999 Camry, made in Japan. My late wife drove a 2008 Hybrid Highlander, also made in Japan. Both feel great.

[@Bulbachar]

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

[@vins1521]

As always, a great video, thanks for sharing your talents with us. I have a 2023 Rav4 Prime with premium package and it is everything I could ask for in a good dependable vehicle. You think $52,000 is a lot for a new Prime with a PP but here in Canada we are around $70,000 for the same thing plus we are waiting up to and beyond 2 year waiting list. I like your videos especially because I feel you have a real passion for Toyotas like I do. Hard to believe that earlier in my life I was totally a GM follower because back in the day, GM was #1 but now they have been surpassed by the reliability and design of the Toyota hence the change to Toyota, keep the videos coming, love them all.

[@michaelbrenner6862]

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

[@jlawr4427]

Fortunately I "ordered" my R4P XSE with the Weather package only in Aug 2020. Drove it off the lot in May 2021 for $39k out the door price (because of the rebate). Best car I've ever owned. Agree on current pricing, not worth $52k. Hoping there will be a R4P with a solid state battery that goes 100 miles on a charge by 2028. We'll see. Good video. I think "Cablegate" may become the R4P's downfall in salty road areas. Not expecting an issue in Dallas.

[@corpnupe85]

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

[@centauriboy]

I was really tempted to get the Prime Hybrid, but they didn't sell the 2024 version in the state I'm in until 2025. So I opted to get the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV. One of the features I like is the entire front windshield has the warming lines, which makes it so much faster to defrost the car. I wish every car had this as a standard. The remote parking assist is the feature I wanted the most. It makes it so much easier to park in and out of tight spaces, and move the car from the outside to the garage without having to get inside. This is useful since I detail my car. The weird part is that none of the trims come with a Home Link Rear View Mirror, you have to pay an extra $250 to get it installed. And of course, Kia will disable features (like remote start) after 1 free year and you're forced to pay a monthly fee if you wish to keep these features. I'm afraid this is where we are heading for all Car Manufacturers.

[@davetindall5492]

I have a RAV 4 prime. I get about 400mpge. I went on a 6800 trip. Didn't try to change. I have 51000 on it. Love it!

[@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.

[@victorbaird8220]

1:16 Intro 1:18 What is a plug in hybrid Plug in range full ev mode 40 miles. 4:38 what is special about RAV4 prime A25A engine 2.5L PA10 transmission 10:10 Why is the prime reliable 10:35 what is different between prime and the hybrid Heat pump for A/C 17:00 maintenance for prime 18:00 precautions with the gas engine 22:14 things that are not good about the RAV4 prime 27:48 things you do not know about the prime 31:14 Tour 41:00 Outro

[@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.

[@TomLawlor-iq6gm]

We finally got our 24 Prius Prime 3 months ago (waited 21 months for it!). So far (and it's not warm here yet), we have been seeing 80Km on a charge as long as you switch off all the creature comforts. And, that's not a big deal really. Way better than a BEV and, way les expensive to purchase too. We filled the gas tank for the first time yesterday ! Drove on the highway yesterday for almost 300Km and averaged under 3.3 L per 100Km after the battery died. Fantastic.

[@diydrivenGA]

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

[@diydrivenGA]

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

[@burntnougat5341]

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

[@curt5802]

please! Where is the Crown Signia plug-in hybrid? When does it come to U.S... ? (it is available in Japan already)

[@jfscotch]

Another great and in depth review!

[@cdale613]

We have the 21 SE model and routinely get 55 miles or more per charge. Love it!

[@henryhonda8408]

I'm still waiting for my new Prime I ordered a few months ago. I can't wait to find out if I can get at least 60 miles per charge! ❤❤❤

[@robertthomas9564]

I find I can get +50 EV range by avoiding hard acceleration and using coast/lift technique. EV range is not nearly as good on cold new england winter days. I'm getting in the low 40s during the winter. On very cold winter days, I like that I have the option to use the Gas engine to warm up the car. That's something you can't can do with an EV.

[@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.

[@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.

[@walter772]

Fantastic review! Thank You!

[@Stuart-vo8rl]

I have the Suzuki Across, which is basically the same car as the Toyota Rav4 prime other than the front body work. Use it as a taxi in uk 2021 plate. Now has 126,947 miles on clock. Best car I have had and not one fault. Electric range is exactly the same as when I first got the car. Took it to my local garage last month and asked them if they could check the brakes and give it alook over, just incase brakes needed changing but after looking over the car the mechanic was surprised and said he has never seen a car which has plenty of wear left on the brakes and told me to come back next year and he will have another look and also couldn't find any problems underneath the car. Have changed transmission fluid twice now and will be changing it again when I hit 130,0000 in the next 3 weeks. I also do oil change every 7500 miles. Great videos you do on KZbin have been following you for 2 years now and watched many of your KZbin to learn alot about my car. Thanks

[@plupluplutus]

What about noise levels?

[@willoverkill8461]

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

[@asayake1]

did they fix the corroding cable issue on the rear motor? that's my only hesitation ... in colorado with the slushy road salt when it snows + we have to do undercarriage washes all the time

[@border056]

The biggest thing that is killing this car is the dealerships. Right now, Toyota is offering a $6500 incentive on the Rav 4 Prime in my area. Dealers see this and are starting to tack on snake oil to claw some of that rebate back. For example, my local dealer is trying to add a $2000 spray on Ceramic coating. $3500 full front PPF. Who knows the quality of that PPF and what kind of warranty it comes with. It's really disappointing.

[@andyburnett8012]

I refuse all dealer add ons when making a purchase. The dealer can either take my money or leave it. I will refuse all extras or I simply will go elsewhere. Dealers hate me 😂

[@marcodarko6941]

I despise most Toyota stealerships. Add to that most of the employees at any of the locations tend to have this know-it-all "progressive" smugness that just adds the icing on the cake.

[@marcodarko6941]

That's good to hear. Of course you wouldn't. @Kerfuffled569

[@wholeNwon]

One of the reasons I never buy new cars...in fact, never walk into any dealership.

[@robertthomas9564]

Full PPF on a mid size SUV in my area runs $6000 - $8,000. $3,500 for full front PPF seems a little high. But that front bumper looks like a nightmare for even a pro to do.

[@DavidBelitsky]

Very good review. Helped me decide to order one. I buy a new vehicle once every ten years so it’s always a big step! Your review makes me think I did the right thing. One thing you didn’t emphasize is that the prime has EXCELLENT visibility not like the Sportage, or others. Important feature for fogies like me!