I'm surprised plug-in hybrids aren't more popular. Manufacturers and the press seem to be focusing so much on pure EVs, people don't seem to think about the benefits of PHEVs for everyday driving.
It doesn't help that idiotic governments across the world thought it was a good idea to mandate full EV's before mandating the NATURAL progression to Hybrids. Gives us time to work on battery and charging tech/infrastructure before going all in.
They aren't popular cause they're so far and few, 2-5 year wait time on a RAV4 Prime in Canada. Many other PHEVs in the same situation, the jump to straight electric seems like a no-brainer as a result (most EVs are max 1 year wait).
Apart from the government and media, people who have fully invested in pure EV also want to see PHEV and other emerging technologies (such as Hydrogen and Synthetic fuel) to die, because they think their BEVs are saving the planet
One of the things that I love about the Rav4 (and a lot of Toyota's, really) are the big, chunky physical buttons. There's something comforting about having analog buttons. Touchscreens are nice, and the '23 model toyota's have that new system that works great... but being able to flick a switch, press in a button, or turn a thick climate control knob just feels right. Then again, what do I know? I'm still lamenting the loss of a CD player in these things! :)
This car is a big upgrade compare to the previous RAV4. Great video! These normal car reviews are equally as good as your exotic ones as they’re more relevant
Great car. I got mine in November 2020. One of the first 300 that came to Norway. Getting close to 40.000 km. All of our daily driving is EV mode. On longer stretches you get to enjoy the excellent and economic petrolengine.
I agree with this Tedward, we rented a tesla model 3 in North Carolina over the summer and the range sucked. AC and HEAT messes up the range and we had to charge too often. We rented a Stelvio right after and felt like it was easy to fill up and just go. BE ON THE GO ! THanks
It sucks that Hybrids/plug ins aren't popular. They offer extra range & *_way_* better mpg without range anxiety, more/instant power, and an easy way to make a car awd without all the drivetrain loss. Plus they're not too expensive now with cars like the corolla Hy starting at $25k, and the reliability is solid as well. If you're buying a new commuter car there literally isn't a reason not to get one and yet...
The biggest reason people aren't picking them up right now is availability. After those crazy fuel prices everyone saw, all of a sudden hybrid became way more desirable. And with the chip shortage, less available. Hybrids are awesome BTW.
@@kiefershanks4172 I see... Such a shame that we're dealing with shortages nearly 3 years later. They really are awesome for commuters and I never see any of them around.
@@kiefershanks4172 You also have to consider that interest rates are the highest they've been in like 15 years, so nobody really wants to buy a new car
Fully equipped RAV4 prime is US$50k+tax or CA$60k+tax in Canada... No question, it's a good vehicle but the $50k dollar price tag for a rav4 is just insane. It's a rav4, an SUV for masses (well, not anymore). It used to be $30k for their hybrid 3 years ago. That's why phevs are not popular, not everyone can afford them, and people who can afford them (I'm lucky to be one of them) don't want to pay that price tag for a RAV4.
12:20 Speaking my language about driving. It's all about the flow. Nothing more satisfying than helping a tractor trailer merge. Especially when you get the hazard flash.
I just took delivery of a 2023 Rav4 Prime SE two weeks ago. Love the car! I um upgrading from a 2019 Prius Prime, so I've had 4 years to thoroughly explore and become familiar with the benefits of a PHEV. This Rav4 Prime is like, Toyota took everything that makes the Prius Prime an amazing car, and improved on it. Of course, I am giving up some fuel economy - the Rav4 is a totally non-aerodynamic huge box on wheels - but I am still getting 45 mpg in Hybrid mode, and 3.7 ~ 4.5 miles per kW-hr in EV mode (about 45 miles EV range on a full battery). As you state in this video, the R4P is fun to drive, quiet, has as much power for passing and climbing grades on the freeway as most non-Hybrid CSUV's and minivans with V6 engines, and way better fuel economy. I've driven it 3,800 miles, and have only found four minor niggles: 1. There is an angled edge on the center console that digs into my right thigh. I have to stuff a towel or sweatshirt there on a long drive, or I end up with an actual bruise on my leg after 8 hours driving. 2. The front seats are too small for people over 6'-0" / 250 pounds. By "too small", I mean the seat base needs to be 3 or 4 inches longer front-to-back, so it provides better leg support and doesn't cut off the circulation in the driver's legs after a few hours. 3. The steering wheel is covered with some synthetic that tries to feel like leather, but it's too slippery, as if someone at the dealership wiped it down with Armor-All. If you ever tried to ride a motorcycle after putting Armor-All on the seat, you know how slick and slippery the stuff is. A real leather steering wheel cover would not be so slippery. I'm thinking of seeing if there is a chemical I could wipe on the steering wheel that wouldn't damage the covering, but that would make it less slick. 4. The Android Auto/Bluetooth system is buggy and not 100% reliable. When I am trying to run Google Maps or MapFactor Navigator, the connection might fizzle 2 or 3 times in a 200 mile drive. When this happens, the only way to re-establish the on-screen Navigation is to pull off the highway, reboot both the car and the cell phone, re-start the navigation session from scratch. Needless to say, this is annoying, and every time it happens, I lose 10 to 15 minutes. Hundreds of people have reported this as an issue in late model Rav4's both the Hybrid and the Prime, so it isn't just my car or my cell phone. But other than these small gripes, the car is amazing. Wait, one more thing: the all-black interior on the 2023's in positively gloomy. All of the plastic trim on the dash, the door panles, the headliner, EVERYTHING is black, except for a few small touches of silver plastic trim here and there. I am going to try and alleviate this with seat covers in some brighter color, tan and light blue, or something similar. And a dash cover in something other than black.
@@paulholterhaus7084- My complaints are minor, mostly cosmetic issues like the all-black interior. I fixed the slippery steering wheel with a $10 synthetic wheel cover a couple of weeks ago. The Bluetooth connectivity problem might be an issue with my phone, so not the car's fault. I don't own a different phone to test with, so I can't say for sure. The small seats are only an issue because of how tall and heavy I am, and that's not the car's fault. Owners who are of "average" height and weight seem to have no problem with the seats. So, there are a few ergonomic issues I wish were different, but bottom line is the Rav4 Prime is arguably the most versatile vehicle you can buy right now, as long as you don't need to tow a trailer heavier than 2,500 pounds. There are wagons and minivans that have more interior cargo volume and more seating capacity, but with gasoline now at $5.25/gallon, fuel is becoming a major cost component in owning a car. Used to be that insurance was the most expensive recurring cost, but now it's gasoline, and I wouldn't be surprised if gas on the west coast hits $6.50 gallon by next summer. Here's a cost comparison between the Toyota Sienna Hybrid minivan, the Highlander Hybrid, and the Rav4 Prime. The Sienna and Highlander both have more carrying capacity than the Rav, but they aren't PHEV's: every mile you drive you are burning gasoline, at a cost of about 17¢/mile (at $5.25/gallon). That's $2550 for gasoline for 15,000 miles, which is what most people drive in a year. Now lets see how the Rav4 Prime stacks up: If you live somewhere with electric rates around 15¢/kW-hr for overnight home charging, and you can run your Rav4 Prime 50% on gasoline for road trips, and the other 50% on electricity for in-town errand-running, and you are getting 45 mpg in Hybrid mode (that's what I'm averaging), you will spend $875 in a year on gasoline, and $225 on electricity. That's $1100/year, or 7.33¢/mile, for 15,000 miles of combined gasoline and electric driving. If you take fewer road trips and can manage a 70% electric/30% gasoline split, then you will pay $315 for electricity, $525 for gasoline, which is 5.6¢/mile $840/year for "fuel". That's $1710/year saved in fuel costs compared to a Sienna or Highlander. Purchase price is about the same for all three vehicles, around $45,000. In 10 years, that's $17,000 in savings. I foresee gasoline prices continuing to rise far faster than electric rates for home charging, making the cost of running EV's or PHEV's ever more attractive. The Rav4 Prime is a compromise solution for me. Until we have EV's with better batteries (at least 600 mile range), a PHEV is a better solution for people who live in regions with severe cold winter weather, or in the Western states where driving distances tend to be much longer than in the East. For example, every day, thousands of people drive between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento (our State Capitol) - it's 450 miles, and there simply aren't any "affordable" EV's that can do this non-stop yet. Maybe 5 or 6 years from now there will be? But my Rav4 Prime can do 600 miles non-stop, and when I do need to re-fuel it, there are gas stations everywhere that I can top off in 10 minutes or less, not the 2 hours to fully charge an EV that's only going to get 250 miles until I have to charge it again.
I would love to see a PHEV Type R. You would need some pretty advanced sort of stick shift, but this Rav4 Prime shows that you can still make big power and have great efficiency in cars with N/A engines! Also, to speak to your point on hybrids; my 2014 Accord Hybrid had a 16 gallon fuel tank carried over from the traditional power trains, and I was able to squeeze out 700 miles per tank. The tank could still be that big because the battery was taking up space in the trunk. The Accord Hybrid after that moved the battery underneath the rear sears, taking up space that would otherwise be used for the fuel tank, restoring the trunk space and pass through seats. Seems like downsizing the tank was an effort to make the car more practical for cargo.
My family has a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid on lease, and as much as I hate the car for being boring to drive and unexciting, it is extremely nice to turn my brain off and just relax. As a plus, I have gone a tad over 530 miles on one tank of gas too!
we have a hybrid sienna and it gets the same mpg highway as my fit, at 38mpg+ in optimal conditions, AND 600 miles of highway range in town we're still getting 30-32, which is hilarious for a 7 passenger awd minivan. its better than my dad's camry at times even. i just wish there was a prime version for the phev benefits+power boost
1:35 the only terminal not connected to the others post-security is Terminal A. There's now a b-to-c and c-to-e connector. Also, give BOS some credit on regional connections! It's got the best regional bus connections in the US, the Silver Line connects right to the airport, and the Blue Line is a 10-minute shuttle at most.
The range part is so true. My Malibu barely eaks out 340 miles of city driving, so I was a bit underwhelmed. Went on a road trip and have been averaging 35mpg, 500 mile range
7:34 Tedward, it'll be interesting to see your reaction when the Civic e:HEV makes it stateside. It's already more than 3300 lbs curb weight, so 150+ from your Type R. Having owned a PHEV compact (Volt) and driven the two cars back to back, you really notice how much heavier the battery pack makes the car and affects it in corners. A PHEV Civic would be approaching 3500 lbs, a long ways from the 3000 lb Civic base models that can coast forever.
that's why I kind of like the MINI SE, yes it has limited range, but it would be great as a second car, it's fun to drive and relatively light weight (3,153 lb) for an EV
@@philk4944 I am fairly sure 2024 CRV plugin is front wheel drive only. Regular hybrid is 4WD. Just double check online. Same for Skoda Kodiaq plugin coming in Europe.
Great concept and great car. Others make PHEV as well but they don't have a meaningful EV range like the RAV4 Prime. The only downside about the Prime is Toyota is reluctant to build more of these. I've been waiting for a few years now and it still only sold in a few states at a jacked up price.
I just bought a 2024 RAV4 Prime and i'm loving the benefits of an EV and the benefits on a hybrid on long trips. The majority of people who buy Tesla's drive 99 percent city and they dont need more than 50 miles or 80kms of range in a day, unless you're an UBER driver. in 10 years my RAV4 Prime will be worth at least $10,000 more than you're Tesla
I agree on that gauge that’s all over the place. When a captain is piloting his ship through treacherous waters, he doesn’t need all the crew being nervous nellies letting him know every little detail, distracting him from not crashing the ship. Horrible guage and I think Toyota will listen and change it.
We've had a Honda Clarity PHEV for almost five years. It's the best car I've ever owned or driven. It's a sedan while I would rather have an SUV. Otherwise we drive 100% EV for weeks at a time, then the gas motor can come on for longer ranges. I've never used a public charging station. It's the best of both worlds. Some people say a PHEV isn't good because it has both an electric motor, battery, and a gas engine which is more likely to have reliability issues. Many of those who shy away from a PHEV will then go out and buy a hybrid car which has both a motor, battery, and gas engine. Hybrid gas engines are running close to 100% of the time so contribute much more to polution than a PHEV. It's true that we have to have the oil changed like an ICE car, or hybrid, but since the gas engine is only used (in our case) about 15% of the time oil changes can be reduced to once a year. Compared with a full EV car a PHEV has a much smaller battery so it is better on the ecology. In our particular case we have roof solar at home so the car gets charged most of the time from the sun.
I also like the charge/eco/power gauge of my Rav4 Prime. It really helps me get better fuel/ev economy by trying to keep its pointer within the charge and eco zones as much as possible.
5:07 In the Deer Hunter, set between Pittsburgh PA and Youngstown OH, the actual deer hunting scene is in the foothills of a 10,000+ foot snowcapped westcoast volcano.
I have a 2021 Rav4 Limited Hybrid with 60,000 miles. I've averaged 43 mpg overall. I agree that the plug-in hybrid is the way to go. I'll never consider an electric only vehicle.
I am sure plenty of people who are tired of waiting for the 300 hp RAV4 Prime would be happy to compromise with a RAV4 Hybrid if Toyota would install the 245 hp Hybrid drivetrain from the Highlander and Sienna.
I’m still waiting for my 3.5 year so far wait prime, may be 2-3 more in Ontario… Quebec gets all of ours (Canada) but still waiting and excited for it. As a fellow rav4 user I saw you fulllly use the signal, with rav4 you can tap it for lane changes and it’ll signal 3 times and not have to cancel, I did change mine to 5 times with a tap.
We have a 2022 Rav 4 Prime base model SE we purchased new in March 2022. 15,000 miles on it so far and our electric range living here in Northwestern Oregon ranges from 35-45 in winter and 45-55 in summer driving on rural roads and highways here. Even with a depleted battery running as a full hybrid MPG's on regular grade gas averages 38-45 MPG in winter and 45- 50+ MPG in summer. Now all RAV 4 Primes are All Wheel Drive as well and electric range and MPG's on just gas is better than all the competition. The only issue I have is Toyota should have more models like the RAV 4 plug in where you can drive40-50 or miles on pure electric and than with a depleted battery get 35-50 + mpg just on gas in hybrid mode. After we purchased our Prime at MSRP, not a penny more, the market took off where people were paying thousands of dollars over MSRP.
I grew up in Boston, lived there for ten years and then moved away due to parental work, I went back after I got my license to visit some friends, I have no idea how my dad put up with driving there for ten years💀
Recently test drove a Prime SE and the only thing I was slightly caught off was how loud the engine revs. This is relative to the Tucson Plugin Hybrid however which isn’t really a fair comparison. Not in the market for a new car but this thing is really tempting, even considering how expensive one of these are
I bought a 21' Prime SE w/weather package for 42.5k OTD. Great car, especially after getting rid of the garbage low rolling resistance tires (Vredstein Quatrac Pro is what I upgraded to, great tire). RAV4 rides smooth, feels more upscale than the base 4 cylinder .. very fast in a straight line / passing power - the immediate electric torque is great. I got the full tax credit so effective cost was 35k. At that price with the rebate it's a solid deal, but I don't think the rebate is available, and there isn't enough inventory so you'll be hardpressed to find one, let alone at MSRP. At 42-45k for an SE, and no tax rebate, I don't think it's worth it. Yeah, you'll save some money on gas, but you'd better served getting the hybrid or the new Honda CRV Sport Hybrid for about 35k. My area is flat and warmer and I could get 40-45 mpg driving around in the city. Highway MPG was 38-40 typically, unless in the mountains. Best thing about the car is the range on a 14.5 gallon tank is 500 miles, even in the city. But if you want that, just save the money and get a hybrid XLE for about 35k. The Toyota hybrid system seems to be better at getting consistently high MPGs vs. Honda hybrid systems.
theres few airports in usa with trains and i have train in my airport, i wish i could do connections in it but sadly i live in the city with the worlds busiest airport
I had a 2019 Rav4 Hybrid XSE that had the problem with full up, getting 10 gallons when empty, but Toyota replace the tank and solved the problem. I don't have that problem with my 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE.
You're so right on the 50 mile range. For most people, that's going to be their entire daily commute. If not, gasoline can sort out the rest but thats still 50 miles on electric. I wonder though, do you think people will run into issues where gasoline might go bad if they go extended periods on only that 50 mile range? What if thats all they do like 99% of the time and go a long time without ever using the internal combustion side.
PHEVs eventually force the gas engine to run and/or prompt you to run on gas, to prevent those types of issues, as well as cycle the motor so it doesn't fail. It usually takes a month or more for them to go into these modes.
My family owns a 2019 Hybrid option, (not plug-in). Totally agreed about the "power meter" tach replacement, Irks me when I drive it. I'm not gonna lie, I have an e46 and it's a fun car, and sometimes I drive the family rav4, the rav4 is a great car for what its worth, 15 years of difference, but I'm not too used to the CVT in the rav4, power delivery feels weird and not normal (not something you get in maybe a manual or an auto with some form of gears. But its a decent car.
I would like to see manufacturers go the route of a diesel electric locomotive. Develop an engine to run at 1 speed at peak efficiency to charge the batteries. Once the batteries have charged, the engine will shut off. The ICE would simply act as a generator instead of a part of the drivetrain. Could get rid of the transmission this way.
At the moment, EV's are not practical. The Plug-In is as you have all three modes. I love my 2024 R4P, comfortable, 50 mile EV range. Nice ride, and all the safety features. I am a cruse control nut, it keep me safe and no S&H green stamps from officers. It makes total since as I use the EV on speed below 55 MPH, and HV mode above 55 MHP or on the highways at 70MPH. This has so much power I can inadvertently burn outs from start. Toyota Rav4 Prime makes since, they need a base model.
Nice SUV/truck! Though that full wash was horrifying. I have done one of those washes and was "HOW did all of that muck get in all of those small places?"
My plug-in hybrid Volt is excellent. EV for my daily commute, and gas for a road trip. If we were in an apocalypse, I'd rather be in my Volt plug-in hybrid instead of a full EV.
I have asked this question before but nobody has been able to come back with a sensible answer!!! Why would anyone buy a plug-in Hybrid when they can buy a Rav4 HYBRID and not have to worry about plugging it in?
It's been 7 months but I will add that charging at home is a better experience than pumping gas at a gas station. Just ask anyone who has an EV. Public charging is a different matter entirely.
Acceleration and pretty much never going to the gas station. In a year you spend how many extra hours pumping gas? Too many for me. Better things to do.
I also owe a 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE and I mainly use EV Mode all the time for my commute to work, plus I get free charging at work so I haven't fill up the gas for like 3 plus months. I traded in my 2018 Camry V6 XSE for it.
Also, if it’s wicked cold out it will kick on the engine. Live in eastie. So I know Ted and terminal A very well. XSE owner. 10fill-ups with 20k plus getting that same alert. Oy. Curious if you are dealing with the gas tank issue. When the tank reads empty. I can only fill up 10gallons. Toyota is going to replace the gas tank on my 2021 XSE.
Plug-in hybrid is like having two cars in one. If you don't use engine that much (5%), you still have an almost new engine to use after battery degraded.
Do the refreshed RAV4 hybrid/Prime and Highlander hybrid have the new AVAS sound from the new Prius or does it have the previous one from the pre-refreshed RAV4 hybrid that sounds like a 737 APU?
My Elantra N has the same size fuel tank as the Elantra hybrid. It's an 11.4 gallon tank, but at 22MPG you really shouldn't use more than 10 gallons before filling up. That gives me a range of 220 miles.... Best case scenario I'm on the highway and get 30MPG average, for 300 miles of range. Its quite annoying. The hybrid gets 45MPG so it has a nice 450 mile range.
It has adaptive cruise control with lane tracing assistant. The lane tracing works great on highways and you can practically let the car follow the slight turns and press the breaks if necessary by its own - it just beeps from time to time requiring the driver to touch the steering wheel. On roads with sharp turns however it does not always manage to keep the lane, so this feature is only usable on highways and straight roads.
Hey can someone please explain to me the pwr eco chg mode on the instrumental panel? Like when do I know if It drives using only electric mode and when does it go on gas and when is it charging?
Hard to believe but this is harder to purchase vs the GR Corolla. We have the previous gen hybrid and this would be a logical upgrade but no luck at MSRP.
How would someone who drives mostly with the electric range, would change the oil ? Each 3000 miles of total driving ? or does the car has an odometer for the Engine ?
I was just at a speedy way and thief payments by card or phone was down like 20 people could not buy anything. I was so glad I had 15 in cash just in case or i would have been pretty much stranded and hungry.
You haven't been to LAX... I haven't been to Logan but it can be as bad as LAX no train or good public transportation and it is almost always a parking lot and it takes 20-30 min once you are there to get to your gate.
I'm surprised plug-in hybrids aren't more popular. Manufacturers and the press seem to be focusing so much on pure EVs, people don't seem to think about the benefits of PHEVs for everyday driving.
It doesn't help that idiotic governments across the world thought it was a good idea to mandate full EV's before mandating the NATURAL progression to Hybrids. Gives us time to work on battery and charging tech/infrastructure before going all in.
They aren't popular cause they're so far and few, 2-5 year wait time on a RAV4 Prime in Canada. Many other PHEVs in the same situation, the jump to straight electric seems like a no-brainer as a result (most EVs are max 1 year wait).
I guess my brother is right to go on bragging about his Prius Prime!
@@6thonyGodtano fwiw most normal cars also have big wait times unless you want someting crappy like a trax lol
Apart from the government and media, people who have fully invested in pure EV also want to see PHEV and other emerging technologies (such as Hydrogen and Synthetic fuel) to die, because they think their BEVs are saving the planet
I love that your sister has a Tedward sticker on her car, that's so wholesome.
One of the things that I love about the Rav4 (and a lot of Toyota's, really) are the big, chunky physical buttons. There's something comforting about having analog buttons. Touchscreens are nice, and the '23 model toyota's have that new system that works great... but being able to flick a switch, press in a button, or turn a thick climate control knob just feels right.
Then again, what do I know? I'm still lamenting the loss of a CD player in these things! :)
I think people commonly loves physical buttons because they work like shortcut icons on desktop.
Buy a Forester...CD standard.......Or wait a few more Months....Subie is developing a all new and powerful Hybred.........................Paul
@@paulholterhaus7084 Foresters no longer have CD players from MY2024 on
This car is a big upgrade compare to the previous RAV4. Great video! These normal car reviews are equally as good as your exotic ones as they’re more relevant
I have the Suzuki Across basically a Toyota Rav4 Prime. 95000 miles and had no problems yet. Battery still as good as new
I've had one of these for over 2 years now, no regrets, I just wish they made a lot more of them.
I love spraying my car down at those bays. Thank you for keeping that in the video
Great car. I got mine in November 2020. One of the first 300 that came to Norway. Getting close to 40.000 km. All of our daily driving is EV mode. On longer stretches you get to enjoy the excellent and economic petrolengine.
Wasn't expecting the cat wash haha. Love stuff like that in your videos. Time to see the Type R get a quick spray down.
Haha I did it yesterday but I had to pee so bad that I didn’t put on the camera. Rush job!
I agree with this Tedward, we rented a tesla model 3 in North Carolina over the summer and the range sucked. AC and HEAT messes up the range and we had to charge too often. We rented a Stelvio right after and felt like it was easy to fill up and just go. BE ON THE GO ! THanks
Currently in NC and was about to go full EV until I realized the disadvantages that come with that. As a result, I'm getting a Prime.
More POV car wash vids? They’re oddly satisfying. Please and thank you 😊
It sucks that Hybrids/plug ins aren't popular. They offer extra range & *_way_* better mpg without range anxiety, more/instant power, and an easy way to make a car awd without all the drivetrain loss. Plus they're not too expensive now with cars like the corolla Hy starting at $25k, and the reliability is solid as well. If you're buying a new commuter car there literally isn't a reason not to get one and yet...
The biggest reason people aren't picking them up right now is availability. After those crazy fuel prices everyone saw, all of a sudden hybrid became way more desirable. And with the chip shortage, less available. Hybrids are awesome BTW.
@@kiefershanks4172 I see... Such a shame that we're dealing with shortages nearly 3 years later. They really are awesome for commuters and I never see any of them around.
@@kiefershanks4172 You also have to consider that interest rates are the highest they've been in like 15 years, so nobody really wants to buy a new car
@@hazyy47 That too. The rates are brutally high now for new cars... 😬
Fully equipped RAV4 prime is US$50k+tax or CA$60k+tax in Canada... No question, it's a good vehicle but the $50k dollar price tag for a rav4 is just insane. It's a rav4, an SUV for masses (well, not anymore). It used to be $30k for their hybrid 3 years ago. That's why phevs are not popular, not everyone can afford them, and people who can afford them (I'm lucky to be one of them) don't want to pay that price tag for a RAV4.
12:20 Speaking my language about driving. It's all about the flow. Nothing more satisfying than helping a tractor trailer merge. Especially when you get the hazard flash.
I just took delivery of a 2023 Rav4 Prime SE two weeks ago. Love the car! I um upgrading from a 2019 Prius Prime, so I've had 4 years to thoroughly explore and become familiar with the benefits of a PHEV. This Rav4 Prime is like, Toyota took everything that makes the Prius Prime an amazing car, and improved on it. Of course, I am giving up some fuel economy - the Rav4 is a totally non-aerodynamic huge box on wheels - but I am still getting 45 mpg in Hybrid mode, and 3.7 ~ 4.5 miles per kW-hr in EV mode (about 45 miles EV range on a full battery). As you state in this video, the R4P is fun to drive, quiet, has as much power for passing and climbing grades on the freeway as most non-Hybrid CSUV's and minivans with V6 engines, and way better fuel economy. I've driven it 3,800 miles, and have only found four minor niggles: 1. There is an angled edge on the center console that digs into my right thigh. I have to stuff a towel or sweatshirt there on a long drive, or I end up with an actual bruise on my leg after 8 hours driving. 2. The front seats are too small for people over 6'-0" / 250 pounds. By "too small", I mean the seat base needs to be 3 or 4 inches longer front-to-back, so it provides better leg support and doesn't cut off the circulation in the driver's legs after a few hours. 3. The steering wheel is covered with some synthetic that tries to feel like leather, but it's too slippery, as if someone at the dealership wiped it down with Armor-All. If you ever tried to ride a motorcycle after putting Armor-All on the seat, you know how slick and slippery the stuff is. A real leather steering wheel cover would not be so slippery. I'm thinking of seeing if there is a chemical I could wipe on the steering wheel that wouldn't damage the covering, but that would make it less slick. 4. The Android Auto/Bluetooth system is buggy and not 100% reliable. When I am trying to run Google Maps or MapFactor Navigator, the connection might fizzle 2 or 3 times in a 200 mile drive. When this happens, the only way to re-establish the on-screen Navigation is to pull off the highway, reboot both the car and the cell phone, re-start the navigation session from scratch. Needless to say, this is annoying, and every time it happens, I lose 10 to 15 minutes. Hundreds of people have reported this as an issue in late model Rav4's both the Hybrid and the Prime, so it isn't just my car or my cell phone. But other than these small gripes, the car is amazing. Wait, one more thing: the all-black interior on the 2023's in positively gloomy. All of the plastic trim on the dash, the door panles, the headliner, EVERYTHING is black, except for a few small touches of silver plastic trim here and there. I am going to try and alleviate this with seat covers in some brighter color, tan and light blue, or something similar. And a dash cover in something other than black.
Many complaints.......And yet You like it.???...............Paul
@@paulholterhaus7084- My complaints are minor, mostly cosmetic issues like the all-black interior. I fixed the slippery steering wheel with a $10 synthetic wheel cover a couple of weeks ago. The Bluetooth connectivity problem might be an issue with my phone, so not the car's fault. I don't own a different phone to test with, so I can't say for sure. The small seats are only an issue because of how tall and heavy I am, and that's not the car's fault. Owners who are of "average" height and weight seem to have no problem with the seats. So, there are a few ergonomic issues I wish were different, but bottom line is the Rav4 Prime is arguably the most versatile vehicle you can buy right now, as long as you don't need to tow a trailer heavier than 2,500 pounds. There are wagons and minivans that have more interior cargo volume and more seating capacity, but with gasoline now at $5.25/gallon, fuel is becoming a major cost component in owning a car. Used to be that insurance was the most expensive recurring cost, but now it's gasoline, and I wouldn't be surprised if gas on the west coast hits $6.50 gallon by next summer.
Here's a cost comparison between the Toyota Sienna Hybrid minivan, the Highlander Hybrid, and the Rav4 Prime. The Sienna and Highlander both have more carrying capacity than the Rav, but they aren't PHEV's: every mile you drive you are burning gasoline, at a cost of about 17¢/mile (at $5.25/gallon). That's $2550 for gasoline for 15,000 miles, which is what most people drive in a year. Now lets see how the Rav4 Prime stacks up:
If you live somewhere with electric rates around 15¢/kW-hr for overnight home charging, and you can run your Rav4 Prime 50% on gasoline for road trips, and the other 50% on electricity for in-town errand-running, and you are getting 45 mpg in Hybrid mode (that's what I'm averaging), you will spend $875 in a year on gasoline, and $225 on electricity. That's $1100/year, or 7.33¢/mile, for 15,000 miles of combined gasoline and electric driving. If you take fewer road trips and can manage a 70% electric/30% gasoline split, then you will pay $315 for electricity, $525 for gasoline, which is 5.6¢/mile $840/year for "fuel". That's $1710/year saved in fuel costs compared to a Sienna or Highlander. Purchase price is about the same for all three vehicles, around $45,000. In 10 years, that's $17,000 in savings.
I foresee gasoline prices continuing to rise far faster than electric rates for home charging, making the cost of running EV's or PHEV's ever more attractive. The Rav4 Prime is a compromise solution for me. Until we have EV's with better batteries (at least 600 mile range), a PHEV is a better solution for people who live in regions with severe cold winter weather, or in the Western states where driving distances tend to be much longer than in the East. For example, every day, thousands of people drive between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento (our State Capitol) - it's 450 miles, and there simply aren't any "affordable" EV's that can do this non-stop yet. Maybe 5 or 6 years from now there will be? But my Rav4 Prime can do 600 miles non-stop, and when I do need to re-fuel it, there are gas stations everywhere that I can top off in 10 minutes or less, not the 2 hours to fully charge an EV that's only going to get 250 miles until I have to charge it again.
I would love to see a PHEV Type R. You would need some pretty advanced sort of stick shift, but this Rav4 Prime shows that you can still make big power and have great efficiency in cars with N/A engines!
Also, to speak to your point on hybrids; my 2014 Accord Hybrid had a 16 gallon fuel tank carried over from the traditional power trains, and I was able to squeeze out 700 miles per tank. The tank could still be that big because the battery was taking up space in the trunk. The Accord Hybrid after that moved the battery underneath the rear sears, taking up space that would otherwise be used for the fuel tank, restoring the trunk space and pass through seats. Seems like downsizing the tank was an effort to make the car more practical for cargo.
My family has a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid on lease, and as much as I hate the car for being boring to drive and unexciting, it is extremely nice to turn my brain off and just relax. As a plus, I have gone a tad over 530 miles on one tank of gas too!
Boring!?I have a 22 and I smoke everything I have raced except for zr1.😊Best part of my day
we have a hybrid sienna and it gets the same mpg highway as my fit, at 38mpg+ in optimal conditions, AND 600 miles of highway range
in town we're still getting 30-32, which is hilarious for a 7 passenger awd minivan. its better than my dad's camry at times even. i just wish there was a prime version for the phev benefits+power boost
1:35 the only terminal not connected to the others post-security is Terminal A. There's now a b-to-c and c-to-e connector. Also, give BOS some credit on regional connections! It's got the best regional bus connections in the US, the Silver Line connects right to the airport, and the Blue Line is a 10-minute shuttle at most.
The range part is so true. My Malibu barely eaks out 340 miles of city driving, so I was a bit underwhelmed. Went on a road trip and have been averaging 35mpg, 500 mile range
7:34 Tedward, it'll be interesting to see your reaction when the Civic e:HEV makes it stateside. It's already more than 3300 lbs curb weight, so 150+ from your Type R. Having owned a PHEV compact (Volt) and driven the two cars back to back, you really notice how much heavier the battery pack makes the car and affects it in corners. A PHEV Civic would be approaching 3500 lbs, a long ways from the 3000 lb Civic base models that can coast forever.
that's why I kind of like the MINI SE, yes it has limited range, but it would be great as a second car, it's fun to drive and relatively light weight (3,153 lb) for an EV
Phev CR-V is front wheel drive only. Huge mistake IMHO.
WAIT WHAT?? You mean the CRV PHEV not available yet in US is not AWD ? R U SURE ?
@@philk4944 I am fairly sure 2024 CRV plugin is front wheel drive only. Regular hybrid is 4WD. Just double check online. Same for Skoda Kodiaq plugin coming in Europe.
Weight reduces coasting only when you're on an incline, when going downhill it improves it and on flat is fairly negligible, basic physics 101.
Great concept and great car. Others make PHEV as well but they don't have a meaningful EV range like the RAV4 Prime. The only downside about the Prime is Toyota is reluctant to build more of these. I've been waiting for a few years now and it still only sold in a few states at a jacked up price.
Love the RAV4 Prime. Not so much the east coast driving experience. Glad to be in CA here. Thanks for the great review!
I have a 22 prime xse.Strongly recommend.
Love your commentary bro, that one dude was dripped out with that hat fr ! 😭
You can borrow my RAV anytime..you treat it I do!! Thx for sharing your experience.
I just bought a 2024 RAV4 Prime and i'm loving the benefits of an EV and the benefits on a hybrid on long trips. The majority of people who buy Tesla's drive 99 percent city and they dont need more than 50 miles or 80kms of range in a day, unless you're an UBER driver. in 10 years my RAV4 Prime will be worth at least $10,000 more than you're Tesla
If they came out with a Tacoma Prime, they would have my money immediately.
If only there were clearly marked lanes, lol perfect example.
Mine 19' Audi Q5 also reached 24k on Monday)) Still running perfectly
I'm honestly surprised that there's already a recall for them. Not what I expect from Toyota.
Recall are normal for all manufacturers even honda and its not the first time toyota has one
Their electric car was recalled immediately because the wheels were falling off 😂
Toyota quality is slipping.
Surprised? Toyota isn’t the company they used to be. The first and second year Tacomas had so many issues.
I agree on that gauge that’s all over the place. When a captain is piloting his ship through treacherous waters, he doesn’t need all the crew being nervous nellies letting him know every little detail, distracting him from not crashing the ship. Horrible guage and I think Toyota will listen and change it.
My 21 R4P has 20k miles, I agree with you. It's great. 2 recalls fixed by reprogramming so no sweat.
I enjoyed the ride home with Ted in Boston. I would love to ride and chat with him about anything.
We've had a Honda Clarity PHEV for almost five years. It's the best car I've ever owned or driven. It's a sedan while I would rather have an SUV. Otherwise we drive 100% EV for weeks at a time, then the gas motor can come on for longer ranges. I've never used a public charging station. It's the best of both worlds.
Some people say a PHEV isn't good because it has both an electric motor, battery, and a gas engine which is more likely to have reliability issues. Many of those who shy away from a PHEV will then go out and buy a hybrid car which has both a motor, battery, and gas engine. Hybrid gas engines are running close to 100% of the time so contribute much more to polution than a PHEV. It's true that we have to have the oil changed like an ICE car, or hybrid, but since the gas engine is only used (in our case) about 15% of the time oil changes can be reduced to once a year.
Compared with a full EV car a PHEV has a much smaller battery so it is better on the ecology.
In our particular case we have roof solar at home so the car gets charged most of the time from the sun.
Love the rav 4 prime.
Having driven other hybrids that don't have the gauge, the gauge is SOOOOO much better for daily use.
Why? Seems useless
@@alexjackson4077 Tells you how to drive more efficiently, more useful than a tachometer since the tachometer isn't getting as much use in a hybrid.
I also like the charge/eco/power gauge of my Rav4 Prime. It really helps me get better fuel/ev economy by trying to keep its pointer within the charge and eco zones as much as possible.
5:07 In the Deer Hunter, set between Pittsburgh PA and Youngstown OH, the actual deer hunting scene is in the foothills of a 10,000+ foot snowcapped westcoast volcano.
The price here in the Midwest is $65,000 for clothes seats !! For that, you can purchase a luxury SUV.
OCD triggered, there was still more dirt under that left tail light...
I have a 2021 Rav4 Limited Hybrid with 60,000 miles. I've averaged 43 mpg overall. I agree that the plug-in hybrid is the way to go. I'll never consider an electric only vehicle.
I am sure plenty of people who are tired of waiting for the 300 hp RAV4 Prime would be happy to compromise with a RAV4 Hybrid if Toyota would install the 245 hp Hybrid drivetrain from the Highlander and Sienna.
I’m still waiting for my 3.5 year so far wait prime, may be 2-3 more in Ontario… Quebec gets all of ours (Canada) but still waiting and excited for it. As a fellow rav4 user I saw you fulllly use the signal, with rav4 you can tap it for lane changes and it’ll signal 3 times and not have to cancel, I did change mine to 5 times with a tap.
We have a 2022 Rav 4 Prime base model SE we purchased new in March 2022. 15,000 miles on it so far and our electric range living here in Northwestern Oregon ranges from 35-45 in winter and 45-55 in summer driving on rural roads and highways here. Even with a depleted battery running as a full hybrid MPG's on regular grade gas averages 38-45 MPG in winter and 45- 50+ MPG in summer. Now all RAV 4 Primes are All Wheel Drive as well and electric range and MPG's on just gas is better than all the competition.
The only issue I have is Toyota should have more models like the RAV 4 plug in where you can drive40-50 or miles on pure electric and than with a depleted battery get 35-50 + mpg just on gas in hybrid mode. After we purchased our Prime at MSRP, not a penny more, the market took off where people were paying thousands of dollars over MSRP.
Cool review. But after watching this, I will never complain about New Jersey roads ever again. 😅
we recently purchase a model Y LR, but I still WANT one of these. Toyota should ramp up production, not sure why they cant.
Thank you for the review. I wish if you would have focused more on the MPG because this's what most people are looking for this type of vehicle!
It varies on use. If you only need it for 40mpg you use no gas at all.it’s kind of arbitrary to talk about it without your specific context
I grew up in Boston, lived there for ten years and then moved away due to parental work, I went back after I got my license to visit some friends, I have no idea how my dad put up with driving there for ten years💀
"and its filthy" bruh you should see my car
Recently test drove a Prime SE and the only thing I was slightly caught off was how loud the engine revs. This is relative to the Tucson Plugin Hybrid however which isn’t really a fair comparison. Not in the market for a new car but this thing is really tempting, even considering how expensive one of these are
I bought a 21' Prime SE w/weather package for 42.5k OTD. Great car, especially after getting rid of the garbage low rolling resistance tires (Vredstein Quatrac Pro is what I upgraded to, great tire). RAV4 rides smooth, feels more upscale than the base 4 cylinder .. very fast in a straight line / passing power - the immediate electric torque is great. I got the full tax credit so effective cost was 35k. At that price with the rebate it's a solid deal, but I don't think the rebate is available, and there isn't enough inventory so you'll be hardpressed to find one, let alone at MSRP. At 42-45k for an SE, and no tax rebate, I don't think it's worth it. Yeah, you'll save some money on gas, but you'd better served getting the hybrid or the new Honda CRV Sport Hybrid for about 35k. My area is flat and warmer and I could get 40-45 mpg driving around in the city. Highway MPG was 38-40 typically, unless in the mountains. Best thing about the car is the range on a 14.5 gallon tank is 500 miles, even in the city. But if you want that, just save the money and get a hybrid XLE for about 35k. The Toyota hybrid system seems to be better at getting consistently high MPGs vs. Honda hybrid systems.
Phrasing, Tedward.
What a nice brother to wash your sisters car. You forgot to dry it. My niece lives in Boston.
Highway dry baby!
theres few airports in usa with trains and i have train in my airport, i wish i could do connections in it but sadly i live in the city with the worlds busiest airport
I had a 2019 Rav4 Hybrid XSE that had the problem with full up, getting 10 gallons when empty, but Toyota replace the tank and solved the problem. I don't have that problem with my 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE.
I drive a RAV4, great car.
'Pressure' washing is convenient & fast but shouldn't be done regularly, as can damage both the bodywork & electrics.
This is barely a pressure washer. You could practically drink from it 😆
0-60 leaves a dodge rt in the dust off the line in the wet ;) 0-30 forget about it! amazing
You're so right on the 50 mile range. For most people, that's going to be their entire daily commute. If not, gasoline can sort out the rest but thats still 50 miles on electric. I wonder though, do you think people will run into issues where gasoline might go bad if they go extended periods on only that 50 mile range? What if thats all they do like 99% of the time and go a long time without ever using the internal combustion side.
PHEVs eventually force the gas engine to run and/or prompt you to run on gas, to prevent those types of issues, as well as cycle the motor so it doesn't fail. It usually takes a month or more for them to go into these modes.
@@saucyedgelord6286 oh cool. The tech behind all of that is so cool. Thank you for the info! I appreciate it 😊🤘🏽
Personally would still much rather rock my Mazda carbon turbo CX-5
So why are you watching a video on a rav4 prime then? Why not go click a video about your cx-5??
I was set on an outback wilderness and now I'm looking at a Rav4 Prime - two different cars, but I'm stuck 🫠
My family owns a 2019 Hybrid option, (not plug-in).
Totally agreed about the "power meter" tach replacement, Irks me when I drive it. I'm not gonna lie, I have an e46 and it's a fun car, and sometimes I drive the family rav4, the rav4 is a great car for what its worth, 15 years of difference, but I'm not too used to the CVT in the rav4, power delivery feels weird and not normal (not something you get in maybe a manual or an auto with some form of gears. But its a decent car.
POV car wash is satisfying 😂
I would like to see manufacturers go the route of a diesel electric locomotive. Develop an engine to run at 1 speed at peak efficiency to charge the batteries. Once the batteries have charged, the engine will shut off. The ICE would simply act as a generator instead of a part of the drivetrain. Could get rid of the transmission this way.
At the moment, EV's are not practical. The Plug-In is as you have all three modes. I love my 2024 R4P, comfortable, 50 mile EV range. Nice ride, and all the safety features. I am a cruse control nut, it keep me safe and no S&H green stamps from officers. It makes total since as I use the EV on speed below 55 MPH, and HV mode above 55 MHP or on the highways at 70MPH. This has so much power I can inadvertently burn outs from start. Toyota Rav4 Prime makes since, they need a base model.
Nice SUV/truck! Though that full wash was horrifying. I have done one of those washes and was "HOW did all of that muck get in all of those small places?"
My plug-in hybrid Volt is excellent. EV for my daily commute, and gas for a road trip. If we were in an apocalypse, I'd rather be in my Volt plug-in hybrid instead of a full EV.
4:43 that truck behind you is absolutely riding your ass.
Hybrids are so much better than full electric vehicles imo
love this!
I have asked this question before but nobody has been able to come back with a sensible answer!!! Why would anyone buy a plug-in Hybrid when they can buy a Rav4 HYBRID and not have to worry about plugging it in?
Because you don’t get to use the standard hybrid as an ev. When you don’t plug this in it IS a hybrid.
It's been 7 months but I will add that charging at home is a better experience than pumping gas at a gas station. Just ask anyone who has an EV. Public charging is a different matter entirely.
Acceleration and pretty much never going to the gas station. In a year you spend how many extra hours pumping gas? Too many for me. Better things to do.
I also owe a 2021 Rav4 Prime XSE and I mainly use EV Mode all the time for my commute to work, plus I get free charging at work so I haven't fill up the gas for like 3 plus months. I traded in my 2018 Camry V6 XSE for it.
wild right? I recommend running in HV mode every so often to keep fluids flowing and gaskets from drying out
I live in MA and when I turn on the front defroster the engine kicks in. Oh I agree about Logan Airport, so confusing.....
Also, if it’s wicked cold out it will kick on the engine. Live in eastie. So I know Ted and terminal A very well. XSE owner. 10fill-ups with 20k plus getting that same alert. Oy. Curious if you are dealing with the gas tank issue. When the tank reads empty. I can only fill up 10gallons. Toyota is going to replace the gas tank on my 2021 XSE.
Plug-in hybrid is like having two cars in one. If you don't use engine that much (5%), you still have an almost new engine to use after battery degraded.
haha sort of...definitely recommend using that engine regularly to keep fluids moving!
If you driving mostly on EV range don't have full tank of gas, your just lugging around dead weight. My 2021 Prime XSE currently 35k miles no issues.
Nice job!
Do the refreshed RAV4 hybrid/Prime and Highlander hybrid have the new AVAS sound from the new Prius or does it have the previous one from the pre-refreshed RAV4 hybrid that sounds like a 737 APU?
I wish the normal hybrid had the same e-motors though so that the only difference between the two is the plug in feature and not 100hp
Good long term review. That's exactly how I "wash" AND dry my white Toyota LOL
Haha thanks! And yeah I don’t think my sister has washed it since she bought it so I realllllly got excited to spray it down 😂
Nice of your to wash your sister’s car, it was surprisingly dirty!
Great video! ...but should have spent the entire car wash portion just washing off the Tedward logo. 😅
Lollll
13:00 Hmm, I'm seeing a future for you doing car wash ASMR vids. 😆
My Elantra N has the same size fuel tank as the Elantra hybrid. It's an 11.4 gallon tank, but at 22MPG you really shouldn't use more than 10 gallons before filling up. That gives me a range of 220 miles.... Best case scenario I'm on the highway and get 30MPG average, for 300 miles of range. Its quite annoying.
The hybrid gets 45MPG so it has a nice 450 mile range.
Damn bro thank you, finally some Toyota content. I’m surprised it’s not Honda content. I’ll finally give a like 👍🏼
both toyota and honda are good brands, come on...
@@bitkarekcome on man( bidens voice)
@@ju4121 sorry iam not american. I dont know every line your president said.
Does it have any self-driving mode or form of autopilot?
It has adaptive cruise control with lane tracing assistant. The lane tracing works great on highways and you can practically let the car follow the slight turns and press the breaks if necessary by its own - it just beeps from time to time requiring the driver to touch the steering wheel. On roads with sharp turns however it does not always manage to keep the lane, so this feature is only usable on highways and straight roads.
I have the hud on mine and tachometer is an option over the charge/eco/power, its buried in the settings
🚙EV with engine👍
Hey can someone please explain to me the pwr eco chg mode on the instrumental panel? Like when do I know if It drives using only electric mode and when does it go on gas and when is it charging?
I will consider a Rav4 Prime once it can reach to 100Miles per charge
The Last of Us _was_ filmed in the Canadian rockies. Most of the shots of Boston are a CG-modified Calgary.
My JDM Corolla Hybrid has a Tachometer. The needle rests at 0 when the engine is not in use.
Hard to believe but this is harder to purchase vs the GR Corolla. We have the previous gen hybrid and this would be a logical upgrade but no luck at MSRP.
The hv range on my dash says only 440 miles. It used to be around 600.
oh man, about connecting through BOS, I've done it before, and it sucked lol. I almost missed my flight both times i connected through there
How would someone who drives mostly with the electric range, would change the oil ? Each 3000 miles of total driving ? or does the car has an odometer for the Engine ?
7:29 I wish Toyota would put this power train in more cars, but I guess it may not fit in smaller cars
You didn’t even use sport mode?
I was just at a speedy way and thief payments by card or phone was down like 20 people could not buy anything.
I was so glad I had 15 in cash just in case or i would have been pretty much stranded and hungry.
In Ukraine 24000 miles is a new car xD Nice car, nice driving, nice everything, love RAV4
Hey I’m from Boston well Framingham,😂 I hate driving in Boston so scary. I want this car so bad❤
Did you check your cable gate?
You haven't been to LAX... I haven't been to Logan but it can be as bad as LAX no train or good public transportation and it is almost always a parking lot and it takes 20-30 min once you are there to get to your gate.
That car wash!!! highway to dry it off 😄