This RAV4 Prime is going to make a killing once they become widely available. Alex on Autos is absolutely one of the best automotive channels out there for getting the latest and greatest in the car world.
@@shankhadeepshome3982 You may be right, but I still think that a PHEV crossover will attract a lot of consumers that would be turned off by buying an electrified egg (the Prius Prime).
kr46428 There will be more demand because crossovers are much more popular than the Prius. However, they still won’t sell many because it looks like Toyota has no plans to build them in high volume. You can’t buy what isn’t produced.
In my use case a RAV 4 Prime wold allow me to use 100% electric almost 100% of the time, to and from work. For longer trips and towing the gas engine is there.
It will anyway periodically start engine to keep it in shape. However with heatpump it will happen rare. Also without engine performance will be just average.
@@aka7kak8 My Volt runs the engine periodically. It uses a tiny amount of fuel, maybe a tenth of a gallon or less, basically idling the engine for 10 minutes every couple of months to keep everything lubricated. A person could just set the car in hybrid mode every once in awhile so they're not wasting the energy. You may want to burn the gas off periodically as well, maybe every six months, if you don't do so through normal driving. If you have to use hybrid mode periodically normally, then it's not an issue.
Upd Late question is when is that going to be happening because right now it’s taking a long time for just electric stations to be in every corner of every state. I would hate to road trip in just an electric vehicle right now guessing where and what stations are available limiting my road trip. Also with a range of 40 miles on the rav4 plug-in is more than enough for majority of people who work when they can just plug at home when getting home from work.
By using the electric mode to much you will destroy your petrol engine AND your battery lifetime sooner then necessary. Running the petrol engine once a week isn't good enough. At least change your engine oil more often then, if you stick to it. Also loading the battery to 100% during the night is not good. These battery's are most stable at a 50% load.
I always appreciate your attention to detail with correcting your spoken mistakes with a caption on screen! Many others don’t, and IMO, lose credibility when rushing their videos out. Human error is natural.
After moving along the spectrum of low fuel consumption cars I've left hybrids behind. I had two Prius hybrids which were great cars but they only got about 50mpg. Now 50mpg was really good 10 years ago but I consider it old technology today. For me a PHEV is a huge step in mpg which can easily be double that of a hybrid depending on the model chosen. So there is no contest here. I'd go for the RAV4 Prime any day. One of the biggest advantages of a PHEV is it can be charged at home. No more stopping at gas stations, standing in the cold, wind, and rain. I fill our PHEV with gas about 10 times per year instead of 50 times for a hybrid. We plug in at home and the car is always full of energy every morning and often in the middle of the day as well. It takes less than 10 seconds to plug in. For those, like us, who have a solar roof the car is charged with the cleanest power available, and it's free. I don't have a full breakdown but our solar system coupled with the PHEV is saving us about $2,250 per year.
What did you spend on your solar system and what are the wattage specs needed for your Prime, volts, charge times and range? Have you tried portable options for camping adventures?
Ricardo, are you willing to pay $20K over the factory price? That's what I was quoted and the dealer called me last week if I wanted to see it as they were getting one in. They called me and a bunch of other buyers to come up and hope we bid up the purchase price. That happened to me in 1998 when the Sienna first came out. Even with the federal tax credit, your paying close to $50K. Its a car that most people cannot get unless their willing to pay Tesla price level.
Getting over 43 mpg after some practice in my new RAV4 hybrid! Initially, I was doing too much. I was trying to use the electric ability as much as possible. Watching the graphic engine power graphic...charging the battery/using the battery...trying to avoid the ICE. Shooting for the "Pulse and glide method." After about 2 weeks, I embraced some ideas that have earned 3mpg better. First, I learned that using the electric battery (process of charging the electric battery with the gas engine) is not without its own parasitic drain...and second, the ICE engine is very efficient in its own right. So, I started doing less jockeying of the vehicle to "stay in electric" and let it do it's own thing...It will do the work for you! It will choose the most efficient mode of operation. I do look ahead to anticipate stops and incorporate coasting time. I do speed up gradually. In forums and on youtube I've seen the proposal to: "get up to speed so you can coast and get off the ICE engine." This sounds well thought out...and I wasn't gunning it to get to speed either...just not delaying....anyway...it wasn't panning out. I just speed up gradually...slow down gradually and let the car do the rest. 43.6 mpg average now. It was enlightening to me to see the vehicle get its best numbers after taking a highway trip when it should be less efficient as hybrids go. But...the highway driving limited my ability to jockey the electric battery and I had to allow the vehicle to do its own thing. And surprise, surprise...the average mpg shot up. It's just that simple.
I bought a Tesla Model Y, but I honestly hope that the Rav4 Prime sells well. It's a great interim vehicle to get people used to driving electric, without the range anxiety worries in case they need to drive far, or just simply forgot to plug in the previous night. I just wish Toyota wasn't so negative on full fledged plug-in electric vehicles, like the Rav4 EV they had about a decade ago.
Worth pointing out that the heat pump will have reduced effectiveness in freezing weather due to frost buildup on the heat exchanger. Toyota acknowledges this themselves in the RAV4 Prime owner's manual. I'll be curious to see how it performs and the improvement it yields over the non-plugin hybrid when winter comes around.
@@mr.hamiltom5440 Interesting. Where did you find this information? In the manual all I see is the recommendation to turn on the A/C so the heat pump works in reverse to defrost the heat exchanger.
Just because the car is faster does not rate it higher in my mind. I do not buy a car to see how fast it can go in 6 seconds. Few if any really care and every reviewer seems to parrot these facts as a big plus to buy the vehicle. I thing it is stupid to even stress this point as a major plus.
Patrick Faiola I agree. I feel that because he loves to talk about acceleration and handling he simply picks those if they do those well. That’s why for instance he picks the Germans or honda over Toyota or Lexus. Good example: Corolla vs civic or x3 vs nx: He chooses civic any day because of performance and handling, and the x3 because it’s RWD and faster. But overall Patrick I agree 100% with you. He and other outlets tend to be too biased just because of performance or handling. For me I have a v6 Camry. I know it’s fast but I don’t care. I bought it mainly because the engine is so smooth and quiet and it’s unique. And it doesn’t have any compromise that would irritate me
Alex, when you say that the payback time may be long because electricity is cheap, maybe you mean it's because gas is cheap? Cheap electricity would actually shorten the payback time.
In California the RAV4 Prime is not currently on the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project list. That being the case, no cash rebate. Also, every dealer I’ve talked with said the dealer markup will be at least $5,000. Most likely gonna be about $55,000 out the door for the Prime XSE. There is the potential $7500 federal tax credit for those that qualify, but if you don’t owe that much in taxes, it’s not much help.
Alex, I'm a fan of your reviews.- thank you. Motorweek just turned in their 2019 RAV4 Hybrid test vehicle with over 17,000 miles and averaged 38.6 MPGe. If I had the opportunity to buy a Prime in Canada I'm there. However, it looks like with current rate of production and wait times are a year out. A lot can happen between now and Fall of 2021. Patiently waiting for this or the next big thing. Interesting times for Reviewers and Automotive Buffs.
Alex, thank you for the detailed reviews. It’s always appreciated and I always learn a lot. I’m super excited to get my RAV4 Prime after owning a trouble free 2007 Camry with 200,000 miles. Keep them coming Alex, thank you.
How do you really feel about that? I have a 2009 Camry LE V6 and dude, I just CANNOT see myself ever letting it go until it either gets totaled or the wheels literally fall off. However, I have been in love with this new Rav4 ever since it made its debut in 2019. I think replacing my Camry V6 with a Rav4 Prime would be a solid choice.
@Jeff Trouble free 2007 Camry? Really? Mine drinks engine oil like a drunken sailor. However, besides that issue, it's been relative faithful - as it also approaches its 200, 000 mile mark
Good luck getting one unless your on the west or east coast. Dealer called me last week and said none in the mid-west until 2021. They had me on list to contact and said they just got off conference call with Toyota and told none for this area this year. Much disappointed.
My local San Diego County dealer has over 40 people on a waiting list for it. Expects fall availability. They should have a test model in the showroom by August. It looks like a perfect vehicle for short commutes. I've been looking at the Prius Prime, but the road noise is problematic. Looking forward to your July 1st driving test. I hope reality matches up to the hype. With a 150k battery warranty, it would make a great ten-year vehicle. You could easily save over ten grand compared to a gasoline SUV over that time period.
Not sure if the dealership actually has 40 real buyers ready and able to follow through with a purchase, but it doesn’t matter because they really only need 1 or 2 because there will be so few produced. It is guaranteed that there will be more buyers than the tiny dribble of RAV4 Primes that make their way to dealer lots. Some dealerships will get none at all and the highest volume dealers might only get a handful. Buyers will be better off waiting for the $41K base Tesla Model Y that may be out only a few months later. If you order a Model Y, you will be able to receive one at some point. Either within days or within a few months at worst. If you try to buy a RAV4 Prime, there is 90% chance you won’t be able to get one even if you are willing to pay markup.
Mark Brand The issue with buying one is that Toyota is building very few. So, you will likely not be able to buy one at any price because dealers won’t have any to sell. If they have one, it will go to the highest bidder which will make it not make economic sense at marked up prices.
Great vehicle but how many years will 2,300 dollars extra pay in electric over gas savings? For me it would be a decade and electricity is cheap where I live.
@@webcomment8895 I was quoted $20K over the suggested retail price. Most people will probably be waiting over a year for this SUV. Waiting to see what Tesla has for their battery day in September. With the prime close to $50K selling price, I would go with the Model Y when their quality gets better.
@@dchow007 look at the new facelifted 2021 Q5e! The premium plus trim comes with more standard features than ever before. Negotiate to invoice price and claim 6712 credit, price is mid 40s
Hopefully the regular RAV4 XSE Hybrid will be available in atomic red for 2021. I plan on buying one this fall and hear getting a prime is going to be difficult because of high demand.
A Venza Prime would be really awesome (although I think I like the boxy angles of the RAV4 just a bit more). My guess is that they're going to see how the "regular" hybrid Venza does for a couple years before they roll out a Prime version, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have engineers working on this already.
The new Venza will have the same engine/motor setup as the RAV4 hybrid's. So I guess it's pretty straight forward to use the same RAV4's Prime setup in the Venza. The only issue is the manufacturing capacity of the battery/motor/hybrid systems.
The local ads say we have plenty of Toyotas in stock, while the reality says we have a huge dance floor for a showroom ,and you guessed it, No cars in stock.
I watched the video and I'm not sure if I understood correctly... So in fact, "inside" a RAV4 PHEV there is a RAV4 HEV? Is this analogy correct? From what I understand, when the first charge of the PHEV ends (the charge that was made at the home socket) it will automatically start acting as if it were a RAV4 HEV, that is, the car itself will manage the recharging/usage/recharging of the battery. Is that it?
On my RAV4 Hybrid, the battery never goes below two bars (it always keeps a charge or the ICE kicks in), so I always have ICE+Electric. I imagine they wouldn’t have changed the programming for the Prime (we will find out July 1st).
@@abinyahwalker7034 Yea well if your ICE is charging your battery you are not getting any more than the ICE is providing. Power doesn't magically appear.
It is always 302 HP, even if you never charge the battery because it is a hybrid with larger battery. Even pure EV is available without ever needing to charge (though, pure EV mileage will be less than a fully charged one). Also, regular 87 octane (up to 30% cheaper than premium fuel) will always provide 550+ miles (with only 14.3 gallon fuel tank) and 302 HP...so, if you can't afford to re-charge....no worries...unlike the BMW X5 hybrid which will provide only 400 miles with fully charged battery as well as require premium fuel.
Alex, for me personally I'd rather have a higher bump in EV range than have the extra power. I did a video on my Clarity PHEV which I think might still be the better PHEV if you don't need the high trunk height of a crossover.
Already has the highest electric range of ANY Hybred........AND, Stupid, You cannot get better EV range by making the electric motors smaller.................Paul
Retired senior also, consider the tax credit and state rebate (depends on which state you live in), prime may actually be cheaper or the same out of pocket cost as a regular hybrid and makes it a worthy choice. I purchased a Prius Prime when it came out and proven to be cheaper than Prius after tax credit and state rebate in CA. May trade in Prius Prime for a RAV4 Prime after the initial high demand in late 2021 or 2022. Toyota holds better than BMW in maintenance cost.
@@DUNGSTA I'll pass you when you get pulled over :-D haha.. I just got a hybrid Limited... I waited for a long time for the prime, unfortunately, between the added price, the probable markup and the fact that I cannot charge it at my apartment are all dealbreakers, the hybrid is a perfect compromise for ~$15k less
A year and a half later, my shopping trips for a 2022 Prime vs hybrid RAV 4 is you can't always expect only a $2000 difference between the two. Dealer greed aka "acquiaition fee" is ridiculous around MA (Woburn=$47000, god knows what else). Once you add up options, despite the Fed. rebate, the Rav is going to remain well over 40K before tax, unless you find a "barebones" stripper model (which I don't think exists. Plus, if you don't have access to a nightly plug in, the economic advantage in mileage drops substantially for the Prime. Clearly, the Hybrid is the practical choice, the Prime a performance small SUV whose price is marginally below the Highlander, at decidedly less "unique" trim (seats, dash, appearance). Maybe they'll have a lot of bling for the aftermarket in Prime-o-vera line. I see it as too barrent in terms of appearance to shell 50k, for a second per 0-60. Yes, it does handle better with the low battery in the Prime, but my wife held the chequebook open for the Rav Hybrid, saying below $40k is (* ()$# enough! Granted she bought a Forester Limited in 14 for 25K all taxes, but that car was an oil burner like the old butter movied popcorn machines...got the engine swapped at only 40K miles (Suburu-Share The Cheap=shoulda fought for a new car from them), btw. Either car, you are subject to colors and options on the basis of whether the dealer can be convinced to actually care to look. Now that ECU and other chip components (and shipping from that moronic CA blockade of our US economy) are over, you may be able to decide on the seat of your pants speed, or all rounder, and just a little bit better pricing. All in all, the dealers are playing hardball about prices well to go up at least 750-2200usd every model year....whether you wanna burn rubber or less gasoline! J.H-Boston area: 2022 SLE Hybrid, Bluepoint Blue, all other conditions were at least until summertime (i.e 4-6 month wait for our colour choice).
You are the Best !!! Here in Canada finding a hybrid for sale at a dealer is like a needle in a haystack! unless you order one and wait! could not try one at 3 dealer..low supply vehicules...sucks~!!!!!!!!
It definitely has the power and equipment of something more expensive. Having a battery will make things expensive because battery supply is limited worldwide
I hate the fussy Toyota styling of late, but the package is really good. Forty-two miles of EV range is good, and the performance is even better. Can't lose basically.
So what happens if someone takes the thing off road and slams the battery into a particularly sharp rock? Even if its not marketed as an offroad vehicle I guarantee someone will push their luck because its an AWD crossover.
Alex you mentioned that the rav4 prime is the fastest 4 door Toyota. But that’s technically incorrect because the v6 Camry is also as fast. Both get 300hp and both do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds
kr46428 Alex got 5.7 seconds in his 2018 v6 Camry test. So if the rav4 prime also gets 5.7 seconds, then they both tie for the fastest 4 door Toyota’s available
Let's face it, with the electric power the Prime will at least FEEL faster even if 0-60 is the same. And at the very least it will kick trash off the line.
When you calculate the “payback” between the Prime and the hybrid RAV, you are not considering the fact that with the Prime you are getting a power train upgrade. You get an extra 83 horsepower. What do you think the premium would be if you were buying a vehicle, and wanted the upgraded engine with a 80+ horsepower difference? $2000?
And what if you don’t care about getting more horsepower? Then you are paying for something you never asked for. Many would prefer either more electric range for the same price or the same range with a significantly lower price and would be willing to give up the 80 hp to get either one of those options.
The Prime would definitely be a better choice if it was selling at MSRP or below. It is, however, selling $8k-$9k ABOVE, while Regular Hybrid is selling BELOW MSRP. Unless anyone has different information, I'll take the regular hybrid at more that $10k less than the Prime.
So the difference between the 2 is the Hybrid is both gas AND electric, but electric portion of it is self-charging while the Prime is totally 100% electric ONLY and needs to be plugged in to charge it . . . . . . do I have that right???
The RAV4 Prime reminds me of a conversation I had with a Toyota salesman in 2013 or so about the RAV4 with a 3.5L V6. "It's kinda embarrassing that the fastest vehicle on our lot is a compact crossover," he said. Of course what killed the RAV4 V6 was its terrible fuel economy (for a compact crossover). Around 22 mpg as I recall. Sales were so bad that you might be able to find an unsold example sitting in the back of a dealer lot somewhere even today. (OK, that's probably an exaggeration.) Toyota hasn't made that mistake with the RAV4 Prime. If it lives up to Toyota's claim of about 6 seconds from 0 to 60 it will be about as quick as a Ford Edge ST with about twice the mpg's. Damn impressive.
As you mentioned honda hybrid on the driveway, will you compare it to prime sometime? After all honda i-mmd drives like EV just sometimes ICE might be heard.
I have a bike rack that needs a hitch. Will the automatic tailgate not work if the hitch is installed? Also, if I put in the bike rack, will the back camera be blocked by the bike rack? In other words, the two features of back camera and auto open tailgate would be undermined by the hitched bike rack. Instead, I should invest in a bike rack system on the top of the car (which is not good for me since I'm short and small and can't carry my bike up the roof of the car). Still deciding between the Prime and regular hybrid. Limited supplies and mark up prices will most likely lead me to a simpler one. Thanks!
Ok, so now that we have our lovely 2019 Rav4 Hybrid the new shiny toy comes. Alex, can you talk about the financials for trading up to the Prime if you purchased your 2019 Rav4 Hybrid (we got the XSE with the max pkg, btw) and what the depreciation is going to look like for the current Hybrid? I guess that depends on what they sell the Rav4 Hybrid for in the lineup once this is released. We love our car, but we'd be on plug power pretty much all the time if we had the prime. Also, does your Hybrid suffer from the fuel tank issue? Thanks for the videos, can't wait for Part Deux of the review!
Great stuff Alex as usual. Hey Alex can you talk about snow chains and hybrids. When we bought our hybrid, we had to sign a document that said we wouldnt use snow chains with our vehicle. From my own research my understanding is when you buy any hybrid vehicles, honda, toyota, ford, they make you sign that same document to not use snow chains. Do you know why? And can we actually use snow chains?
I live in a rural area where the grocery store is about 15 miles away. My usual travels are about 20 miles or more away. I am guessing that the plug in PRIME is best for me. I read that the other Toyota RAV4 regenerate their battery by the start and stop of traffic in city life. So with that consideration I am thinking that a plug-in is best for me. I drive on a highway and rarely see a traffic light. Could you to me if I am correct in my explanation?
I think it makes no sense to build a hybrid and NOT throw a plug on it, even if it has a 15 mile range. You've added 80% of the weight, cost, hardware, and complexity needed to make it a PHEV... might as well go all the way and have most of your mileage be electric.
I'm really surprised to hear about waitlists and deposits. I called two of the bigger Toyota dealers in the greater Boston area today. Both claimed no knowledge of when Primes would arrive or would even be officially released, nor were they keeping waitlists. Is this a west coast vs east coast policy difference?
It may be that the RAV4 Prime will be sold first in places like California with stringent air pollution laws, and other states where hybrids are popular such as Oregon and Washington.
You will be waiting for 3 years, because you are expecting Toyota to actually make these in numbers, news flash they wont and dealers will not have them and if they do it will be marked above MSRP
Kinda related question. I'm considering one of these Rav4 Prime to replace a V8 BMW X5 (175kmiles on the clock). There is one thing that I use the X5 for that it does well at and I'm not sure how this Toyota will do. About once a month I make a run from Northern California to Northern Oregon (600 miles), I do it at times and with detection to drive fast. About 85 mph most of the time, but I cruse when I can at 95mph and pass at 110mph if needed. I stop once for gas and get about 17mpg. How do you think this RAV4 Prime would do for this?
Two things made the decision easy for us. Prime=Very limited availability meaning that despite being nearly $10k more than the Hybrid they're selling well over sticker. Two, the huge price difference not worth it for our use. We can probably buy well over 10 years worth of gasoline for ours based on our use patterns.
Could we potentially see substantial dealership markups (due to supply and demand of the prime at get-go) which effectively nullify tax incentives for some buyers?
great preview, looking forward to the test drive to specifically see how the battery size / weight impact the ground clearance, comfort and handling of the vehicle
I would prefer PHEV to be separate of "Prime". I do not care about the fancy trim. I can have a plugin my car-park and almost free electricity in the night. If they add LSD in the rear motor, that would be enough for my AWD needs - slippery Japanese road in rural areas.
Alex, I have never been more excited for a video review as I am for yours on this Rav4 Prime. I hope you post that video up at 12:01 AM! Ha ha! I honestly wished that Toyota would make a Limited or XLE model with smaller tires, maybe like 260 horsepower (as they send an extra 42 HP to the rear motor instead for stronger AWD), and increased EV only range. I feel that Toyota really outdid themselves with this powertrain. I would NOT be surprised if this powertrain replaced their beautiful V6 engine in the future. This is a much more efficient, non-regretful way to enjoy a 300+ HP vehicle. I have a couple of questions though. Could the gasoline engine recharge the battery you would normally charge when you plug it in? In other words, is there a part of the battery or a separate battery that would never get charged if I don't plug it in? Sorry for the maybe stupid question but I am new to hybrids/EVs. Also, can you elaborate on the air conditioning system? Does it have electric air conditioning and can the a/c be operated on electric power only? For example, if I took the car camping and wanted to sleep in it at night, could I run the a/c without using the gasoline engine much or maybe not at all?
There is no difference between charging by plugging it in vs charging with the gas engine. Obviously plugging in is way cheaper than using the gas engine though. Yes the AC is battery powered so you don't need the gas engine running to use it. With only 42 miles or EV range it's not likely that the AC would run all night before the battery is drained.
@@payrocoin The engine will start up and run long enough to recharge the battery while you're sleeping. The transition is usually so smooth you won't notice. The Prius V is large enough to sleep in. Haven't tested the Prime sleeping area yet.
![[Full Episode] MasterChef Junior Thailand มาสเตอร์เชฟ จูเนียร์ ประเทศไทย Season 3 Episode 13](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NlY2uzrALY8/mqdefault.jpg)
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I sub to a few other reviewers and you’re by far the most professional and articulate. Thank you Alex!
This RAV4 Prime is going to make a killing once they become widely available. Alex on Autos is absolutely one of the best automotive channels out there for getting the latest and greatest in the car world.
I doubt it will have wide availability, Prius prime has been out for 3 years and it barely sells. You will be disappointed
@@shankhadeepshome3982 You may be right, but I still think that a PHEV crossover will attract a lot of consumers that would be turned off by buying an electrified egg (the Prius Prime).
kr46428 There will be more demand because crossovers are much more popular than the Prius. However, they still won’t sell many because it looks like Toyota has no plans to build them in high volume.
You can’t buy what isn’t produced.
“Plugs are for butts.” Since I’m here early, thanks for sending me that media Taycan water bottle. Hands-down most knowledgeable and kind car channel.
Wow... Just... Wow...
That's from Throttle House.
th-cam.com/video/VwLxzxsLf1g/w-d-xo.html
@@Eric_the_Hiking 0:50 th-cam.com/video/VwLxzxsLf1g/w-d-xo.html
@@aliendroneservices6621 To save 50 seconds and not get the context is not a good trade-off.
Wait, Alex actually reads our comments? *sweats nervously*
In my use case a RAV 4 Prime wold allow me to use 100% electric almost 100% of the time, to and from work. For longer trips and towing the gas engine is there.
It will anyway periodically start engine to keep it in shape. However with heatpump it will happen rare. Also without engine performance will be just average.
@@aka7kak8 My Volt runs the engine periodically. It uses a tiny amount of fuel, maybe a tenth of a gallon or less, basically idling the engine for 10 minutes every couple of months to keep everything lubricated. A person could just set the car in hybrid mode every once in awhile so they're not wasting the energy. You may want to burn the gas off periodically as well, maybe every six months, if you don't do so through normal driving. If you have to use hybrid mode periodically normally, then it's not an issue.
Once workplace charging becomes more normal, these PHEVs will be able to handle the majority of the populations daily commutes on electric only.
Upd Late question is when is that going to be happening because right now it’s taking a long time for just electric stations to be in every corner of every state. I would hate to road trip in just an electric vehicle right now guessing where and what stations are available limiting my road trip. Also with a range of 40 miles on the rav4 plug-in is more than enough for majority of people who work when they can just plug at home when getting home from work.
By using the electric mode to much you will destroy your petrol engine AND your battery lifetime sooner then necessary. Running the petrol engine once a week isn't good enough. At least change your engine oil more often then, if you stick to it. Also loading the battery to 100% during the night is not good. These battery's are most stable at a 50% load.
I always appreciate your attention to detail with correcting your spoken mistakes with a caption on screen! Many others don’t, and IMO, lose credibility when rushing their videos out. Human error is natural.
most informative,easy to understand independent reviews I have ever heard...100% satisfaction!
I am looking forwards to having RAV-4 Prime in the near future.
After moving along the spectrum of low fuel consumption cars I've left hybrids behind. I had two Prius hybrids which were great cars but they only got about 50mpg. Now 50mpg was really good 10 years ago but I consider it old technology today. For me a PHEV is a huge step in mpg which can easily be double that of a hybrid depending on the model chosen. So there is no contest here. I'd go for the RAV4 Prime any day. One of the biggest advantages of a PHEV is it can be charged at home. No more stopping at gas stations, standing in the cold, wind, and rain. I fill our PHEV with gas about 10 times per year instead of 50 times for a hybrid. We plug in at home and the car is always full of energy every morning and often in the middle of the day as well. It takes less than 10 seconds to plug in. For those, like us, who have a solar roof the car is charged with the cleanest power available, and it's free.
I don't have a full breakdown but our solar system coupled with the PHEV is saving us about $2,250 per year.
Wow. Great idea
What did you spend on your solar system and what are the wattage specs needed for your Prime, volts, charge times and range? Have you tried portable options for camping adventures?
Should have waited for the prime. Still love my 2019 XSE Hybrid.
Ricardo, are you willing to pay $20K over the factory price? That's what I was quoted and the dealer called me last week if I wanted to see it as they were getting one in. They called me and a bunch of other buyers to come up and hope we bid up the purchase price. That happened to me in 1998 when the Sienna first came out. Even with the federal tax credit, your paying close to $50K. Its a car that most people cannot get unless their willing to pay Tesla price level.
Sell your XSE to me and buy the Prime.
Then you'll have no regrets.
I'm pragmatic like that.
If available of course get Prime. It will be more convenient for camping with it's giant battery and outlet.
*First TH-cam video I saw that shows the battery location of the Rav 4 Hybrid & Rav 4 Prime*. Thank You
I think it’s going to be nearly impossible to buy one as the demand is going to be insane and not nearly enough supply. Good Luck!
Not available I hear in March 2022. Must order with a dealership
Getting over 43 mpg after some practice in my new RAV4 hybrid! Initially, I was doing too much. I was trying to use the electric ability as much as possible. Watching the graphic engine power graphic...charging the battery/using the battery...trying to avoid the ICE. Shooting for the "Pulse and glide method." After about 2 weeks, I embraced some ideas that have earned 3mpg better. First, I learned that using the electric battery (process of charging the electric battery with the gas engine) is not without its own parasitic drain...and second, the ICE engine is very efficient in its own right. So, I started doing less jockeying of the vehicle to "stay in electric" and let it do it's own thing...It will do the work for you! It will choose the most efficient mode of operation. I do look ahead to anticipate stops and incorporate coasting time. I do speed up gradually. In forums and on youtube I've seen the proposal to: "get up to speed so you can coast and get off the ICE engine." This sounds well thought out...and I wasn't gunning it to get to speed either...just not delaying....anyway...it wasn't panning out. I just speed up gradually...slow down gradually and let the car do the rest. 43.6 mpg average now. It was enlightening to me to see the vehicle get its best numbers after taking a highway trip when it should be less efficient as hybrids go. But...the highway driving limited my ability to jockey the electric battery and I had to allow the vehicle to do its own thing. And surprise, surprise...the average mpg shot up. It's just that simple.
Quit posting the same thing everywhere
it's going to be hot sell, but I really like the new venza and the slightest hope for the venza prime holds my breath to death
I bought a Tesla Model Y, but I honestly hope that the Rav4 Prime sells well. It's a great interim vehicle to get people used to driving electric, without the range anxiety worries in case they need to drive far, or just simply forgot to plug in the previous night. I just wish Toyota wasn't so negative on full fledged plug-in electric vehicles, like the Rav4 EV they had about a decade ago.
I want toyota to continue being negative on evs
Worth pointing out that the heat pump will have reduced effectiveness in freezing weather due to frost buildup on the heat exchanger. Toyota acknowledges this themselves in the RAV4 Prime owner's manual. I'll be curious to see how it performs and the improvement it yields over the non-plugin hybrid when winter comes around.
You can use the engine and inverter radiators to preheat the heat pump.
@@mr.hamiltom5440 Interesting. Where did you find this information? In the manual all I see is the recommendation to turn on the A/C so the heat pump works in reverse to defrost the heat exchanger.
While the effectiveness is reduced, it simply nears 100% efficiency. It's worth having as it also functions as an AC.
Another TH-cam video covers this. Doesn’t work below a certain temperature without turning on the ICE
1.5 year waiting list here in Kansas. Without the EV tax credit, $38k is too high a price for the average consumer...
Just because the car is faster does not rate it higher in my mind. I do not buy a car to see how fast it can go in 6 seconds. Few if any really care and every reviewer seems to parrot these facts as a big plus to buy the vehicle. I thing it is stupid to even stress this point as a major plus.
Patrick Faiola I agree. I feel that because he loves to talk about acceleration and handling he simply picks those if they do those well. That’s why for instance he picks the Germans or honda over Toyota or Lexus. Good example: Corolla vs civic or x3 vs nx: He chooses civic any day because of performance and handling, and the x3 because it’s RWD and faster.
But overall Patrick I agree 100% with you. He and other outlets tend to be too biased just because of performance or handling.
For me I have a v6 Camry. I know it’s fast but I don’t care. I bought it mainly because the engine is so smooth and quiet and it’s unique. And it doesn’t have any compromise that would irritate me
You haven't talked about the refueling/range issue (gas tank design) with the RAV4 Hybrid or whether this has been addressed in the Prime.
Alex, when you say that the payback time may be long because electricity is cheap, maybe you mean it's because gas is cheap? Cheap electricity would actually shorten the payback time.
This didn’t age well. Gas WAS cheap.
In California the RAV4 Prime is not currently on the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project list. That being the case, no cash rebate. Also, every dealer I’ve talked with said the dealer markup will be at least $5,000. Most likely gonna be about $55,000 out the door for the Prime XSE. There is the potential $7500 federal tax credit for those that qualify, but if you don’t owe that much in taxes, it’s not much help.
Alex, I'm a fan of your reviews.- thank you. Motorweek just turned in their 2019 RAV4 Hybrid test vehicle with over 17,000 miles and averaged 38.6 MPGe. If I had the opportunity to buy a Prime in Canada I'm there. However, it looks like with current rate of production and wait times are a year out. A lot can happen between now and Fall of 2021. Patiently waiting for this or the next big thing. Interesting times for Reviewers and Automotive Buffs.
The price could go higher!
Alex, thank you for the detailed reviews. It’s always appreciated and I always learn a lot. I’m super excited to get my RAV4 Prime after owning a trouble free 2007 Camry with 200,000 miles. Keep them coming Alex, thank you.
How do you really feel about that? I have a 2009 Camry LE V6 and dude, I just CANNOT see myself ever letting it go until it either gets totaled or the wheels literally fall off. However, I have been in love with this new Rav4 ever since it made its debut in 2019. I think replacing my Camry V6 with a Rav4 Prime would be a solid choice.
@Jeff Trouble free 2007 Camry? Really? Mine drinks engine oil like a drunken sailor. However, besides that issue, it's been relative faithful - as it also approaches its 200, 000 mile mark
Good luck getting one unless your on the west or east coast. Dealer called me last week and said none in the mid-west until 2021. They had me on list to contact and said they just got off conference call with Toyota and told none for this area this year. Much disappointed.
My local San Diego County dealer has over 40 people on a waiting list for it. Expects fall availability. They should have a test model in the showroom by August. It looks like a perfect vehicle for short commutes. I've been looking at the Prius Prime, but the road noise is problematic. Looking forward to your July 1st driving test. I hope reality matches up to the hype. With a 150k battery warranty, it would make a great ten-year vehicle. You could easily save over ten grand compared to a gasoline SUV over that time period.
Not sure if the dealership actually has 40 real buyers ready and able to follow through with a purchase, but it doesn’t matter because they really only need 1 or 2 because there will be so few produced. It is guaranteed that there will be more buyers than the tiny dribble of RAV4 Primes that make their way to dealer lots.
Some dealerships will get none at all and the highest volume dealers might only get a handful.
Buyers will be better off waiting for the $41K base Tesla Model Y that may be out only a few months later.
If you order a Model Y, you will be able to receive one at some point. Either within days or within a few months at worst. If you try to buy a RAV4 Prime, there is 90% chance you won’t be able to get one even if you are willing to pay markup.
If you are able to get the tax credit, the prime is a no brainer. You get plug-in ability, 300HP, and SE AWD trim for only $2,300 more.
SE difference 2300 what abt advanced trims price difference?
Mark Brand The issue with buying one is that Toyota is building very few. So, you will likely not be able to buy one at any price because dealers won’t have any to sell. If they have one, it will go to the highest bidder which will make it not make economic sense at marked up prices.
Great vehicle but how many years will 2,300 dollars extra pay in electric over gas savings? For me it would be a decade and electricity is cheap where I live.
@@webcomment8895 I was quoted $20K over the suggested retail price. Most people will probably be waiting over a year for this SUV. Waiting to see what Tesla has for their battery day in September. With the prime close to $50K selling price, I would go with the Model Y when their quality gets better.
@@dchow007 look at the new facelifted 2021 Q5e! The premium plus trim comes with more standard features than ever before. Negotiate to invoice price and claim 6712 credit, price is mid 40s
Being able to plug in a hybrid vehicle is interesting. There would be more battery-only range, but also increased costs 🤔
More costs? Doubtful.
Hopefully the regular RAV4 XSE Hybrid will be available in atomic red for 2021. I plan on buying one this fall and hear getting a prime is going to be difficult because of high demand.
Maybe with the prime on the lots, we might get a better deal on the hybrid
They’ll probably reserve that color for only the prime
Atomic Red with that glossy black trim would be fantastic1
This interesting! Any chance of a Venza Prime? I like the look better . . .
A Venza Prime would be really awesome (although I think I like the boxy angles of the RAV4 just a bit more). My guess is that they're going to see how the "regular" hybrid Venza does for a couple years before they roll out a Prime version, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have engineers working on this already.
venza prime would be sick
@@bob15479 totally!
The new Venza will have the same engine/motor setup as the RAV4 hybrid's. So I guess it's pretty straight forward to use the same RAV4's Prime setup in the Venza. The only issue is the manufacturing capacity of the battery/motor/hybrid systems.
Harrier is a cool name, why did they change it to Venza?! :(
We need many more places to plug it in, before I would even consider buying just the plug-in.
Performance hybrid is good up to the point when they enlarge ICE and make it less efficient.
You must have missed the part where the dealers are charging $5,000 over MSRP for the vehicles in 2022
The local ads say we have plenty of Toyotas in stock, while the reality says we have a huge dance floor for a showroom ,and you guessed it, No cars in stock.
I watched the video and I'm not sure if I understood correctly... So in fact, "inside" a RAV4 PHEV there is a RAV4 HEV? Is this analogy correct? From what I understand, when the first charge of the PHEV ends (the charge that was made at the home socket) it will automatically start acting as if it were a RAV4 HEV, that is, the car itself will manage the recharging/usage/recharging of the battery. Is that it?
This is a great review. Looking forward for more information on the RAV-4 Prime in July.
More info the Aug
August the 4th.
Is the Prime always 302 HP or only when it's fully charged?
Good question. It's only 302 hp when the battery has a charge. I'm not sure if it needs to be fully charged or not, but I don't think so.
On my RAV4 Hybrid, the battery never goes below two bars (it always keeps a charge or the ICE kicks in), so I always have ICE+Electric. I imagine they wouldn’t have changed the programming for the Prime (we will find out July 1st).
@@abinyahwalker7034 Yea well if your ICE is charging your battery you are not getting any more than the ICE is providing. Power doesn't magically appear.
@@shankhadeepshome3982 However, unless you are actively accelerating you only use a fraction of the maximum power output of a gas engine.
It is always 302 HP, even if you never charge the battery because it is a hybrid with larger battery. Even pure EV is available without ever needing to charge (though, pure EV mileage will be less than a fully charged one). Also, regular 87 octane (up to 30% cheaper than premium fuel) will always provide 550+ miles (with only 14.3 gallon fuel tank) and 302 HP...so, if you can't afford to re-charge....no worries...unlike the BMW X5 hybrid which will provide only 400 miles with fully charged battery as well as require premium fuel.
Great video Alex!
Looks really promising. Fantastic video, thank you
Alex, for me personally I'd rather have a higher bump in EV range than have the extra power. I did a video on my Clarity PHEV which I think might still be the better PHEV if you don't need the high trunk height of a crossover.
Wait for the second gen Prime.
I'm sure they'll address that issue by then.
Already has the highest electric range of ANY Hybred........AND, Stupid, You cannot get better EV range by making the electric motors smaller.................Paul
RAV 4 Hybrid is more than adequate for me as a retired senior
See you in the rear view
Dungsta 😂😂😂 I might get one myself once I turn 16 because I ain’t gettin no Prius
Retired senior also, consider the tax credit and state rebate (depends on which state you live in), prime may actually be cheaper or the same out of pocket cost as a regular hybrid and makes it a worthy choice. I purchased a Prius Prime when it came out and proven to be cheaper than Prius after tax credit and state rebate in CA. May trade in Prius Prime for a RAV4 Prime after the initial high demand in late 2021 or 2022. Toyota holds better than BMW in maintenance cost.
@@ALWH1314 I think you'll be more comfortable in a suv with awd
@@DUNGSTA I'll pass you when you get pulled over :-D haha.. I just got a hybrid Limited... I waited for a long time for the prime, unfortunately, between the added price, the probable markup and the fact that I cannot charge it at my apartment are all dealbreakers, the hybrid is a perfect compromise for ~$15k less
Hoping we get one this year in the Midwest, they will be extremely rare folks.
A year and a half later, my shopping trips for a 2022 Prime vs hybrid RAV 4 is you can't always expect only a $2000 difference between the two. Dealer greed aka "acquiaition fee" is ridiculous around MA (Woburn=$47000, god knows what else). Once you add up options, despite the Fed. rebate, the Rav is going to remain well over 40K before tax, unless you find a "barebones" stripper model (which I don't think exists. Plus, if you don't have access to a nightly plug in, the economic advantage in mileage drops substantially for the Prime. Clearly, the Hybrid is the practical choice, the Prime a performance small SUV whose price is marginally below the Highlander, at decidedly less "unique" trim (seats, dash, appearance). Maybe they'll have a lot of bling for the aftermarket in Prime-o-vera line. I see it as too barrent in terms of appearance to shell 50k, for a second per 0-60. Yes, it does handle better with the low battery in the Prime, but my wife held the chequebook open for the Rav Hybrid, saying below $40k is (* ()$# enough! Granted she bought a Forester Limited in 14 for 25K all taxes, but that car was an oil burner like the old butter movied popcorn machines...got the engine swapped at only 40K miles (Suburu-Share The Cheap=shoulda fought for a new car from them), btw.
Either car, you are subject to colors and options on the basis of whether the dealer can be convinced to actually care to look. Now that ECU and other chip components (and shipping from that moronic CA blockade of our US economy) are over, you may be able to decide on the seat of your pants speed, or all rounder, and just a little bit better pricing. All in all, the dealers are playing hardball about prices well to go up at least 750-2200usd every model year....whether you wanna burn rubber or less gasoline!
J.H-Boston area: 2022 SLE Hybrid, Bluepoint Blue, all other conditions were at least until summertime (i.e 4-6 month wait for our colour choice).
You are the Best !!! Here in Canada finding a hybrid for sale at a dealer is like a needle in a haystack! unless you order one and wait! could not try one at 3 dealer..low supply vehicules...sucks~!!!!!!!!
bought as used one instead finally..out of frustration
The price controls everything. This rav4 prime is not cheap and entered into a category larger than its size at this price...
You get what you get and you don't get upset
It definitely has the power and equipment of something more expensive. Having a battery will make things expensive because battery supply is limited worldwide
Performance approach gives an additional solid incentive to folk out extra 2 grand.
Almost ready to get the prime. Thanks for the info.
The government wants us to go electric but who the heck can afford this!?
The towing capacity is disappointing on the Prime. Wish it did 3500 lbs. Looking at the 2021 Kia Sorento now.
I hate the fussy Toyota styling of late, but the package is really good. Forty-two miles of EV range is good, and the performance is even better. Can't lose basically.
I’m a little concerned about the under-body battery safety...It looks even less protected than Tesla?
So what happens if someone takes the thing off road and slams the battery into a particularly sharp rock? Even if its not marketed as an offroad vehicle I guarantee someone will push their luck because its an AWD crossover.
Vergo Bret exactly. They are at risk when hitting something on the trail...
Alex you mentioned that the rav4 prime is the fastest 4 door Toyota. But that’s technically incorrect because the v6 Camry is also as fast. Both get 300hp and both do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds
Who cares
I thought the V6 camry did 0-60 in 5.8 seconds.
kr46428 Alex got 5.7 seconds in his 2018 v6 Camry test.
So if the rav4 prime also gets 5.7 seconds, then they both tie for the fastest 4 door Toyota’s available
Let's face it, with the electric power the Prime will at least FEEL faster even if 0-60 is the same. And at the very least it will kick trash off the line.
Did you say plug-in or not . If I missed please tell.
When you calculate the “payback” between the Prime and the hybrid RAV, you are not considering the fact that with the Prime you are getting a power train upgrade.
You get an extra 83 horsepower.
What do you think the premium would be if you were buying a vehicle, and wanted the upgraded engine with a 80+ horsepower difference? $2000?
Gas mileage different between the two?``
On some cars that's not even an option. For example, Ford escape will set you back $3300 for 250hp turbo. Granted that adds AWD.
And what if you don’t care about getting more horsepower? Then you are paying for something you never asked for.
Many would prefer either more electric range for the same price or the same range with a significantly lower price and would be willing to give up the 80 hp to get either one of those options.
I'd like a restyled Ford S-Max with Toyota Hybrid tech. It would be a perfect car for me.
I want the prime! In 🇨🇦 it is a two year wait! Some dealerships, longer.
Also depending on your region, good luck finding one.
That 42 miles of all EV is more than I need for daily driving. Only if it were in a Highlander-sized vehicle.
So glad I spent 50k on a rav4 hybrid xse with gas tank issues 8 months ago... NOT. Would have loved to use that money towards a prime.
Thanks for enlighten us in this regard...appreciated!
The Prime would definitely be a better choice if it was selling at MSRP or below. It is, however, selling $8k-$9k ABOVE, while Regular Hybrid is selling BELOW MSRP. Unless anyone has different information, I'll take the regular hybrid at more that $10k less than the Prime.
Very insightful video. Thank you!
I have 50mpg (without stopping)in a 2015 (old)outlander on 100-300miles road trip, 60mpg under 100miles!
I'm guessing Toyota also put an "embargo" on speaking of their gas tank issue on the Rav4...
SIMPLESMENTE FANTÁSTICO. Somente um DETALHE não VOA.
So the difference between the 2 is the Hybrid is both gas AND electric, but electric portion of it is self-charging while the Prime is totally 100% electric ONLY and needs to be plugged in to charge it . . . . . . do I have that right???
Great review as always
Is the RAV4 Prime quieter than the non plug-in RAV4's ?
I'm SOOOO disappointed that Australia isn't getting the Prime!!! Obviously there's not enough demand for plug in hybrids here.
I guess there hasn't been enough forest fires in Australia to prove their worth.
The RAV4 Prime reminds me of a conversation I had with a Toyota salesman in 2013 or so about the RAV4 with a 3.5L V6. "It's kinda embarrassing that the fastest vehicle on our lot is a compact crossover," he said. Of course what killed the RAV4 V6 was its terrible fuel economy (for a compact crossover). Around 22 mpg as I recall. Sales were so bad that you might be able to find an unsold example sitting in the back of a dealer lot somewhere even today. (OK, that's probably an exaggeration.) Toyota hasn't made that mistake with the RAV4 Prime. If it lives up to Toyota's claim of about 6 seconds from 0 to 60 it will be about as quick as a Ford Edge ST with about twice the mpg's. Damn impressive.
Funny, according to Car & Driver tests the RAV4 V6 was more fuel efficient than all but one if its 4 cylinder competitors.
Or a prius prime trd with 200 whp 201 ft tq
Maybe in the future I would get a prime but right now it's outside of my budget and plug in charging is not convenient right now.
Hi Alex I’m new to your channel, I live in Toronto, Canada. Between RAV4 Prime and Honda Clarity Touring which one will u recommend, thx in advance
down the rabbit hole
As you mentioned honda hybrid on the driveway, will you compare it to prime sometime? After all honda i-mmd drives like EV just sometimes ICE might be heard.
I have a bike rack that needs a hitch. Will the automatic tailgate not work if the hitch is installed? Also, if I put in the bike rack, will the back camera be blocked by the bike rack? In other words, the two features of back camera and auto open tailgate would be undermined by the hitched bike rack. Instead, I should invest in a bike rack system on the top of the car (which is not good for me since I'm short and small and can't carry my bike up the roof of the car). Still deciding between the Prime and regular hybrid. Limited supplies and mark up prices will most likely lead me to a simpler one. Thanks!
Ok, so now that we have our lovely 2019 Rav4 Hybrid the new shiny toy comes. Alex, can you talk about the financials for trading up to the Prime if you purchased your 2019 Rav4 Hybrid (we got the XSE with the max pkg, btw) and what the depreciation is going to look like for the current Hybrid? I guess that depends on what they sell the Rav4 Hybrid for in the lineup once this is released. We love our car, but we'd be on plug power pretty much all the time if we had the prime. Also, does your Hybrid suffer from the fuel tank issue? Thanks for the videos, can't wait for Part Deux of the review!
Great stuff Alex as usual. Hey Alex can you talk about snow chains and hybrids. When we bought our hybrid, we had to sign a document that said we wouldnt use snow chains with our vehicle. From my own research my understanding is when you buy any hybrid vehicles, honda, toyota, ford, they make you sign that same document to not use snow chains. Do you know why? And can we actually use snow chains?
If they could produce these at volume, they will be the highest sold car in America. Easy..😀 Thanks for great review as always, can’t wait for July.
Imagine the rav4 hybrid power train in a prius
When RAV4 prime up to $50000, I will go for buying Venza or Lexus NX...
Exactly. 50k just for MSRP. Then they add taxes and fees.. itll be a lot more
They’re going for 67,000 used in Chicagoland on primes and hybrid up to 45,000 on 2019 xse versions
I live in a rural area where the grocery store is about 15 miles away. My usual travels are about 20 miles or more away. I am guessing that the plug in PRIME is best for me. I read that the other Toyota RAV4 regenerate their battery by the start and stop of traffic in city life. So with that consideration I am thinking that a plug-in is best for me. I drive on a highway and rarely see a traffic light. Could you to me if I am correct in my explanation?
I think it makes no sense to build a hybrid and NOT throw a plug on it, even if it has a 15 mile range. You've added 80% of the weight, cost, hardware, and complexity needed to make it a PHEV... might as well go all the way and have most of your mileage be electric.
I like our PHEV Pacifica but some PHEVs are overpriced. If it raises price by more than $3k, I’ll stick with the mild hybrid.
Could you review new Toyota Sienna hybrid, please? Thanks in advance
Thanks for this comparison. Aside from the Supra, Toyota doesn’t seem to want to stray too far away from 300hp for some reason.
Both the rav4 prime and v6 Camry get 300hp and have the exact same acceleration times
For durability reasons.
They like their engines to last.
O-60 in under 6 seconds is more than enough for the target audience.
I'm sure you can find several on eBay at a generous markup when the time comes.
I'm really surprised to hear about waitlists and deposits. I called two of the bigger Toyota dealers in the greater Boston area today. Both claimed no knowledge of when Primes would arrive or would even be officially released, nor were they keeping waitlists. Is this a west coast vs east coast policy difference?
It may be that the RAV4 Prime will be sold first in places like California with stringent air pollution laws, and other states where hybrids are popular such as Oregon and Washington.
You will be waiting for 3 years, because you are expecting Toyota to actually make these in numbers, news flash they wont and dealers will not have them and if they do it will be marked above MSRP
I just got message couple of days ago that mine is being produced now. I will be driving one in Finland in September.
@@calmjm I've heard a couple other folks in Europe saying that also...... I guess North America doesn't count.
Easy choice because the RAV4 Prime is impossible to find. I tried to find one over 6-8 months to no avail.
The performance and plug-in gonna make it very expensive here in Canada. I would estimate a loaded Prime would be $55k canadian before tax.
Kinda related question. I'm considering one of these Rav4 Prime to replace a V8 BMW X5 (175kmiles on the clock). There is one thing that I use the X5 for that it does well at and I'm not sure how this Toyota will do. About once a month I make a run from Northern California to Northern Oregon (600 miles), I do it at times and with detection to drive fast. About 85 mph most of the time, but I cruse when I can at 95mph and pass at 110mph if needed. I stop once for gas and get about 17mpg. How do you think this RAV4 Prime would do for this?
RAV4 is great but all this tech excites me for a hybrid Tundra.
why do you need to plug in the prime, if the normal hybrid you don't need to plug it in to charge it?
Two things made the decision easy for us. Prime=Very limited availability meaning that despite being nearly $10k more than the Hybrid they're selling well over sticker. Two, the huge price difference not worth it for our use. We can probably buy well over 10 years worth of gasoline for ours based on our use patterns.
Could we potentially see substantial dealership markups (due to supply and demand of the prime at get-go) which effectively nullify tax incentives for some buyers?
Yes, why not.
I'm pretty sure it's a low volume product for at least a few years. It's as good as non-existence.
Dealers in NorCal are already quoting 5-10k markup over MSRP. No, I'm not exaggerating.
Spare tires? But why? Need to take out that extra weight unless you're going outside service range and throw in a tire kit.
Didn’t Honda try the performance/hybrid angle in the mid 2000s with the V6 hybrid Accord?
The V6 Accord hybrid wasn't a PHEV so you really can't compare it to the Prime.
RLX Acura did. Stop making in 2020, I think.
great preview, looking forward to the test drive to specifically see how the battery size / weight impact the ground clearance, comfort and handling of the vehicle
I would prefer PHEV to be separate of "Prime". I do not care about the fancy trim. I can have a plugin my car-park and almost free electricity in the night. If they add LSD in the rear motor, that would be enough for my AWD needs - slippery Japanese road in rural areas.
Alex, I have never been more excited for a video review as I am for yours on this Rav4 Prime. I hope you post that video up at 12:01 AM! Ha ha! I honestly wished that Toyota would make a Limited or XLE model with smaller tires, maybe like 260 horsepower (as they send an extra 42 HP to the rear motor instead for stronger AWD), and increased EV only range.
I feel that Toyota really outdid themselves with this powertrain. I would NOT be surprised if this powertrain replaced their beautiful V6 engine in the future. This is a much more efficient, non-regretful way to enjoy a 300+ HP vehicle.
I have a couple of questions though. Could the gasoline engine recharge the battery you would normally charge when you plug it in? In other words, is there a part of the battery or a separate battery that would never get charged if I don't plug it in? Sorry for the maybe stupid question but I am new to hybrids/EVs.
Also, can you elaborate on the air conditioning system? Does it have electric air conditioning and can the a/c be operated on electric power only? For example, if I took the car camping and wanted to sleep in it at night, could I run the a/c without using the gasoline engine much or maybe not at all?
There is no difference between charging by plugging it in vs charging with the gas engine. Obviously plugging in is way cheaper than using the gas engine though.
Yes the AC is battery powered so you don't need the gas engine running to use it. With only 42 miles or EV range it's not likely that the AC would run all night before the battery is drained.
@@johndonaldson5126 Thank you for shedding some light on my inquiries.
@@payrocoin The engine will start up and run long enough to recharge the battery while you're sleeping.
The transition is usually so smooth you won't notice.
The Prius V is large enough to sleep in.
Haven't tested the Prime sleeping area yet.
How does the ride quality/seat quality of the RAV4 Prime compare to the Volvo XC60 T-8R?