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    2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime first drive: High performance, low consumption

    Don’t imagine that gasoline-electric autos are something however boring and gradual? Well, it is time to change your tune, as a result of the RAV4 Prime is the second-quickest Toyota after the Supra sports activities automotive. With 302 horsepower on faucet, this plug-in hybrid SUV can zip from a standstill to 60 mph in as little as 5.7 seconds, a time that’s legitimately swift. And due to ample low-end electrical torque, it feels even fleeter.Delivering that sturdy efficiency is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an Atkinson-cycle unit borrowed from the RAV4 Hybrid however retuned for Prime time. Without going too far into the technical weeds, it is augmented by a trio of electrical motor-generators, two within the entrance transaxle meeting, and a 3rd on the rear. The latter supplies on-demand all-wheel drive by turning the aft tires. Serving as an electron reservoir is an 18.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, mounted underneath the main-cabin ground in a method that doesn’t detract from passenger area. It’s cooled utilizing air-conditioning refrigerant and is backed by a 10-year/150,000-mile guarantee. Drivers are additional shielded from restore payments by a separate, 8-year/100,000-mile assure that covers different hybrid elements.

    That generously sized battery helps present a preliminary EPA effectivity ranking of 94 miles per gallon equal (MPGe) and an electric-only vary estimated at 42 miles. Driving it rigorously and with the local weather management off a very good portion of the time, I managed to coax 45 miles out of the RAV4 Prime whereas operating solely on electrons. Honestly, I anticipated a little bit extra contemplating I used to be driving fairly conservatively and the circumstances have been good, with temps within the higher 70s. Still, Toyota has delivered on its vary promise.

    As for effectivity, operating this car about 50% on electrical energy after which 50% on gasoline as soon as the battery pack was depleted, I averaged an indicated 45.3 mpg, although that determine is probably deceptive as a result of real-world financial system relies upon enormously on the ratio between these two working modes. If, for example, you drive 50 miles and 42 of them are all electrical, the common gas financial system goes to be a lot increased than should you take a 600-mile highway journey burning fossil gas the entire method.The occasions, they’re a-chargin’Hook the RAV4 Prime as much as an atypical 120-volt family outlet, and it takes round 12 hours to totally replenish the battery pack. Plug it in to a 240-volt line with 16 amps of juice, and that point drops to round 4.5 hours. Still, if that is not speedy sufficient, XSE fashions with the premium bundle (a $3,765 upcharge, which additionally requires the $815 climate bundle and the $1,620 audio bundle) can recharge in as little as 2.5 hours if in case you have entry to a 6.6-kilowatt, 240-volt outlet.

    As public charging stations grow to be increasingly prevalent, will probably be simpler and simpler to dwell with an electrical car.
    Craig Cole/Roadshow
    After depleting the battery throughout testing, I discovered a close-by ChargePoint public station. Hooked to a Level 2 outlet operating at 6.6 kW, the car gained 13 miles of EV vary after about 45 minutes of charging, proper in keeping with Toyota’s 2.5-hour declare.

    Despite principally inventing the trendy hybrid, that is Toyota’s first plug-in SUV. There isn’t any scarcity of comparable crossover SUV fashions obtainable right now, however they’re principally on the higher finish of the market. There aren’t too many direct opponents to the RAV4 Prime. Subaru’s Crosstrek is one, but it surely solely gives 17 miles of electrical vary. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one other, with an marketed 22 miles of juice. It’s conceivable you may cross-shop this Toyota with plug-in variations of the Kia Niro and even the Chrysler Pacifica, however none of those are an ideal match, both. Really, this RAV4’s number-one rival is the brand new Ford Escape PHEV, which gives barely much less electrical vary at 37 miles and has round 93 much less horsepower, however no less than it is a contact extra environment friendly at 100 MPGe.Forceful but mild-manneredDriving the RAV4 Prime purely on electrical energy is a good expertise. It’s punchy, clean and almost silent. As with different EVs, there’s tons of low-end torque, which makes this Toyota leap off the road if you nail the accelerator. Its enthusiasm does wane at increased speeds, however its efficiency remains to be stable, in a position to hit 60 mph in round 9.2 seconds. However, this car’s efficiency shines most when pushed as a hybrid. Throw that internal-combustion engine into the combination and this RAV4’s sprinting talents enhance by leaps and bounds, with its 0-to-60-mph time dropping by almost 40%.Potent and environment friendly, what extra may you ask for?
    Craig Cole/Roadshow
    When navigating corners, the Prime feels prefer it has a contact extra physique roll than the RAV4 TRD I reviewed not too long ago. This is probably going due to its softer experience, which is partly resulting from a great deal of additional weight. At about 4,300 kilos in XSE trim, this car is round 500 kilos heavier than the bulkiest RAV4 Hybrid, due to its a lot bigger battery pack. To accommodate that extra mass, the car’s chassis has been retuned. The steering is gentle to the contact, although it is not as crisp as in different RAV4s. The Prime is, nevertheless, extraordinarily quiet inside due to laminated entrance facet glass and extra sound deadening, alterations that make for a serene driving expertise. Braking really feel can also be praiseworthy. This plug-in SUV’s pedal has good weight to it and is straightforward to modulate, with no discernible weirdness when transitioning from regenerative to friction braking.A cushty and versatile interiorInside the RAV4 Prime, there’s not a lot to get enthusiastic about, and that is a very good factor. Just just like the non-plug-in mannequin, this Toyota’s cabin is without doubt one of the higher choices on this phase, being attractively designed and fabricated from high quality supplies. My XSE tester is additional gussied up with crimson stitching on the door panels, dashboard and elsewhere, plus the seats are coated in SofTex imitation leather-based, which not solely feels good however makes a convincing argument that cow hides aren’t vital.As in additional run-of-the-mill RAV4s, the Prime’s rear seat is generously portioned and fairly comfy, with good assist, plus loads of area for knees and noggins. A pair of two.1-amp USB-A ports serve riders relegated to the again, although the car is fitted with a complete of 5 such retailers, plus XSE fashions function Qi wi-fi charging, so no person’s cellphone has to go with out juice.This Toyota’s infotainment system is fairly middling, however the giant display is obvious, brilliant and simple to succeed in.
    Craig Cole/Roadshow
    When it is time to make an Ikea run for a load of marginal high quality, affordably priced, flat-packed furnishings, the RAV4 Prime makes a superb schlepper. It gives 33.5 cubic toes of hauling area behind the second-row seat, a determine that grows to a claimed 63.2 when the backrests are dropped. These figures are barely behind what the usual RAV4 and its hybrid counterpart provide. They each max out at 69.8 cubes. All in, the Prime nonetheless gives a couple of extra cubic toes of area than the Escape plug-in.While there’s loads to love in regards to the Prime’s inside, a couple of issues could possibly be improved. The chicklet-like local weather management buttons are just too small to simply manipulate whereas driving, and a number of the switches on the steering wheel really feel extremely low cost. Technology bonanzaOn that observe, I’m not going to additional bludgeon a deceased equine, however as I’ve talked about many occasions earlier than, I have a tendency to search out Toyota’s multimedia choices to be unattractive and illogical, and that is sadly nonetheless true within the RAV4 Prime XSE. But it is not all unhealthy information.This infotainment system is no less than speedy, and the tablet-style 9-inch display it is splashed throughout is large and simple to succeed in, because it’s mounted excessive on the dashboard. Lower-end SE fashions function an 8-incher. With all that show actual property, Apple CarPlay (which, together with Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility comes commonplace) is tremendous simple to make use of, exhibiting up good and massive.The RAV4 Prime gives loads of options and facilities. 
    Craig Cole/Roadshow
    If you continue to want extra screens in your life, do not fret, as a result of all Prime fashions function a reconfigurable 7-inch show nestled within the gauge cluster. It’s clear and simple sufficient to cycle by way of the assorted menus for issues like gas financial system and the journey odometer. If that is not sufficient, XSE fashions may even be fitted with a 10-inch shade head-up show, which initiatives related driving information onto the windshield. This merchandise is bundled with the $3,765 premium bundle, which additionally will get you the aforementioned 6.6-kW charger, ventilated entrance seats and an superior digital rearview mirror. The latter options one more display behind the glass the place a video feed from the reversing digital camera is displayed to supply a much wider discipline of view behind the car.That bundle additionally features a 360-degree digital camera system, which might be helpful for sure parking conditions — in concept no less than. For some motive, this function, and even the RAV4’s commonplace reversing digital camera, are appallingly unhealthy, tremendous gritty and laborious to see on the infotainment display. This is especially unusual as a result of the digital rearview mirror, which is out there on XSE fashions, appears to be like nice, offering a transparent, crisp picture.When it involves superior driver aids, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is commonplace gear on the RAV4 Prime, bringing issues like automated emergency braking and road-sign recognition to the desk. Lane-keeping help is included, too, and works fairly properly, even when it feels a bit soft-handed. It does not lock you into the center of the lane fairly as strongly as competing techniques do, leading to extra wandering. You additionally get adaptive cruise management, although it is fairly middling. On the freeway, it is nice, seamlessly adjusting car velocity to match surrounding autos, however in stop-and-go site visitors it may be fairly jerky.Like different members of the RAV4 household, the Prime mannequin is sort of good-looking. 
    Craig Cole/Roadshow
    Dollars and (widespread) senseThe 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is slated to start out arriving at dealerships in all 50 states later this month. Keeping issues easy, will probably be provided in two trims: SE and XSE. My top-shelf tester arrived fitted with all three obtainable choices packages, issues that inflate its price ticket to proper round $49,000 together with $1,120 in supply charges. That’s a steep worth to pay for what’s a mainstream compact crossover SUV, nevertheless, that determine doesn’t embody any potential reductions. The RAV4 Prime could also be eligible for as much as $7,500 in federal tax credit, plus different reductions provided by particular person states. Of course, it can save you a giant chunk of change by getting an SE mannequin. They kick off proper round $39,195. That’s nonetheless a bit pricier than Ford’s entry-level Escape plug-in hybrid, which begins at roughly 35 grand, however the RAV4 does have extra energy and a nicer inside, plus  Toyota enjoys a greater status for long-term high quality and resale worth.Punchy and environment friendly, the Prime is definitely my decide of right now’s RAV4 litter. The addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain has made a very good SUV even higher. If you possibly can handle the upcharge, that is the RAV4 to get.

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