Text by Tom Appel
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE AWD
Specs
Class: Compact Crossover
Passenger capacity: 5
Color: Silver Sky Metallic
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | A |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B- |
| Tall Guy | B- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 302-horsepower, 2.5-liter |
| Engine Type | 4-cylinder, plug-in hybrid |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Miles driven: 101
Real-world fuel economy: 36.2 mpg
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 94 MPGe/38 mpg (city/highway combined)
EPA-estimated EV range: 42 miles
Fuel type: Regular gasoline recommended
Base price: $46,210 (not including $1335 destination charge)
Options: Weather Package ($375), Premium Package ($2585), carpet mats ($309), wheel locks ($65), roof-rack cross bars ($315), fog-light accents ($100)
Price as tested: $51,294
Pros and Cons
The great: Impressive power, efficient operation
The good: Quiet and classy cabin, simple infotainment-control system
The not so good: Pricey compared to other RAV4s, a tight fit for the big & tall
Overview
If you’ve been shopping for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, there’s a good chance you’ve learned that the Toyota RAV4 Prime is difficult to come by. This isn’t surprising, as Toyota’s compact plug-in crossover is (spoiler alert) a fine vehicle, and one that asks little in exchange for its power and efficiency. Here’s some good news: The RAV4 Prime supply seems to have loosened up. More on that in a moment…
Engines
A little background on the Prime: Toyota’s very-popular RAV4 is offered with three powertrains, each of which falls into a fairly well-defined price and performance class. “Standard” RAV4s are powered by Toyota’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. In the RAV, the 2.5 is good for 203 horsepower. Non-plug-in Hybrid versions of the RAV4 combine the aforementioned 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors for 219 net horsepower. Finaly, the RAV4 Prime mates what is essentially the Hybrid drivetrain with an 18-kWh battery. The Prime system is rated at 302 net horsepower, and allows for an EPA estimated 42 miles of electric-only gas-free operation. Note that all RAV4s make use of a CVT automatic transmission, and that Hybrid and Prime models come only with AWD.
While standard and Hybrid RAV4s are offered in seven trim levels each, the Prime comes only in high-zoot SE (starting around $45,000), and near-luxury XSE ($49,000).
Consumer Guide recent spent a week behind the wheel of a 2023 RAV4 Prime XSE with the feature-packed Premium Package in Silver Sky Metallic. Including a few additional options and the destination charge, our test RAV4 came to $51,294. This is about all you can spend on a RAV4.
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Room and Comfort
Though the RAV4 can look a little pedestrian in lower trim levels, the Prime comes only in premium trim levels, and sports a decidedly upscale cabin as a result. Our test car’s black leather upholstery was finished with contrasting red stitching, and the soft-touch dash and door trim was punctuated with a lean dose of bright metal-finish accents. The overall look is one of sporty, clean, efficiency. Also, the rubber edged climate-control knobs had a hefty, substantial feel missing from many in-cabin control systems these days.
One ding on the RAV4 is that the front-row seating area is among the stingiest in the class in terms of space. Though we have awarded the RAV4 “Big & Tall” honors, it is cramped for larger folk compared to popular segment rivals including the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. While our 6-foot, 5-inch tester found headroom limited, our largest driver found that the RAV’s wide center console cut into seating space. If you’re outside the statistical norm size-wise, before sure and take an extra-long test drive and see how well you fit. That said, rear-seat passenger space is borderline generous, and will easily accommodate most folks for even extended drives.
Toyota’s touchscreen infotainment system works well and is easy to decipher at a glance. Touch inputs register promptly, and screen icons are large and easy to read. We’re happy to report that climate functions are still manipulated via real buttons and knobs located below the touchscreen. Their operation is also simple and logical.
Power and Performance
Though ostensibly a vehicle designed to be efficient, the RAV4 Prime has earned fawning praise for its straight-line acceleration. Toyota quotes a 0-60 mph time of just 5.7 seconds, while popular buff-book magazines put the figure even lower than that. Suffice it to say that the RAV4 Prime scoots away from a stop light with impressive vigor, and makes easy work of passing and merging. Additionally, the interplay of the gasoline and electric motors is mostly seamless, something which cannot be said some other plug-in hybrid vehicles.
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On a full charge, our test Prime travelled about 40 miles before the gasoline engine kicked, which is inline with the EPA’s range estimate. Note that if you purchase a RAV4 Prime and choose not to install a level-2 charger, fully replenishing your RAV’s battery will take about 15 hours using a standard home wall outlet.
Note also that the Prime actually delivers somewhat lower fuel-economy numbers than the conventional RAV4 Hybrid when running on gasoline. It is for this reason that plugging in your RAV4 Prime is key to extracting its full value. If you cannot commit to regularly plugging in your Prime, we strongly suggest opting for the excellent RAV4 Hybrid instead. It, too, will go easy on the gas, and cost less than the Prime as well.
On the road the RAV4 Prime rides well, and is impressively quiet at speed. Handling never exceeds our “adequate” rating however, as the Prime feels competent in corners and on on-ramps, but doesn’t invite playful engagement. Frankly, it’s not especially fun to drive on curvy roads, despite all the available power. If it were our decision, the Prime would enjoy firmer, more direct-feeling steering, and less lean in aggressive cornering. That said, we suspect the RAV4 Prime chassis is tuned exactly the way most consumers would want it to be.
Review and Summary
Note that our evaluation is of a 2023 RAV4 Prime. Save for pricing, very little has changed for 2024, so our impressions of the Prime reflect the vehicles on lots now. And speaking of those vehicles on lots now…we’re finding that while shoppers are still ordering their Primes, inventory is finally catching up with demand, and that it is possible to find an example at your local dealer—though it may not be the exact color/trim level you’re looking for. If not, order times have reportedly down, too.
If you’re not especially big or tall, and you promise to plug your plug-in hybrid in, the RAV4 Prime has the makings a fine, efficient, speedy, small-family-friendly crossover with upscale cabin trimmings, and healthy dose of long-trip comfort.
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2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Pictures
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