The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid SUV model with plenty of giddyup. Consumer Reports gave the RAV4 Prime a much higher overall score than the RAV4 compact SUV. Is the RAV4 Prime the better buy?
Is a Toyota RAV4 Prime worth it?
One common misconception about the Toyota RAV4 Prime is that the plug-in hybrid SUV is expensive. While its starting price is $39,800, the SUV is eligible for a federal electric vehicle tax credit. According to MarketWatch, the RAV4 Prime could be eligible for state incentives as well. The current federal electric vehicle tax credit is for $7,500. This brings the hybrid SUV’s starting price down to $32,300 before any additional fees. MarketWatch claims that the RAV4 Prime could be eligible for up to $10,000 in total incentives.
The RAV4 Prime is worth buying because it offers more power and better fuel efficiency than the average RAV4. It also has an electric-only driving range. Consumer Reports gave the RAV4 Prime an overall score of 88/100. The Toyota RAV4 received an overall score of 65/100.
Toyota RAV4 Prime vs. Toyota RAV4
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime is driving in a tunnel | Toyota
The aptly-named Toyota RAV4 Prime is the ideal RAV4 in many ways. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to make a whopping 302 horsepower. This amount of power is incredible for a compact SUV model. The plug-in hybrid achieves 40 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the highway. It can travel for 42 miles on just electricity.
The RAV4 Prime comes standard with electronic on-demand all-wheel drive. It also includes heated front seats and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.
The Toyota RAV4 uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to make 203 horsepower. It gets 27 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway. The RAV4 starts at $26,525. It comes standard with a 4.2-inch Multi-Information Display and a soft-touch dash and armrests.
Why does Consumer Reports give the Toyota RAV4 Prime such a high overall rating?
A red Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid SUV is on display | Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
The RAV4 Prime gets seven more miles per gallon than the RAV4 and can drive on electricity only. Consumer Reports gives the RAV4 Prime such a high rating because it performed much better than the RAV4 on its road test. The RAV4 Prime scored an 85/100 on the CR road test. The RAV4 scored just 72/100.
The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular SUV models in America. It is affordable, reliable, and comes with a fair amount of standard features for its price. All in all, the RAV4 Prime is the better SUV model because of its capabilities. The RAV4 Prime is much more powerful and thus, more exciting to drive than the average RAV4.
The RAV4 Prime scored a 5/5 for predicted reliability and a 5/5 for owner satisfaction. The plug-in hybrid SUV may not be perfect, but it’s easily one of the most exciting compact SUVs on the market today. Will the plug-in hybrid SUV sell as well as the original Toyota RAV4 does in the future?
Keyword: Consumer Reports Gave the Toyota RAV4 Prime a Much Higher Overall Rating Than the RAV4