The hybrid Toyota RAV4 Prime, announced by the Japanese brand in the fall of 2019, went on sale in the United States. The quickest and most fuel-efficient version of the RAV4 crossover and, in combination, the most economical model in the history of Toyota, is available for order at a price of $38,100, not including the company’s $1,120 fee for delivery, processing, and handling.
The appearance of the “prime” RAV4 differs from the “regular” one in its original front bumper, new-design wheels, and two-tone, red-black body color. But the most interesting – a hybrid powerplant – is hiding under the hood.
Credits: Toyota
Outstanding characteristics of the new models are provided by a 2.5-liter 180-horsepower gasoline engine and two electric motors (one on each axis), which in total produce 306 horsepower. The vehicle reaches 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, and the range from a single charge of a lithium-ion battery is about 42 miles (67 km), making it the highest EV range of any PHEV SUV on the market.
RAV4 Prime offers two different options, SE and XSE, both emphasizing athletic on-road performance and premium comfort and style. In particular, the RAV4 Prime SE version is equipped with heated front seats, an electric driver’s seat, an 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, a blind-spot monitoring system, collision warning, and trunk electric car tuning.
Credits: Toyota
Other features include an electric tailgate, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa support. The RAV4 Prime SE is offered with the optional Weather & Moonroof package for $1,665, plus a heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers with de-icer function, for added convenience.
The high-end XSE version priced from $41,425 will have a 9-inch touch screen, a larger sunroof, 19-inch wheels, a two-tone exterior as standard. Toyota also offers XSE 3 optional packages, the most expensive of which is the Audio and Premium integrated package, which costs $5,760. Audio and Premium features heated and ventilated seats, a JBL sound system, a driver’s display screen, and plenty of driver assistance technologies.
Credits: Toyota
Both models feature adaptive cruise control, steering assist lane departure warning, pedestrian-sensing automatic emergency braking, and lane-centering technologies.
RAV4 Prime is currently the most advanced version of the RAV4 series, of which the SE edition is $1,220 more expensive than the previous variant. RAV4 Prime XSE adds an optional package that costs over $47,185, even up to $50,000 when fully equipped with accessories.
