Toyota's RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid Will Start under $40,000

Photo credit: Toyota
Photo credit: Toyota

From Car and Driver

  • The Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid has been priced starting under $40,000 and will be available in dealerships this summer.

  • The RAV4 Prime will have an estimated battery-only range of 42 miles.

  • It'll also be the quickest RAV4, with 302 horsepower and an expected zero-to-60-mph time of 5.7 seconds, according to Toyota.

The plug-in-hybrid Prime version of Toyota's best-selling RAV4 is finally here and will land in dealerships this summer. The 2021 RAV4 Prime will start at $39,220. Toyota says the vehicle can cover an estimated 42 miles on battery power alone. Plus, Toyota claims it will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds via a 2.5-liter inline-four engine. Combine that powerplant with the two electric motors pushing the rear wheels, and you get a combined 302 horsepower. Not bad for a "green" SUV.

The plug-in RAV4 will have all-wheel drive as standard, and the automaker is estimating that it will achieve 94 MPGe combined.

The RAV4 Prime will be available in two flavors: SE and XSE. The XSE gets larger 19-inch wheels instead of the 18-inchers on the SE, plus paddle shifters, wireless smartphone charging, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen instead of the SE's 7.0-inch.

Both versions will have Toyota's Safety Sense (TSS 2.0) driver-assist package that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane centering.

The vehicle was unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles auto show and joins the RAV4 hybrid and the gas-only RAV4.

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