The Toyota dealer near Tustin lets us know that the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is a compact five-passenger crossover. The fifth-generation offspring from the original RAV4 made its first debut in North America in 1995. In 2019, the RAv4 at Tustin car dealerships completely redesigned with the current generation RAV4 platform. However, now Toyota has introduced a new model, the RAV4 Prime, for 2021.
The RAV4 Prime is very different from the standard RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid. The reason is that the RAV4 Prime possesses a more robust capacity electric battery with plug-in capabilities that boost its power and efficiency.
Before your next visit to the Toyota dealer near Tustin, you should read these five things about what makes the 2021 Toyota RAV4 such a great vehicle.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Sips NOT Gulps Fuel
Toyota has a good reputation for engineering passenger vehicles that are good on fuel. For instance, Toyota’s Prius still remains the car industry’s benchmark for fuel-efficiency. Therefore, unsurprisingly that the RAV Prime is fuel-sipping. However, the 2021 RAV4 Prime from the Toyota dealer near Tustin is much more than that. The standard RAV4 has an EPA rating of 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which is very powerful. The RAV4 Hybrid’s EPA rating is even more impressive at 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. However, the RAV4 Prime, due to its plug-in technology and 18.1 kWh battery that lets the vehicle run over 40 miles on electricity alone, is rated at 94 MPGe, which is 38 mpg combined. When driving in real-world conditions, most drivers will get between 40-100 mpg, depending on the length of their trips and how often they charge. The RAV4 Prime will bring about 600 miles between pit stops when you get the vehicle on the open road, making it an incredible road trip companion.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Can Go Flat-Out Like A Sports Car
Some car buyers feel that the RAV4 Prime is just a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the RAV4, but that is a misunderstanding. The standard RAV4 can only produce 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-4 engine. Therefore going from 0-60 mph takes a drawn-out 8.4 seconds.
The RAV4 Prime adds the same naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-4 engine, but it also has two electric motors for a total system output of 302 horsepower. While the continuously variable transmission is not something you would consider sporty, the combination of horsepower and instant torque along with all-wheel drive helps the RAV4 Prime go from a complete stop to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is Very Safe
Although there is always one of Toyota’s engineering teams focusing on fuel efficiency, there is constantly another making certain the family-oriented crossover would achieve the top score when it comes to safety. Every RAV4 Prime model has Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a comprehensive suite of standard safety features. These consist of the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Road Sign Assist (RSA).
All RAV4 Prime models are outfitted with eight airbags (and that includes a driver’s side knee airbag), Safety Connect (Emergency Assistance in the case of a crash), and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) on all rear seats. The IIHS rates the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime as a “Top Safety Pick,” with the five-passenger crossover receiving “Good” scores in all categories, excluding headlights. If you go for the upgraded LED headlights, the score returns to “Good” in all categories.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Provides Lots of Practicality
The Japanese car company did a fantastic job designing the interior of the RAV4 Prime to be ergonomically correct, so you don’t have any issues finding things since they are where you want them to be. Also, everything is functional since the 2021 RAV4 Prime can comfortably hold five passengers and their belongings. Many plug-in crossovers don’t do well because the car manufacturer has to put the battery pack in a place that compromises passenger or cargo space. However, this is not the case with the RAV4 Prime.
Toyota has inserted the battery beneath the passenger floor, in front of the gasoline tank, that lives under the rear passenger seat, so passenger and cargo capacity remains the same. When the seats are up, the vehicle has 33.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With the second row of seats folded, the cargo capacity greatly leaps to 63.2 cubic feet. The second row of seats has a 40:60 split, so two passengers may use the second row with one of the seats (right behind the driver) folded for large objects. Keep in mind that the RAV4 Prime has the highest towing capacity of its siblings. For instance, it is rated at 5,000 pounds, while the RAV4 Hybrid is 1,750 pounds and RAV4 is 1,500 pounds) fall a bit short. The RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road models have a tow rating of 3,500 pounds.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Has Good Resale Value
The starting price of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is around $39,000. That’s roughly $10,000 higher than the RAV4 Hybrid and $12,000 higher than the RAV4, but the extra investment is worth it. If you take a brief look at today’s resale values, they reveal that 5-year-old RAv4 models with 50,000 miles are still valued at 75 percent of the original purchase price. This is exceptionally good, and it is proof that the RAV4 has exceptional engineering, reliability, dependability, and safety.
The RAV4 Prime will do just as well since the PHEV feature stands the test of time as a crossover. In five years, approximately all new vehicles will have the plug-in hybrid capability, and that means most used vehicle buyers will be looking out for this feature on their purchases.