Is the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-in Hybrid a Good Car?
If you’re in the market for a tech savvy and powerful hatchback PHEV, look no further than the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid.
If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of a plug-in hybrid that is fuel-efficient, comfortable, and powerful without costing you a fortune, look no further than the 2022
Toyota RAV4 Prime
plug-in hybrid SUV. For less than $40,000, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE plug-in hybrid SUV can be yours in all its glory. From a powerful and surprisingly speedy gas-powered engine to an eco-friendly and fuel-efficient plug-in lithium ion battery, the RAV4 Prime SE is also jam packed with standard comfort, safety, and driver assistance technology. This fun SUV only further cements
Toyota
as a leader in the hybrid and electric-vehicle manufacturing game alongside the Toyota Prius
. Here to highlight everything there is to love about the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE plug-in hybrid is
Jerry
—the #1 rated car insurance
comparison shopping super app
and all-around hybrid car genius. We’ll also see how the Ran4 Prime SE stacks up against its plug-in hybrid competitors.RECOMMENDED
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2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid
While the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime might seem like your standard economy plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) with a starting price of only $38,810, you wouldn’t know by looking at it or its specs. The RAV4 Prime is sleek, stylish, and dripping with the latest in infotainment and driver assistance technology, courtesy of Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 suite of features. The model only gets more luxurious at the higher XSE trim—but more on that later.
Sure, there are cheaper PHEVs on the market, and certainly more luxurious PHEVs as well, but the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime offers a rare combination of power, luxury, affordability, and fuel-efficiency that makes it one of the most desirable, and best-selling PHEVs on the market today.
Pricing
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime rides the line of luxury when it comes to price. The base Prime SE trim comes in at $38,810 without any additional features or add-ons, while the upgraded Prime XSE trim will run you closer to $44,840. Regardless, the RAV4 PHEV’s near-luxury price point is more than justified by its comprehensive combination of power, fuel-efficiency, interior comfort, exterior style, and technologically-advanced cabin.
And keep in mind—a new Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV is eligible for $7,500 in federal tax credit!
Performance and fuel economy
Beneath the hood of a 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV you’ll find a 302-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine joined by an 18.1 kWh battery and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CTV) with OverDrive capabilities. The RAV4 Prime’s hybrid powertrain and transmission allow the model to rocket from zero to 60 mph in as little as 5.7 seconds—that’s a quick acceleration for a small SUV like the RAV4 Prime.
When it comes to fuel economy, the RAV4 Prime is equally as impressive. The EPA estimates that the 2022 PHEV should get 38 mpg on gasoline alone, while the model’s fuel economy shoots to 94 MPGe when the I4 engine and 18.1 kWh battery are working hand-in-hand. Additionally, because the RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid as opposed to a standard hybrid, it can also run for short periods using only the power from its electric battery.
On a full charge, the 2022 RAV4 Prime can run for 42 miles before using a single drop of gasoline. That electric range not only beats out the RAV4 Prime’s primary competitors like the
Ford Escape PHEV
(37 miles) and the Hyundai Tucson
PHEV (33 miles), but also more expensive PHEVs like the Lexus NX
, Audi Q5
, and BMW X3
, all of which have an electric range of 37 miles or lower. If you’re wondering how long you’ll have to charge your 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV to avail of those 42 miles of all-electric range, you’ll be happy to hear that you can fully charge the model in just 4.5 hours using a Level 2, 6.6kW onboard charger. A standard 120-volt household charger, on the other hand, will take approximately 12 hours to fully charge your RAV4 Prime.
Exterior styling
The exterior of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV mimics the luxury stylings of much more expensive models with body-colored power heated side mirrors, deep tinted glass, galvanized steel paneling, a black grille with chrome surround, and a two-tone paint job.
Thanks to that two-tone paint job, there are 11 unique paint combinations available for the 2022 RAV4 Prime. The model’s six base colors (Blue Print, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Silver Sky Metallic, Supersonic Red, Super White, and Midnight Black Metallic) can all be paired with a painted roof panel of either the same color or a matte Midnight Black.
Interior and comfort
A peek inside the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV reveals a passenger capacity volume of 101.3 cubic feet as well as heated front sport seats, an eight-way power driver seat, power lumbar support, dual-zone from automatic air conditioning, a panoramic glass roof, and premium leather trim. Faux leather seats and a red-accented cabin join a power moonroof and rear HVAC vents on the Prime XSE trim.
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Technology
Despite not falling squarely within the luxury SUV category, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV is decked out in the latest in state-of-the-art safety, infotainment, and driver assistance technology. Standard driver assistance technology features on the RAV4 Prime SE include:
- Remote keyless entry
- Remote start/stop
- Cruise control w/ steering wheel control
- Distance pacing w/ Traffic Stop-Go
- Lane tracing assist
- Electronic stability control
- Driveline traction control
- 1-year Emergency SOS subscription
- Blind-spot monitor
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.0
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure alert w/ steering assist
- Collision mitigation-front
- Low tire pressure warning
But the tech doesn’t stop there! Infotainment is the name of the game when it comes to the interior of the RAV4 Prime PHEV. Managed from an eight-inch touchscreen display, drivers have access to the following infotainment features:
- Bluetooth
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Amazon Alexa
- Sirius XM radio (3-month subscription w/ purchase)
Optional tech features available on 2022 RAV4 Prime include an auto-dimming digital rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver, wireless phone chargers, a 10-inch head-up display, Bird’s Eye View camera, and a Smart Key System on all doors.
Warranty coverage
When it comes to protecting your RAV4 Prime’s hybrid components, Toyota’s got you covered—at least for a little while. Like more new cars, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV comes with a suite of warranty protections, including:
- Basic warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Corrosion warranty: 5 years (no mileage limit)
- Hybrid components warranty: 10 years or 150,000 miles
- Roadside assistance warranty: 2 years (no mileage limit)
- Maintenance warranty: 2 years or 25,000 miles
Trim levels and options
From the base RAV4 Prime SE trim, the only additional trim option is the RAV4 Prime XSE. In addition to the SE’s standard features, the XSE trim adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, faux-leather seats, red-accented cabin features including red upholstery stitching, 19-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, red shock absorbers, rear-seat HVAC vents, and wireless phone charging pads.
On top of—or instead of—the XSE package, RAV4 PHEV drivers can also avail of one of Toyota’s optional packages for the RAV4 Prime, which include:
- Weather Package: adds heated leather trimmed steering wheel, and rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers w/ de-icer function
- Weather & Moonroof Package: adds heated leather trimmed steering wheel, rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers w/ de-icer function, and a power-tilt/slide moonroof with one-touch open/close
- 6.6 kW Onboard Charger
- Premium Package: adds all of the above as well as a 10-inch head-up display, a Bird’s Eye View camera, a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver, and a Smart Key System on all doors
The bottom line
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV is the perfect choice for any tech-savvy, environmentally conscious driver who doesn’t want to break the bank with a high-end luxury model.
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV vs. 2022 Ford Escape SE PHEV
How does the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime square up against its main rivals? Let’s take a look at how the model compares to the 2022 Ford Escape SE PHEV.
In most categories the Ford Escape PHEV is marginally better than the RAV4 Prime. It is about $3,000 less expensive and averages better fuel economy by 2 mpg and 6 MPGe, though the RAV4 Prime still wins the race in terms of all-electric range with 42 miles to the Escape’s 37. Additionally, the RAV4 Prime’s hybrid component warranty is an additional two years and 50,000 miles longer than the Escape’s.
Model | Starting price | Fuel economy (gas only) | Fuel economy (gas + electric) | Driving range | Charging time (Level 2) | Hybrid battery warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime | $38,810 | 38 mpg | 94 MPGe | 42 miles | 4.5 hours | 10 years/150,000 miles |
2022 Ford Escape SE | $35,455 | 40 mpg | 100 MPGe | 37 miles | 4.5 hours | 8 years/100,000 miles |
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV vs. 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV
When it comes to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV, however, the RAV4 Prime takes the crown in all categories other than price. While the Tucson is around $4,000 cheaper than the RAV4, it also averages lower fuel-economy in both mpg and MPGe, as well as having a 9-mile deficiency in terms of all-electric range. Similar to the Ford Escape SE PHEV, the Tucson’s hybrid warranty is also two years and 50,000 miles shorter than the RAV4 Prime’s.
Model | Starting price | Fuel economy (gas only) | Fuel economy (gas + electric) | Driving range | Charging time (Level 2) | Hybrid battery warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime | $38,810 | 38 mpg | 94 MPGe | 42 miles | 4.5 hours | 10 years/150,000 miles |
2022 Hyundai Tucson | $34,900 | 35 mpg | 80 MPGe | 33 miles | 2 hours | 8 years/100,000 miles |
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