By: Joshua Lee
April 2, 2025
The Toyota RAV4 Prime stands as a compelling choice in the plug-in hybrid market, combining impressive performance, practicality, and advanced features. Where affordability and efficiency are key considerations, Toyota makes a strong case for the RAV4 Prime as a worthy and popular family SUV.
Thanks to Toyota Canada, we’ve got the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE AWD for the week. The RAV4 Prime is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and an eCVT, delivering a combined 302 horsepower. This powertrain makes it one of the most powerful vehicles in the compact SUV segment. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid shares the same powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid model. The electric motors provide instant torque, which is exceptional for a family SUV. This level of performance ensures that the RAV4 Prime feels energetic in city driving and confident on the highway.
While the RAV4 Prime handles well for a compact SUV, its ride can feel slightly firm, particularly on uneven roads. The steering is precise but lacks the sporty feedback that enthusiasts might prefer. The suspension system strikes a balance between comfort and control, absorbing most road imperfections with ease. There are a few drive modes for the RAV4 Prime: Eco, Sport, Normal, and Trail. EV Mode runs the vehicle solely on battery power; HV/EV Auto Mode switches between battery and gas for better power use; Charge Mode runs the 2.5L engine and charges the battery while driving.
The RAV4 Prime boasts a modern and rugged design, with sharp lines and an aggressive front grille. LED headlights and taillights come standard, providing excellent visibility and a premium look. Our Silver Sky Metallic tester is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, and subtle PHEV badging distinguishes it from its non-hybrid counterparts. A moonroof, splash guards, chrome roof rails, and power rear door are standard on the SE. If you want the bigger 19-inch wheels and a panoramic moonroof, you’ll need to move up to the XSE trim.
Inside, the RAV4 Prime SE offers a thoughtfully designed cabin with quality materials. The seating for five is spacious, and the rear seats can comfortably accommodate adults. The SE trim includes black fabric upholstery, which feels durable but might not feel as upscale as the SofTex ones in the higher trim. An eight-way power-adjustable front seat with two-way lumbar support is standard, along with heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker sound system, and a 7-inch multi-information driver’s display. The RAV4 Prime SE includes an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface is user-friendly, though the graphics and response times could be improved.
The RAV4 Prime provides 949L of cargo space behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seats, expanding to 1790L with them folded down. While the battery pack slightly reduces cargo capacity compared to the standard RAV4, it’s still ample for most families. The wide-opening tailgate and low load floor make loading and unloading easy.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 is standard, offering advanced driver assistance features such as pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and automatic high beams. The vehicle also includes rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring, making it well-suited for urban and highway driving.
The RAV4 Prime excels in fuel efficiency, offering an estimated 2.5 Le/100 km in combined electric and gas operation. The combustion engine alone achieves 5.7 L/100 km in the city, 6.4 L/100 km on the highway, and a combined 6.0 L/100 km.
The 18.1 kWh battery provides an impressive all-electric range of 68 kilometers, suitable for most daily commutes. Charging the battery takes approximately 12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet but reduces to just 2.5 hours with a 240-volt Level 2 charger. The 2.5-hour charge time is accurate, and we paid around $7 for charging. The lack of a standard DC fast-charging option isn’t much of a downside, as you can still rely on the gas engine to keep you going. Toyota claims you can get around 979 km with a full charge and tank of gas.
The RAV4 Prime SE starts at $54,215.08, and the XSE AWD starts at $59,055.08. The XSE Technology Package will cost $5,390 on top of that. The RAV4 Prime is also eligible for the iZEV program, with an incentive amount of up to $5,000, which can significantly reduce its upfront cost.
While the RAV4 Prime is an impressive vehicle, it’s not without flaws. The initial cost and limited availability might make it less appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Regardless, this is a standout in the plug-in hybrid market, offering excellent performance, advanced features, and remarkable fuel efficiency. Its spacious interior, robust safety suite, and eligibility for incentives make it a practical choice for buyers. The RAV4 Prime is a worthy choice and works very well for daily use.
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