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2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Changes: Reviews & Price -The Toyota RAV4 Prime 2024 is a tiny crossover that has an efficient plug-in hybrid engine as well as an impressive roster of equipment that comes standard. It is an addition to the already extensive array of RAV4 models, which also comes in gas and hybrid (non-plug-in) versions, in addition to a variety of trim levels. Because it comes equipped with all-wheel drive as standard, the Prime is able to compete in all types of weather and is a surprisingly competent companion on dirt trails. Additionally, Toyota includes a load of great safety technology, which makes it an excellent family car for weekend adventures.
While Toyota has updated some of the standard RAV4 models’ equipment and introduced a new Woodland trim for 2024, they have largely neglected the RAV4 Prime model. There is just one substantial modification, but it will considerably enhance the ownership experience as well as the time spent behind the wheel: a new infotainment system. The new user interface is far less distracting to work with and much more comfortable for the eyes. The RAV4 Prime comes in two different trim levels, SE and XSE, just as it did last year. Other than that, nothing has changed. The base price of the SE model is $43,675, which includes a destination charge of $1,335, while the base price of the XSE model is $47,545.
The combination of the 2.5-liter engine and the electric motor in the RAV4 Prime produces a total of 302 horsepower. This healthy level of power gives the SUV a lively and eager character when it is being driven. The Prime was Toyota’s second-quickest car after the Supra until the GR Corolla came out, so there is more than enough power for commuting around town and cruising on the highway. A surprising amount of off-road capability can be found in such a little vehicle as the Prime thanks to the electric torque, which enables extremely accurate off-road handling.
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime has a great interior with plenty of room and comfortable seating for five people, but much like the standard RAV4, the rear seat is rather cramped when compared to the back seats found in the leading lights of the small SUV brigade (the Tucson and the Sportage). The amount of room available for storage is about par for the course, but the interior is packed with innovative innovations such as a movable floor panel that gives the driver the option of carpet or plastic flooring. The back seats of the Prime fold down completely flat, expanding the volume from 33.5 cubic feet to a total of 63.2 cubic feet. Because of its larger battery, the PHEV has somewhat less room than the standard RAV4 Hybrid, although the difference is just approximately 5 cubic feet.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the Prime its Top Safety Pick+ distinction for its outstanding safety features. In addition to receiving a rating of “Good” in all of the areas of the crash test, the SUV received a rating of “Superior” for its front accident prevention technology. It is equipped as standard with a number of innovative driver assistance features, including as monitoring for blind spots, lane keeping assistance, lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, recognition of traffic signs, and detection of pedestrians. With all of these capabilities in addition to its energy economy and powerful performance, the basic Prime is a very appealing option to go with.
Changes
The design of Toyota’s sedans seems to function nicely, and the design of its trucks and SUVs both appear appropriately masculine, but the design of Toyota’s SUVs fails miserably. The designers of the RAV4 got caught on the fact that this is a tiny crossover and not a truck, despite the fact that they seem to wish to pick the RAV4’s exterior appearance from the TRD Pro styling menu that given on the Tacoma and Tundra. Instead of choosing one design direction and sticking with it, Toyota chose to give the RAV4 a look that combines angularity with muscularity.
But here’s the reality: we spend a lot more time inside our cars than we do admiring them from the driveway, and it’s obvious that people who purchase RAV4s know exactly what they want. These crossovers are consistently at the top of the sales charts, and one possible explanation for their success is that their interiors are designed in a clear manner and are functional in any situation.
You get all of that in the most luxurious rendition of the Toyota brand with the RAV4 Prime, and that means wonderful seats up front that are comfy and supportive, temperature controls with large knobs that are easy to grasp, and the same goes for the level and tuning of the radio. If the whole cabin has a plasticky feel, however, the quality of the plastic used is above average and not at all inexpensive. The panel fit between seams is about as precise as you could ever hope to find outside of a Mercedes E-Class, which is what you would expect from a product manufactured by Toyota.
Interior
Automatic emergency braking, warnings for oncoming traffic and lane departure, forward collision warnings, lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing aid, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams are all included in the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 package that comes with standard on every RAV4 Prime. In addition, Toyota vehicles come standard with blind spot monitoring as well as warnings for rear cross-traffic. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not conducted any crash tests on the 2024 model of the RAV4, but the 2023 model received the Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the organization’s top honor. It has not yet been given a rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Although the accommodations inside the RAV4 Prime are comfortable, the space is somewhat limited in comparison to that of many of its competitors. The Prime’s front headroom and front legroom both measure 37.7 inches, which is only a little less than the CR-V’s cabin’s measurements of 41 inches each. However, the rear seat only provides 37.8 inches of legroom, which is significantly less than the 40.1 inches that the Honda provides. Those figures might not be significant if the owner doesn’t have a use for the back seat, but many people do, and having a back seat is frequently the motivation for buying an SUV.
Fabric upholstery is included as standard, and the driver’s seat in a Toyota is able to be adjusted electrically. There is an option for upholstery made of synthetic leather, and the front seats are heated as standard. purchasers of the XSE trim level have the option to upgrade to the Premium Package, which includes heated rear seats. Additionally, purchasers of the basic SE trim level have the option to upgrade to the Weather and sunroof package, which includes a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a power sunroof.
Despite being an industry leader when it comes to quality and dependability, Toyota’s infotainment system has long been considered antiquated and cumbersome, placing it near the bottom of the pack. Thankfully, Toyota has equipped the new 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime with the most recent version of its user interface, which features more fluid menu transitions and a navigation system that is significantly easier to understand. In addition, the display is now bigger, measuring 8 inches rather than 7 inches, and higher trim levels come standard with a 10.5-inch screen. The majority come standard with a display of 7 inches, but an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is also available.
The most recent changes to Honda’s infotainment system have caused it to lag behind the system found in Toyota vehicles. Despite this, both vehicles come standard with wired and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay, thus the interface is fairly standardized. The infotainment system of the Nissan Rogue isn’t the simplest to operate, but its usefulness is superior to that of the Honda Accord. Because it is easier to use and features menu transitions that are more streamlined, Hyundai’s system is the one that causes the least amount of confusion and distraction while driving.
The addition of batteries has a tendency to reduce the amount of space that can be used in plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles that have been converted from a platform that was originally designed for gas-powered vehicles. Unfortunately, this is an issue with the RAV4 Prime, as its cargo space when the back seats are folded down is a significantly amount smaller compared to that of other vehicles in its class. The Toyota RAV4 has a cargo capacity of 63.1 cubic feet, whereas the Honda CR-V Hybrid has 68.7 cubic feet (the gas RAV4 has 69.8 cubes). The Tucson PHEV has somewhat more passenger and cargo space, but the Toyota RAV4 Prime has a flat load floor at a height that is appropriate for most people, which makes loading and unloading considerably simpler.
The maximum towing capacity of 2,500 pounds that the RAV4 Prime has is more than both the maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds that the Kia Sportage Hybrid possesses and the maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds that the Honda CR-V Hybrid possesses. Therefore, Toyota could more easily compensate for a slightly reduced interior capacity by simply transferring any additional baggage to a caboose that could be transported.
Performance
The RAV4 Prime is equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine and an electric motor as standard equipment. The total output is 302 horsepower, which is an impressively high amount for such a little SUV. The hybrid engine generates a respectable amount of torque right off the mark, which contributes to the eager and engaging nature of the RAV4 Prime’s driving experience. It won’t get you to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds and isn’t particularly speedy or thrilling, but it has more power than any other popular small crossover brand and will get you there faster. Even though it operates smoothly, the continuously variable transmission can cause the engine to drone under heavy throttle when driving on the highway.
In addition to its noticeably improved performance on paved surfaces, the RAV4 Prime is also a reliable traveling companion while traversing unpaved terrain. It does come standard with all-season tires, but the torque produced by the electric engine can be deployed immediately and precisely where it is required, in contrast to even the low-end grunt produced by the Jeep Wrangler. The Prime has a ground clearance of 8.2 inches and a suspension that is rather soft; as a result, there is sufficient space for the vehicle to go through rough terrain without the driver being too fatigued. After testing the Prime on several off-road courses, we can say with confidence that its performance is even more impressive than that of the standard RAV4 TRD Adventure.
As Toyota did with Prime, Honda made the driving experience of the hybrid version of the CR-V more enjoyable than the regular gas-powered version. Although it does not achieve the same level of fuel efficiency as the RAV4 Prime, the Honda CR-V is a fun vehicle to operate, and the power output of the regular hybrid versions of the Tucson and Sportage is greater than that of their gasoline-only counterparts. The Hyundai Tucson PHEV is the vehicle that most closely resembles the premier; nevertheless, it is not as speedy and it is not well equipped to tackle off-road duties. Although it performs very well off-road, the Subaru Forester is not available in hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) form.
The RAV4 Prime gets 40 miles per gallon in the city, 36 miles per gallon on the highway, and 38 miles per gallon overall. It has an all-electric driving range of 42 miles, which brings its MPGe, which is the efficiency rating comparable to driving on gas alone, up to 94. This is the longest fully-electric range of any plug-in hybrid electric vehicle produced in 2023, and the Volvo S60 T8 Recharge is the only PHEV that comes close with its 40-mile range. There is no other SUV with a higher top speed. The battery may be recharged using the 6.6 kW onboard charger in as little as 12 hours when connected to a standard home outlet. This time may be decreased to 2.5 hours when using a charger that operates at 240 volts and is known as a Level 2 charger.
The Hyundai Tucson PHEV has a combined fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon, but its maximum range on electric power alone is just 33 miles. The RAV4 Prime is a magical vehicle, and the Honda CR-V Hybrid comes close to matching it, but it does not quite equal it. It gets 40 miles per gallon in the city, 34 miles per gallon on the highway, and 37 miles per gallon overall when combined. The RAV4 hybrid, which does not have a plug-in option, has a combined mileage rating of 40 mpg.