2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE AWD – Review by David Colman +VIDEO

The RAV4 ain’t somnolent no more!

David Colman

Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL

Toyota's family workhorse, the RAV4 SUV, has always had a lot going for it: affordability, spaciousness, convenient features, and economical operation. What it lacked was straight-line acceleration, handling finesse, and interior refinement. With the introduction of the 2022 RAV4 Prime XSE - a plug-in hybrid featuring a completely new drive train - the RAV4 has finally matured into an SUV that is fast enough to be fun to drive.

Until the advent of the Prime model, you could buy either a 203hp gas-powered RAV4, or a 219hp hybrid version. But now you can opt for an increase of nearly 100 more horsepower with the plug-in rechargeable Prime model which boosts output to a scintillating 302hp. The 3,510lb base model gas-only base RAV4 makes do with a power-to-weight ratio of 17.29lb/hp, while the hybrid improves that figure slightly to 16.02lb/hp. The much heavier 4,235lb Prime boosts the RAV4 into another league altogether with a rating of 14.02lb/hp. Best of all is the immediate torque thrust from front and rear axle electric motors which supplement the 177hp gas motor's 165lb.-ft. of torque. The front electric unit cranks out 179hp and 199lb.-ft. of torque, while the rear axle unit augments power with 53hp and 89 lb.-ft. of torque. What all this means in daily driving is the RAV4 Prime is a real hot rod, posting a 0-60mph acceleration time of 5.5 seconds, and conquering the standing start quarter mile in 14.0 seconds at 100mph.

However, RAV4 affordability suffers with the Prime XSE's elevated base price of $43,125. Our Blueprint Metallic test vehicle upped the ante with $6,391 worth of extras. The most expensive of these were the $1,650 Premium Audio/Navigation (with 11 JBL speakers, subwoofer and amplifier); and the $3,350 Premium Package (panoramic glass roof with tilt/slide, SofTex trimmed seats with red accents and stitching, bird's eye view camera, kick activated tailgate).

In addition to the performance enhancements of the Prime, another key inducement to spending the extra money for the plug-in version is operating economy. The EPA/DOT fuel economy numbers for the Prime are 38MPG in combined gas/electric mode and 94MPGe in electric-only use. The government estimates range with a full charge will be 42 miles before the gas motor needs to kick in. We took the Prime from Marin to "Car Week" in Monterey. One tank of fuel was enough for that round trip plus several jaunts to Laguna Seca Raceway. The Prime scores 10/10 on the EPA fuel economy scale, 7/10 on the smog rating scale, and will save you $2,750 in fuel costs over 5 years. On top of that, the Prime may also make you eligible for a $7,500 EV tax credit which is applied to taxes owed in the year of purchase.

Thanks to the Premium package, our test RAV4's dashboard featured a 10-inch touchscreen for navigation and infotainment chores. Lesser RAV4s make do with 8 and 9-inch screens. The striking red seat accents and stitching continue across the face of the dash as well as the door panels. These refinements boost the interior of this Toyota into a class above more prosaic RAV4s. Both front seats are ventilated and heated. The driver's seat features 8-way power adjustment, plus a 2-position memory function. The interior is spacious and well provided with storage cubbies, a smartphone recharger, and a 120-volt, 1500-watt AC power outlet in the cargo area. We especially applaud Toyota's continued effort to install large, rubberized knobs to control all essential functions while driving. This attention to detail even extends to the grippy unseen inside of the door handles. Spaciousness is the byword here. With the second row seats up, storage space inside measures 33 cubic feet. If you flatten the back seats, interior cargo space jumps to 63 cubic feet.

Not only is the Prime quick in a straight line, but also amazingly competent at dealing with snaking back roads. The splendidly detailed 19-inch chrome spoked alloy rims support mud & snow rated Yokohama Avid GT radials (235/55R19). These tires complement the Toyota's compliant ride, yet stick surprisingly well when you select the Sport setting from the Drive Mode indicator. Sport mode outlines the tachometer and speedometer faces in red, stiffens ride quality, and ups engine responsiveness by moving the Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) into a lower operating range.

The most surprising and gratifying factor in the Prime equation is the responsiveness of the drive train to throttle input. By supplementing the 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder gas engine with not 1 but 2 electric motors, Toyota has converted the previously somnolent RAV4 hybrid into an unexpectedly economical road scorcher.

2022 TOYOTA RAV4 PRIME AWD

Engine: DOHC 16-valve 2.5 liter inline-4 plus front and rear axle electric motors
HORSEPOWER: 302hp (combined)
TORQUE: N/A
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 38MPG /94MPGe
PRICE AS TESTED: $50,731

HYPES: Surprisingly Fast and Fun To Drive Hybrid SUV

GRIPES: Variable Brake Response

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10