Toyota RAV4 Prime Starts At $38,100 – Is Faster And More Eco-Friendly Than Originally Estimated

Plug-in hybrid crossovers are about to go mainstream in a big way as Toyota has announced the 2021 RAV4 Prime will go on sale this summer with a base price of $38,100 – excluding federal and state incentives as well as a delivery, processing and handling fee of $1,120.

Costing slightly more than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the RAV4 Prime SE has a unique grille, an aerodynamic front spoiler and piano black accents. The model also features 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear charging port and a power tailgate.

Inside, there’s heated front seats and an eight-way power driver’s seat. The model also comes equipped with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7-inch multi-information display and an 8-inch infotainment system with Amazon Alexa, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

For an additional $1,665, customers can get the Weather & Moonroof Package. It includes a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, rain-sensing wipers and a moonroof.

Also Read: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV Is Both The Most Powerful And Fuel-Efficient RAV4 Ever

Shoppers looking for more luxury can opt for the RAV4 Prime XSE. It’s distinguished by vertical LED daytime running and two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels. The model can also be equipped with a two-tone exterior featuring a black roof and a contrasting body.

Moving into the cabin, there’s SofTex seats and a larger 9-inch infotainment system. The range-topping plug-in hybrid also boasts a moonroof, a wireless smartphone charger and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a HomeLink universal transceiver.

Three different package are available and the $815 Weather pack adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and rain-sensing wipers. The $2,435 Weather and Audio Package includes all the aforementioned equipment as well as a JBL premium audio system, three years of dynamic navigation and one year of destination assist.

Lastly, there’s the “Weather with Audio and Premium Package” which costs $5,760. Putting aside the terrible name, the package includes the previous two packs as well as heated / ventilated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat and a panoramic glass moonroof. The package also includes a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a motion activated power tailgate, a bird’s eye view camera and a 120V AC outlet in cargo area.

The package also includes an enhanced 6.6 kW charger which replaces the standard 3 kW on-board charger. Unfortunately, the company still hasn’t mentioned recharging times for either.

Both models come equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance systems. It includes adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam headlights and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. There’s also lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist (lane centering) and road sign assist.

Motivation is provided by a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a lithium-ion battery and a rear-mounted electric motor. This setup enables the all-wheel drive crossover to have a combined output of 302 hp (225 kW / 306 PS).

Besides being the most powerful RAV4 ever, Toyota revealed the model should be quicker than they originally estimated. In today’s announcement, they quietly lowered the estimated 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time from 5.8 to 5.7 seconds.

The model is also more eco-friendly than projected as Toyota has increased the estimated electric-only range from 39 miles (62.8 km) to 42 miles (67.6 km). If that figure pans out, the RAV4 Prime would have the longest EV range of any plug-in hybrid crossover on the market.