Topic: 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE with Tech pkg

[Blueprint]

The most coveted car in North America ain't the LC500, GT3 or this week's limited edition Ferrari display toy. It's this.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20230809/toyota-rav4-prime-xse-2023-essai-routier/

[Blueprint]

An inside source within Toyota told me that if they had to honour every deposit they have, well that's 8 year's worth of orders 

Truth is, many prospective buyers plunk multiple deposits, so the final wait is about 2 years. Yet, friends who were at the right place at the right time got theirs in 6 months. Ya never know!

So why all the hype?

[Blueprint]

I rode / drove in a few of these things, but the Prime was a revelation. It shares an identical Atkinson-cycle 2.5 litre gas four with the regular Hybrid, shares the same rear motor and infamous power cable. However, the front motor has 179 hp, 60 more than the Hybrid, the max combined output being 302 hp. This thing scoots. Car and driver pins it faster to 60 than the Supra 2.0.

The larger 18,2 kWh battery adds weight down below, and the Prime has specific suspension settings and rolling hardware. Simply put, it handles better than the other RAV's, is more poised, more "planted" and refined - none of that "heavy unsuspended mass upfront" feel I got from the Hybrid last year. First RAV to give out a premium ride - at $63k as tested, it should.

Bonus: none of that horrid Toyota hybrid sketchy brake modulation - when in EV mode, things are smooth.

[Blueprint]

But I kept it on EV mode all week, except to test that ooomph. The result was 0.2 l/100 km for my week with it, thanks to the observed 75 km range, better than the official rating. More impressive even: a claimed 21,8 kWh / 100 km by the trip computer, making this rig more efficient than all the pure EVs I've driven, except the original Ioniq hatch. And these EV's don't come with a back-up plan on ICE. The EV torque, at 199 lb/ft, is plenty to move around and keep up with traffic.

[Blueprint]

Interior is as good as it gets in a RAV4. Softex seating, all the fixin's and these nifty big rubber wheels for HVAC and audio - easy to use with gloved hands. Seating here was Volvo-comfy. The Prime packages its battery in the rear seat area, so it sits 2" higher and a bit more forward than in other RAV's, making it slightly less roomy back there. There's even a spare tire under the trunk floor. But overall, no perceived loss of room and it's a pretty serene place to travel in.

[Blueprint]

Worth the wait? Oh yes - I enjoyed driving this more than my CX-90 PHEV, and thanks to $10k in rebates in QC, the budget is reasonnable. Heck, the base Prime SE is at par with a CR-V hybrid, before any rebates !!

Cons? #cablegate ain't resolved - they only extended the warranty. It's a very Canadian problem, hence the little hurry in fixing it. The safety noise is unnerving, and stays on at speeds where tire noise should be telling of your presence. Plus, yeah, delays. Otherwise, this is the best damn option in the entire compact SUV field.





PS - that graffiti really spooks me - who remembers The Mentalist?

PPS - notice the very red struts up front!

[BWII]

Not sure if it's a Prime thing or just needing to be a more top end model...but that thing looks pretty darn nice.  Otherwise they seem quite ugly, but that one...in red...with those wheels...something about it, I like it.  Hell I'd drive that for a dollar!!  $63g though...yikes.    And MB doesn't offer any rebates because MB don't care if you drive to save the environment.  Hydro up our arses...too feckin' bad.  We'll rather spend our money making transmission lines 4000 km too long and selling it to the Americans instead! (I'd bet at a loss, too, because we can always screw the locals!)

[OliverD]

Yeah you're right, the red does look very nice.

[Blueprint]

Yeah you're right, the red does look very nice.

Indeed, the two-tone paint, the wheels and the piano black trim team up to elevate the rather dour / fleet grade RAV4 shape.

[PJungnitsch]

First vehicle we were looking for this time last summer. The salesman grunted 'not taking orders', hardly lifting his head

What are the sales numbers for this thing anyway? Find it odd production still seems so limited

[Blueprint]

First vehicle we were looking for this time last summer. The salesman grunted 'not taking orders', hardly lifting his head

What are the sales numbers for this thing anyway? Find it odd production still seems so limited

It's a case where demand far exceeeds production capacity. Building them here instead of Japan could help with shipping delays, but maybe not with raw material / components sourcing.

[Serniter]

Worth the wait? Oh yes - I enjoyed driving this more than my CX-90 PHEV, and thanks to $10k in rebates in QC, the budget is reasonnable.

Thank you for the review and pictures! If the third row wasn't needed, would you choose this over a CX-90? Or is the CX-90 more refined?

[ktm525]

It makes the most sense but I'd rather walk.

[Blueprint]

Worth the wait? Oh yes - I enjoyed driving this more than my CX-90 PHEV, and thanks to $10k in rebates in QC, the budget is reasonnable.

Thank you for the review and pictures! If the third row wasn't needed, would you choose this over a CX-90? Or is the CX-90 more refined?

The Prime feels a bit more refined than the CX-90, especially at residential speeds where the Mazda’s novel transmission is a bit jerky. The Toyota is fully an EV when there’s juice, so you get that smooth linear electric motor traction. This is the vehicle size I’m targeting once our 3 row needs are behind us.

[PJungnitsch]

First vehicle we were looking for this time last summer. The salesman grunted 'not taking orders', hardly lifting his head

What are the sales numbers for this thing anyway? Find it odd production still seems so limited

It's a case where demand far exceeeds production capacity. Building them here instead of Japan could help with shipping delays, but maybe not with raw material / components sourcing.

When we were looking the NX450h+ with the same drivetrain was more available, but getting expensive, and the RX450h+ is pricier again

Kinda wonder if at some point PHEV will drop right down in price. Twenty years ago when I was looking at new Vibes every safety feature like ABS, stability Control, and side Airbags was an expensive extra, now they throw it in for free with the cheapest vehicles you can get

[Blueprint]

First vehicle we were looking for this time last summer. The salesman grunted 'not taking orders', hardly lifting his head

What are the sales numbers for this thing anyway? Find it odd production still seems so limited

It's a case where demand far exceeeds production capacity. Building them here instead of Japan could help with shipping delays, but maybe not with raw material / components sourcing.

When we were looking the NX450h+ with the same drivetrain was more available, but getting expensive, and the RX450h+ is pricier again

Kinda wonder if at some point PHEV will drop right down in price. Twenty years ago when I was looking at new Vibes every safety feature like ABS, stability Control, and side Airbags was an expensive extra, now they throw it in for free with the cheapest vehicles you can get

The prices aren't that bad when you compare. The base RAV4 Prime is at par with a CR-V Hybrid - you just can't get access to one. The PHEV option on Kyundais is priced right too - it's the basic vehicles that are way up!

[Fobroader]

This to me is the ultimate option if you want to save fuel, all the good things about an EV without any of the many drawbacks, Toyota resale and quality. If we were looking for a CUV, I think this would be it.

[valuator]

This to me is the ultimate option if you want to save fuel, all the good things about an EV without any of the many drawbacks, Toyota resale and quality. If we were looking for a CUV, I think this would be it.

Yup.  Would be nice to see a "Prime" version of the Highlander / Grand Highlander but I'm not holding my breath.

[Blueprint]

This to me is the ultimate option if you want to save fuel, all the good things about an EV without any of the many drawbacks, Toyota resale and quality. If we were looking for a CUV, I think this would be it.

Yup.  Would be nice to see a "Prime" version of the Highlander / Grand Highlander but I'm not holding my breath.

The should just Prime everything by default (says the guy who will have to fuel a Sequoia next week)

[valuator]

This to me is the ultimate option if you want to save fuel, all the good things about an EV without any of the many drawbacks, Toyota resale and quality. If we were looking for a CUV, I think this would be it.

Yup.  Would be nice to see a "Prime" version of the Highlander / Grand Highlander but I'm not holding my breath.

The should just Prime everything by default (says the guy who will have to fuel a Sequoia next week)

Well I would assume they won't "Prime everything" until they can deliver a reasonable number of units of the PHEVs already in the portfolio.