The All-New 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime

How do you take the most popular compact SUVs on the market and make it even more desirable?

Just add electricity!

As Toyota continues to push its line-up to the future, they continue to add more hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, with new fully-electric models also starting to hit the car lots. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime is a shining example of Toyota’s march forward. By taking the RAV4 and adding plug-in hybrid power, they’ve created a vehicle that can offer family hauling with a green twist!

Performance Features

Sometimes electric isn’t just about savings at the pump. Why not be economic while being exciting at the same time?

Under the hood of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime is a 177-horsepower 2.5-liter engine pushing down 165 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with another electric motor at the front, which offers 199 lb-ft of instant torque and 179 horsepower, while a second electric motor with 53 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque drives the rear wheels. What this all adds up to is 302 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of instantaneous torque to the pavement – compare that with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft in a standard RAV4! MotorTrend has tested the Prime and gotten it to do 5.5 seconds in the 0-60 test, which is impressive for any non-luxury SUV.

With an 18.1 kWh battery holding charge, the RAV4 Prime can make it 42 miles on electricity after a full charge. This allows the Prime to provide 38 MPG combined city and highway if you never plug it in and use it as just a regular hybrid, or a combined 94 MPGe when you charge it up fully. With the optional 6.6 kWh charger and a high-end Level 2 240-volt charging unit, the Prime can be charged from empty to full. Going with the standard 3.3 kW on-board charger or a Level 1 120-volt charging unit will lengthen that charge time to a full 12 hours.

Style and Technology

Given the success of the recent interior redesign of the RAV4, it’s no surprise that the 2022 RAV4 Prime’s interior is pretty much identical. The engineers at Toyota have excelled in designing the vehicle around the beefy battery pack, minimizing the encroachment into the cargo space and passenger space. This means the RAV4 Prime can offer up to 37.8 inches of legroom and 39.5 inches of headroom in the second row of seats, plenty for the average adult to be comfortable in. At the same time, the cargo area holds up to 69.8 cubic feet of cargo maximum, or 33.5 cubic feet if you need to have the second row clear for passengers. While this is average for the class, the competition isn’t dealing with a battery back that takes up some of the potential space!

The interior itself is appropriately classy and utilizes the latest in Toyota tech. High-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces are put together with excellent fit and finish – no squeaking or loose bits around the interior of the Prime! Choose from fabric or SofTex-trimmed seats. For comfort, dual zone automatic climate control is standard, as are heated front seats – heated outboard rear seats and front seat ventilation are both options. The Smart Key System on the front doors and a power liftgate offer great convenience and ease of access even when you’ve got your hands full. The standard 8-inch touch screen infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration along with 6 speakers, and can be upgraded to a 9-inch screen. Bluetooth hands-free is standard on all models, while 4 USB ports makes it easy for everyone to charge their phone or mobile device. An 11-speaker JBL premium audio system is available.

Safety

Anyone familiar with Toyota knows that the company has always been at the forefront of safety. It’s no surprise that they show that off in the 2022 RAV4 Prime. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 system is the core of this, and features the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beams, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Road Sign Assist, which uses the vehicle’s forward-facing camera to recognize road signs and relay the information to the driver via the dash display. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is also standard, while Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automated Braking is available. A backup camera is standard, while the top trim adds dynamic guidelines – there’s also the ability to upgrade to the Bird’s Eye View Camera with 360-degrees view, Perimeter Scan, and Curb View. A final great touch for the security-minded is the standard Safety Connect System, which includes Emergency Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Locator, Roadside Assistance, and Automatic Collision Notification, all with an included one-year trial subscription.

Trim Levels

Plug-in hybrids generally come in very limited trims, and the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime is no exception. There’s the base SE or the upscale XSE, and that’s it.

In the base SE you get all the standard features listed previously. Fabric upholstery is standard and features sporty red accent stitching as well as embossed seat inserts. The 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 4-way manual adjustable passenger seat are both heated, and the rear outboard seats can be upgraded to heated. A leather-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel features audio and Bluetooth phone controls and has optional heating. The six-speaker audio system is controlled through the standard 8-inch touchscreen.

Moving up to the XSE adds in some bells and whistles. The seating is trimmed with SofTex for a luxury touch. Seating can be upgraded to heated and ventilated front seats along with heated outboard rear seats. The steering wheel in the XSE comes with paddle shifters in addition to those audio controls, but heating is still an added option. Ambient illumination around cup holders and in-dash shelves, along with silver interior door handles, offers a bit of class. A larger 9-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment offerings in the XSE. One of the biggest differences in the trims is that the XSE comes with the available 6.6 kWh charger, so you can cut your charge time down to 2.5 hours from empty if you have access to a 240V Level 2 outlet!