2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review: Frugal Family Plug-in

Based on one of the most popular cars in the USA - and the world - the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime takes a recipe for success and throws in more power from a 302-horsepower hybrid powertrain and improved fuel economy. It is otherwise the same practical and safe compact crossover that people have come to love, though it competes with top-selling PHEVs in the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape lineup. There's also new competition in the way of Mazda's new CX-70 PHEV, although that hasn't arrived stateside at the time of writing. With a higher asking price than most rivals and slightly lackluster driving dynamics, it may have to depend more heavily on its rock-solid reputation for dependability and practicality to convince shoppers to spend more.

New for 2024

After a brand-new Toyota RAV4 Prime SUV was introduced last year, it carries over into 2024 without any changes.

2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Price: Which One to Buy

The price of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime starts at $43,690 MSRP, while the slightly better-equipped XSE will cost you $47,560. These figures don't include the $1,350 destination charge, though.

Both models are a lot more expensive than the regular RAV4, so we'd advise sticking with the base SE if you want the best value for money. It gets the majority of the available tech as standard, including the full Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite.

Interior and Features

Well put together and with plenty of space, the RAV4 Prime is all about family comfort, and it includes all the essential features to get the job done.

As one of the more expensive Toyota cars on the market, the RAV4 Prime is well-appointed and dressed up in some high-quality materials. Most of the high-traffic areas, like the dashboard and armrests, are soft to the touch, and the various controls are all laid out ergonomically. The central console is crowned by an eight-inch touchscreen, but it isn't so high that it will infringe on your view of the road, while the physical buttons for the climate control are located lower down. Both a moonroof and a panoramic glass roof are available, making an already spacious cabin feel larger.

Space

Calling it a compact SUV feels a bit like a misnomer when you consider just how much space is available inside the RAV4 Prime. Legroom is great all around, but installing one of the optional roofs does cost you some headroom, especially in the front. The drive tunnel does restrict the rear middle seat a little, but three children could easily fit in the second row. The front doors open wide, but even the smaller doors at the back open enough to make getting in or our easy.

Cargo

Even the smallest crossovers need to be highly practical to remain competitive, and despite its plug-in hybrid nature, the RAV4 Prime manages to offer a lot of cargo space in the trunk. With all the seats in place, there is 33.5 cubic feet to work with, which is plenty for most daily needs, and you can easily fit all you weekly groceries with space to spare. Folding down the second row redistributes the interior space, giving you an impressive 69.8 cubic feet to work with. Only people moving furniture could really need more. With a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 pounds, the hybrid can pull a decent-sized trailer.

The cabin provides numerous storage options for smaller items, including the obligatory glove compartment and a pair of cupholders in the front. There are two more cupholders in the rear fold-down middle seat, and each door has a sizeable pocket. The front seats have pockets behind them, and the armrest has a spacious cubby underneath for our phones or other larger items.

Materials and Colors

Hybrid trims generally start halfway up the regular lineup, adding value to an already economical vehicle. Nevertheless, the RAV4 Prime starts out with cloth upholstery, though the only color on offer is Black. This remains true in the XSE, which comes with mixed-media upholstery, adding red accents to the Black fabric. By adding the Premium package, you can upgrade to Black SofTex for a more luxury-oriented look and feel, but you get no additional interior colors to choose from. The dashboard and armrest are coated in soft-touch materials as standard, and these can be extended to the central console and doors in the XSE, while both trims get a leather-trimmed steering wheel as standard.

Features and Infotainment

Since the SE is not a base model, the RAV4 benefits from a long list of standard features that help compensate for its higher asking price. These include dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and an eight-inch touchscreen. The infotainment suite includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth streaming, and a six-speaker sound system. Upgrading to the XSE adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a larger 10.5-inch touchscreen, and an 11-speaker JBL sound system. Optionally, you can have a power tilt-and-slide moonroof in the SE, a panoramic glass roof in the XSE, or heated rear seats in either.

Performance

With more power than any other RAV4, the Prime is the quickest of the lot, but it's still not particularly athletic, leaning more towards comfort.

Under the hood of the Toyota RAV4 is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a 40-kW electric motor. This develops a combined 302 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to a standard all-wheel drivetrain. Despite having the most power of any RAV4, the plug-in hybrid replaces the eight-speed automatic transmission with an eCVT that doesn't feel quite as decisive. Nevertheless, the RAV4 Prime can go from 0-60 mph in a brisk 5.5 seconds.

It remains one of the most enjoyable drivers in Toyota's lineup of family vehicles, though to actually call it fun would be a stretch. The steering is light and accurate but rather numb, with little in the way of feedback. This makes it easy to drive, but it doesn't inspire confidence at higher speeds. The suspension is also quite soft, focusing on absorbing bumps rather than keeping the chassis poised around bends. But, when push comes to shove, you can do some mild off-roading thanks to a good amount of ground clearance, though you can't get too wild.

Fuel Efficiency

The whole point of going hybrid is for improved gas mileage, so it makes sense that the Toyota RAV4 Prime can achieve 94 MPGe, but that is only while the battery lasts. Once it is running on gas alone, it still manages a respectable 38 mpg combined.

Recharging the battery takes around 2.5 hrs on a 240 V outlet. With a fuel capacity of 14.5 gallons, the SUV can cover 600 miles in total, with 42 miles of that being on electric power.

Safety

Having earned a Top Safety Pick last year, the RAV4 Prime continues to impress with near-perfect crash test results.

You won't find a poor safety review of the Toyota RAV4 Prime, with both the NHTSA and IIHS reporting top marks. This includes a five-star rating from the former and an overall score of Good from the latter. The IIHS also gave the car a Top Safety Pick award in 2023.

Standard safety features include ABS, EBD, stability and traction control, and eight airbags. For driver-assistance tech, it offers forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane tracing, lane departure alert, and road sign assist, with a surround-view camera and parking assist with automatic braking available as options.

Reliability

While the Toyota RAV4 Prime doesn't have a reliability rating of its own, the gas-only model received a middling 76 out of 100, which is notably below its chief rivals. That being said, the car has seen no recalls in recent years, though there were three in 2022.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime has some of the best warranty plans, though. The bumper-to-bumper warranty is quite standard at three years/36,000 miles, while the powertrain is covered for five years/60,000 miles. But the eight-year/100,000-mile hybrid component and ten-year/150,000 battery warranties are great.

Warranty

Design

The only thing holding the RAV4 Prime back from being head-turning is just how common the regular model is. There are a few differences on the face of the PHEV, though. It still has a small but wide grille that looks like it is tucked into the aggressive lower bumper, but the LED headlights have slightly different styling with thin vertical turning indicators. There are also LED daytime running lights. Wheels vary in size from 18 to 19 inches from SE to XSE trims, and the latter gets vertical LED accent lights. Unlike many crossovers, the RAV4 Prime has an angular and memorable rear end with a smartly integrated rooftop spoiler and a pair of circular exhaust outlets at either end of the bumper. The liftgate is power-operated as standard, with hands-free access granted on the XSE.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime A Good SUV?

Considering that the regular RAV4 is extremely popular, it makes sense that the 2024 RAV4 Prime has a lot going for it, but it also has a lot to live up to. Presented in just two trim levels, you have to be willing to invest quite a bit just to gain access to the plug-in hybrid powertrain. This places it a bit outside of the expected price for most buyers looking for a compact SUV, though you can get most of the money back in fuel savings over a few years. You still get the excellent practicality that the Toyota crossover is known for, along with an impressive list of standard features, including top-notch safety systems. All in all, the plug-in hybrid is well worth the money but it's just a pity not everyone will be able to afford it.