MSRP range:
$39,800 - $43,125
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime Review
Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.
rating written byMark Takahashi
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
- Long all-electric driving range
- Impressively quick acceleration
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Generous cargo and passenger space
- Lackluster handling
- Longer-than-average braking distances
- Disconnected steering feel
- Uncomfortable front passenger seat
Toyota’s massively popular compact SUV has jumped on the electrification bandwagon. Introduced for the 2021 model year, the Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid SUV gives drivers the flexibility to travel using the gas engine or on electric power alone. The RAV4 Prime carries over into 2022 unchanged save for updated standard headlights.
What We Think
The 2022 RAV4 Prime won’t look like it, but this Toyota is one of the quickest models the automaker builds. It’s much quicker than the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid, and power delivery comes smoothly. It stacks up well against the competition; a 2021 RAV4 Prime XSE handily defeated a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander GT PHEV S-AWC in our comparison test. Body roll is well-controlled, although the ride we experienced in pre-2022 models is a bit jittery over rough surfaces. At least cargo space doesn’t suffer with the battery.
We’ve praised the premium and uncluttered feel of our loaded 2021 RAV4 Prime XSE testers. Soft-touch materials, along with an available panoramic moonroof and head-up display, spruce up the interior.
Boasting refined driving dynamics and a comfortable interior, the Prime is our favorite version of the RAV4. Factor in an impressive all-electric range of more than 40 miles, and this is a strong pick for a compact SUV if you can afford the near-$40,000 base price.
Performance & Range
Expect the RAV4 Prime to continue using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine, in addition to two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. Total output will likely remain 302 hp. In our First Test, we clocked the RAV4 Prime hitting 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
While power is quite impressive for a mainstream compact SUV, fuel economy and range are the real draws. The RAV4 Prime continues to achieve 94 mpg-e and 42 miles of all-electric range.
Safety
Like other Toyotas, the 2022 RAV4 Prime offers a strong suite of standard safety features. These include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Toyota also offers front and rear parking assist with automatic braking on the top XSE trim.
Safety
Like other Toyotas, the 2022 RAV4 Prime offers a strong suite of standard safety features. These include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Toyota also offers front and rear parking assist with automatic braking on the top XSE trim.
Technology
The base 2022 RAV4 SE trim comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility are also standard. Stepping up to the XSE trim increases the display to a 9-inch unit. Both trims use six-speaker sound systems. Toyota offers its top model with an available premium JBL audio setup that bumps up the speaker count to nine. There’s also an available 10-inch head-up display for the RAV4 Prime XSE.
Should I Buy the Toyota RAV4 Prime?
The RAV4 Prime is worth a look, but you’ll want to do your due diligence before buying one. That’s because, while this is a good little crossover, there are a lot of enticing options in the hybrid and electric SUV class, and several of them cost less than this Toyota. That said, if you look at a few options and like the RAV4 Prime the best, you shouldn’t sweat buying it because this is a good vehicle.
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