Alinity snapchat name
2022 Toyota Rav4 Prime XSE
AWD
Photos and Story By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL
Toyota's family workhorse, the RAV4 SUV, has always had a lot
going for it: affordability, spaciousness, convenient features, and
economical operation. What it lacked was straight-line
acceleration, handling finesse, and interior refinement. With the
introduction of the 2022 RAV4 Prime XSE - a plug-in hybrid
featuring a completely new drive train - the RAV4 has finally
matured into an SUV that is fast enough to be fun to drive.
Until the advent of the Prime model, you could buy either a
203hp gas-powered RAV4, or a 219hp hybrid version. But now you can
opt for an increase of nearly 100 more horsepower with the plug-in
rechargeable Prime model which boosts output to a scintillating
302hp. The 3,510lb base model gas-only base RAV4 makes do with a
power-to-weight ratio of 17.29lb/hp, while the hybrid improves that
figure slightly to 16.02lb/hp. The much heavier 4,235lb Prime
boosts the RAV4 into another league altogether with a rating of
14.02lb/hp. Best of all is the immediate torque thrust from front
and rear axle electric motors which supplement the 177hp gas
motor's 165lb.-ft. of torque. The front electric unit cranks out
179hp and 199lb.-ft. of torque, while the rear axle unit augments
power with 53hp and 89 lb.-ft. of torque. What all this means in
daily driving is the RAV4 Prime is a real hot rod, posting a
0-60mph acceleration time of 5.5 seconds, and conquering the
standing start quarter mile in 14.0 seconds at 100mph.
However, RAV4 affordability suffers with the Prime XSE's
elevated base price of $43,125. Our Blueprint Metallic test vehicle
upped the ante with $6,391 worth of extras. The most expensive of
these were the $1,650 Premium Audio/Navigation (with 11 JBL
speakers, subwoofer and amplifier); and the $3,350 Premium Package
(panoramic glass roof with tilt/slide, SofTex trimmed seats with
red accents and stitching, bird's eye view camera, kick activated
tailgate).
In addition to the performance enhancements of the
Prime, another key inducement to spending the extra money for the
plug-in version is operating economy. The EPA/DOT fuel economy
numbers for the Prime are 38MPG in combined gas/electric mode and
94MPGe in electric-only use. The government estimates range with a
full charge will be 42 miles before the gas motor needs to kick in.
We took the Prime from Marin to "Car Week" in Monterey. One tank of
fuel was enough for that round trip plus several jaunts to Laguna
Seca Raceway. The Prime scores 10/10 on the EPA fuel economy scale,
7/10 on the smog rating scale, and will save you $2,750 in fuel
costs over 5 years. On top of that, the Prime may also make you
eligible for a $7,500 EV tax credit which is applied to taxes owed
in the year of purchase.
Thanks to the Premium package, our test RAV4's dashboard
featured a 10-inch touchscreen for navigation and infotainment
chores. Lesser RAV4s make do with 8 and 9-inch screens. The
striking red seat accents and stitching continue across the face of
the dash as well as the door panels. These refinements boost the
interior of this Toyota into a class above more prosaic RAV4s. Both
front seats are ventilated and heated. The driver's seat features
8-way power adjustment, plus a 2-position memory function. The
interior is spacious and well provided with storage cubbies, a
smartphone recharger, and a 120-volt, 1500-watt AC power outlet in
the cargo area. We especially applaud Toyota's continued effort to
install large, rubberized knobs to control all essential functions
while driving. This attention to detail even extends to the grippy
unseen inside of the door handles. Spaciousness is the byword here.
With the second row seats up, storage space inside measures 33
cubic feet. If you flatten the back seats, interior cargo space
jumps to 63 cubic feet.
Not only is the Prime quick in a straight line, but also
amazingly competent at dealing with snaking back roads. The
splendidly detailed 19-inch chrome spoked alloy rims support mud &
snow rated Yokohama Avid GT radials (235/55R19). These tires
complement the Toyota's compliant ride, yet stick surprisingly well
when you select the Sport setting from the Drive Mode indicator.
Sport mode outlines the tachometer and speedometer faces in red,
stiffens ride quality, and ups engine responsiveness by moving the
Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) into a lower
operating range.
The most surprising and gratifying factor in the Prime
equation is the responsiveness of the drive train to throttle
input. By supplementing the 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder gas engine
with not 1 but 2 electric motors, Toyota has converted the
previously somnolent RAV4 hybrid into an unexpectedly economical
road scorcher.
2022 TOYOTA RAV4 PRIME AWD
Engine: DOHC 16-valve 2.5 liter inline-4 plus front and rear
axle electric motors
HORSEPOWER: 302hp (combined)
TORQUE: N/A
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 38MPG /94MPGe
PRICE AS TESTED: $50,731
HYPES: Surprisingly Fast and Fun To Drive Hybrid SUV
GRIPES: Variable Brake Response
STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10