The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime: The hybrid compact SUV checks all the boxes

If you’re the type of person who likes to have their cake and eat it, too, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime is your kind of vehicle. That’s because as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, it enables you to drive on battery power alone like an all-electric vehicle, yet also has a gasoline engine to enable long road trips and quick fill-ups, just like a traditional vehicle. The story only gets better from there. The RAV4 Prime also happens to be the most powerful vehicle in its class with over 300 horsepower, and has the most all-electric range with 42 miles. Those numbers easily top the Kia
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Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, and Ford
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Escape Plug-in Hybrid. More icing on the proverbial cake comes in the form of standard all-wheel drive, great tech and safety features, and Toyota’s enviable record of reliability. The Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid are reviewed separately.

See: The 2024 Toyota RAV4 reviewed: There’s good reason for the popularity of this reliable SUV

What’s new in 2024

After an update last year that brought enhanced technology, the RAV4 Prime carries over unchanged for 2024.

2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime pricing

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime starts at $43,440 for the base SE trim. The range-topping XSE starts at $47,310 but will stretch past $50,000 with options.

These figures are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and do not include the $1,350 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime has a higher starting price than its few rivals in this segment. The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid begins at around $39K, while the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid starts at $38,475. The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid starts at $40,500. If you simply want a hybrid RAV4 — one that doesn’t plug in — the also-recommendable RAV4 Hybrid begins at $31,475.

Before buying, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others are paying. Toyota products are known for great resale value, and the RAV4 Prime is no different. It is predicted to top its rivals, Hyundai and Ford, and sit slightly below Kia.

Check out: The cars, trucks, EVs and SUVs with the best resale value in 2024

Driving the 2024 RAV4 Prime

The Toyota RAV4 Prime has all the traits we already enjoy about the standard RAV4 — easy driving manners, a high seating position that affords good visibility, and impressive steering and brakes. But it’s also fast. As in, the RAV4 Prime is actually one of the fastest vehicles Toyota makes, with a 0-60 mph time in the mid-5-second range. That’s sports car-quick, and it comes courtesy of the RAV4 Prime’s sophisticated gas-electric power that makes a combined 302 horsepower. In our latest testing of the RAV4 Prime, we noted how we accidentally chirped the tires without much effort yet still relished the vehicle’s overall comfort. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD) also inspires confidence, and there’s a Trail Mode for light off-road duty.

See: The 2023 Kia Sorento vs. the Toyota RAV4: Which one is better?

Like other hybridized Toyota vehicles, this one uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that tends to drone under heavy acceleration, and we also noted some road and wind noise. None of these are deal breakers, and we think the RAV4 Prime’s pros far outweigh these minor nits.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of plug-in hybrid SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4 Prime.

Be sure to read: A hybrid just won ‘vehicle of the year.’ Here’s why the EV case has been hard to crack.

Fuel economy

The Toyota RAV4 Prime can travel up to 42 miles on electric power alone, which is more than the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (34 miles), Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid (33), and Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid (37). As for its overall efficiency in mixed city/highway driving when operating in gas-electric hybrid mode, the RAV4 Prime earns 38 mpg, which is 5 mpg more than the Kia and Hyundai and 2 mpg less than the Ford — but the Ford Escape PHEV only comes in front-wheel drive and not AWD like the others. At up to 600 miles, total driving range of the Toyota RAV4 Prime vastly beats its rivals. More fuel economy information can be found on the EPA’s website.

Read: The electric car vs. plug-in hybrid debate: Which should you buy?

Simple yet functional interior

The RAV4 Prime’s 5-passenger cabin is functional and quite spacious, though it feels a bit dated compared to its rivals. For example, you won’t get the slick dual-screen setup here that you would in the Kia, and other controls look about five years old because they are; this generation of RAV4 debuted in 2019. That said, we like that controls are easy to use and within reach. For instance, a simple turn of a dial changes the temperature and volume. And while the SE’s touchscreen is on the smaller side at 8 inches, the XSE has a more prominent 10.5-inch system. This top model also has a more modern 12.3-inch digital display cluster. The RAV4 is known for its roomy interior and cargo space, and the Prime version doesn’t give up much despite housing a battery in its chassis. It has the same rear legroom — a good 37.8 inches — and cargo capacity of 33.5 cubic feet behind the seats and 69.8 with them folded. That’s the same total cargo space and just about four cubic feet less with the rear seats up.

Familiar exterior

Not surprisingly, the 2024 RAV4 Prime looks similar to the standard RAV4. Which is to say, an angular, utilitarian profile. The RAV4 Prime hints about its electrified status with blue-tinged Toyota badges and Prime descriptors on the side and back. The RAV4 Prime XSE stands out with a 2-tone treatment in which the roof is black, contrasting well with body colors like red or blue.

Our favorite features and tech

Infotainment system
Upgraded last year with larger touchscreens and over-the-air updates, the infotainment systems in the 2024 RAV4 Prime SUV also come with Amazon
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Alexa compatibility, Wi-Fi, satellite radio, Bluetooth, voice control, and five USB ports.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Another standard tech feature, smartphone integration, ditches the cable connection. Phones can stay in pockets or purses.

All-wheel drive
Standard with every 2024 RAV4 Prime PHEV SUV, this is an electric form of AWD with an electric motor driving the rear wheels. It results in the same kind of grip and traction as a conventional AWD system but without the penalty in fuel economy.

42 miles of range: According to Department of Transportation stats, the average driver covers 37 miles per day. The RAV4 Prime can travel up to 42 miles per day. For many drivers, daily duties can be done on battery power alone.

12.3-inch digital driver information display
Standard on the XSE model, this customizable instrument cluster can show information like how the hybrid system is functioning, navigation directions, and the usual things like speed, fuel levels, etc.

Learn more: The pros and cons of plug-in hybrids and your guide to buying one

Engine and transmission

The Toyota RAV4 Prime pairs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and an 18.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The total output is 302 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, and power is transmitted via a continuously variable transmission. Charging the battery takes about 2.5 hours on a 240-volt setup and 12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is rated to tow up to 2,500 pounds.

Warranty

New Toyota vehicles include a basic warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain has a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. Hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, while the battery has a warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Plus: The 2024 Subaru Outback vs. the Toyota RAV4

Safety

The Toyota RAV4 Prime has attained Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in crashworthiness. The Prime version of the RAV4 has not been rated by National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA), but the RAV4 Hybrid earns the top 5-Star score.

KBB’s car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.