2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plugs in for efficiency, but leaves hair with 302 hp

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid returns 90 miles per gallon equivalent, has 302 horsepower and goes from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds. It is the second fastest vehicle in Toyota's range behind the Supra . So, yes, this is the world we live in; plug-in hybrids can be a bit cool.

Toyota launched RAV4 Prime into the world on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and it is, to say the least, an impressive machine. It will be especially the gun for the upcoming Ford Escape plug-in hybrid and Toyota's compact plug-in crossover will lead to battle.

Starting with the powertrain, it is the same old 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle Four engine from the RAV4 Hybrid under the hood. It still makes 1[ads1]76 horsepower, which is perfectly fine. But there are electric motors on board, fed from an under-mounted lithium-ion battery pack that provides 83 hp and brings us to 302 hp combined power. All that power flows to all four wheels via standard four-wheel drive. The AWD system is an on-demand operation, which sees electric motors drive the rear wheels as needed.

The Japanese carmaker was incredibly keen to emphasize that this is not RAV4 for those who are just looking for efficiency. No, this is really the compact crossover's performance model. The AWD system will work to combat cornering understeer, and it even has some terrain chops with a selectable "trail" mode. When the plug-in hybrid does not work to be a modern Renaissance man, it will run an estimated 39 miles on battery power alone before the engine starts.

Two flavors of RAV4 Prime will be available. The first is a new SE trim with 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim and a plethora of standard equipment inside. Buyers will find standard heated front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and even a power liftgate. For the driver is a power seat as standard, as well as a 7-inch display in the meter. Just like any other Toyota, a series of active safety equipment is standard.

Step up to the XSE trim and it unlocks two-color exterior paint colors, 19-inch wheels and vertical LED daytime running lights to separate the model from each other. The car maker is further dressing the interior with newly added paddle shifters (which also control regenerative braking), synthetic leather upholstery, a 9-inch touchscreen instead of an 8-inch device, and cordless phone charging.

An optional premium package makes this electrified RAV4 even more luxurious with ventilated front seats, a head-up display, a JBL sound system and "dynamic" navigation. The last feature is reading the road and learning a driver routine to make trips as efficient as possible.

This, readers, is a lot of equipment packed into a mass market transitional SUV. Toyota said RAV4 Hybrid has increased by 72% over the year and it seems that RAV4 Prime may be the ticket for drivers to slip into a vehicle that leans on electricity even more. If anything, pitching this can be a performance SUV can be a very smart move. We see plug-in RAV4 now in the summer 2020 market as a 2021 model.

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