Which is better: The 2021 Toyota RAV4 or the practical plug-in-hybrid 2021 RAV4 Prime

Under the circumstances where electric vehicles will soon dominate the gas-guzzling IC engines, hybrids act as the midway through. Being the sweet spot between rumbling engine sounds and powerful powertrain options and an obvious hike in fuel economy, the hybrid could be the only chance for IC engines to survive. While electric vehicles and their range anxiety still creep the interested buyers ready to make the transition, hybrids are a small step. Many manufacturers offer their prominent nameplates with either option. Like the 2021 Toyota RAV4, which offers three different variants; RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, and RAV4 Prime(the plug-in hybrid variant). The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the most powerful powertrain option. But which is a better option; 2021 Toyota RAV4 or the plug-in hybrid 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?

2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid: Performance inclination

When it comes to the clash of internal combustion powertrain and plug-in hybrids, power and performance are important. The RAV4 was designed as sporty and rugged, but Toyota built Prime variant to narrow-focus on performance. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the brand’s second quickest vehicle, just down to Supra. The RAV4, just the basic one, fits a 2.5L Inline-4 under the hood, churning out 203-hp and 184 lb-ft of peak torque. The engine is mashed to an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, powering the front wheels for a run.

The RAV Prime, on the other hand, has similar mechanicals. It uses the RAV4’s 2.5L Inline-4 engine tuned for higher outputs. Besides, the RAV4 Prime comes fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack, booster/converter, and more powerful motor-generators. This lets the RAV4 Prime crank out a total of 302-hp, 83 hp more powerful than a non-hybrid RAV4. The more juice comes along heavier curb weight, 4,300 pounds to be exact.

While the RAV4 is dependent on the combustion engine, the RAV4 Prime offers versatility with its electric motors assorted powertrain. There are three different electric modes. In auto/HV mode, the electric motor is assisted by the engine when there’s an immediate entail for extra power, something when the gas pedal is thrashed to the floor. The EV mode prioritizes calm and silent cruise, even when the accelerator is pushed further. The battery charge utilizes the engine to charge the battery for stretching more electric miles. Unlike the 2021 Toyota RAV4, the Prime has smooth, linear acceleration, owing to instant torque by electric motors on lower rpm, which is then backed up by the engine. Yet, the engine kicks in with a sudden groan.

Toyota has tweaked the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime with soft-cushioning suspension for smoother ride quality. It absorbs road irregularities with efficiency. The steering wheel is also tuned for better road manners. Many hybrids suffer a mushy brake feel compared to traditionally powered vehicles. On the RAV4 Prime, the brakes take a little longer to bite down completely, but it's something we feel we could get used to overtime.

So if extra power is your need of the hour, go for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime over non-hybrid RAV4.

2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid: Identical interiors?

In most cases, the interiors are identical for both hybrid and non-hybrid models by a brand. Similar is the case with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 and 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime clash.

An elegant and clean outlook is how one can define the cabin for the RAV4. There are noticeable grippy knobs on the center stack for climate control. The materials used are soft-touch and offer more premium finery. Even the technology bits remain the same.

The key difference between the non-hybrid and plug-in hybrid is the reduced cargo capacity. Like in most cases, the batteries are mounted underneath the floor. This doesn’t affect the passenger volume, which remains the same for RAV4 and RAV4 plug-in hybrid. But coming to cargo capacity, it suffers modestly. The RAV4 plug-in hybrid casts a 33.5 cu-ft of space behind the second row and 63.2 cu-ft with seats folded. It’s less compared to RAV4’s 37.5/69.8 cubic feet. So if the cargo is less valuable to the passenger volume, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 is your go-to rugged SUV.

2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid: silence, please?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is a capable SUV, with a strong presence, yet groans too much. Opting for the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid is the trump card to 42 miles of silent electric miles in a single charge. These figures are segment-leading for any plug-in hybrid SUV in the market. Combined with hybrid mode, the lead in mileage and fuel economy gives it an edge over non-hybrid RAV4. The closest rival is the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid offering 37 miles of electric range. These figures look attractive except Ford Escape offers a front-wheel-drive option contrary to all-wheel-drive confidence offered in the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. Coming to the charging part(the batteries need their juice, right?), there are different methods and thus different duration. Standard with the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid is a 3.3-kW, 120V Level 1 charging cable, which takes 12 hours to charge the 18.1 kWh batteries. Connecting a 3.3-kW 240V charger, the time drops to 4.5 hours. The XSE models with Premium package offers enhanced 6.6-kW charging capability to fill the electric mojo in just 2.5 hours faster than the Level 2 charger. Combined with gas and electric proportions, the total driving range is expected to over 600 miles.

After initially estimating a fuel economy rating of 90 mpg-e, Toyota is now anticipating greater efficiency. The SUV is expected to deliver 94 mpg-e, an impressive number, but lower than the Escape PHEV's 100 mpg-e ratings. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offers great capability and enriched performance, yet the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid offers all of the above, plus silent electric miles and versatility to choose between the engine and electric motors.

2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid: Price tags

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid is expected to be available in all 50 states and limited to 5,000 copies for the first transaction. Afterward, Toyota is believed to roll out 20,000 units yearly. The price tag of the Prime plug-in hybrid starts $10,000 above the RAV4 Hybrid, which means $39,220 for the base SE model, while $42,545 for the XSE models. The non-hybrid 2021 Toyota RAV4 starts at a mere $27,325. So if there's a crunch of money, RAV4 is the best pick, while it’s better to arrange some more green paper for the plug-in hybrid.