The 2023 RAV4 Prime scores big on fuel economy and power. In our testing, we easily got the EPA-estimated 42 miles of electric-only range. The RAV4 Prime is also quick to accelerate to highway speeds and gets strong scores in regard to comfort, interior quality and technology.
Previously optional 6.6-kW onboard charger is now standard
Larger optional touchscreen and digital instrument panel displays
Based on the fifth-generation RAV4 introduced for 2019
What is the RAV4 Prime?
The RAV4 Prime is a jack-of-all-trades compact crossover SUV, fulfilling a variety of roles that would usually take two or three vehicles. It offers emissions-free electric range, hybrid efficiency for longer trips, and enough cargo and passenger room to be suitable for families. And on top of that it packs plenty of punch, with 302 combined horsepower from the gas engine and a pair of electric motors that make the RAV4 Prime the second-quickest vehicle in the Toyota lineup after the GR Supra, with an as-tested 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds.
Think of the RAV4 Prime as a tuned-up version of the RAV4 Hybrid. It has a larger battery and more powerful electric motors that give it a robust 42 miles of EPA-estimated electric range and then 38 combined mpg once that's exhausted. In our testing, the RAV4 Prime beat that mark easily and covered 48 miles on just the battery. That also puts the RAV4 Prime comfortably ahead of its plug-in SUV counterparts, besting the Hyundai Tucson PHEV (33 miles), Kia Sportage PHEV (32 miles), or even the Volvo XC60 T8 Extended Range (36 miles) by healthy margins.
There are a few caveats: The rest of the driving experience isn't as dialed in — our testers noted its mushy brakes and subpar handling. But those aren't usually priorities if you're shopping in this class, and overall cabin comfort and quietness are good (except for when the gas engine really gets going). The RAV4 Prime does have slightly less cargo room than the standard RAV4 with 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space compared to 37.6 cubic feet, but that's still plenty of room for large items.
Edmunds says
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime is an enticing alternative to those who want the flexibility of a gas-powered vehicle and the benefits of an electric vehicle for commutes or shorter trips. Its combination of performance, comfort and efficiency is hard to top.
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
The vehicle is all I hoped it would be and more. The ride is smooth and comfortable. I have 550 miles on the odometer and have yet purchased gas as I have only used a quarter of a tank so far. The vehicle feels solid and is quiet even when it switches over to gas operation. Most of the mileage has been on the battery as I obtain 44-48 miles on battery before it needs to be recharged … which I do overnight. I am very pleased with the vehicle.
I bought a 2023 plug-in Subaru and switched RAV4
5 out of 5 stars
Paul in Oregon City, 07/30/2023
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
We bought a 2023 plug-in Subaru Crosstrek and switched it out for a 2023 RAV4 Prime Plugin.
The RAV4 SE Prime has exceeded my expectations, and we have not yet bought gasoline, with 1,800 miles and it still shows and third of a tank of gas left in the tank. In an update 8/3/2024, we have now driven our RAV4 Prime near 11,000 miles and have only put in 33 gallons of gas. We have 3,800 … miles on this last tank of gas, purchased in a fill-up with a third of a tank still left. Again, we have taken lots of trips where we have use up electric and it just without feeling anything we are in hybrid mode, at the same speed. It appears that with 110-amp electrical plugin ever night we get on average 49-mile range of all electric driving. However, this is now summertime, and in the heat of the summer the batteries seem to collect a greater amount of the charge, giving us a greater range in all electric driving. Update of in the winter 2/06/2025 we are getting 44 mile range, with the RAV4 parked outside and In hybrid driving we appear to be getting greater than 45 MPG with some of our longer round trips which have been trips of 150 to 200 miles to the most part. My wife has a lead foot and her RAV4 is surely quick, but her driving at higher speeds and jump starts, cost in energy consumption. After I retired, we have had a 2008 Prius, and then a 2013 Prius V (great cars) and Tundra and Tacoma trucks. We had an Audi Q7, a great car but it was just too expensive to own and I drove it so little. However, we thought as seniors ageing in place, we might go with a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in and my wife was just not happy with that decision, as it was too small and the batteries left little room in the trunk space. The advance technology of Toyota in the Plugin/Hybrid vehicle is just so mature and is so much better, being able to drive the RAV4, 4,721 miles and putting in 10.5 gallons of gas, is something the rest of the pack of vehicles and companies in this space cannot achieve. This reduces total cost of ownership after purchase, where we buy maybe half the amount of gas, and put-up the lowest amount of carbon. We are now looking to install a Level II charging capability, so we can easily top of the batteries. We are now considering even a garage for the RAV4 Plugin, as it is a keeper.
It cost us some money, to swap out the Crosstrek with a RAV4 SE Prime, but now my CEO, CFO, and COO is now happy, and that makes life better. I should have been listening to my bride of 62 years 2/06/2025. The RAV4 Plugin is a hot seller, therefore the Toyota dealers offer lessor deals and have go $5K over MSRP and that was what shoved me to the Crosstrek. We just wanted a new more reliable vehicle at this time and at our age, to enable travel with and the grand kids are gone, and the 2013 Prius V had over 150K in miles on it.
Our son had recently bought a new all electric car, and within his lifestyle, and his kids now in college, he now is experiencing the limits of all electric range and this lack of charging stations in all of the places he and his wife go. It has forced him to take a very long look his mother's RAV4 SE Prime, as a result.
The lack of availability of the RAV4 Plugins and the ability for us to work a deal to switch out of the Crosstrek Plugin also influenced the features we got with the RAV4 Prime SE. We must say, that the RAV4 Prime has a bolder and better-looking car, and the functional space inside the vehicle is excellent and not compromised.
Update 02/02/2024, and edited, we went 3,200 miles before we had to buy gas, with the RAV4 Prime and it took only 10.5 gallons and I hand filled the gas to the brim, as I thought that it would take more gas. As we drove the RAV4 into the winter conditions, we only went 2,500 miles before we again had to put more gas into the vehicle and it took again, 10.5 gallons of gas. In winter condition, driving with the RAV4 Prime, and to get the full benefit defrosting and heat it needs the engine to warm up to aid in making that happen, so we are using the gas engine more in the winter.
However, the big difference between Crosstrek Plugin, is that it goes from EV to gas with with much less EV range and with barely attempting to go faster, so you are using the gas engine 90% more, with the Crosstrek Plugin. Also, the Crosstrek Plugin "batteries" reduce the net cube of rear storage area by maybe 40%, which made it much more difficult for my wife as she could not hold all of the shopping bags and our standard poodle when going to the store.
The total cost per mile of the RAV4 Prime is just excellent in comparison too, the Crosstrek Plugin. For Edmund's to rank a Crosstrek Plugin, higher than a RAV4 Plugin, is something that I cannot understand. In owning both of these 2023 Hybrid - Plugin vehicles and now getting close to 50 miles in all electric EV range with the RAV4 Plugin and having a total of 650-mile total range with a full charge and a full tank of gas is hard to replicate with any Hybrid Plugin cars. The ROI, and we get just continues and continues and it just reduces the total cost of ownership, to me makes the RAV4 Prime SE Plugin a Best Buy.
The RAV4 Plugin is my wife's car, and she is not a slow driver, and zero to 60 MPH in 6.5 seconds is a wow! Her on a the freeway driving she is going 75+ MPH in EV mode, as she has this lead foot. She likes how RAV4 performs and handles and as a small person in stature, she can get the seat up and forward and she likes the good vision she gets of the road. However, the only downside is me, in the passenger seat, as it is not as equally adjustable. When I am driving, I get advice of how to take advantage of its performance and I am not talking about mileage.
We have had some great cars, and my wife had a new Porsche 944 and we loved it, up and until these grand-kids that could not fit into it. The recently Audi Q7 and this was again a great car, and the Q7 had these great memory seats that you could adjust anyway you wanted with both front seats. My wife could get into the Q7 and press one button and it would restore the seat to exactly where she liked it the best. When I got into the Q7, I could do the same thing. If the RAV4 Prime had that, there would be no drawbacks, where couples share their vehicles.
The only change for those who want better luxury would be to look at the Lexus version of the RAV4, as a choice. On this Plugin/Hybrid with all wheel drive, I would live to see an affordable sports car, like the GR86 styling. with improved all electric range, of 100+ mile. We loved the Porsche 944, and Toyota could take this RAV4 Plugin-platform and take a lot of the marketplace, in the middle range of stylish sports cars that you could have fun with and justify.
Rav4 Prime XSE
4 out of 5 stars
Ray, 08/18/2023
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
Pros
Smooth car to drive, very comfortable on a long trip.
The hybrid system giving good power & acceleration when needed.
Cons
The many display options are not intuitive nor easy to set up.
Owner’s manual is poor.
3 years of hindsight car geek delights
5 out of 5 stars
Retired Dave, 04/16/2023
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
Perfect fit for retired car geek with solar panels at home. I took delivery December 3rd 2021, so I have nearly 11/2 years of hindsight. I drove 20,000 miles the first 12 months of ownership. Approximately 12,000 miles were on electricity my solar panels generated. I live in Wisconsin and did a couple of road trips to Boston and Denver. On the interstate I get 32 to 34 mpg. I am a … Iead foot, not a hyper miler. I put a level 2 charger in my garage and get about 10 to 12 miles of charger per hour of charging. I am pretty diligent about keeping it plugged in between errands so I rarely run out of juice around town. The heat pump isn’t that good below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and I run the gas engine at the start of trips when it’s cold. I have the base version with the cold package the heated steering wheel is nice. Below 20 degrees the dash shows as low as 35 miles of range at about 68 degrees it shows as much as 53 miles of range! In the warmer months I can go 2 to 3 months without getting any gasoline if I don’t do a road trip. I also own a 3500 sprinter currently. I have a trailer hitch for a utility trailer for Home Depot runs . The versatility is great. I have not reset the dash mpg reading yet and it shows 78.9 mpg since new. I now have 24,000 miles on it and have done a couple of shorter road trips to Chicago and Iowa. I would guess that now at 24,000 miles today 14,000 miles have been electric. I can make the tires chirp with all the motors turned on but traction control kicks in. On ramps are definitely not a problem with all 300 hp, and I can leave the traffic behind me easily. Really it’s amazing to have an all wheel drive 4 passenger suv that has great cargo capacity and can pull a 2500 lb trailer that gets nearly 80 MPG over 24,000 miles. I have had zero problems and I’m just about ready to replace the crappy oem tires with some Michelins I expect to get fewer mpg with new rubber but perhaps better wet pavement performance. I have owned a 2003 mustang cobra tweaked to 600 rwhp dyno tuned, a 911 turbo cabriolet, BMW X5 with v8 and sport package ( pre m version loved to drive that one. Too many electrical gremlins to keep after lease expired) and a host of others. My first sports car was a 1967 mk3 triumph spitfire with a race prepped engine that was bulletproof. I love what Toyota hybrids can do with a gallon of gas ! I will add that on my road trip back from Colorado it was 109 degrees Fahrenheit around ft Collins and the air conditioner was great. My road trip to Boston was in February and white out conditions along lake Erie and single digits and heat was excellent. I never have range anxiety.
Update 10/25/23
Coming up on two years of ownership and 35 k mixed driving. My mpg readout (indicator has not been reset since mile zero) is showing 95.6 mpg. I put new Michelins on it at 26 k and mileage improved noticeably. Not one issue other than minor recall. Comfortable and quiet and very different driving experience than non hybrid and base hybrid RAV4 due to battery weight and thicker glass. Also “made in Japan” quality!!! No range anxiety ever.
Update 5/15/24. Just about 50 k miles over 21/2 years. Another long road trip to Savanna and back recently. I’m thinking that this could easily be a million mile car for me. 70% of my miles are electric and I’m changing the oil every 6 months and doing dealer maintenance schedule. If my current driving pattern doesn’t change then at a million miles the gas engine will have 300k. I had a 300 thousand mile Camry that everything worked perfectly it needed a radiator every 100 k the seats really fit good. I’m thinking the brake pads may go 140k. One interesting side note, when I put my new Michelins on I got about a 12% improvement in electric mileage per dash computer. old tires showing 2.7 miles per kilowatt hour and new tire showing 3.2 miles. This has since declined to 2.9 miles after 22 k miles driven on the newer tires.No issues. I expect it to run through tires more often due to weighing a thousand pounds more than a regular Rav 4. The best engineered car on the planet! No one does hybrid and electronics better than Toyota. Update 11/24. 3 years an 60,000 miles. Recent 1400 mile road trip average 30.4 mpg driving in the left lane. E mileage is showing 3.0 miles per kilowatt hour. I have 34k miles on the Michelins and I may get 50k out of them. 70% of my driving is electric from my solar panels it turbocharged the payback for the solar system. No squeaks or rattles nothing but routine service and a couple of minor recalls. I still expect this to be at least a million mile car.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime, so we've included reviews for other years of the RAV4 Prime since its last redesign.
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