Featured Get the First-Ever 2021 RAV4 Prime Starting at Under USD$40K MSRP

The SE and XSE trims are not appealing to me at all.

 

Way overpriced, holding back softex seats for a 38k car... They're miking that federal credit for all it's worth. If this was 4k less it would be priced perfectly. I have a feeling they'll have such low production and supply initially this is their way of getting the most out of it.

 

Made in Japan or Canada for RAV4 prime?
I agree it might be a big hit.

 

My guess is they are doing this because of the tax credits. When compared to other suv's (hybrid and traditional) after tax credit its a good price. If it was lower they may not have enough battery capacity ramped up to satisfy demand. On the other hand I totally agree that the options list and required is traditional toyota, where they force you to buy things you don't want in order to get one or 2 features you do.

 

I believe the rav4 hybrid sold in North America are made in kentucky. I have no idea where the prime will be built.

 

Those were 20 to 25 mile electric range PHEVs, with batteries of about half the capacity. The Rav4 Prime's pack is about the size of the Volt's. Air cooling with a fan could very well be enough, but the pack itself would be bulkier to allow airflow through it. Toyota will be chilling the air with A/C, which I think Mitsubishi does with the Outlander, and Ford is using a liquid system in the Escape.

Japan made cars will suffer the slow downs in US transportation.

The Escape hybrid was arriving when Ford said would last year. The PHEV was suppose to be spring of this year before COVID, IIRC. Both are 2020 model years. The Rav4 Prime is 2021 model year that was coming out later, and I don't see it coming sooner than the Ford. Toyota just released pricing, and the Escape PHEV has the "this car available" pages on Ford's site.

Toyota Reveals Pricing For 2021 RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid
"In Europe, where sales will commence during the second half of 2020, the WLTP all-electric range is expected above 65 km (40.4 miles), while the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) takes about 6.2 seconds."

The US press release is a up to 42 miles. Unless Toyota EU is being very conservative, it sounds like Toyota USA is shifting their tone since moving to Texas. The first EV range estimate for the Prius prime was much closer to 20 miles, and the 25 actual was a nice surprise. I think we should be prepared not to get that surprise this time.

 

what do you mean by chilling with a/c, different than prius?

 

Using cabin air means the battery only gets conditioned air when the occupants choose to turn it on.

A previous statement stated the battery for the Rav4p will have a chiller loop off the HVAC for cooling. It will have its own heat exchanger to cool the air blown by the fan. It may not even be taking air from the cabin. So the air temperature for cooling can be at a temperature independent of what the cabin is getting. Other hybrids, including the old Escape, and PHEVs have used such in the past.

 

interesting, thank you. i look forward to details.

 

Getting Softex will cost me extra, first to pay for the Softex, and then to pay for seat covers to cover that horrible stuff up.

If there were an option to pay extra to NOT get Softex, I'd get that.

 

Duplicating the features on a Rav4 Limited I have the list price for the plug-in is $47k+. I'm forced into that configuration to get headlights that give me a Safety Plus rating.

 

There is no new European info, "over 65 km WLTP" is old news from January 2020. Looks like US will be first to have RAV4 Prime, Europe will follow with sales start in the second half of 2020. There is no info on Europe pricing, I hope for lower prices since there is no $7,500 grant in any of the European countries.

 

There are some countries that give fiscal incentives to fleet cars, like some VAT return. Adding up, may be close to that 7500USD.
But for private owners, much less of course.

 

I will have to see if Toyota is going to throw in substantial rebate on this car. I somehow doubt it, but if they give as much as they gave on Prius PRIME, then the price will become attractive. Without any type of rebate, not being able to take full tax credit advantage, the car is way overpriced for my consideration just like the Crosstrek Plug-in was.

 

47k for a rav4 lmao!

 

plug in rav4 to be precise, and 37k net to some people, minus any toyota promo's.

 

How does $48k for a Tacoma strike you?

I'd get $11,500 off on a Rav4 Prime, nothing on a Tacoma.

 

Yeah I'm really sceptical of the efficacy of running cabin AC to lower battery temp. It's touted here, but I think it's mostly myth.

Our car had sat in hot summer sun for about 1/2 hour, after a protracted drive. Basically a hot-soak for the battery. Starting the car, middle sensor on battery showed around 40C (IIRC) (reading with ScanGuage II). Drove for about 20 minutes with AC set around 68F, and the temp reading from the sensor dropped 1~2C at most.

 

Batteries have a lot of mass, and therefore a lot of thermal mass. Cooling them or heating them takes a long time (excluding self-heating), and that's a good thing.