Road test | Toyota RAV4 Prime: Toyota pride

Obsessed with hybrids and fuel cells, Toyota boss Akio Toyoda presented himself for several years as a slayer of the electric shift. He predicted the outright collapse of the auto industry in the wake of such a transition. While it fundamentally changed its stance in mid-December, this strategy has resulted in an extremely capable hybrid lineup with the RAV4 Prime as its flagship.

Charles René
Press

Design

The RAV4 Prime receives the sportiest aesthetic treatment in the entire range. This translates into the use of gloss black bodywork parts on the rocker panel moldings and wheel arches to provide visual separation. The most expensive livery, XSE, offers a more expressive choice of colors as well as the possibility of having a roof also painted in this black. This adds a visual signature all the same more interesting. Moreover, the badges on the front fenders and the carmine “Prime” mention at the rear remind us that we are entitled to a different version, as does the presence of an additional hatch at the rear to access the electrical plug. . As for the other elements composing this design, it’s the same compared to a last generation RAV4, relying on a presentation a little more beefy than before while sparing the sensitivity of its traditional customers.

On board

Here, it’s pure Toyota in terms of presentation. Like the brand’s other products, the dashboard gives the impression of being made up of two large parts, one of which has been placed on top of the other, with trapezoidal ventilation nozzles that hook onto the ends. . Despite the presence of certain plastics which are a little suspect in their quality, there is a concern for the selection of the materials offered. Apart from the series of buttons placed very low, to the left of the driving position, the ergonomics are also quite good. The biggest flaw of this RAV4, however, remains the little legroom left in the front, a choice that seems to have been made to favor the rear seats. If you are any taller than you will be annoyed. The seats are draped in a synthetic material (Softex) imitating leather well and are ventilated only if you check the Technology group of the XSE livery. Note also that the volume of the rear trunk is barely less than that of the gasoline variant, 949 L compared to 1059 L.

Under the hood

We obviously buy a RAV4 Prime for what we find under the hood … or not. Its mechanical makeup is a 177 hp 2.5L four-cylinder powered by two electric motors: one at the front of 179 hp and a second bolted to the rear axle producing 53 hp. Maximum power sits at a very respectable 302 hp. To obtain it, the vehicle must obviously be in hybrid or Sport mode, allowing the combination of the three engines. When the EV mode (or electric vehicle, in French) is in operation, this RAV4 will a priori never activate the heat engine to benefit from a greater number of kilometers without consuming gasoline. Speaking of this data, we were able to get slightly more than 50 km at the wheel during winter conditions. Not bad at all. When the vehicle behaves as a traditional hybrid, consumption confirmed the data from EnerGuide, which is close to 6 L / 100 km.

Behind the wheel

Certainly, the behavior of this RAV4 Prime impresses the driver in pure acceleration. We cannot say that it intervenes instantaneously and in great silence, because of a gasoline engine a little harsh in its sound, but the thrust is satisfactory. When you deactivate the traction control to see how the all-wheel drive behaves, you nevertheless notice the immense disparity in power between the two axles. The calipers then pinch the discs up front in an attempt to keep the muzzle in trajectory, while the rear engine clearly isn’t producing the same amount of torque. It’s transparent in normal driving, however, and this system suits the generalist temperament of this SUV quite well. Because, in the adjustment of its chassis, this RAV4 has nothing really sporty. Understeer quickly interrupts the pace and braking, not very flexible, lack of bite, resulting in rapid interference from the anti-lock system.

Embedded technologies

Based on an infotainment system that has wrinkles, this RAV4 Prime is technologically aging. Admittedly, the menus are well laid out and the presence of physical buttons is to be welcomed, but the quality of the image is arbitrary. An observation that becomes evident when you activate reverse gear, while the camera broadcasts a rather pixelated image. Note also the impossibility of equipping the SE livery with satellite radio, a curious choice. That said, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment for this Prime variant, a must-have for any modern vehicle. We would also have liked to benefit from more complete menus to explain the impact of various variables on electric autonomy. Several electric vehicles do this intelligibly, so why not this RAV4? Note that the semi-digital instrumentation remains readable if it is not fully configurable.

The verdict

Powerful, highly efficient in its energy management, whether purely electric or from gasoline combustion, and quite roomy, this RAV4 Prime offers a lot. This model is undeniably the most relevant plug-in hybrid vehicle on the market today, despite certain flaws, which are partly excusable. With a very long waiting list, however, you have to be patient to hope to get your hands on a copy. We cannot also exclude the increasingly supplied competition of fully electric vehicles of the same size, which offer realistic autonomy at the same or even lower price. In short, this Toyota RAV4 Prime remains a transitional vehicle with all that that implies. The product of various compromises, therefore not a panacea, but an interesting option for many profiles of buyers.