Toyota cautiously launches the group of electric vehicles, back, with the rugged RAV4 Prime 2021 plug-in hybrid just released. Jump. Electrons are fine.
As brands such as Audi, Cadillac, GMC, Ford and Volkswagen enter the 100 percent electric vehicle market, Toyota continues to refine the hybrid generation that drove its huge sales increase in the early 2000s. The other giants see hybrids largely as a path to a long 100 percent electric car race, a delightful position to stretch their legs, hybrids now reced in the rear view. Toyota enjoys a picnic there, convinced he’ll catch up later.
For those of you who don’t stick to the generation of electric vehicles, as it’s the only game on TV (congratulations, NBA playoffs), the world’s automakers have largely split into two fields as they try to decrease oil intake and greenhouse gases:
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Plug-in hybrids – PHEVS, don’t you know? – as rav4 Primes are a midpoint between traditional hybrids and electric vehicles. Its batteries are giant enough to pass more just with electric power: 42 miles on the RAV4 Prime, a distance that covers the wishes of many people. The gasoline engine starts for long trips or when charging from the normal force network is not available.
The RAV4 Prime is Toyota’s moment add-on. The first, the Prius Prime, a modest success, with a modest battery life of 25 miles.
Toyota develops BEV, cautiously, as usual.
The RAV4 Prime is one of Toyota’s fastest vehicles. Its time of 0 to one hundred km /h of 5.7 seconds is the most productive among Toyota’s four-door models. This is thanks to the total strength of 302 horsepower of its gasoline engine and electric motors. That’s 99 more horsepower than the RAV4 of gasoline alone. The Prime also has more torque than the gasoline model, Toyota does not provide an exact figure because it is difficult to perceive due to the complex interaction between the gasoline engine and electric motors.
The RAV4 is Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. With a wide margin and the best-selling vanless vehicle in the country, so the Prime is a big problem. Acceleration is strong, either in battery-only EV mode or in hybrid force when the engine and motors work in combination perfectly.
The guide responds and the brakes are herbal and easy to modulate, as they carry out the ballet complex of the mix of traditional brakes and regenerative braking that generate electric energy that the battery accumulates strength and fuel economy once the completely electrical diversity is exhausted. .
Batteries and motors charge around 810 pounds with the weight of a well-equipped style like the Premium XSE I tried. The luggage area in the rear seat is reduced by approximately four cubic feet to make room for the batteries, but is still useful to 33.4 cubic feet with the giant sunroof.
In addition to its 42-mile range for electric vehicles, the RAV4 Prime gets an EPA score of 54 mph in city/highway combined with gasoline engine. A confusing measure that aims to compare carbon emissions in all-EV mode with a classic internal combustion engine that registers a very smart 133 MPGe.
A full rate will take 2.5 hours at 240V with the optional 6.6 kW quick evaluator. A 3.3 kW evaluator is standard.
The RAV4 Prime is comfortable and spacious, despite sacrificing a few cubic feet of charging area to charge batteries. The head and legs area is good.
The interior of my car high-end checkered covered with soft black fabrics with red seams. The controls were easy to use, classic buttons and dials and a 9-inch touchscreen.
Electric cars must make a sound to alert pedestrians to their presence. Automakers are experimenting with other shades.
Toyota opted for a distressed whale note for the RAV4 Prime.
Maybe you will.
Prices for the RAV4 Prime start at $38,100 for an SE model. All Premiums come with a 2.5L engine and a hybrid formula that uses an electric rear axle to deliver four-wheel drive. Continuously variable transmission is standard.
The most sensitive cut-off point is XSE. It starts at $41,425. I tried a RAV4 Prime XSE loaded with the premium weather and audio package. He stayed at $47,185.
There is not much festival for plug-in or PHEV compact hybrid SUVs. The Ford Escape plug-in coming soon is the ultimate direct. Prices are not yet available, however, the EPA rated the Escape plug-in with a battery life of 38 miles, 42 mpg in city/gasoline on road and one hundred MPGe.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gained 22 miles with battery power, 25 mpg combined and 74 MPGe. Prices start at $36395
All exclude destination fees.