The Toyota RAV4 has been around for a while now. The compact crossover SUV by the prominent Japanese automobile manufacturer first debuted in 1994 in Europe and 1995 in North America. It was launched the following year and received a lot of attention. The excitement about the SUV has only increased over time, mostly due to its modern design and affordable price.
In 2019, Toyota introduced a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant of the RAV4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Considering the increasing customer demand for electric vehicles, the RAV4 Hybrid is still on the market and growing. Toyota made sure to upgrade its most promising compact crossover. In the last year, the Japanese manufacturer introduced five trims to meet customer needs. Although all are equally worthy of attention, today, we take a closer look at the most expensive one – the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid Limited.
Are you ready to find out more about the RAV4 Hybrid trim that caught our eye? How does it perform compared to the other trims, and should you go for it? What can you expect from the Toyota hybrid compact crossover in general? Stay with us. We answer these questions and provide many other interesting data to help you make an informed buying decision.
Let's Take A Look At The Specs Behind The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited
As we mentioned, the RAV4 Hybrid comes in five trims, and they are all powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. The first one has a continuously variable automatic transmission. The second one powers the rear wheels for improved traction. In total, the engine produces 219-hp, and all trims come with an all-wheel drive. How great is that?
What is also true for all trims, not just the Limited, is that the RAV4 Hybrid drives smoothly. You'll immediately feel the benefits of the compact crossover, from low weight to smooth parking. The RAV4 Hybrid is an efficient and quick vehicle that performs incredibly well around the city. You can also take it off-road for moderate adventures.
It's also important to mention that all trims have an 18.1-kWh battery pack and a range of 42 miles (according to the EPA). Although that's not a very impressive range, it's decent. You'll be able to cross daily commutes on a single charge, especially within the city.
How Does The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited Compare To The Other Trims?
When it comes to appearance, all RAV4 trims are similar. The differences are in the available extras. For instance, the Adaptive Front Headlight system is only available for the Limited edition. The 18-inch chrome-finished sport alloy wheels come standard solely with the XLE Premium Hybrid and the Limited. So, you'll most likely notice some slight differences in the trims, but nothing substantial.
The other available options you'll find in the Limited trim and not in the others are the smart key system on all doors and the lift gate, the heated and ventilated front seating, the rear heated seating, the bird's eye camera, and similar. All safety features also come standard on the Limited, which not all trims have. For instance, the front and rear parking assist is only optional on the other four trims.
The bottom line is – the Limited does lead compared to the other trims in the standard and available features. It's no wonder this trim is pricier than the rest. But we'll dive into the accessories and the overall cost in more detail soon enough.
Accessories, Packages, And Price
Once you go to Toyota's website and tick the box you want the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid as your next SUV, you get to pick the trim. The least expensive one is the LE, starting at $28,900. The most expensive one is the Limited at the base price of $37,430, but as we said, it offers more features straight on.
When it comes to the exterior, two shades of gray, black, and blue are free of charge. To get the red or the pearl, you'll have to add $425. The interior is available in black, gray, and nutmeg (for free).
Things become interesting when you skip further to packages. Just like trims, there are five packages available. The least expensive one comes at $1,015, but it only gives a weather cast. The other packages include technology such as a smart key system, bird's view camera, and charge indicator light. You can expect to pay up to two times more for these features. Oh, and for the panoramic glass roof too.
Toyota also sells accessories separately. You can get everything from alloy wheel locks over first aid kits to roof racks. The collection is worth exploring, but we recommend first checking what the Limited already has. Considering this is a high-end trim, you may not need a high-end tech package or a lot of accessories.