With each waking day, SUVs seem to be gaining more popularity and notoriety across the world. Plug-in hybrid SUVs offer a balance to those who are not ready to transition from gas to electric. These SUVs are also on a steady climb on the popularity ladder.
Plug-in hybrid SUVs offer reliable driving and the benefit of not having to park your car at a charging station. This is because most if not all hybrid plug-in SUVs can be charged at the comfort of your home or office. If you do not mind the public charging stations, then you can have yours charged there.
With different categories of SUVs trying to get top position on the leaderboard, crossovers seem to be at the top. This is because any SUV model can be transformed into a crossover; this includes plug-in hybrids.
If you are looking to go green but you are yet to make up your mind on how much green is too green, then you should try a plug-in hybrid SUV. To help you out, we have compiled a number of reasons on what makes the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime the best plug-in hybrid SUV to buy in 2021.
Let's take a closer look at what's special about the Toyota RAV4 Prime.
Powertrain And Performance
Hybrid plug-in SUVs or any other cars, for that matter, have the benefit of having two power sources mated together. Under the hood of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is a hybrid powertrain that features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that is mated permanently with magnet synchronous electric motors.
Independently the 2.5-liter gas engine has a power output capacity of 177 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. When combined with the electric system, the total horsepower is amped up to 302 horsepower. The electric system features an 18.1 kWh PHV lithium-ion battery pack. This battery pack is mounted under the RAV4’s floor.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime offers three driving modes. These modes are Normal, Eco, and Sport. The sport option provides the driver and passengers the quickest acceleration times with sharper throttle calibration. The EV mode can hit up to 84 MPH without gas assistance.
When running on pure electric power, the Toyota RAV4 Prime accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 9.2 seconds. This is not the fastest time, but it is decent. If you are running on gas, the RAV4 clears 5.7 seconds, faster than other hybrid plug-in SUVs in its category.
Dimensions And Interior
Being a hybrid plug-in SUV has not affected the RAV4’s dimensions as far as the exterior goes. This means that it measures the same as a regular gas RAV4. This ride is 180.9 inches in length, 73 inches in width, and 67 inches in height. It has a ground clearance height of 8.3 and a wheelbase measurement of 105.9 inches.
Being a hybrid, you would think that it weighs a lot, but the 2021 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV has a curb weight of 4,235 pounds.
The interior of this SUV is well built and detailed. The fabric used is not only of good quality, but it gives the RAV4 a touch of elegance and luxury. The dashboard has red stitched accents that display the quality finish of the RAV4. The steering and gear shift lever are wrapped in leather.
Toyota fitted this ride with heated front seats, the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, and dual-climate control. Other features fitted in this car include road sign assist, dynamic radar cruise control, and a power liftgate. With the battery pack mounted under the car, the RAV4’s seating arrangement has not been compromised. This SUV seats five passengers who do not have to compete for legroom, seeing that there is a lot of it.
Infotainment
To add to the 2021 Toyota RAV4’s premium touch and elegance, Toyota made sure to fit this ride with top-of-the-shelf infotainment systems. These systems include an eight-inch that can be paired by either an Audio Auto or Apple CarPlay, a JBL Audio system, and smartphone connectivity.
Other Features
Other features of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime hybrid plug-in SUV include LED projector headlights, a power moonroof, rear vents, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a multifunctional steering wheel. This multifunctional steering wheel houses the dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure warning systems, lane trace alerts, among other driver-assist features.