Costs are exceptionally high right now when it comes to buying and owning a vehicle. The semiconductor chip shortage has limited inventories of new cars and has caused the prices of used vehicles to skyrocket as a result. In addition, gas prices are on the rise, which makes larger vehicles a little more painful to own. Certain factors such as these have caused buying trends in consumers to shift a bit.

But one thing that has stayed consistent is the popularity of the compact Toyota RAV4 crossover. In recent years, it has surpassed Toyota’s previous bestsellers, the Camry and Corolla. Demand has just gotten higher for the RAV4 as vehicles have becomes scarcer on dealer lots. Used examples are frequently just as high or sometimes higher as the new price. But out of the whole lineup for this crossover, the one in the highest demand is the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime. Now only on its second model year, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime has proved to be illusive for potential buyers. Though this can be very frustrating, it makes sense because of the appealing package that the RAV4 Prime is.

Here are the reasons why everyone wants a RAV4 Prime right now.

Related: This Is Why Toyota Offers The Best Hybrids

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime Has Impeccable Reliability Combined With Practicality

2022 Toyota Rav4 Prime

It is no secret that Toyotas are some of the most reliable vehicles on the market, and the RAV4 Prime is no exception. Along with this, Toyota has been one of the automakers that has essentially pioneered the hybrid and perfected that over the years. The RAV4 Prime reflects this refinement in the sense of its efficiency. When in basic hybrid mode, this RAV4 gets an impressive 38 combined MPG, while combining the gas and electric powertrains gets you 94 MPGe. If you wanted to go completely gas free, you can still go 42 miles on just electricity alone. This beats competitors like the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid, which only gets 37 on purely electricity. The RAV4 Prime is also ahead of the competition with how much it can go with a single tank of gas, with it being rated around 600 miles.

The RAV4 Prime offers a lot for a very reasonable price. It is currently offered in two different trims, the SE and XSE, and starts just above $40,000. This gives you a lot of standard equipment like AWD and adaptive cruise control. Stepping up to the XSE trim, the price only increases by about $3,000 and gets you added niceties like 19-inch rims and a two-tone paint job. The RAV4 Prime could still be eligible for federal tax credits that can potentially bring the price down to the low to mid $30,000 range, adding to the financial practicality of this vehicle.

Related: What We Love About The 2022 RAV4 Prime

The 2022 RAV4 Prime Still Excites Even As A Mainstream Crossover

2021-toyota-rav4-prime-xse
via: Toyota

Vehicles sold to the masses are usually rather bland in an attempt to make them the least offensive to the most amount of people. Though the RAV4 is inoffensive, the Prime iteration still retains sportiness and some character. The two trims that are offered in the RAV4 Prime are the sportiest ones offered on RAV4s in general. To back up the sporty looks, the Prime’s powertrain puts out a combined total of 302 horsepower. Interestingly, out of all of Toyota’s large lineup, this RAV4 is the second quickest, only trailing behind the 6-cylinder Supra. The 0-60 MPH time for the Prime is only 5.7 seconds. This is a commendable number for the class, given that many mainstream compact crossovers have a difficult time breaking the 200hp mark and don’t necessarily shine in the performance category. Many find it appealing that they can own an economical crossover that has sharp styling as well as surprising performance numbers.

The styling of the RAV4 Prime has a lot to do with what makes it more appealing and exciting because it still retains more of an identity as a true SUV compared to other crossovers that appear more car-like. The RAV4 Prime accomplishes this by maintaining an upright front end. The added sportiness comes into play when you take a look at the two-tone paint job and dual rear exhaust.

The 2022 RAV4 Prime is both a unicorn and hot commodity in the auto market right now. Toyota produces less of them compared to regular RAV4s, and the ones that do get made get snatched up extremely quick. That means that many either have to resort to getting on a waiting list that can be up to a couple of years long, or find one that most likely has absurd dealer markups on it. It is quite an unfortunate setup that such a great car only gets into the hands of the lucky few. Here’s to hoping that Toyota hears our pleas and get more of these impressive crossovers into more customers’ hands soon.