@@GreenAppelPie Unless you plan on owning a car for 10+ years, it makes no sense to buy a Toyota frankly. Toyota is a generation behind ALWAYS, at this point this rav 4 looks 2 generations behind. Just look at the competition, for 40K this thing looks terrible. The 'reliability tax' Toyota has is dumb when most cars today are expected to hit 150K+ easily, but I still understand it given some people want 'forever cars'. This rav4 isn't it though.
@@tomchillen3039 Being two tons heavy and having high centre of gravity isn't exactly what i'd call "agile"... A 86 is much lighter and better balanced than this. Power makes you fast on straight lines, while lightness makes you fast all around.
I just bought the RAV4 Prime SE three weeks ago, possible one of the better cars I’ve driven and for what it is it’s fast. I think you did a nice job in reviewing the RAV4 Prime, but for a cross over vehicle that does 0-60 in 5.7 sec and STILL gets 40 MPG… dude, you need to give it the score it deserves. Great car.
My father is getting one of these for my mother as a surprise this month. It’ll be a bit of an upgrade from her ‘96 Camry DX that has over 350,000 miles on it.
The good news, the replacement vehicle should last your mother, 25 years and nearly 300,000 miles with more comfort and more efficiency. Congratulations.
This is probably the best all-around car on the market right now. It’s big enough to take on road trips, but it’s not a TOO big, it’s capable off-road, it’s extremely well-equipped with tech, it has Toyota reliability, it gets great gas mileage, it looks nice, it’s fast and it’s affordable. Honestly, what more could you want?
The owner's manual for my dad's tundra is just as massive, it's wonderfully comprehensive and will tell you damn near everything, not like my ford owner's manual which has about 150 instances of "contact your ford dealer" even for stuff like replacing the battery
@Kratos GodofWar oh even better, to replace the battery in my focus, you have to TAKE OUT THE AIR FILTER HOUSING AND BEND PART OF THE COWL BACK. Its a ridiculous procedure.
@Kratos GodofWar it absolutely is shitty thoughtless design. irritates the hell out of me, considering this car somehow eats a battery a year. I'm guessing it's charging too high.
@Kratos GodofWar yeah, I do have some aftermarket sound stuff but it's on a big relay that disconnects everything when accessory power is off so that can't be it.
@@KarmaticEvolution if there was a tach and a transmission made for that like a tiptronic or autostick, then yes, I would. Yeah I get most people will leave it in auto, but then why have paddle shifters? And then no tach? It wouldn’t of cost them anymore to add it into the digital display cluster.
5 Billion years from now while everything is being torn apart by "The Big Rip" , Doug will still remind us to "Be sure to check out Cars and Bids" as our existence becomes nothingness.
Yeah, you don't wanna exit life and enter spaghetti mode without ever having driven the enthusiast car you desired, right? Just hope the auction ends in time
The majority of us are never going to own the supercars he reviews so I much prefer to learn about new "normal" cars and see how technologically advanced they're becoming in their latest model years, and for nostalgia's sake, see him review weird, iconic, and/or quirky old school cars. Still waiting on that Geo Metro review! I also think he's doing a LaForza review, which is a fascinating car. It was one of those rare instances of a car being sold in the United States, but NOT in Canada, so they're fascinating to me as a Canadian car enthusiast because we never got them.
@@yungboicontigo9278 Depends what you're looking for. When he did his review of the 96 Bronco I found that fascinating because, yes, it's a "normal" car but it's rare nowadays because you hardly ever see them. To see such a perfect time capsule of an old school SUV really is a sight to behold especially to compare it and contrast it with how cars and SUVS have progressed over the years.
Don't worry man - me too, I don't care about superexpensive, superfast hypercars, regardless of money...I like usable and/or untypical cars and that' I always was.
I honestly hate how he weighs acceleration in his scores. A car that goes 0-60 takes 8 seconds will get the same score as a car that goes from 0-60 in 15 seconds, 1 point.
@@SuperEman500 def mad that the v6 is becoming the dodo... not offered in sedans or suvs these days. gotta pay 45k+ for one in a performance thing, smh
Doug, these reviews are the most interesting ones. To be honest and you really should do more reviews on cars most people actually consider buying. I’d rather see the quirks and features on a Rav4 over some random Mclaren I’m never going to buy. Please keep these up!
Too bad one of the hottest Selling cars on the planet right now and what the majority of US families are looking to purchase is so “boring” for car enthusiast Doug to really want to review.
There seems to be a lot to like about it. It's faster than other little SUVs in it's segment, and roomier interior space definitely are good selling points.
Correction: i have this exact Rav4 and the AC button works for heat up to -10c (14f) since it runs on a heat pump For the price: in my location, government subsidies are so high that this prime, comes to the same price as the regular hybrid. Making this a no brainer
Yeah, not sure why Doug thought it wouldn’t work for heating. The intuitive conclusion for me was that it should just run whatever is necessary to get it to the temperature set in the climate control.
@@borisdemelo exactly. Note however that (in my market at least) it runs off of a heat pump which is ineffective under a certain temp (14f) I also have the toyota app which enables me to remote activate the defrost and rear window defrost.
That was literally one of the dumbest things any car company has ever said or done. Let's destroy the potential to appeal to a younger audience, something our brand is terrible at these days. Because we're worried somehow promoting our cars in games will make people not want our cars in real life. Yes, that was actually what a Toyota executive said, they thought people wouldn't want to buy sports cars irl if they had the opportunity to drive them in games.
Yes, "fast" for what it is, a small SUV/crossover, but the score doesn't take that into account. It ranks all cars of any type on the same scale, so the Rav4 is being compared to Bugattis, Koenigseggs, etc.
It's fast for a Rav4 but it's slow vs other things. My truck is an F150 supercharged, 0-60 4 seconds and it's much bigger and heavier than this Rav4, so it's kinda slow vs my truck. A Tesla Plaid will dust my truck. So in the grand scheme yes, a 4 is about right. A Nissan Rogue would be like a 1 on his scale.
This is the perfect middle ground for someone who still suffers from range anxiety but is interested in an EV. Do your weekday commuting and errands entirely on electric mode, and when it's time for a long road trip, you have the peace of mind of an engine which is still getting Prius-like efficiency.
@@chriscupp there simply just aren't many PHEVs in general (at least in America) and most of them are even more boring than this thing, its only saving grace being it's alleged 0-60 times
30? I doubt it. Maybe 25. Modern cars are made cheaper and loaded with computers and electronics which cost a fortune to fix if they break. The powertrain will last until some expensive repair totals the car.
@@Slenderman63323 babes this is Toyota we're talking about and if there's anything I know about Japanese technology is that it's made to last. The car will be fine 💀
I honestly hate how he weighs acceleration in his scores. A car that goes 0-60 takes 8 seconds will get the same score as a car that goes from 0-60 in 15 seconds, 1 point.
I bought a 2019 after Dougs last review of the new RAV4 and its been amazing. I got one of the first few built in Japan. It now has 47000 miles and its been great. Many road trips and lots of off road use. My 3rd gen 4Runner does most of the trail running but the RAV4 handles any forest road in my area (Sedona) extremely well if not better because of its comfort. Highly recommend
I don’t love this vehicle but I still feel like Doug was so harsh with the weekend scores on it 😂 like maybe it could be a 2/10 on the cool scale?? Poor RAV4 lol
@@benjamincaron46 yeah I agree. Like a base line score for just normal cars that don’t aim to be cool, and then a score below that for cars that legitimately are ass
Ive got a prime SE and it works just fine. Would be nice and warm and most of the ice melted off the car within minutes. It was plugged into a 110v outlet, so it needing to be plugged in for heat may be true
This is the first Rav4 I've been interested in since they stopped making the V6 Rav4 in 2012. That Rav4 was the fastest vehicle Toyota made at the time as well, and it wasn't really any less efficient than the equivalent 4cyl at the time, and it could actually tow decently and it moved well when you floored it.
I was in the same boat. I have owned a v6 Rav4 for 8 years and recently pulled the trigger on a Rav4 Prime. After a few days of driving the Prime, my v6 (keeping it as our second car) now seems noisy and slow. It feels like a dinosaur relative to the Prime. If you're on the fence, do it :-)
@Hose2wAcKiEr With the current inflation rate, new economy car will have a median price of $35,000+ by 2023 or earlier. Used market is F***ing wack, 2-3 years old car cost as much as a new one.
I still own my V-6 2010 RAV4 and added the red RAV4 Prime XSE a few months ago. LOVE them both! I drive 43 miles one way to work and make it on all electric - then I charge (for free!) at work in about 2.5 hours for the trip home. I still have over a quarter of a tank of gas left after 3600 miles of driving (which included a couple of longer trips where I used gas). I’m only going to partially fill the tank unless I’m going on a long trip. It’s comfortable, has quick pick-up, and looks great (I have the red and black). Add in the $7500 federal and $2500 state tax rebates and it’s also a smart buy. I had to wait for mine, but did not pay a “buyer’s premium” (Mountain States Toyota)
This one will be great for the buyers that had the old V6 model and remember that "more than enough" performance. Many buyers stopped buying the RAV4 when that option went away.
Yesss, I really like the exotic ,expensive, hundreds of thousands of dollars cars, but I enjoy the normal cars that I might one day be able to afford much more.
This is an everyday common woman vehicle, but I understand the sentiment. Anything affordable and pre-2001 is what people in my area are rolling around in.
I’ve been watching your videos for a long time. I love them. This is the first one I’ve found because I’d like one. I work at a dent repair shop and the more the plug-in hybrids come through, the more impressed I get. Along with Toyotas holding value, I’d call this a great buy.
11:37 If you thought that was excessive, wait till you get into a Hyundai/Kia where you get a phonebook sized owners manual. In Canada we get TWO of them: one in English and one in French
Yes, only because they're selling like hot cakes. My girlfriend worked at a Toyota dealer, and they were getting calls about these from people 6 hours away, or even in different states.
@@matthewmiller2219 Actually the new RAV4 has outperformed all its competitors in off road tests, including the Subaru Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback.
@l From what I've read, yes. Keep in mind the first generation RAV4 was pretty off-road oriented, even having a 2-door convertible option. It got a lot softer and more urban in recent years, but Toyota decided to go back to their roots a little bit this time around.
Honestly, if this is the future of vehicles, I'm okay with that. Yeah, I can pretend to be an enthusiast and say that CUV's are a plague or something, but you can't deny the practicality. Plus, with this drivetrain efficiency, I no longer look at all the SUVs thinking they're wasting gas by only driving on pavement when a 'normal' car would've been better.
@@fahd3228 Nice! I'm in a similar, yet completely opposite boat with my 2018 Honda Fit, lol. It drives and feels like the last gasp of a 90's civic, and it's really fun in the manual. It's a dying breed with cars getting bigger (especially in the US), so I'm also planning on driving it till it dies.
@@LazerLord10 That manual gearbox is considered an anti-theft device at this point. I miss using a manual gearbox, it just isn't as good in MPG, as a CVT is now unfortunately.
On American roads, a crossover makes a lot of sense. It's like the minivan or large SUV with much of the fat trimmed off. But we have wider lanes and more room, plus harsher road quality. The American trend towards crossovers makes sense to me, so it's nice to see efficient models like this one.
@@LazerLord10 The Honda fit truly captures that 90’s Honda feel. Love those cars. I would never own one, because I think they’re hideous, but my brother owns one, and driving it reminded me of my Gen 3 Prelude.
I have driven a few Rav4(hybrid) since i work for a rental company and let me tell you it's really quick and is quite suprisingly comfortably,quiet,fast as much as Lexus RX or NX.
Perhaps someone has already mentioned the Rav4 Prime has THREE electric motors not two. The front axle has two (MG1 and MG2) and the rear axle has one 54HP motor. In the hybrid one of the front motors (MG1) starts the engine, charges the battery and helps "shift" the eCVT but in the Prime Toyota re-engineered things so the MG1 motor adds power to the car along with the main drive motor (MG2). When the battery gets low the car resorts to regular hybrid drive unless you direct it to charge the battery up to an electric only operating range (which can be done with regenerative braking also).
@@The_Waraba Just ordered mine today, they are definitely not giving deals, you will pay sticker plus some typical dealer "delivery" & "doc" fees, but no more than $2.5k.
@@The_Waraba I only paid with Interest and taxes, what the MSRP. I had to wait the 2 weeks from being shipped from Japan, but I think I did very well. And already did some MODS to make it my own, and I am loving it, No range anxiety, and I've done over 3000 miles and put less then $100 in gas
@@tbuckner4905 I looked at the premium because I wanted the seat memory. But by the time I'd factored in the necessary packages, and taking into account the $7500 tax credit, the actual cost of the Rav4 Prime was lower than the XLE premium. The Premium does handle and brake better than the Prime however. Not enough was done on the Prime's engineering to compensate for the extra weight. If I were buying a hybrid cross-over tomorrow it would be the new Subaru Tucson Hybrid. The Rav4 needs a significant engineering and styling refresh to stay competitive.
I live in San Diego but many years ago I used to live in Edmonton and Calgary. I'll bet the ground clearance and all-wheel-drive really helps in the snow.
I'm confused why car reviewers think that EVERY car has to have Maybach level interior quality. Rav4, Accord, Malibu. Always disappointed that every inch of the interior isn't wrapped in suede and ostrich leather.
I know... it's so bad. The US government should not allow dealers to mark up the price past MSRP on PHEVs / EVs knowing that customers can use tax incentives. It's unfair that tax payers are subsidizing greedy dealerships instead of incentivizing buyers thinking of buying PHEV or EV. Federal / state tax credits should be disqualified if price is marked up past MSRP. I really wanted to buy the RAV4 Prime at MSRP of $38K then get the tax incentives but it is too expensive at $50K after markups for the SE in my area. That's Model Y territory. If I have the money I'd rather buy the Model Y. I ended up buying a hybrid instead. EVs are either just too expensive or too small right now. I'm going to wait a maybe 5-10 years for EVs to drop in price before considering one. Hopefully, I can get an EV SUV for like $30K someday. I also need to put aside money to install the charging station too in my garage.
XSE Owner here who lives in a Winter town. The trail button does help. It does keep the car a little more stable on snowy / icy roads. It will keep you from getting on it to quick and losing traction...especially up hills.
GM led the way in the PHEV category with the 2011 Volt. It amazes me that they refused to put an updated Voltec system in a CUV. Now Toyota owns this market.
Totally subjective. Compare this thing to a sequoia, a proper full size SUV. If you don't carry many passengers or haul/tow gear constantly, then yeah obviously a rav4 is plenty of car
Doug apparently is a car snob. lol The RAV4 is a family oriented vehicle....something that is reliable, safe, efficient, and saves on gas. Not sure what he would recommend for car enthusiasts, something not "boring".
Oh well…..I am not “cool” either so I guess it’s a good match for me! I am not a fan of that black roof so saved money and got the Se. Personally, I love the simplicity of the dash and after having my last v6 Rav 4 for 14 years, this is beyond exciting to me! Not to mention my last RAV4 was super reliable and I got a phenomenal price for it. I got the “boring” dark grey color but I think it looks quite classy and I love saving a ton of gasoline.
Comfort and quality scored 6 and 7, which is very solid for a car like this, what do you mean underrated? It's still a Toyota, it's not a Rolls Royce or Bentley.
We drove a 2021 hybrid Rav4, then a 2019 forester the forester was hands down more comfortable and drove better. It was disappointing how rough the ride was for Rav 4, and the seats were rock hard.
All cars of any kind are ranked on the same objective scale for Acceleration, and anything that does 0-60 between 5.5 and 6 seconds gets a 4. There's no separate scale for SUVs vs. family sedans vs. sports cars. That's how the score works.
The RAV4 in general is a great comprise when you need to carry stuff and need to drive in the snow but want good fuel efficiency, and especially if you have to battle slow commuter traffic, where the hybrid system really shines. They really needed to add a plug-in version, so this is great. I like the idea of the VW electric but having owned a GTI I’d be scared of repair costs WHEN - not IF - it breaks down.
These are the cars I want to see reviewed. I couldn't care less about a new 5 million dollar ferrari I'll never see or drive. These are the cars I could own
Well, many people like "simple." The knobs on the controls are great because you can make adjustments without looking down. The dependability is a huge factor. The sales are indicative of how much people love it.
Hey Doug I really appreciate the work and content, the info is always relevant and specific. Nonetheless could please incorporate more external recording shots as you test drive car... ie: wide angle shots as you approach or depart on the streets/ corners etc
That thing will hold its value like crazy. There's virtually none available and it seems to be the sweet spot for the next few years as charging infrastructures are still to be built (at least, in Eastern Quebec). If you have a deposit on it, just be patient and take the car. It'll be an investment on the long run.
Doug should adapt categories like acceleration and handling to match the segment. Like obviously 5 seconds is slow compared to sports cars but for an suv that should be like a 7/10.
The scores given are incongruent with the review... and totally misleading, this is one of the best all round cars in the market (ICE, Electric or Hybrid).
Doug, you saw the future, i just picked up w 2024 Prime and it has an amazing digital gauge screen for a Toyota. Much nicer layout of information. Long time watcher, keep making videos!!!!!!
Thanks for the overview, Doug! 2:10 - slight correction: It has 3 electric motors, not 2. It has the two in its power-split-hybrid drive train, plus a small motor on the rear wheels. 6:20 - It is indeed strange to have paddle shifters without a tachometer, but it’s even stranger still when you consider that it doesn’t even have gears to switch! Its power-split-hybrid system, while *not* a CVT, nevertheless *functions* like one (or at least *can* function like one; maybe they artificially quantized it for some stupid reason?!).
The A/C button is for automatic climate control. If the temperature is set to a lower temp than ambient, the car will cool. If the temp is set to a higher temp than ambient, the car will heat.
Until you get stuck in the snow and realize you should have bought a real all wheel drive vehicle like a Subaru and not a make-believe all wheel drive vehicle
@@matthewmiller2219 depends on where he lives and how many cars he owns, how important is to drive during snow etc... Constant real 4wd cars have bad fuel efficiency, but can be a necessity in areas with a long heavy snow period per year etc.
