'21 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE test drive ...

[supton]

I dunno, wasn't the top of the line option always crazy expensive?

For a while we've had this running debate about how cars have gotten expensive--yet when we look at advertised prices over the years, and then inflation adjusted, it seemed to hold steady--yet we got far more for our money. But that was for sedans... With the death of the sedan, can we now truly say that cars are getting more expensive?

 

[The Critic]

Yeah Toyota is ridiculous! My local stealership here at the Roseville Automall charges an extra $9999 for dealer markup on their RAV4’s. Shop around and get a Honda or Subaru for MSRP instead!

I heard Elk Grove Toyota isn't charging a markup.

And if you want to make a road trip, Longo is always at MSRP.

 

[Wolf359]

I'm just surprised that people are willing to pay that much over sticker when you can switch to a luxury brand that doesn't have the same kind of crazy markups.

 

[edyvw]

$41k base price? If it dispensed $1 every time I take a breath, it is still RAV4!!!
But, as long as there is sheep, there will be a wool.

 

[Ws6]

$41k base price? If it dispensed $1 every time I take a breath, it is still RAV4!!!
But, as long as there is sheep, there will be a wool.

Yes, but now it's faster than many "sporty" cars, gets insane mileage, and has Toyota reliability. It also drives and handles way better than a RAV4 has any right to. Motortrend says it hustles the Figure 8 with almost the same speed as the BMW X3, and I agree, mine handles extremely well. Hitting the corners with my friend's WRX STi (before you ask, they accelerated very similarly prior to his Stage 1 tune and intake, but he will get a several car jump because as a manual, his car can start with the rpms hanging at 5500-6K or whatever. Once that initial jump is over, they just sit deadlocked with the same space between them), he was pushing maybe 2-3mph faster in some of the more sedate sweepers and it made him very nervous, while I was well within my comfort zone. Fairness though, the temps were around 50*F and he was on summer tires. Feedback is lacking compared to other vehicles I've driven, for sure, but the limits are pretty astounding for a RAV. The Adventure package RAV4, with torque vectoring, for example, took 27.5 seconds to hit the MT figure 8, while this one took 27.0. One tenth of a second behind the X3, and Stelvio.

All in all for a vehicle that nets me 50-60mpg and has a powertrain that is super cheap and easy to maintain, and proven reliable, I thought it a helluva bargain for $45K+TT&L - $7500 tax credit. My only complaint is that feedback is muted, as one expects from a Toyota, while handling is crisp and flat, and the suspension is very stiff while also being well damped, which one does NOT expect of a Toyota. It creates a bit of a disconnect between actual capability and feedback that I find annoying. Basically, Toyota tuned their EPAS feel for grandma, and the suspension for guys like me. It's weird putting them together, but with a learning curve, it's a blast.

 

[edyvw]

Yes, but now it's faster than many "sporty" cars, gets insane mileage, and has Toyota reliability. It also drives and handles way better than a RAV4 has any right to. Motortrend says it hustles the Figure 8 with almost the same speed as the BMW X3, and I agree, mine handles extremely well. Hitting the corners with my friend's WRX STi (before you ask, they accelerated very similarly prior to his Stage 1 tune and intake, but he will get a several car jump because as a manual, his car can start with the rpms hanging at 5500-6K or whatever. Once that initial jump is over, they just sit deadlocked with the same space between them), he was pushing maybe 2-3mph faster in some of the more sedate sweepers and it made him very nervous, while I was well within my comfort zone. Fairness though, the temps were around 50*F and he was on summer tires. Feedback is lacking compared to other vehicles I've driven, for sure, but the limits are pretty astounding for a RAV. The Adventure package RAV4, with torque vectoring, for example, took 27.5 seconds to hit the MT figure 8, while this one took 27.0. One tenth of a second behind the X3, and Stelvio.

All in all for a vehicle that nets me 50-60mpg and has a powertrain that is super cheap and easy to maintain, and proven reliable, I thought it a helluva bargain for $45K+TT&L - $7500 tax credit. My only complaint is that feedback is muted, as one expects from a Toyota, while handling is crisp and flat, and the suspension is very stiff while also being well damped, which one does NOT expect of a Toyota. It creates a bit of a disconnect between actual capability and feedback that I find annoying. Basically, Toyota tuned their EPAS feel for grandma, and the suspension for guys like me. It's weird putting them together, but with a learning curve, it's a blast.

Toyota reliability? I own two. There is no such thing.
And X3, WRX, my God. How do you convince yourself every time you by refrigerator that you bought Porsche 911?

 

[Ws6]

Toyota reliability? I own two. There is no such thing.
And X3, WRX, my God. How do you convince yourself every time you by refrigerator that you bought Porsche 911?

The wrx is slow and the x3 isnt exactly nimble, lol. Those bars are pretty low all things considered. Im just saying the Primes performance is in line with its price.

 

[edyvw]

The wrx is slow and the x3 isnt exactly nimble, lol. Those bars are pretty low all things considered. Im just saying the Primes performance is in line with its price.

There are cheaper cars that have better performance, and more expensive cars that are slower. That is not indicative of price.
It is still RAV4, a vehicle for aspiring student of English literature.

 

[Ws6]

There are cheaper cars that have better performance, and more expensive cars that are slower. That is not indicative of price.
It is still RAV4, a vehicle for aspiring student of English literature.

If you identify more with the name on the bumper, sure. But consider then a Gt350 Cobra, makes a good first cute car for your daughter, by the same logic.

My point was that the Prime is reasonably quick, much quieter and better composed than any other rav4, handles very well for an SUV, and offers class leading PEV range as well as an efficient ice engine. Features wise, its a hair light, but the rest of the package is very mid 40s if you compare it to any other vehicle in its class. Again, similar to how a gt350 punches right in its price range, dispite being a car for a teenage girl...

 

[dishdude]

There are cheaper cars that have better performance, and more expensive cars that are slower. That is not indicative of price.
It is still RAV4, a vehicle for aspiring student of English literature.

And grandmas everywhere.

 

[edyvw]

If you identify more with the name on the bumper, sure. But consider then a Gt350 Cobra, makes a good first cute car for your daughter, by the same logic.

My point was that the Prime is reasonably quick, much quieter and better composed than any other rav4, handles very well for an SUV, and offers class leading PEV range as well as an efficient ice engine. Features wise, its a hair light, but the rest of the package is very mid 40s if you compare it to any other vehicle in its class. Again, similar to how a gt350 punches right in its price range, dispite being a car for a teenage girl...

Your points in this post are valid.
Just don’t throw unnecessarily WRX, X3, etc. It is none of those cars.
Still, it is$49k. Ridiculous!

 

[edyvw]

And grandmas everywhere.

Nope, that’s Avalon.

 

[Hermann]

Toyotas have really gotten ugly over the years and I liked have liked every Toyota I have owned.

Hasn't hurt sales though, everybody loves the Mutt.

 

[Ws6]

Your points in this post are valid.
Just don’t throw unnecessarily WRX, X3, etc. It is none of those cars.
Still, it is$49k. Ridiculous!

No, it stomps a mudhole in a wrx and handles similar to an x3 on magazine tests regarding numbers generated. Which is pretty wild for a rav4, lol. I imagine the wrx owner I crushed is sad, and my buddy with the sti now has a cobb stage 1 . Inused wrx and x3 because Ive messed up that wrx personally, and the x3, its a well eorted suv/cuv. But you can compare it to whatever in that price bracket.

49k? Yeah, I eschewed the premium package and just went weather xse. For 45k, i think its a good deal. I could give a hoot about the name on the bumper.

The ride quality and interior noise are very in line with.a $45k suv. It is very different from all the other rav4s. Acoustic windshield, laminate skde windows, and additional other sound deadening plus a very refined integration of the hybrid system. If you can, go drive or ride in ine. It doesnt feel like a Toyota in any way except the absent steering feedback. Which is a shame.

 

[edyvw]

No, it stomps a mudhole in a wrx and handles similar to an x3 on magazine tests regarding numbers generated. Which is pretty wild for a rav4, lol. I imagine the wrx owner I crushed is sad, and my buddy with the sti now has a cobb stage 1 . Inused wrx and x3 because Ive messed up that wrx personally, and the x3, its a well eorted suv/cuv. But you can compare it to whatever in that price bracket.

49k? Yeah, I eschewed the premium package and just went weather xse. For 45k, i think its a good deal. I could give a hoot about the name on the bumper.

The ride quality and interior noise are very in line with.a $45k suv. It is very different from all the other rav4s. Acoustic windshield, laminate skde windows, and additional other sound deadening plus a very refined integration of the hybrid system. If you can, go drive or ride in ine. It doesnt feel like a Toyota in any way except the absent steering feedback. Which is a shame.

It has electric engine with plenty of torque. It doesn’t handle anything similar to X3. X3 is longitudinal, RWD based vehicle with much more sophisticated suspension. It might have similar time on track (compliments of strong torque from electric engine) but it doesn’t drive anything similar to X3, unless Toyota figured some new laws of physics.

 

[Ws6]

It has electric engine with plenty of torque. It doesn’t handle anything similar to X3. X3 is longitudinal, RWD based vehicle with much more sophisticated suspension. It might have similar time on track (compliments of strong torque from electric engine) but it doesn’t drive anything similar to X3, unless Toyota figured some new laws of physics.

The motortrend figure 8 was what I referred to, which demonstrates a vehicles ability to maintain traction as well as transition. Im sure they feel very different. I do know on the street it does handle very well, with my one complaint being understeer on heavy throttle corner exit. Regardless, it hustles through the mountain corners very well. Friend in his sti was struggling to keep up as the temps were around 50ish the other night and he was on summer tires. The low battery position/center of gravity along with a relatively stiff and well damped suspension makes it pretty formidable on good tires like my CC2s.

 

[dareo]

And grandmas everywhere.

There are cheaper cars that have better performance, and more expensive cars that are slower. That is not indicative of price.
It is still RAV4, a vehicle for aspiring student of English literature.

Lol at making generalizations of who buys a Rav4 because everyone buys a Rav4. Its the top selling or close to top selling non truck out there.

 

[Wolf359]

There are cheaper cars that have better performance, and more expensive cars that are slower. That is not indicative of price.
It is still RAV4, a vehicle for aspiring student of English literature.

Lol at making generalizations of who buys a Rav4 because everyone buys a Rav4. Its the top selling or close to top selling non truck out there.

Technically, it's not mutually exclusive. There could be lots of aspiring students of English literature out there to make it a top selling vehicle.

 

[PimTac]

Toyota is the number one automaker in terms of sales worldwide. Apparently the design doesn’t turn everyone off.


https://www.autopunditz.com/post/global-car-sales-analysis-2020

 

[edyvw]

Lol at making generalizations of who buys a Rav4 because everyone buys a Rav4. Its the top selling or close to top selling non truck out there.

Well, people like literature.