5 Features That Make the Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE a Great Car for Daily Life
Chastity Velasquez
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Be the cool mom.
And you will be with its sporty exterior and comfy interior. The Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE will turn heads in the pickup line at school.
That’s what I found waiting in the madness of the elementary school pick-up line.
The panoramic sunroof is open and I’m jamming to TLC, at a minimum level of course. No need to make the soccer mom driving a minivan behind me jealous of my hip hop skills or by the look of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE that I’m driving for the week.
With its Supersonic paint color and 19-inch alloy wheels, the RAV4 Prime makes a statement everywhere it goes. But the outside beauty isn’t the only impressive thing.
Once inside, I was blown away by the extensive list of standard features in the RAV4. Everything from the 9-inch touchscreen, SofTex-Trimmed Seats, and blind spot monitor, to a bumping 6-speaker sound system, is what makes this a fun drive.
Related: Finally, the Plug-in Hybrid SUV We’ve Been Waiting For: Meet the Toyota RAV4 Prime
Enjoying the views through the large moonroof Photo: Chastity Beene
Here are my 5 Favorite Features of the Toyota RAV4
There is a lot to like about the Toyota RAV4, but here is my short list.
1. The RAV4 is Efficient and Ready for the Road
With the price of gas these days, fuel economy is a top factor when purchasing a vehicle. The RAV4 fuel economy averages 38 MPG. Less time and money spent at the pump is my kind of car!
With its 9-in touchscreen, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, 4 USB-C charge ports, blind sport monitor, lane departure alerts, and rear cross-traffic alert, the RAV4 is equipped and ready to take you all over town.
Related: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: How to Get the Most Popular In-Car Phone Systems
Inside view of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2. Easy Charging
When fully charged, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime can go up to 42 miles without switching over to gasoline power. This means it’s not costing me a dime to enjoy a few peaceful minutes with just myself and TLC before the chaos of homework, cooking dinner, and being a chauffeur to football practice begins.
Having a Toyota Hybrid that I can charge at night, at home, makes sense for my driving habits. I typically only drive about 20 miles a day, which means I can charge at night and never have to dip into my gas tank.
The charge time is roughly 4.5 hours and can use the standard 120V charging cable. With the combination of electricity and gasoline, drivers will average 94 MPG!
Related: BEVs, PHEVs, and Hybrids: Everything You Need to Know About Cars With Alternative Power
Toyota Hybrid Photo: Chastity Beene
3. Comfortable Ride
The RAV4 looks like a sporty vehicle with its shiny red paint and chrome wheels, but drives so smooth and is quiet. It was so quiet that sometimes I wasn’t even sure if I turned the vehicle on!
Sure this SUV can handle all the bumps, ruts, and potholes, but you won’t be rattled around every time you drive over one. With three drive modes to choose from (SPORT Mode provides sharper acceleration, Eco Mode helps maximize fuel efficiency, and NORMAL Mode blends fuel economy with performance) you can pick the kind of drive that fits your mood for the day.
Related: Toyota bZ4X: Toyota’s First Full Electric Car is Designed to Delight … And Prius Fans Will Rejoice
4. Plenty of Storage Space
Having plenty of space in the backseat for my son to spread out, read a book or play his games on the drive is important to me. I mean, who wants to hear kids complaining while on the road? This vehicle is roomy, has charging plugs in the back center console, and plenty of truck space to keep everyone happy.
The perfect road trip vehicle. Photo: Chastity Beene
5. The Price is Right
While having a fully loaded and shiny new vehicle always feels amazing, having high monthly payments does not. Whether you choose the base model or the one with all the added extras, you’ll find a Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE that fits your budget.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime offers two trim levels with the least expensive being the Toyota RAV4 SE Prime which starts at $39,800.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE I drove is $43,125, but with the optional equipment in the vehicle I drove, the price runs $51,516.
Related: Help! The Car Window Sticker is So Confusing; This is What You Need To Know
Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Photo: Chastity Beene
Who This Car is For
- Anyone wanting a hybrid vehicle
- Drivers who want a fun and stylish ride
- Small families
- Those who want an affordable SUV
What I Enjoyed About The RAV4
- Heating and Cooling front seats
- Heads Up Display
- Ability to switch between Eco, Sport, and Normal drive modes
- Plenty of storage space
- The sporty look without the rugged drive
- Panoramic Moonroof
- Wireless phone charging
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Towing Capacity of the Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
This plug-in hybrid surprisingly has a large towing capacity. With its 302-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, it can tow up to 2,500 pounds of cargo.
Disclosure: The Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE was provided for this review; all opinions are my own.
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