2021-2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime Is Quicker Than Supra 2.0

Toyota's plug-in RAV4 has 302 horsepower, stretches a gallon of gas, can tow up to 2500 pounds, and will beat a four-cylinder Supra in a few acceleration tests.

If you had told us a decade ago that the Toyota Supra would be built by BMW, we would've told you to kick rocks. Had you said that Toyota's uber-popular RAV4 crossover will be one of the quickest vehicles in Toyota's portfolio, we would've called you crazy. But today's world is anything but a normal place. It's a world where the performance of many SUVs now rivals or surpasses that of some sports sedans. And yes, it's a world where even a RAV4 is quicker in some cases than the new Supra.

Impressive acceleration, useful electric range, costs less with tax credits than some RAV4 hybrid models.

Now in its third model year, Toyota's fifth generation of its bestselling RAV4 gets more electric oomph courtesy of a new plug-in-hybrid variant, the 2021 RAV4 Prime. Beneath its hood, the Prime's powertrain is similar to that of the plug-less RAV4 hybrid model. On the fuel-burning side of its powertrain is a 177-hp 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four that has been calibrated for Prime duty.

But paired with the internal-combustion engine is Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system. With two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor-generators that combine to generate 179 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque at the front axle, the system makes substantially more grunt than the RAV4 hybrid's electric contribution of 118 horses and 149 pound-feet. There's an additional motor, the same 53-hp, 89-lb-ft rear motor that's fitted to the RAV4 hybrid, to provide standard all-wheel-drive capability. Electricity to power the system is stored in an 18.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With all the components working in harmony, the RAV4 Prime is rated at a combined 302 horsepower, which is a stout 83 ponies more than the hybrid.

We've already put the conventional RAV4 up against the best in its segment during a six-way compact-crossover comparison test, and we've vetted the hybrid in separate testing. The Prime tips the scales at a portly 4400 pounds, 579 more than the hybrid. At the test track, however, the additional weight was no match for the added thrust of the Prime's powertrain. The Prime blasts to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and crosses the quarter-mile in 14.0 seconds at 100 mph. Yes, the Supra with its standard 255-hp turbo 2.0-liter four is still quicker—4.7 seconds to 60 mph and 13.3 at 104 mph in the quarter-mile—but the Prime does beat it from five to 60 mph, 30 to 50 mph, and from 50 to 70 mph. It also spanks the RAV4 hybrid to 60 mph by 1.9 seconds and crushes it in the quarter-mile by 2.6 seconds and 9 mph. Those well versed in quick Toyotas will note the Prime is also quicker than the wannabe-racer Camry TRD.

Chapters:
0:00 Exterior
1:58 Interior
3:59 Drive

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