Here’s How Much It Costs To Charge A Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug-in Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 Prime is the brand’s only plug-in hybrid crossover option currently available in the U.S. There aren’t many cars and SUVs competing in this segment, as most manufacturers opt for conventional hybrid or mild-hybrid offerings, while others choose to go the fully electric route. Despite the PHEV crossover not being a broadly manufactured model, there are a lot of compelling and capable options that you can consider. The RAV4 Prime has to be one of the better options.

Toyota’s famously conservative approach to full electrification has thus far proven to be the smart choice. Its catalog currently consists of fully electric models, as well as hydrogen and gasoline-fueled cars. Beyond this is an extensive hybrid catalog. The RAV4 Prime leverages the brand’s best ICE and electric technology, resulting in a cost-effective and versatile daily driver SUV for the average American family. One of its strongest attributes is how affordable its battery charging costs are in relation to how far it can drive on electric power alone.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Toyota’s websites and other authoritative sources, including the U.S. Bureau Of Labor And Statistics, the EPA, and Car and Driver.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Costs $2.53 To Charge

According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor And Statistics, the average cost of energy across the country is currently 17 cents per kWh. St. Louis and Seattle have some of the cheapest electricity rates, where you’ll find yourself paying about 13 cents for one kWh of energy. San Diego and San Francisco are some of the most expensive cities, with rates that soar as high as 42 cents per kWh. These rates are slightly lower during off-peak hours, which are typically between 11 PM and 6 AM. This would be the best time to charge your electric car.

Toyota RAV4 Prime Charging Costs

(Pricing sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor And Statistics)

The Toyota RAV4 Prime’s average cost to charge in the U.S. is $2.53. The lowest you’ll pay in more preferential regions is around $1.94, while more costly states will have you spending around $6.26 for every recharge. These are considerably low rates when taking the RAV4’s EPA-estimated EV mile figures into consideration.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Takes 12 Hours To Charge

The RAV4 Prime’s 14.9 kWh lithium-ion battery takes 12 hours to recharge from empty to full when you use a Level One household plug point rated at 120 volts. Level Two charging is completed in just 2.5 hours because the RAV4 Prime benefits from a strong 6.6 kW onboard charger. For reference, the Prius Prime’s system is only rated at 3.3 kW.

Toyota RAV4 Prime Range And Charging Time

(Specifications sourced from the EPA)

Due to the RAV4’s compact battery and electrical system, you can’t subject it to Level Three DC fast charging. On the plus side, it benefits from an impressive 42-mile EPA-estimated range claim on a single charge, which is impressive when you consider how small the battery is in relation to its 4,300-pound claimed curb weight figure. Joining this is an efficient 94 MPGe energy consumption estimate on the EPA’s combined cycle.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Starts At $43,690

The RAV4 Prime range starts at $43,690 for the base SE trim and $47,560 for the more premium XSE trim. Unlike the Prius Prime, both trims return exactly the same energy consumption estimates. Toyota ships the RAV4 Prime with a 120-volt charging cable as standard. Toyota does not currently supply a Level Two charging cable, so you will have to source one from a reputable third-party supplier, of which there are many to choose from.

Level Two chargers rated for 6.6 kW generally go for around $270 to $320. Most feature a NEMA 10-30 or SAE J1772 connector, which you can use at several public charging stations. A Level Two charger is a must if you plan to frequently use the RAV4 Prime’s electrical system. This would likely be the case if you spend most of your time driving in urban and extra-urban environments.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Produces 302 Horsepower

The star of the Toyota RAV4 Prime is its gasoline-electric drivetrain. This consists of a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine, which generates 177 horsepower and 165 pound-feet in isolation. The electrical system consists of two electric motors. The front drive unit generates 179 horsepower and 199 pound-feet, while the smaller second motor only produces 53 horsepower and 89 pound-feet.

Performance Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Toyota and the EPA)

Collectively, Toyota limits the RAV4 Prime’s output to 302 horsepower and 288 pound-feet, delivered to all wheels via its direct-drive single-speed eCVT. The result is a claimed 5.8-second 0-60 MPH time, but independent tests show us that you can cover this sprint in about 5.6 seconds in the right conditions. Toyota also limits the RAV4 Prime’s top speed to 124 MPH. The PHEV’s drawbacks are the lower 2,500-pound towing capacity and smaller cargo space due to the bulky electrical system.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Features An Extensive Battery Warranty

Toyota includes a comprehensive warranty for the battery system, covering 120 months or 150,000 miles, which is a bit more extensive than what other manufacturers offer. Its longstanding experience in the hybrid industry results in some impressive reliability claims. The brand says its hybrid battery packs are good for around eight years, but owners confirm they can last longer, even under frequent use.

If you need to install a new battery pack for the RAV4 Prime outside of warranty, you can expect to pay between $10,000 and $12,000, including labor, at an official Toyota workshop. You can cut costs by sourcing a used battery that still has a bit of life left in it and have it installed by a reputable private workshop. Replacing the Prime’s battery pack can take four to six hours.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Comes Standard With Safety Sense 2.5+

The Toyota RAV4 Prime comes standard with the brand’s slightly inferior Safety Sense 2.5+. Despite it not being Toyota’s best piece of equipment, it still covers a lot of key safety areas, as it includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and lane tracing assist. You also get road sign detection and adaptive cruise control.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection
• Dynamic radar cruise control
• Lane departure alert with steering assist
• Lane tracing assist
• Road sign assist
• Automatic high beams

Additional safety features include Toyota’s Star Safety System, which consists of enhanced vehicle stability and traction control, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and smart stop technology. Toyota includes a comprehensive eight-airbag suite, protecting all passengers in the event of a collision.