Toyota RAV4 Prime VS New Hyundai Tucson PHEV comparison review

Andrea and Zack of Motormouth provide another great comparison review. This time they pit the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and the Toyota RAV4 Prime against one another. Who comes out on top?

This is a Motormouth couple car comparison of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime and the 2022 Hyundai Tucson PHEV, both are plug-in hybrid compact SUVs.

The Tucson PHEV is longer than the RAV4 Prime. They have about the same front legroom but the Tucson offers almost 2” more second row legroom. Space behind the second row and overall cargo capacity goes to the Prime at 69.8 cubic feet compared to the Tucson at 66.3 cubic feet.

The Tucson plug-in hybrid has less power and EV range compared to the Prime. It is powered by a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and a combined 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, 53 km/33 miles of EV range. The RAV4 Prime has a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with Toyota’s hybrid system, an ECVT, 302 total system horsepower and 68 km/42 miles of EV range.

Both vehicles come with standard AWD and you can put regular fuel in them. For EV rebates in Canada, plug-in hybrids with a battery that is 15 kWh or greater qualify for the $5,000 EV rebate. The RAV4 Prime has an 18.1 kWh battery, so it meets the requirements. The Tucson PHEV has a 13.8 kWh battery; it only qualifies for half of the rebate, $2500.

There are also Provincial rebates available in participating provinces. In the US, the RAV4 Prime qualifies for a tax credit up to $7,500 and the Tucson plug-in hybrid up to $6,587. It’s hard to beat the value the Tucson PHEV offers, it comes with so many standard features in Canada including heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, an 8” touchscreen, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto plus a hands-free power liftgate. The RAV4 Prime doesn’t offer as many base model features, it has a 7” touchscreen, heated front seats, a power driver seat and a heated steering wheel. To get the extra features you have to move up to the top trim and /or buy packages.The Tucson PHEV is spacious and comfortable with plenty of storage. The base model comes loaded with so many standard features making it a difficult one to beat for value. These features include, an 8” touchscreen, a 10.25” digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power drivers seat, leather trimmed interior, panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, a hands-free smart liftgate, ambient lighting and a Bose sound system. The top Ultimate trim for an extra $2700 CAD has some extra features like driver seat memory, a power passenger seat, 64-colour ambient lighting, a surround view monitor, 10.25” touchscreen with wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

In the US there are two trims to choose from the base trim for under $35,000 offers minimal features to keep that low price point. It has cloth seats, a power drivers seat, heated front seats and an 8” touchscreen.

The top trim has all the extra features that we listed in the Canadian base and top trims.

The RAV4 Prime has a comfortable, practical and versatile interior with plenty of storage with the battery mounted underneath the floor. Standard features include, an 8” touchscreen, a 7” multi-information display, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, heated front cloth seats, 8-way power driver’s seat and a heated steering wheel.

In the US, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats are not standard, you’ll find these features in the weather and moonroof package on the base trim. The top trim in Canada has the larger 9” touchscreen, a wireless charger, mixed Softtex and perforated leather seats, heated rear seats, power lfitgate and a moonroof.

Add the Technology package for $5400 CAD to get driver seat memory, a power passenger seat, ventilated front seats, head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, a power rear door with kick sensor, an 11-speaker JBL Audio system and a Bird’s eye view camera. In the US, the top XSE trim has four packages for you to choose from ranging in price from $815 to over $5300. In these packages you’ll find a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, the JBL audio system and the panoramic sunroof.

The Prime earns a combined city/highway rating of 2.5Le/100km, that’s 94 MPGe, the Tucson PHEV 2.9Le/100km, 80 MPGe. The Prime starts at $44,990 CAD/$38,350 USD and the Tucson $43,499 CAD/$34,900 USD.