The era of 'Prime' has come to an end. Toyota revealed on Thursday that it has discontinued the naming convention for plug-in hybrid trims of the RAV4 and Prius. Moving forward, these vehicles will be known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. This change aligns with a more straightforward approach.
The 'Prime' moniker made its debut in 2017 with the launch of the Prius Prime, which was based on the fourth-generation Prius. The first RAV4 Prime was introduced in 2019, garnering attention for its impressive 302 horsepower and a claimed 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds.
According to Toyota, the shift to the RAV4 Plug-in name is designed to assist consumers in more easily distinguishing the powertrain options available among RAV4 models. Additionally, the Toyota logo on the front and rear of the vehicle will no longer feature a blue 'halo' within.
While the 'Prime' name might have sounded appealing, it complicated matters for average shoppers trying to understand what they were purchasing. This change aims to make it much simpler for people to grasp the distinctions in powertrain offerings without resorting to a Google search on their phones.
Beyond the badge change, the RAV4 Plug-In remains unchanged for 2025, continuing with standard all-wheel drive, an estimated 42 miles of all-electric range, and a combined 38 mpg in hybrid mode.
Similarly, the 2025 Prius Plug-in Hybrid retains the same 220 hp as the previous Prime model, with 44 miles of electric driving range, and up to 52 mpg combined, depending on wheel size.
