New York Auto Show 2024: here’s the one vehicle I'd buy over all EVs
Plug-in hybrids will help bridge the gap for many
There’s no denying how the best electric cars generate the most interest among consumers, but despite seeing a handful of new EVs slated to come out this year, my favorite vehicle at the New York Auto Show 2024 (NYIAS) wasn’t even an all-electric model. It was the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid SUV that blends the gasoline efficiency of a hybrid vehicle, but can tap into its all-electric power for a range up to 42 miles.
I’ve been spoiled by the potential long-term savings that EVs promise, like the Ford F150 Lightning that I test drove over a weekend. Going through the New York Auto Show also opened my eyes to the broader variety of vehicles we’re getting now with electric cars — like the performance styling of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N or the crossover coupe design of the Polestar 4. However, I still have a lot of concerns about buying an all-electric vehicle.
That’s why I think that the Toyota RAV4 Prime is a more practical option for me, along with those who are thinking about all-electric models — but aren’t convinced yet that all-electric is the be-all and end-all solution. Then there are still the millions of drivers who still drive gasoline powered vehicles, including myself. That’s why I think the RAV4 Prime has what it takes to dip peoples’ toes into the benefits of EVs.
The potential of never having to pay for gas again
After speaking with family members, friends, and colleagues who own an EV, the one thing I often hear from them is the long term savings they’re getting by charging at home. That’s because filling up their EVs is nowhere as expensive as doing it with a gas-powered vehicle. Since the Toyota RAV4 Prime features an advanced gas/electric powertrain, you can theoretically rely on its all-electric power and never have to fill up on gas again.
Its 42 miles of EPA-estimated all-electric driving range pales in comparison to the 250+ mile range I see in other fully electric vehicles, but if your daily commute is less than that, I think it’s a huge incentive to rely on. I’m told it takes about 12 hours to fully charge the RAV4 Prime’s 18.1 kWh battery pack on a standard 120V outlet you have at home. That sounds like an awful long time, but if you’re getting home by 6:00 p.m. and leaving for your commute the following morning around 7:00 a.m., you’ll have a fully charged battery at your disposal.
Better for long distance traveling
Another reason why the RAV4 Prime is a more compelling option to bridge the gap between gas and all-electric is that it’s more convenient for long range traveling. More often than not, EV drivers have to be mindful about how much charge is left in the battery because it costs a lot more to use a charging station rather than doing it at home.
If you’re planning to do long distance driving, like a family road trip or vacation across the country, it’s more convenient to drive a plug-in hybrid like the RAV4 Prime because you won’t have to make as many (and longer) pitstops than an all-electric vehicle. For an SUV, the RAV4 Prime offers a fuel economy of 40 mpg city and 36 mpg highway — which easily beats what I get from my sedan.
Sign up now to get the best Black Friday deals!
Discover the hottest deals, best product picks and the latest tech news from our experts at Tom’s Guide.
Many new EV drivers get a rude awakening when they encounter their first long range trip because there are fewer charging stations nationwide, so part of the challenge is for them to plan their route based on those charging station locations.
Cheaper than the vast majority of EVs
And the last reason why I’m more likely to buy a plug-in hybrid than an all-electric one is because they’re much more affordable. On average, you’re looking at around $50,000 for an EV nowadays. Thankfully you have affordable options like the Tesla Model 3 that’s helping to drive the price down, but even the Ford F150 Lightning Lariat Edition I test drove costs in excess of $69,000.
There’s also the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for instance, which starts at $66,000. It shows that EVs by and large are still expensive to own, even though tax rebates can alleviate some of that burden. Either way, the vast majority of them are more than double what I paid for my sedan.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime starts at a slightly more temperate cost of $43,000. It doesn’t break the bank like these other $50,000+ priced EVs, so I think it serves as a bridge between traditional gas-powered vehicles and all-electric ones. Luckily you have additional options if the RAV4 Prime is still too much for your liking — such as the 2024 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid that starts at $34,000 or 2024 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid for $$38,000.
What I’m ultimately getting at here is that these plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds by giving drivers who are unwilling to invest fully in an EV by giving them a small taste of what they hype is all about.
More from Tom's Guide
John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.
-
Fact Checks Fact ✓ #1: Tesla Model Y is CHEAPER than RAV4. Tesla Model Y starts at $36,490 (after $7,500 point of sale tax credit), according to ill-informed author the RAV4 is much more expensive at $43,000 😂Reply
Fact ✓ #2: Plug-in gas engines are very inefficient and wasteful of batteries with only 2 miles of range per kWh. EVs get 4-5 miles per kWh.
Fact ✓ #3: Tesla has plenty of Superchargers all over the world. Nobody with a Tesla has any limits on traveling. -
jbc77
Your “fact no. 3” is in fact wrong. They a trio over a large rural expanse or even through smaller cities without an interstate highway, not in California. It’s an EV (including Tesla) charging desert.Fact Checks said:Fact ✓ #1: Tesla Model Y is CHEAPER than RAV4. Tesla Model Y starts at $36,490 (after $7,500 point of sale tax credit), according to ill-informed author the RAV4 is much more expensive at $43,000 😂
Fact ✓ #2: Plug-in gas engines are very inefficient and wasteful of batteries with only 2 miles of range per kWh. EVs get 4-5 miles per kWh.
Fact ✓ #3: Tesla has plenty of Superchargers all over the world. Nobody with a Tesla has any limits on traveling. -
CinDenver As a RAV4 Prime owner I can confirm that your points about the car are correct and even slightly understated. I’m getting a 48 mile range with EV mode. I charge the vehicle fully in about 8.5 hours in my garage using the 120v charger that came with the vehicle. Living in Colorado, and going up to the mountains regularly, I have used the hybrid mode which is primarily the gas engine. It’s been fine. The range with gas is 540 miles. I think you’d have to be nuts to try to do that drive in the winter in a Tesla or any EV only vehicle because of the risk of a storm or five hour traffic jam on I-70. At times you get stuck not moving or behind a row of 3 plows doing 25 mph with no way to pass them. The gas engine gives me the security I need to make the drive without worry. Same thing for going to a trailhead for a 14er - it can take longer and be more challenging than expected and you do not want to get stuck where there is no cell service.Reply
Overall the vehicle has been great. I do wish it had a few more amenities, and the visibility is okay, not awesome. I’d give the vehicle an 8.7 out of ten, all around. -
R3dB3ast1300 Fact ✓ Have fun waiting for your Tesla to charge while I continue in my trip for as long as I want.Reply
And let's not forget issues of shorten battery life during hot summers and cold winters.
What is a fact is that gas infrastructure already exists and it only makes sense to use hybrids that sip gas and charge their batteries on the fly.
Hybridizing all vehicles could break our foreign oil independence and use the existing infrastructure we already have in place.
Hybrids are the only design that currently makes sense. I have no problem with full EVs, buy one if you want to - It's good to have options. I have a problem with them being mandated across the board. -
geemymd
AWD vs AWD the Model Y LRAWD is 47990Fact Checks said:Fact ✓ #1: Tesla Model Y is CHEAPER than RAV4. Tesla Model Y starts at $36,490 (after $7,500 point of sale tax credit), according to ill-informed author the RAV4 is much more expensive at $43,000 😂
Fact ✓ #2: Plug-in gas engines are very inefficient and wasteful of batteries with only 2 miles of range per kWh. EVs get 4-5 miles per kWh.
Fact ✓ #3: Tesla has plenty of Superchargers all over the world. Nobody with a Tesla has any limits on traveling.
tax credit is subject to tax liability
RAV4 prime has $6500 tax credit when leased.
117mpge vs 94mpg isn only 20% difference on efficiency not a factor 2.5x
also high mileage toyotas keep a low depreciation thanks to their reliability. value for a 2021 RAV4 prime vs 2021 is about 5k higher 30k vs 25k despite cheaper MSRP in 2021. Used Tesla value is much volatile because of the constant price changes. they used to have low depreciation when new Teslas had 6 months backorder. this era is over
phev used ~40miles daily (100% electric) makes a lot of sense. you can also easily make best use of the battery (80%) daily whereas a 300 miles EV driven 30 miles a day will degrade because of age, way before it does ~1000 cycles.
also scaling lets say over 50+% of world car sales to PHEV would be way more manageable than same number o BEV
RAV4 prime battery has a longer 10 year/150k warranty if you need a battery replacement
long range EVs make a lot sense for people who drive 150-200milea a day, like Uber drivers
35-40mpg highway is not more expensive than supercharging
if RAV4 prime is used 80-90% in EV mode it's lifetime emissions will be lower than an 80kWh Model Y LR
Ultimately both are solid choices and it comes down to personal preferences convenience of gas when you're away from home, and traditional car vs hypothetical FSD/robotaxi and lack of physical controls -
mlambert890 R3dB3ast1300 said:Fact ✓ Have fun waiting for your Tesla to charge while I continue in my trip for as long as I want.
And let's not forget issues of shorten battery life during hot summers and cold winters.
What is a fact is that gas infrastructure already exists and it only makes sense to use hybrids that sip gas and charge their batteries on the fly.
Hybridizing all vehicles could break our foreign oil independence and use the existing infrastructure we already have in place.
Hybrids are the only design that currently makes sense. I have no problem with full EVs, buy one if you want to - It's good to have options. I have a problem with them being mandated across the board.
Ridiculous FUD. Nothing is being "mandated" regardless of how incessantly culture warriors scream that. Just another fake straw man used to "animate the base"
Gas mileage drops in the winter also, but people just keep burning and filling.
The fact is the vast majority of people drive less than 50 miles per day, and take ONE road trip a year that's AT MOST 500 miles. This is the statistical reality.
So while a PHEV with 50 miles of ACTUAL electric range, that ACTUALLY gets plugged in (most PHEV owners do NOT bother plugging them in, per the data) is the same as a BEV functionally, that also means all of your BS FUD against BEVs is just that.... BS FUD
300 mile range EVs allow you to drive FOUR HOURS before stopping to charge. For the vast majority of people, they aren't doing the Cannonball Run and peeing in jars. Four hours is a decent time before stopping to have lunch, stretch and use the bathroom. That's more than enough time to charge.
The Model Y was the NUMBER 3 best selling car in the US last year. Number 2 if you take out the gas guzzling pickup monstrosities Americans are obsessed with. So it's idiotic to continue to pretend that "hybrids are the ONLY solution that makes sense!"
BEVs are demonstrably fine for most drivers. Thats why sales continue to grow despite the fossil industry and NADA continuing to spew FUD that the media continues to amplify, including Tom's ironically with articles like this because the bias is so personal for so many that are just addicted to combusting fuel. Each day more and more people buy a BEV and realize it's all BS. That's why EIGHTY FIVE percent never go back to ANY kind of ICE. -
mlambert890 geemymd said:AWD vs AWD the Model Y LRAWD is 47990
tax credit is subject to tax liability
RAV4 prime has $6500 tax credit when leased.
117mpge vs 94mpg isn only 20% difference on efficiency not a factor 2.5x
also high mileage toyotas keep a low depreciation thanks to their reliability. value for a 2021 RAV4 prime vs 2021 is about 5k higher 30k vs 25k despite cheaper MSRP in 2021. Used Tesla value is much volatile because of the constant price changes. they used to have low depreciation when new Teslas had 6 months backorder. this era is over
phev used ~40miles daily (100% electric) makes a lot of sense. you can also easily make best use of the battery (80%) daily whereas a 300 miles EV driven 30 miles a day will degrade because of age, way before it does ~1000 cycles.
also scaling lets say over 50+% of world car sales to PHEV would be way more manageable than same number o BEV
RAV4 prime battery has a longer 10 year/150k warranty if you need a battery replacement
long range EVs make a lot sense for people who drive 150-200milea a day, like Uber drivers
35-40mpg highway is not more expensive than supercharging
if RAV4 prime is used 80-90% in EV mode it's lifetime emissions will be lower than an 80kWh Model Y LR
Ultimately both are solid choices and it comes down to personal preferences convenience of gas when you're away from home, and traditional car vs hypothetical FSD/robotaxi and lack of physical controls
"Lifetime emissions" will most certainly NOT be lower than the Model Y because it will ALWAYS combust fuel. I get that suddenly every ICE fanatic is an environmentalist who not only accepts the reality of carbon footprint, but is now an expert who supposedly cares deeply about it, but this is just a lie.
It takes a Model Y only around 35,000 miles to surpass the manufacturing carbon deficit against even the MOST EFFICIENT ICE (38MPG)
A PHEV, on the other hand, ALSO HAS A BATTERY so it's also starting with a deficit.
Leaving aside that the majority of PHEV owners don't bother plugging them in, which regardless of what is claimed on forums is what the data has shown, even if "90% of the driving is on battery", that means 10% is burning fuel spewing carbon and carcinogens into the atmosphere.
So obviously over a LIFETIME that is going to surpass the small initial deficit between the PHEV and the BEV. And as a bonus, the BEV will never spew toxic fumes into the air.
I get that people are fiercely defensive of their PHEV purchase, but this need to prove that somehow BEVs are "worse for the environment" or "unusable for most people" or any other confirmation bias BS the media is gleefully amplifying lately, is infuriating.
You want a PHEV whatever. But if you use garbage ICE fanatic FUD to "prove" that it was the only sensible decision, because something is fundamentally wrong with BEV, you become part of the problem, and that includes Tom's which has been on a NADA approved MISSION on this topic.