replace 2023 Prius Prime with new Rav 4 Prime - blasphemy?

I wouldn’t be surprised if you got close to what you paid for the Prius

 

No, if you wait, you will definitely lose money because your trade-in will depreciate. Even the outgoing 2025 RAV4 is selling for only $893 below MSRP on average. Get one at or slightly below MSRP in April or May when they first arrive.

Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid—Build & price your new Toyota—TrueCar

 

You never know, with recent inflation and new car sales lagging he might get a pretty good deal on a trade in. Used seems to be going for the price of new around here.

 

Other option you could consider is a lift kit to raise you Prius up a couple inches.

 

Come on, now!

 

Sadly, this $45,000 2023 Prius PHEV XSE has already depreciated to only $24,000. Perhaps it is much better to go used these days.

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/prius-prime/2023/xse-hatchback-4d/?vehicleid=465966&mileage=30000&offeroptions=true&modalview=false&intent=trade-in-sell&pricetype=trade-in&condition=verygood&options=11463021%7Ctrue&extcolor=silver&subintent=trade&entry=defymmt

 

You might want to look at this thread on the 2025 RAV4 Plugin. At least when they refreshed the Camry for Gen 5, many of the previous generation parts fit the newer models.

This person bought a 2025 Camry XSE and modded it for fuel efficiency & hendling. He got bored and traded it for a 2025 RAV4 Plugin. He has been documenting his modes, what worked, and what did not.

https://www.rav4world.com/threads/petitfrererav4s-2025-rav4-phev-maintenance-upgrades-adventures-and-more.340098/

 

I mean spending $5K on an air bag suspension would offer way more options for snow travel... Also mounting a plow on the front to keep the Prius from getting stuck and high centered.

 

Yeah... I mean if you're a millionaire and your accountant is using depreciation to get around paying taxes its one thing. But if you don't have much money and you're depending on financing to buy a brand new car, you might as well have a bumper sticker that indicates that you're enslaved by a corrupt financial system in a way where you're always losing big money and don't actually own anything because your financial lenders not only own all your stuff, but they own you too!

 

According to Consumer Reports’ first drive, the Gen 6 RAV4 is much improved over the Gen 5 RAV4 in virtually all respects, including power, handling, ride, noise, BEV range, software-defined multimedia with OTA updates, and more.

The things they didn’t like were:

1. The car did not increase in size, and the driver’s area still feels small and caged, with more legroom, headroom, and arm room desired.
2. The interior feels plasticky and cheap for an expensive car.

Other than those two points, the review is very good. I can’t post it because it is copyrighted.

2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV first-drive review—Consumer Reports

 

Lol... It didn't get bigger? Seriously, how big do vehicles need to get?

 

My wife and I have been considering the same idea - trading our 2024 Prius Prime in for a 2026 RAV4 plugin. The main reason is the poor visibility in our Prius. Here in Canada I would probably be buying an SE model because I don’t like the 20” wheels on the higher trims.

Pros

Rav4 SE has 84 km EV range versus 72 km for the Prius SE

Rav4 can tow 3500 lbs therefore I can eventually get rid of my pickup truck.

AWD, much more ground clearance and better visibility.

Faster charging, much faster for higher models.

Improved battery conditioning and cold weather EV performance according to posts above.

Cons

Both Electric and gasoline consumption are significantly higher in the Rav4 plugin 41 mpg combined versus 52 mpg in the Prius SE (27% more fuel on long trips).

Rav4 battery is 22.7 kWh verses 13.7 kWh in the Prius therefore approximately 40% more electrons are needed per mile of EV travel!

The RAV4 is still quite efficient but nothing like the Prius.

We will be giving up many features that my SE has that are only in higher trim level in the new Rav - for example I love having the two 15 amp, 120 volt outlets.

 

The transaxle could very well be the same as the 2025 & 2026 Camry. I think both vehicles use the same 2.5L engine. That again means it is not quite a first year model.