Toyota Retires ‘Prime’ Name for 2025 RAV4 and Prius Plug-in Hybrids

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Toyota Retires ‘Prime’ Name for 2025 RAV4 and Prius Plug-in Hybrids

2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid Priced From $45,260 While Prius Plug-in Hybrid Pricing Still Pending

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By Michael Phoon • September 26, 2024

2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

Toyota has announced a change to its naming convention for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Starting with the 2025 model year, the company will drop the “Prime” designation from its popular RAV4 and Prius plug-in hybrid models, opting instead for a more straightforward naming scheme.

Farewell to ‘Prime’

2025 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

In detail, the RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime will now be known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid and Prius Plug-in Hybrid, respectively. This change marks the end of the “Prime” era, which began in 2017 with the introduction of the Prius Prime, followed by the RAV4 Prime in 2019.

2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

“The switch to the RAV4 Plug-in name is intended to help consumers more easily identify the powertrain choices among RAV4 models,” Toyota stated in their announcement. This reasoning extends to the Prius lineup as well, simplifying the distinction between hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.

Visual Changes and New Badging

2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

Along with the name change, Toyota is introducing subtle visual updates to differentiate the plug-in models:

Both vehicles will now sport a “PHEV” badge on the rear, clearly identifying them as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid will no longer feature the blue “halo” within the Toyota logo on the front and rear of the vehicle, a design element that previously distinguished it as an eco-friendly model.

Specs Remain Unchanged

2025 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

Despite the naming overhaul, the technical specifications of both vehicles remain unchanged for the 2025 model year:

The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid continues to offer 302 horsepower from its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. It boasts an all-electric range of 42 miles from its 18.5-kWh battery.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid retains its 13.6-kWh battery, providing up to 44 miles of electric-only driving range on the base SE trim. It combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total of 220 horsepower.

Moreover, Toyota has released initial pricing information for the 2025 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid with the SE trim starting at $45,260 and the XSE trim starting at $49,130. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is expected to reach dealerships in “limited quantities” in late 2024. Pricing and availability details for the 2025 Prius Plug-in Hybrid have not yet been announced.

While the company has been cautious in its approach to full electric vehicles, with only the bZ4x currently in its all-electric lineup, Toyota remains set to having PHEV offerings.

2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (Image: Toyota)

With Toyota’s decision to clarify its plug-in hybrid naming convention aligns with its strategy to make EVs more accessible and understandable to a broader range of consumers, the company’s move demonstrates its focus on clear communication and consumer education in the PHEV segments.

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