First Drive: 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV [Review]

There was a time when California was at the cutting edge of style, fashion, music and, of course, cars. The Internet has made this global society exposed to almost everything simultaneously.

But this time, the state can claim exclusivity over the 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV. Current plans call for 2,600 copies of the new electric SUV to be built over a three-year period for lease or purchase in the Golden State.

Electrifying
Although Toyota is no stranger to hybrid technology and electrification, there is strength in its collaboration with Tesla Motors.

This Japanese-Californian partnership isn't as unexpected as you might think: Tesla is building its new Model S sedan at a former Toyota-GM joint venture plant in Northern California. In this case, Tesla supplies power units to Toyota, which then finishes the RAV4 at a plant in Ontario, Canada.

Looking mostly like the gasoline-powered version, the RAV4 EV boasts Normal and Sport power modes that give it zippy 0-60 sprints of either 8.6 or 7.0 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph thanks to a 154 horsepower (115 kilowatt) engine that sends power to the front wheels.

Charging is also a two-stage affair: Standard mode charges to 35 kWh for an estimated 92 mile range, while Extended mode completes to a full 41.8 kWh for 113 miles. Toyota says that Standard mode will also extend the charging life of the lithium-ion battery, which is warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Toyota looked to electrical supplier Leviton for a $1,590 (plus installation) 240V 40-amp charger to re-juice the RAV4 batteries in about six hours. Use a standard 120V outlet and charging takes an eye-popping 44 (yes, 44) hours.

To minimize the dreaded range anxiety of EVs, Toyota adopted three HVAC settings for up to a 40 percent power savings compared to a standard RAV4. From there the aero-carved nose (which doesn't need a large radiator opening) and shapely mirrors make the RAV4 the sleekiest SUV in the world at 0.30 Cd.

Looking inward
The interior of the RAV4 EV shares much with its gasoline-powered brother, but goes it a little better with more modern takes on existing gear.

The six-way adjustable driver's seat and front passenger seats are only available with fabric seat coverings and SofTex bolstering. Toyota has equipped them with heaters front and rear to minimize the use of the HVAC system on cool mornings, which increases range. Unlike most EVs, the RAV4's 73 cubic feet of cargo hauling space is identical to the gas model.

A new IntelliTouch capacitive eight-inch touchscreen display with navigation is a Toyota first featuring "flick functionality" similar to what you would see on an iPhone. Other similarities exist inside that are quite Prius-like in appearance.

A full gauge cluster features user-programmable TFT screens to display everything from CO2 reduction to the expected driving range and charge status indicators. In Normal mode, the display is highlighted in blue, while Sport mode changes the tint to red.

Further, Toyota offers a smartphone app that remotely monitors charge status, as well as another to help drivers find Toyota-spec stations equipped with the quick chargers. Absent-minded drivers will appreciate a vehicle-locator app that helps drivers find their car in a large parking lot.

Once under way
We weren't quite sure what to expect, but we came away impressed.

The aforementioned 154 horsepower equivalent is joined by either 218 lb-ft. of torque (Normal mode) or a solid 273 lb-ft. (in Sport mode).

Acceleration is blazingly fast, as a rather surprised Porsche driver found out during our test run. Sure, he would beat us at the top end but it is rare to find an SUV of any size that could chirp the tires from a standing start, even if they were low-rolling-resistance models.

Though the RAV4 EV is hardly a sports car, the standard gasser's almost sporty handling remains intact. Its electrically-assisted power steering is overboosted at low speeds, but the little 'ute's chassis is front-drive predictable when pushed.

Driving around the Orange County, we stumbled across a Real Housewife, who said she thought the RAV4 EV was adorable. When we told her the $50,000 asking price, she scoffed and said it should have been a Lexus for that kind of money.

We think she might not be the only one.

Leftlane's bottom line
Combining the manufacturing abilities of Toyota with the battery innovations from Tesla Motors has enabled both companies to get a jump on the competition as far as alternative means of power are concerned. Range anxiety is still an issue to be worked out, but the envelope keeps getting pushed further as time and technology march on.

Nearly 50 g's for a RAV4 EV is a lot of coin, but we think Toyota should get a jump on their partner by setting up a card table just outside Tesla's Apple Store-like showrooms in shopping malls. With a nearly year-long wait for a Tesla Model S, Toyota's salespeople could really nab a few customers: "Psst! We've got your Tesla right here for half the price!"

2012 Toyota RAV4 EV base price, $49,800.


Words and photos by Mark Elias.