Toyota RAV4 EV priced at $49,800

Holy COW.

My '09 RAV4 V6 was $24,334. I am in shock.

I'm glad I already had my heart set on a fairly-loaded Prius. It's a bargain at under $32K!

 

Read more: 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Revealed, Pricing Announced at ,800 - WOT on Motor Trend

That is a small number of units. They must be losing money on each one. People seem to have paid crazy prices for used rav4 evs, I doubt 900 of this improved model a year will be hard to sell.

 

...sounds like these are almost exclusively for the CA market to meet the required number of ZEV sales (via state mandate). The question is if the other CA emissions states will follow suit.

 

The EV's are more to fill Federal fleet fleet mileage formulas. Even with the subsidies they are not priced to sell.

RAV's an even odder choice since its shape is not conducive to getting maximum mileage. Likely Toyota can say it produces an SUV "fleet" with high mileage by putting the RAV-EV out there.

 

they cant lower their fleet mpg by selling 2600 cars in 3 years, out of 5 million others they will sell.

 

yeah... actually pricing is good compared to leaf imho. Rav4 with less options is $31k, without LED headlights or improved center cluster/HVAC, half leather seats or especially 8" Navigation with Entune (2011 rav4 has old style small nav).

they also did a surprising number of improvements inside - HVAC and instrument cluster are completely new, which means they wont update EV to new rav4 when it comes out later on this year? HVAC cluster is similar to one found in new 2013 Avalon and completely different from before.

 

There are all kinds of quirks and break points and the RAV is likely built to play to those formulas. Likely the SUV category and it lets Toyota crank out 100,000 more profitable Super Tundras.

 

its a compliance car. so Toyota can continue to sell to the CA market. anyone find out what the battery pack specs were? is this 100 miles LA 4 or is it a "real" 100 miles?

 

I have no idea on what 100 means but here are the specs
2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...v-with-tesla-motor-for-49-800.html?cmpid=yhoo

 

Actually, the RAV4 does makes sense.
- It's updating the previous RAV4 EV
- It's large enough to take plenty of batteries without any significant loss of utility
- It's manufactured in North America.

Maybe they could have used the Venza instead, but I'm sure the history won out.

As the LEAF is to the Versa the RAV4 EV is to the RAV4: the body has some slight modifications to improve the aerodynamics.

 

Either this car is going to sell out before it hits the dealerships, or the EV fans who are positive that the old Rav EV had a huge untapped market at prices Toyota could profit from are wacked.

 

I'm sure it's only being released in California because they can take advantage of the generous tax credits, but the price is still too high for the average consumer. 35k after credits is the max that it should cost, yet I'm sure Toyota will easily sell them!

 

Not really but it's a toss off so it doesn't really matter.

What would have made sense is a hybrid AWD RAV4 to take the place of the Highlander Hybrid. A boost in mileage from Highlander AWD 28 mpg to a solid AWD 35 mpg would have made it the AWD to have, getting all the Ford Escape Hybrid customers. It would have taken over the NE and Mountain states and the LA and SF skiers.

I'd guess Toyota doesn't want to cannibalize the Highlander/RX450h market.

 

how can it cost $35k after credits when it is better equipped than FWD RAV4 V6 Limited that is $31k? As Austin said, they are probably losing money or not making any on this one.

 

new Rav4 will certainly be hybrid with Camry powertrain... old one is now almost 7 years old, so it made no sense for them to shuehorn hybrid inside.

 

Still a bit pricey for my taste for a short range car. You're still not going to pack the family in it and drive to Disney World....but that's what everybody wants, even though 95% of the time, they will do no such thing. I think EV manufacturers should concentrate where the technology works best...just a normal commuter car or something to run errands in.

But...the market is going to go in all directions...as it should.

 

Not really surprised, these electric cars are basically all jokes to be honest. Even the Leaf. I mean really, $38,000 is the sticker on the one at my local dealer and when you look in it it looks exactly the same as any number of econoboxes for less than half the price. Nobody will be buying these things (to any meaningful degree) until battery tech advances further.

This electric Rav4 is $10k more than a hybrid Highlander, which seats 7.

 

i know too many people who drive SUVs and 99% of the time, never leave town. for a family of 2-3 kids especially older ones, its a common sight. sure its transportation overkill, but that "is" the American Way