Toyota is one of the first innovators of hybrid technology in vehicles, starting with the Prius in 1997. Vigorous testing and tireless engineering were part of Toyota’s production process to build a successful hybrid vehicle to cut back emissions and use of fossil fuels. Since then, most vehicle manufacturers have taken the initiative to build their own hybrid models, but the Prius remains the highest-selling hybrid vehicle of all time. In fact, Toyota recently celebrated the remarkable feat of 15 million hybrids sold worldwide. While Toyota continues to innovate with the Prius, it has been joined by a host of 2021 Toyota hybrids to choose from today. Here is the rest of the Toyota Hybrid lineup available for 2021.
RAV4
SUVs are the favorite flavor of car these days, and the RAV4 is a popular compact SUV with features like available all-wheel drive and a spirited driving experience. Now with the 2021 hybrid model, the RAV4 has a combined fuel efficiency of 40 MPG. The starting price for the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid is $28,500, and the hybrid comes in five trims: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, XSE, and Limited. In all trims, the RAV4 offers a comfortable, attractive interior and has standard features like a seven-inch infotainment screen that comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa services. If you’re looking for a compact and efficient hybrid SUV that is easy to park but still offers plenty of interior space for cargo and passengers, the RAV4 is a great option.
RAV4 Prime
Taking the fuel efficiency and performance up a notch, the 2021 RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid that offers all-wheel drive standard and has more horsepower due to its hybrid powertrain. With 302 hp, the RAV4 Prime is actually the second-fasted vehicle that Toyota sells, right behind the 2021 GR Supra six-cylinder sports coupe. But unlike the fuel-hungry Supra, the RAV4 Prime gets 94 MPGe and can travel up to 42 miles on electric power alone. For its $38,100 starting price, you get a lot more features than the standard RAV4. Expect more powered features like heated front seats and a larger touchscreen to be standard with the Prime, and nifty features like a color head-up display, adaptive headlights, and an enhanced charger are options. The RAV4 Prime is the perfect vehicle for buyers who want hybrid performance and have access to a place to plug in at home to keep charging easy.
Corolla
Ah, the Corolla. Past Corolla designs were uninspired, but it continues to thrive because it’s a great option for those who want a reliable new car that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The Corolla Hybrid is Toyota’s least expensive hybrid option at a starting price of $23,500, and it gets fairly good fuel efficiency at 52 MPG combined. Fortunately, the Corolla has freshened its appearance recently, so it has a more updated interior with appealing and modern lines in the dash, and it also comes with a decent set of standard features. You get Toyota Safety Sense 2, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Android Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio for tech, plus comfortable interior seating and space. On the exterior, the Corolla has gained a little more personality, and it’s actually won awards for being the 2020 Green Car of the Year. Not bad for an economy car.
Camry
The Camry is a slick midsize sedan for anyone looking to buy a vehicle that doesn’t need to be an SUV. New styling freshened up the Camry recently, too, and the bolder grille with sporty side sills really lends a different feel to this once forgettable design. With the hybrid option, the Camry enjoys better fuel economy at 52 MPG combined, and the starting price comes in at $27,270. Inside the rather more elegant interior is an attractive dash that features drive modes for economical driving and can be upgraded with a sport-tuned suspension to go with that sporty exterior. Over the years, the Camry has become a fairly refined vehicle with a comfortable ride quality, a quiet cabin, and plenty of interior space for both passengers and cargo.
Prius Prime
Ever since Leonardo DiCaprio made the Prius famous in its early years, it’s been a well-loved hybrid with only one major complaint: it was too quiet. With every year, Toyota has tweaked and touched up the systems on its best-selling hybrid, and the current Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is a step up from the old classic. With a relatively affordable starting price of $28,220, it comes with a fuel efficiency of an incredible 133 MPGe. When you charge up the battery, it can travel up to 25 miles on electricity alone. Toyota states that the Prius Prime can be fully charged on a fast-charger in less than three hours. This Prius will come standard with more tech features like the smart key system, quad-LED projector headlights, and a “smart-flow” climate control system. Prius has come a long way from those early years, and it now has a comfortable interior with a smooth ride, right up there with the quality you find in the Camry.
Highlander
When you need room for a lot of passengers, the Highlander is a good answer with three rows of seats that still leave room for cargo in the trunk area. Owning a Highlander Hybrid will mean a lot of savings at the pump, with a fuel efficiency of 36 MPG combined. Numbers like that are usually reserved for much smaller vehicles, but thanks to regenerative braking, driving modes to encourage fuel-saving, and a continuously variable transmission, the Highlander will cart your crew everywhere you want to go with fewer visits to the gas station. Electric on-demand all-wheel drive is even a standard feature and might be a game-changer for those living in snowy climates. Modern life will also not be denied in this vehicle with charging ports in every row, tri-zone climate control, and a cozy interior that sports soft-touch materials everywhere that matters. For a starting price of $38,410, the Highlander Hybrid is a great vehicle for road trips and large families.
Venza
In case you don’t have enough SUV options, the new Venza fills a space between the smaller RAV4 and the larger Highlander. It only seats five but has far more cargo space in the rear trunk area than the RVA4. While the Venza of the past sat low, the new 2021 model is definitely an SUV with the high profile expected in the crossover segment. As is the case with all of Toyota’s hybrids, more technology is available as standard equipment, such as the electronic on-demand all-wheel drive and a hands-free liftgate. Fuel efficiency comes in at 39 MPG combined, which is better than the larger Highlander, and about equal to the smaller RAV4. Fun features like the Star Gaze panoramic glass roof could make night time drives a lot more interesting, and the 2021 Venza Hybrid will also have the option of that color head-up display.
Avalon
Saving the best for last, the Avalon Hybrid is a full-size sedan that will spoil you in every way. While it may not technically be considered a luxury vehicle, the ride quality, design, quiet cabin, and general handling say otherwise. The hybrid can be had across several trims, from the base XLE to the XSE and the uppermost trim, the Limited. While it can be argued that the Avalon is a close sibling to the Camry, the Avalon is more refined with standard features like heated faux leather seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a large nine-inch touchscreen. Upper trims can be had with a sport-tuned suspension, real leather, and genuine wood trim. Fuel efficiency for the hybrid model comes in at 44 MPG combined, and pricing starts at $37,000. This is a vehicle for insulated, roomy cruising that will give you a space to get away from it all.
There is a 2021 Toyota Hybrid For Everyone
Toyota is making a clear effort to offer more hybrids across its entire lineup of vehicles, and that translates into a lot more options for the buyers who previously argued that hybrids just didn’t have enough variety. With everything from the economy of the Corolla Hybrid to the three-row Highlander Hybrid and even the luxurious Avalon Hybrid, buyers really can’t argue about a lack of options anymore. Buyers can most expect to see even more vehicles added to the growing list of available hybrids and electrified cars, trucks, and SUVs in the near future, but already 2021 promises an impressive smorgasbord of options from Toyota.
