Top Safety Pick

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

Plug-in hybrid

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime 4-door SUV — *Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor North America*

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use	+

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid variant of the Toyota RAV4, was introduced in the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2025 models, the RAV4 Prime became known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 RAV4 Prime conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2008
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	3
Left toepan (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Upper dash (cm)	4
Lower instrument panel (cm)	6

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2008
Head
HIC-15	110
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	9
Maximum Nij	0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm)	21
Femur (kN)
Left	1.3
Right	0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.53
Right	0.48
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.2
Right	2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	41
Right	46

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime SE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid variant of the Toyota RAV4, was introduced in the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2025 models, the RAV4 Prime became known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 RAV4 Prime conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head contacted the right side of the frontal airbag but began to slide into the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags, contacting the dislodged A-pillar trim. The inflated side curtain airbag has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2008
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	7
Footrest (cm)	4
Right toepan (cm)	4
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	7
Upper dash (cm)	5
Right lower dash (cm)	5

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2008
Head
HIC-15	86
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	23
Maximum Nij	0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	1.8
Right	2.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	5
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.43
Right	0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.5
Right	0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	92
Right	65

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2008
Head
HIC-15	53
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	9
Maximum Nij	0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm)	25
Femur (kN)
Left	0.9
Right	0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.34
Right	0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.0
Right	1.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	46
Right	64

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid variant of the Toyota RAV4, was introduced in the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2025 models, the RAV4 Prime became known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 RAV4 Prime conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2008
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	5
Left (cm)	8
Center (cm)	9
Right (cm)	11
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	2
Right (cm)	4
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	1
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2008
Head
HIC-15	155
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	23
Maximum Nij	0.33
Chest maximum compression (mm)	26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.0
Femur force - right (kN)	0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm)	4
Knee displacement - right (mm)	2
Maximum tibia index - left	0.37
Maximum tibia index - right	0.36
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	46
Right	100

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE 4-door 4wd

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid variant of the Toyota RAV4, was introduced in the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2025 models, the RAV4 Prime became known as the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 RAV4 Prime conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS2007
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2007
Head HIC-15	135
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Compression (kN)	0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	17
Lateral force (kN)	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	27
Average deflection (mm)	21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.70
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.18
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.4
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.4
Combined force (kN)	2.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.3
L-M moment (Nm)	78
A-P moment (Nm)	-23

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2007
Head HIC-15	60
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Compression (kN)	0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	18
Lateral force (kN)	0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	16
Average deflection (mm)	14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.90
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.13
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.7
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.2
Combined force (kN)	2.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.8
L-M moment (Nm)	62
A-P moment (Nm)	-19

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2021-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,500 lbs
Peak force	21,009 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	6.00

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	18
Distance below top of head (mm)	11
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.2
Head contact time (ms)	57
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	231

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

XSE trim equipped with Premium package

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	XSE trim equipped with Premium package
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	114.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	63.8 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	98.6 m	18.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge	68.7 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	80.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	62.8 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	147.3 m
Straightaway left edge	113.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	91.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	74.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	72.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	61.9 m

Trim level(s)

SE trim
XSE trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SE trim XSE trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	112.2 m	30.0%
Straightaway left edge	54.8 m	30.0%
250m radius right curve, right edge	66.9 m	22.7%
250m radius left curve, right edge	53.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	53.8 m	24.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge	49.5 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	120.7 m
Straightaway left edge	116.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	56.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	60.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	44.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-22 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0/2.5/2.5+ Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-24 models

Superior

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph. A warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	LE
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	LE
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	8
Clearance angle (degrees)	92
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	9
Clearance angle (degrees)	89
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	8
Clearance angle (degrees)	90
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	8
Clearance angle (degrees)	93
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation