(September 27, 2024) Toyota was an early adopter of plug-in-hybrid powertrains, first entering the segment in 2012 with the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The PHEV version of the Prius took on the name "Prime" when it returned for another generation in 2017, and Toyota added a Prime version of its popular RAV4 crossover for the 2021 model year.

Now, Toyota has announced that the Prime name will soon disappear, with the brand reverting to its old naming scheme with the 2025 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid and RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid.

Toyota says that the change from Prime to Plug-in Hybrid is meant to make it easier for shoppers to understand the different powertrain options offered on the RAV4 and the Prius. For the new model year, the Toyota logos on the front and rear of the RAV4 will ditch the blue "halo" design layered within the logo, which previously distinguished the plug-in models as the more eco-friendly variants. Both the plug-in RAV4 and Prius will also wear a "PHEV" badge on the rear.

Other than the name change, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid and RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid carry over unchanged for 2025.