Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid: UK details confirmed
New version of fifth-generation SUV will go on sale with 302bhp and a 38-mile-plus electric-only range
Toyota has released new details of its new RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, which will arrive in the UK with a 302bhp powertrain capable of more than 38 miles of electric-only running.
The fifth-generation SUV was launched in 2018, but it was initially offered in the UK with just one powertrain option: a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid producing 215bhp in front-wheel-drive form and 219bhp in four-wheel-drive models. Toyota says the new machine is the most powerful RAV4 – and the quickest alternatively fuelled Toyota – ever.
The new plug-in variant features four-wheel drive as standard and uses the same 173bhp 2.5-litre petrol engine as the regular hybrid. That engine is mated to a larger underfloor battery and more powerful electric motor – although Toyota has yet to specify details of these. The new battery is a high-capacity lithium ion unit, with the powertrain featuring a boost converter on the hybrid’s power control unit.
Toyota says the system produces 302bhp in total, emits just 29g/km of CO2 (according to 'WLTP-standard data') and can propel the RAV4 from 0-62mph in 6.2sec. The electric motor is capable of running at speeds of up to 84mph with no intervention from the engine.
The new model will be offered in the UK with a range of driver assistance features, including a colour head-up display for the first time. Additional features and options include 19in alloy wheels, heated front and rear seats, two-tone paint schemes and smartphone integration.
The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is due to go on sale in the second half of 2020. A UK release date and pricing details have not been confirmed yet, although it is likely that it will cost more than the current model, which starts from £29,635 in front-drive form.
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