Toyota RAV4 PHEV - Australia's First Plug-in Hybrid RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV has arrived in Australia - the country's first plug-in hybrid RAV4 and a genuine step forward in how Toyota approaches everyday driving. The RAV4 PHEV Australia launch brings three variants: XSE 2WD, XSE AWD, and the all-new GR Sport AWD. Each one combines a petrol engine with an electric motor generator and a large-capacity battery you can charge from home, giving you real electric-only driving range for the kind of shorter trips that make up most of daily life in the Hills.

For drivers in Kalamunda and the surrounding Perth Hills, the AWD variants deserve particular attention. The terrain up here puts demands on a vehicle that flat suburban driving does not. The RAV4 PHEV AWD adds a rear electric motor generator for genuine all-wheel drive grip, along with the most powerful RAV4 powertrain ever produced. It is a vehicle built around capability as much as efficiency.

The RAV4 XSE PHEV 2WD pairs the 2.5-litre petrol engine with a single front electric motor generator for a combined maximum output of 201kW. Electric-only range reaches up to 121km under WLTP test conditions.^1^

Add a rear electric motor generator and you get the XSE AWD - all-wheel drive with a combined maximum output of 227kW, making it the most powerful RAV4 ever built. AWD variants deliver up to 113km of electric-only range under WLTP test conditions.^1^ For Hills driving in particular, the added traction of an AWD system is worth considering.

The all-new GR Sport AWD sits at the top of the range. Same 227kW AWD powertrain as the XSE AWD, but with a 20mm wider track, front performance dampers, a rear brace, and a steering and suspension tune developed specifically for a more engaging drive character. The exterior and interior styling is also distinct, giving the GR Sport a presence that sets it apart from the rest of the RAV4 line-up.

For most drivers in the Perth Hills, home charging is the most practical approach. Plugging into a standard wall socket overnight is enough to fully charge the 22.7kWh battery, meaning you can start each day on electric power without visiting a public charging station.

When you need faster top-ups, the RAV4 PHEV supports 11kW three-phase AC charging and 50kW DC rapid charging. For longer regional drives - whether you are heading into the city or further afield - the hybrid system takes over from the battery automatically, so range is never a concern once the electric charge is depleted.

The standard RAV4 Hybrid is a self-charging hybrid. It uses the petrol engine and regenerative braking to maintain its smaller battery, and it never needs to be plugged in. For drivers who want the benefits of hybrid efficiency without any change to their routine, the HEV is a solid choice.

The RAV4 PHEV is the better fit for drivers who regularly cover shorter distances and can charge at home. The larger battery means those trips can be done almost entirely on electricity. When the drive is longer - crossing to the metro area and back, or heading south - the petrol engine and hybrid system take over without any interruption.

The PHEV also delivers more power: 201kW on the 2WD and 227kW on both AWD variants. If capability matters alongside efficiency, the PHEV is the stronger performer of the two.