Australia's best-selling SUV finally has a plug, and the flagship GR Sport is the most capable RAV4 Toyota has ever built. It is also the most expensive.
Where it sits
The sixth-generation RAV4 range starts at $45,990 plus on-road costs for the GX Hybrid, and the plug-in hybrid is offered only in the upper grades: XSE 2WD from $58,840, XSE AWD from $63,340, and the AWD-only GR Sport at $66,340 plus on-roads — comfortably over $70,000 drive-away.
That still undercuts top-spec plug-in rivals like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Exceed Tourer and the Mazda CX-60 P50e, though a wave of Chinese PHEVs sits well below it.
The powertrain
This is the reason to buy it. The RAV4 PHEV offers up to around 100km of electric-only range on the WLTP cycle and supports 50kW DC fast charging, which is unusual for a plug-in hybrid. For a household with a short commute and a charger at home, that means most weeks can be driven almost entirely on electricity, with the petrol engine there for weekends and road trips.
The GR Sport adds the dual-motor all-wheel drive version of the system, bigger brakes, 20-inch wheels and a firmer, more focused chassis tune. It is genuinely quick — the fastest-feeling RAV4 there has been.
The catch
Run the battery flat and the fuel figure climbs back towards a normal hybrid, so the value case depends entirely on plugging it in. If you cannot charge at home, buy the regular hybrid and save a large sum.
It is also worth noting that at launch the new RAV4 does not carry an ANCAP rating, with Toyota indicating running upgrades are planned. Ask where that stands before you sign.
Ownership
Servicing is capped at $325 per visit for the first five years across the range, which is cheap for a mid-size SUV. Toyota's five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty applies, with traction battery cover extending up to ten years if you service within the dealer network.
Verdict
An excellent PHEV and a genuinely rapid family SUV — but only if you plug it in. Do the maths on your own driving before stepping up from the standard hybrid.