Toyota’s 302bhp RAV4 plug-in hybrid
Sensible Dr Jekyll still has the upper hand, but the plug-in RAV4 has a wild side too
Which Toyota made this new plug-in hybrid version of the fifth-generation RAV4 – the sober and respectable Camry crew or the wild ’n’ crazy guys behind the Supra and GR Yaris? A bit of both, it turns out. The RAV4 PHEV can blend into a line-up of Honda CR-Vs, Hyundai Tucsons and Skoda Karoqs, but it can also raise your pulse a little. So how does it manage this rare feat? And what’s the catch?
It is essentially Toyota’s familiar RAV4 (nonplug-in) hybrid with a bigger battery. It’s the same petrol four under the hood, but in a higher state of tune. The same electric motor attached to it, but also hotted up, driving the front wheels. And at the back, the familiar smaller electric motor is here too, to drive the rears. That combination can give you a 0-62mph time of 6.0 seconds, an improvement of 2.1 seconds.
The PHEV can also drive an officially certified 46 miles on electric power alone; or, over a shorter distance, can reach 84mph without any help from the petrol engine. There are tax advantages for business users, and everyone can enjoy being able to waft past a school without pumping out any CO2.
Toyota has mastered the art of juggling different power sources near-seamlessly, which makes for a very civilised driving experience, and decent economy, although the figures that drivers get will vary wildly depending on how often they can charge the battery. It should take about two and a half hours via a wallbox.
It’s a heavy car at 1995kg but the extra weight of the bigger battery is central and low, and the suspension’s firm control of the body never gets harsh. The steering is light and precise. The brakes, however, feel artificial and remote. The PHEV comes in two versions: Dynamic, priced from £47,395, and Dynamic Premium, for an extra £3500, which adds a panoramic roof, black leather upholstery, heated seats all round (and ventilated at the front) and an upgraded JBL sound system.
It’s good to drive but not great; rapid but not sensationally so. It’s a premium-priced product that doesn’t look or feel premium; bear in mind that the (slightly smaller) Range Rover Evoque PHEV costs about five grand less.
First verdict
Running costs should be low, especially for business users, but initial outlay is stiff for a car that’s impressive but light on wow factor ★★★★★