Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid Arrives In Europe With 65-Km EV Range

Following its world debut at the 2019 LA Auto Show, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has now been unveiled in European specification.

On the Old Continent, the model will be marketed as Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid but, other than that, we’re dealing with pretty much the same vehicle.

Billed as the flagship of Toyota Europe’s hybrid vehicle lineup, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid combines power and efficiency in a package that’s hard to fault – at least on paper. The first-ever plug-in hybrid RAV4 packs Toyota’s latest hybrid-electric vehicle technology offering genuine EV driving capability.

Watch: 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Is The Compact SUV At Its Best

Offering a combined system output of 306 PS (302 HP) from a 2.5-liter Hybrid Dynamic Force petrol engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds. Furthermore, Toyota projects average CO2 emissions of less than 29 g/km according on the WLTP standard – the lowest of any current D-segment plug-in hybrid AWD SUV.

Based on Toyota’s GA-K platform, the RAV4 PHEV has the lithium-ion hybrid battery located beneath the floor for added dynamic benefits. The SUV’s driving characteristics also stand to gain from the standard AWD-i intelligent electric all-wheel drive system.

Since we mentioned the battery, Toyota does not mention its capacity but says it enables a driving range of more than 65 km (40 miles) as per WLTP. The SUV can reach a top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph) on electric power alone so, theoretically, the daily commute could be done without firing up the internal combustion engine.

The cargo capacity is 520 liters (18.3 cu ft), with the battery being responsible for 60 liters (2.1 cu ft) of lost space compared to the regular RAV4.

Europe’s 2020 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is easy to recognize thanks to unique touches such as the dual-tone exterior paint finish, sportier bumpers, blue-colored badge, as well as new 18- and 19-inch wheel designs.

Inside, the PHEV gains new upholstery designs with a sporty feel, 9-inch multimedia touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, heated front and rear seats, power tailgate, panoramic roof, head-up display and more.

The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale in Europe in the second half of the year.