Why The 6th Generation Toyota RAV4 Is Important For The EV Revolution

Join CleanTechnica’s Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott’s in-depth analyses and high level summariesjoin our daily newsletterand/or follow us on Google News!

Final Up to date on: twenty second Might 2025, 01:24 pm

“Game-changer” is a a lot overworked phrase nowadays. We see it on a regular basis within the headlines that clatter into our teletype machines within the CleanTechnica newsroom. An organization provides a brand new paint shade or will increase the diameter of the rear brake discs by 1 millimeter and it’s “Stop the presses!” All of a sudden it’s “game-changer” time. We confess most of these breathless bulletins wind up within the spherical file. However Toyota launched its sixth era RAV4 this week and it really is a game-changer for a variety of causes which might be vital to these of us who’re monitoring the EV Revolution.

No, the brand new RAV4 is just not battery-electric, though the reincarnated C-HR shall be. The large information right here is that the brand new RAV4 could have the identical hybrid or plug-in hybrid choices as earlier than, however this time, a standard model powered solely by a gasoline engine is not going to be obtainable. That is big information. In keeping with Tim Levin at Inside EVs, the RAV4 is the third bestselling automobile within the US, outsold solely by the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado.

Should you keep in mind what occurred to Jeep when it gave its autos sq. headlights, the backlash from loyal clients could be fierce when firms mess with success. The gamble Toyota is taking is that present RAV4 homeowners is not going to be upset after they discover out they will not select a superb quaint gas-sucking, emissions-spewing model of their favourite automotive. What they are going to get as a substitute is a automobile that has a mixed gas financial system ranking of 39 mpg for the bottom hybrid model — 9 mpg greater than the gas-only fashions.

Cease and take into consideration that for a second. The present administration is hellbent on rolling again gas financial system requirements, claiming the auto trade doesn’t have the technological knowhow to fulfill them. Then Toyota goes forward and introduces a mannequin that’s 30 % extra environment friendly. Take THAT, proper wing crazies! We marvel if clients will picket their Toyota dealerships demanding the appropriate to burn extra gasoline?

When the brand new RAV4 begins arriving at Toyota dealerships later this 12 months, the bottom hybrid mannequin will come customary with front-wheel drive and 226 horsepower, or clients can choose an all-wheel drive model with 236 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid powertrain shall be rated at 320 horsepower. Individuals who need to know extra concerning the welter of powertrain and trim choices can learn all about it on this Toyota press release.

Toyota RAV4 Will get Extra Highly effective PHEV Powertrain

In keeping with Car and Driverthe hybrid powertrains within the new RAV4 have been upgraded from these provided within the present variations of the automotive. The bottom hybrid makes use of a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine with extra oomph than the engine used beforehand. Prospects can now get that setup in a front-wheel drive solely model. Within the present automotive, AWD was customary. The elective all-wheel drive model provides an electrical motor to energy the rear wheels.

The plug-in hybrid model was once identified on the RAV4 PRIMEhowever the phrase Prime has now been deleted — simply one other means by which Toyota is making fashionable expertise appear regular to its clients. The Prime had 302 whole horsepower; the brand new powertrain bumps that as much as 320 horsepower. The brand new system additionally raises the battery-only vary from 42 miles to 50 miles, which suggests drivers who truly trouble to plug their automobiles in can accomplish extra of their every day driving on electrons alone.

What this does, in fact, is get individuals used to driving on electrical energy, which can get rid of the strangeness of the thought and make them extra receptive to driving a battery-electric automotive sooner or later. CleanTechnica readers, for essentially the most half, flip their noses up at plug-in hybrids as a result of they’ve all of the complexity of inner combustion engines, which most of us take into account pointless. However they get rid of the concern so many individuals have of being caught with a depleted battery on the facet or the highway at night time in East Overshoe and needing to name a tow truck. With the present administration doing all the pieces in its energy to inhibit the growth of EV charger infrastructure, PHEVs could all of a sudden have turn out to be extra related for some drivers.

Talking of charging, the present RAV4 Prime can not cost utilizing a Degree 3 DC quick charger, however some variations of the brand new RAV4 PHEV will have the ability to. Particularly, the Woodland and XSE fashions have CCS charging ports — not NACS, for some curious purpose — however the SE and GS Sport variations are restricted to Degree 1 or Degree 2 charging. Toyota says the fashions that assist quick charging can replenish the 22.7 kWh battery from 10 to 80% in half-hour. That isn’t precisely stellar charging efficiency, however it’s a step in the appropriate path. The RAV4 Prime was outfitted with an 18.2 kWh battery.

Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary

Styling is within the eye of the holder, and the refreshed exterior of the sixth era RAV4 continues with the chunky look that clients discover so interesting, together with the fake fender flares which might be stiff for off highway fans.  The inside has extra screens and fewer knobs and buttons, which some will lament. Towing capability of the AWD hybrid and plug-in hybrid fashions is now rated at 3500 kilos. Nevertheless, the front-wheel drive hybrid and the LE AWD mannequin are restricted to the identical 1750 kilos towing capability as is the case with present fashions.

So how a lot will the brand new RAV4 price? Toyota says ultimate pricing info with be forthcoming nearer to the brand new automotive’s on-sale date later this 12 months. Automobile and Driver says it expects the bottom worth to extend considerably, provided that the hybrid powertrain is customary. “We expect the base LE to kick off at around $34,000, and the GR Sport PHEV may crest $51,000.” it says. The kicker, in fact, is what affect the tariff madness promoted by the present administration could have on Toyota and each different automaker that sells its autos within the US. Relying on how Toyota sources the parts for the brand new RAV4, costs might be affected just a little or so much.

Toyota is making the brand new RAV4 attraction to a broad vary of shoppers. The Woodland trim will attraction to off-road fans with chunky all terrain tires, customary all-wheel drive, and fake skid plates. These with a choice for efficiency have a brand new trim stage obtainable, the GR Sport, which includes a extra aggressive look and completely different suspension tuning. The GR Sport is simply obtainable with the extra highly effective PHEV powertrain and 20-inch wheels fitted with summer season tires.

The Toyota Camry is now solely obtainable as a hybrid. Since Toyota has a big and constant buyer base within the US, its emphasis on hybrids and PHEVs will essentially change individuals’s minds about driving a extra gas environment friendly automotive with decrease whole tailpipe emissions. Ford and GM say they will comply with go well with, however haven’t accomplished so in any significant means as of but, which makes staid Toyota form of a trailblazer, not less than within the US. We have to take our successes the place we discover them.