Toyota's hybrid SUV RAV4. Photo: TOYOTA
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Toyota launches 1st plug-in hybrid SUV in Japan

11 Comments

Toyota Motor Corp has launched its new model RAV4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in Japan.

Since its debut in 1994, RAV4 has pioneered the crossover SUV market, and remains the market leader. The fifth generation RAV4 was released in April 2019. Toyota said it had been popular with many customers, thanks to its superior driving performance delivered by three types of 4WD system, including Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD; design which fuses refinement with SUV-like power; spacious luggage storage; and an interior designed for convenience, making it suited to diverse situations.

Toyota said the new RAV4 aims to boost the fun-to-drive appeal, adopting the newly developed Toyota Hybrid System (THS II). The front motor and inverter achieve more powerful output than the RAV4 hybrid system, and the combination with the new model, high-capacity, high-output lithium-ion battery achieves maximum system output of 225 kW, facilitating sporty, powerful driving. It has an overall range of 1,300 kilometers and can travel up to 95 km on battery power alone.

The price ranges from 4,690,000 yen to 5,390,000 yen.

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11 Comments
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0-100km/h in six seconds, 280hp Forester territory. The fuel economy of the non-plug in hybrid RAV4 is nearly 17km/l according to real world users, which is fantastic for this size of car. If you charge it up, the plug-in will obviously do even better.

Hopefully I'll be able to buy one for a million yen in maybe eight years' time. ;)

For a fast, stylish, and cheap-to-run crossover already available cheaply as a used car, check out the diesel turbo CX-5. 0-100 in eight seconds and 13km/l off diesel, which is much cheaper than gasoline in Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What an outstandingly ugly car.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Keep on leading the way in cleaner cars. The US will follow, once environment-hating Trump is out.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I live in Hawaii and love the 2019 Rav4 Hybrid that I bought last year. The car is outstanding.....but maybe the plugin will be our next vehicle sometime in the future.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mitsubishi has had a plug-in hybrid on sale for years (Outlander PHEV), but all other things being equal, I’d pick a Toyota over a Mitsubishi every time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

needs to be cheaper !!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It can possibly be bought (with subsidies) in the US for around 40k US.

I can pick up a used 4-5 year Prius for a million yen or less, why buy new in Japan and get ripped off?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Various iterations of EVs are less than 3% of the market in the U.S.. Looking forward to the day when ICEs have a less than 3% market share.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

am i buying a Lexus ??? the price is unreal !!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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