Toyota Australia is expecting its first-ever plug-in hybrid RAV4 to take the new car sales charts by storm.

Due in Australia later this year, the RAV4 PHEV – which will be available in front- and all-wheel drive XSE trim and a range-topping performance-focused flagship GR Sport variant – is expected to account for around 30 per cent of total RAV4 sales.

That’s according to Toyota Australia boss, John Pappas, who told WhichCar by Wheels that “interest has been very strong for RAV4 plug-in hybrid. We expect […] plug-in hybrid to be about 30 per cent of sales or thereabouts.”

1

While technical details are still to be confirmed for the XSE plug-in range, Toyota Australia has revealed that its flagship GR Sport RAV4, with 227kW from its 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and electric motors, will be the most powerful ever in the model’s 32-year history. Toyota claims 5.8 seconds for the benchmark sprint from 0-100km/h.

Pricing for the PHEV range starts from $58,840 for the front-wheel drive XSE PHEV with all-wheel drive XSR asking for $63,440. The flagship RAV4 GR Sport will start from $66,340, all prices before on-road costs.

“I’m very confident in this GR Sport,” Pappas added. “It looks fantastic, looks really aggressive and I feel like, from a powertrain point of view, it’s just going to be right for us.”

1

The Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid is due in showrooms in the second half of this year.