Toyota RAV4 PHV

Last year, Toyota brought back the RAV4 to the Japanese market and its comeback is worth the wait because thanks to its TNGA platform, new torque vectoring system, and a choice of petrol and hybrid powertrains, the new fifth-generation RAV4 won the Japan Car of the Year award. Despite its success, it's never over for the RAV4 because, in order to bring out the best of this crossover, they've added the PHV variant for the first time not just for the RAV4 but for Toyota as well.

2021 Toyota RAV4 PHV

With prices starting at 4,690,000 Japanese Yen (around US $47,000) plus additional costs, the RAV4 PHV can be the most expensive RAV4 to buy but it's basically a milestone for Toyota because this is the first time Toyota has made a four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid vehicle and unlike the Prius PHV, the RAV4 PHV is going to be the most interesting PHEV you want to drive because of what lies underneath.

2021 Toyota RAV4 PHV interior

2021 Toyota RAV4 PHV interior

But first, let's talk about what it feels like to live with the RAV4 PHV although it looks similar to the normal RAV4 of last year, the PHV variant features a unique front face, PHV badging behind, a two-tone exterior paint scheme, exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels, and so on. On the inside, you'll be greeted with the same interior as the normal one such as standard heated front seats, an 8-way power driver's seat, a 7-inch Multi-Information Display, a leather steering wheel, and shift knob, a power liftgate, an 8-inch touch-screen, and smartphone connectivity. It still seats up to five and has up to 490L of boot space, meaning it's practical like every crossover should.

2021 Toyota RAV4 PHV

Now it's time to find out how does this new RAV4 PHV works in interesting ways. First off, it uses the same 2.5L Atkinson-cycle gas engine from the normal RAV4 Hybrid but combined with powerful electric motor generators, the new Li-ion battery mounted under the floor, and the enhanced heat pump HVAC system, it delivers 306PS of total power output and that's about awfully close to the Subaru WRX STi. Nice job, Toyota, but it doesn't stop here because aside from its performance unheard for a crossover like this, it promises a combined 22.2km/L of fuel economy based on WLTP standards.

Underneath it still behaves like a normal RAV4 because of the TNGA platform, reworked dynamics, the same E-Four as the normal hybrid, and the next-generation Toyota Safety Sense. Yes, you can drive it on dirt but I wouldn't recommend taking it for a cross-country scramble because it's just a crossover and it doesn't behave like a real SUV anyway, the E-Four system works rather well even when going under the weather and for the trip home, it feels very civilized and nice. Road trips have never felt so interesting when you're driving one.

The PHV variant adds some electrified power to the hybridized RAV4 to make it feel so alive but by comparison against its main rival, the Opel Grandland X Hybrid4, it won't survive the fight but anyway, the RAV4 PHV is by no means the one to have if you are in the mood for some economical crossovers that does all the right things for you. Love it or hate it, the RAV4 PHV is all about business and leisure the Toyota way.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Emotional Red II, Dark Blue Mica, Attitude Black Mica, Attitude Black Mica/White Pearl Crystal Shine, Attitude Black Mica/Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica/Grey Metallic, Attitude Black Mica/Emotional Red II, and Attitude Black Mica/Dark Blue Mica.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation