Toyota RAV4 PHEV will be sold in Brazil as a test for a flex hybrid engine | Electric and hybrid cars

The Toyota RAV4 lost the title of best-selling car in the world in 2023, surpassed by the Tesla Model Y. But, at least in Brazil, sales of the medium SUV could be boosted. This is because the Japanese brand prepares the launch of the plug-in hybrid version (PHEV) for the coming months.

Toyota certainly doesn’t expect sales of the RAV4 PHEV to help it return to world leadership. Here, the importance of the SUV is different. This is what the Japanese brand is going with debut and enhance the plug-in hybrid package thatfrom 2027, will be flexible and will equip a brand new pickup truck from the company. To do this, it is using part of the R$11 billion announced in investments until 2030.

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But for now, the RAV4 will use gasoline-only versionwhich has just been recorded in the table of Brazilian Vehicle Labeling Program (PBEV) from Inmetro.

According to the agency, the RAV4 PHEV runs 35 km/l of gasoline in the city and 30 km/l on the highway. O range in electric modestill according to Inmetro, is 55km.

What is the RAV4 PHEV like?

Toyota’s PHEV system combines a 2.5 naturally aspirated four-cylinder in-line engine with 177 hp of power and 22.3 kgfm of torque with two other electric vehicles, one on each axle. At the front, there are 182 hp and 27.5 kgfm of torque. At the rear, 54 hp and 12.3 kgfm. In fact, it is with the rear electric motor that the brand achieves all-wheel drive.

Combined, the set delivers 306 hp. The torque in this condition is not disclosed by Toyota. The battery is 18.1 kWh.

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The version approved by Inmetro is the XSE, the most expensive available in Canada. Interestingly, the RAV4 PHEV is not sold in the United States. There, the price is 15% higher than that of the same configuration with the hybrid set that cannot be charged from the socket. Applying logic to SUV sold in Brazil for R$349,290the price of the PHEV version should be close to R$400 thousand.

The value, however, is much higher than that of direct rivals. The Haval H6 PHEV, has 393 hp, runs more than 100 km in electric mode and costs R$270 thousand.

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