Overview
Toyota Motor Corporation, known simply as Toyota, is a leading global automotive company. The company is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world and is headquartered in Aichi, Japan. The company has already established an enviable track record for the development and marketing of environment friendly hybrid vehicles. Toyota has one of the largest portfolios of mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs), currently 11 hybrid models. It is also a world leader in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The company currently has a portfolio of the following fully electric and plug-in electric vehicles:
- Prius Plug-in
- Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- All New Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- RAV4 Plug-In
Apart from the ubiquitous Toyota brand, the company also owns the Hino, Lexus, Ranz and Daihatsu brands.
Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
- Types Of Electric Vehicles: A Short Guide
- Should I Buy An Electric Car In 2021?
- Top 20 Jargons Used In The Electric Vehicle Industry!
- UK Plug-In Electric Car Grant 2021
- What Is The Difference Between Conventional Hybrids and Plug-In Hybrids?
- Electric Car Home Charging OLEV EVHS Grant
- Best Electric Cars 2021
- Electric Cars Range: What Is WLTP?
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The Toyota RAV4 PHEV SUV
The RAV4 is a compact SUV and the first compact crossover from the Japanese manufacturer. It was introduced in 1994. The acronym RAV was derived from ‘Recreational Activity Vehicle’. The plug-in hybrid variant was launched in 2019 at the LA Auto Show. Sales commenced in Japan in 2020.
PHEVs are appropriate for individuals and families:
- Keen to take a step towards lower emission and environment-friendly driving
- Need a vehicle for extensive and regular long-distance travelling
- Have limited access to private or public EV charging stations
- Do a number of short commutes (30 miles and below) on a regular basis
- Keen to save money
It is a widely known fact, in that, the average distance of a trip in the UK is a mere 12 miles. An average vehicle in the UK will travel between 8k and 10k miles per annum i.e. less than 30 miles per day. The newest eco-friendly PHEVs on the market will average between 20 to 30 zero-emission electric miles on a fully-charged EV battery. In most plug-in electric cars the EV battery will be below 15 kWh in capacity.
The RAV4 plug-in electric SYV has a 18.1 kWh EV battery with a WLTP zero-emission electric range of 46 miles. Depending on driving style, weather condition and the services used in the EV, expect a real world range closer to 40 miles. However, that would be more than sufficient for most daily commutes using the EV battery i.e. driving emission-free and also saving money (the running cost per mile of an EV is far lower than a petrol or diesel car). Depending on the cost of electricity, the cost per mile for driving on electric can be as low as 3 pence per mile. Bottom-line driving on electric miles is both cost efficient and eco-friendly!
The Toyota plug-in electric SUV is practical and family-friendly, with amply space for short and long commutes. The electric vehicle (EV) is cheap to run on the zero-emission electric mode.
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | SUV |
| Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG): | Not Available |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric (2.5 Petrol Hybrid AWD-i) |
| Available In UK: | Yes |
| Trims (3 Options) |
|---|
| Design (from £45,995) |
| Dynamic (from £46,895) |
| Dynamic Premium (from £50,395) |
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Larger EV battery compared to other PHEVs | Interior quality has room for improvement |
| Good EV range and cheap to run on electric mode | Not the most inspiring drive |
| All-wheel drive (AWD) as standard | Expensive |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size (18.1 kWh) |
| Charging: | On board charger: 6.6 kW AC (full battery charge: 2.5 hours) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 22g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 10 years or 150,000 miles |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1690 |
| Width (mm): | 1855 |
| Length (mm): | 4600 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2690 |
| 2.5 Petrol Hybrid AWD-i | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 18.1kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 46 miles |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | N/A |
| Fuel Consumption (mpg): | 282.4 |
| Charging: | On board charger: 6.6 kW AC |
| Top Speed: | 111 mph |
| 0-62 mph: | 6.0 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | N/A |
| Max Power (hp): | 306 (hybrid system output) |
| Torque (Nm): | 227 (270-electric) |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,930-1,995 |
| Colours: | 5 |
| Luggage capacity: | 520 L |
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