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Toyota says its new RAV4 Hybrid – and its plug-in hybrid sibling – will be Australia's best-selling vehicle, out-selling the new Mazda CX-5, the Ford Ranger, and all other comers.
It's a bold promise, and one laid out by the brand's Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley who says the day of the ute is over, opening the door for the RAV4 Hybrid to secure top position.
"We believe the ute market has reached its peak, and recent (sales data) has certainly indicated that," he says.
"We have already seen a shift in consumer preferences with our RAV4 taking out the title of our best-selling vehicle last year. And I believe that the strength of sales has and will continue.
"With our all new RAV4 arriving in the first half of next year, we expect that shift to accelerate."
The new RAV4 Hybrid will arrive in Australia in the first half of next year, with the PHEV variant – Toyota's first plug-in hybrid model in Australia – to follow in Q3, 2026.
All hybrid models are powered by the now-familiar 2.5-litre series-parallel hybrid powertrain, though one that has been detuned slightly, now making a total 143kW in both two-and all-wheel drive.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain will be the most powerful RAV4 to date in Australia, combining a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a front and rear electric motors for AWD models that lifts total system output to 227kW. The 2WD models drop the rear electric motor and produce a total 200kW.
All PHEV models share the same 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery, set up for 50kW DC and 11kW AC charging, and Toyota is targeting a 100km EV-only driving range on the WLTP cycle.
The new RAV4 range starts with the GX 2WD, which lists at $45,990 (up from $42,260), and then tops out with the Cruiser AWD at $60,340 (was $54,410). The PHEV family starts from $58,840 for the XSE 2WD, and tops out with the new GR Sport AWD at $66,340.
The price increases appear almost range-wide, some of several thousand dollars, but Mr Hanley is convinced that won't deter the RAV4 faithful.
"I actually think the RAV4 will be the best-selling car of the future, in Australia," says Hanley.
