Toyota RAV4 News

No, you’re not imagining it. Car companies are walking back their plans to roll out electric vehicles. So what does this mean for the future? What will we be driving instead? And should you stick to petrol or diesel?

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.

The new Toyota RAV4 range will introduce the brand's first plug-in hybrid model as well as a high-performance GR Sport trim level in a radical shake-up for the country's best-selling SUV.

Australian new car market continues to shift in October 2024.

The latest Chinese brand to land in Australia has revealed its Toyota RAV4 rival and opened the order books overseas giving us our best look yet at what the Aion i60 could offer when it lands locally. It was only weeks ago that new Chinese brand GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Company) finally locked-in its arrival in Australia with news the launch of its Aion V SUV slated for this month.Now we’ve been given a look into what could be the near future with the brand revealing specifications and opening orders in China for its newest SUV - the Aion i60.The Aion i60 shares the same 2775mm wheelbase as the Aion V but has larger overall dimensions which sees it measuring 4685mm end to end, 1854mm wide and 1660mm tall.   However, the Aion i60 will be available in China not only as a fully electric but also as a petrol-hybrid variant. Powering the EV will be one electric motor, with buyers able to choose between 150kW or 165kW units.Meanwhile the hybrid will be offered with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor offering  a combined range of up to 1250km and a claimed fuel consumption of 5.5L/100km (CLTC).What sets this one apart from many of its rivals like the Chery Tiggo 7 is its range-extender set-up where the engine isn't connected to the wheels and it is driven by electric motor only, similar to Nissan's e-Power technology.Prices for the Aion i60 in China start at the equivalent of $25,700 for the electric variant and step up to $27,200 for the hybrid.The Aion i60 shares a similar design to the Aion V, but in a larger package and with different head- and taillight styling. There’s the angular lines with building wheel guards, the high bonnet and flat roofline that create a traditional SUV shape seen on many mid-sized rivals such as the RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander.The new SUV is a five-seater with a minimalist looking interior featuring a portrait style media screen, and large centre console featuring dual wireless phone charging pads.GAC is yet to confirm if the Aion i60 will be coming to Australia, but given the competitiveness of the mid-sized SUV market locally and the taste for hybrids over fully electric models, it would be a surprise if the new brand wasn't considering it.

With the vast majority of utes being diesels, are Australians breathing in more noxious fumes now than 15 years ago? After all, back in 2010, most utes were either of the smaller one-tonne variety or lighter car-based locally-made Holden and Ford Falcon-based models with six-cylinder/V8 petrol options. To find out if Australians breathed easier 15 years ago, we’re comparing the top-three sellers of 2010 with their modern equivalents.

Toyota will introduce its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in Australia in the first half of 2026, the RAV4 PHEV, and it hasn’t been shy on saying more will be coming down the track.Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said PHEV technology is “scarily convenient”.“I think plug-in hybrid is going to be a tremendously big seller over the next five years and with battery technology evolving, it offers a big, broad scope of capability,” said Hanley.While Hanley didn’t give any specific examples of what the additional PHEV models will be, he noted they’ll likely be SUVs or passenger cars.“ think less in the commercial space, more in the SUV, passenger space,” said Hanley.Globally Toyota offers plug-in hybrid versions of the Prius liftback, C-HR SUV, Crown Sport crossover and Crown Signia wagon.At this stage it doesn’t offer any plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle, with Hanley noting hydrogen will likely be better suited for these types of vehicles in the long term.“Not to say it’s impossible, but I think hybrid technology in those vehicles is probably better at the stage suited.“Then I think ultimately in that 10-year horizon … it’s hydrogen. That’s the ultimate for those heavy commercial vehicles.”Hanley hasn’t been afraid to say that hydrogen will likely overtake diesel in the future.However, PHEVs are currently surging up the sales charts even though the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for novated lease buyers ceased earlier this year.In the first eight months of 2025, a total of 33,550 PHEVs have been sold, which is up 47.3 per cent year-on-year.This is primarily thanks to emerging Chinese players like BYD, Chery and GWM. The BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute, for example, cracked the top 20 best-sellers list in August 2025.When the Toyota RAV4 PHEV arrives next year in new-generation guise, it will be far from the first in the segment to have this kind of powertrain technology, but this mid-size SUV is already incredibly popular.Earlier in 2025 it was tracking to be the best-selling vehicle in Australia, however now the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes are outselling it.Toyota is set to offer the RAV4 PHEV on two trim levels and with two different configurations.A front-wheel drive version available only on the mid-spec XSE trim pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor producing a system output of 200kW.Then an all-wheel drive version available on the XSE and top-spec GR Sport trims gains an additional electric motor on the rear axle boosting the system output to 227kW.All RAV4 PHEVs get a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack. EV range and claimed fuel consumption hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Toyota is reportedly gearing up to begin producing electric versions of the RAV4 and LandCruiser Prado in the US.

It’s not due to arrive in Australian showrooms until the first half of 2026 but Toyota Australia has confirmed the model line-up and high-level specification for its all-new, sixth-generation Toyota RAV4.Highlights are improved hybrid powertrains including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option, upgraded safety, new multimedia tech and an additional “performance-focused” GR Sport grade.The new model walk-up will cover six variants, offered with a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive hybrid and PHEV powertrains.'The GR Sport flagship will be offered exclusively with the new PHEV AWD powertrain featuring a 2.5-litre engine working in concert with front and rear electric motors powered by a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery. Its maximum combined power output of 227kW makes it the most powerful production RAV4 so far.Along with the extra power the GR Sport features high-performance dampers, a stiffer rear suspension brace, retuned suspension and power steering calibrations plus a 20mm wider track.Toyota has confirmed the PHEV set-up offers EV-only driving capability and will also be offered in the mid-range XSE in AWD and 2WD, the latter’s front-drive configuration using a single electric motor generating 200kW. PHEV grades also offer a 1500W inverter capable of powering small appliances.The PHEV GR Sport will join the existing GX, GXL, Edge, XSE and Cruiser grades.All new RAV4s will feature a next-gen version of the brand's suite of active safety tech, which it calls 'Toyota Safety Sense', including front cross-traffic alert and improved functionality for the blind-spot monitoring and lane trace assist systems.The ‘pre-collision safety’ system offers greater detection of obstacles, bicycles and motorbikes, while a three-dimensional panoramic view monitor is designed to assist in navigating tight spaces.The entry-level GX will include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 10.5-inch multimedia display (with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, smartphone integration, five USB-C ports, dual-zone climate control and more.Then, the GXL adds 18-inch alloys, privacy rear and side glass, a leather-accented shift knob and steering wheel, eight-way electric driver’s seat adjustment (with two-way lumbar support) and wireless device charging.The “adventure-focused” Edge grade is all-wheel-drive only and features unique front and rear bumpers with integrated silver skid plate and wider black wheel arches, as well as synthetic leather trim, heated front seats, a power tailgate and a larger 12.9-inch media touchscreen (with integrated heating and ventilation controls).As per other hybrid AWD grades, the Edge features ‘downhill assist control’ and a ‘Trail & Snow’ drive mode.The XSE (hybrid and PHEV) adds 20-inch black alloy rims, dark ‘stainless steel-look’ moulding, black front and rear bumpers, a tilt and slide glass sunroof and two-tone exterior paint. Inside, it features a combination synthetic leather and suede upholstery, three-stage front seat heating and ventilation, driver memory, electric front passenger seat adjustment, a panoramic view monitor and ‘Climate Concierge’.The Cruiser swaps in 20-inch machined black alloy wheels, high-grade LED headlights, a tilt and slide panoramic roof, leather-accented seat trim, a head-up display, two wireless smartphone chargers, a digital rearview mirror and a nine-speaker JBL premium audio.The GR Sport flagship includes GR-themed front and rear bumpers, a wing-type spoiler, 20-inch machined alloy wheels, aluminium pedal covers and GR Sport seats, steering wheel and suede knee pads, paddle shifters and unique stitching.Expanded ‘Toyota Connected Services’ (accessed via the 'myToyota Connect' app) provides a range of security and convenience benefits to customers, including vehicle data, connected navigation, voice assistant and emergency communications.The updated multimedia is powered by ‘Arene’ software claimed to deliver faster processing and over-the-air updates.Toyota says the new system retains a home button which remains available whether running the native system or paired with a smartphone.Fresh colours will be introduced with the new RAV4 including ‘Massive Grey’, ‘Urban Rock’, ‘Feverish Red’, ‘Dusty Bronze’ and ‘Daintree Green’. Selected colours, including some of the new shades, will be available with a two-tone black roof on the XSE grade.A full run-down of the new RAV4’s specification and pricing will be announced closer to its local arrival in the first half of next year. 

The Australian new car landscape is getting reformed in front of our eyes. July sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), showed the cars and brands Aussies are loving and the ones we are falling out of love with.