News / 24 February 2025 / Michael Taylor

South Africa’s most affordable plug-in hybrid – Courtesy of Toyota

The South African pricing for the new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has finally been revealed.

The RAV4 PHEV has been on sale overseas for several years now but has yet to be officially launched in South Africa.

The vehicle is still not listed on the Toyota South Africa Motors website as of the time of writing, however, our sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists have uncovered that the SUV will retail for R980,000 when it makes its debut in showrooms.

This makes it the most affordable PHEV in the country, undercutting the BMX X1 30e by R70,000.

Specifications

Toyota has been piloting the RAV4 PHEV in South Africa since late 2022, issuing a handful of units to local dealerships and the media to assess the viability of launching its more advanced hybrid and electric models here.

While it is not the first hybrid in the RAV4 lineup, the PHEV is very different to the traditional hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) units released thus far, as it has the capacity for full-electric driving.

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre petrol engine with 136kW and 227Nm, which is assisted by an all-wheel-drive system with two electric motors – one over each axle.

Thanks to the electrical assistance, the Toyota has a combined output of 225kW, though the company unfortunately does not disclose the combined torque stats for its hybrids.

Importantly, the PHEV is also fitted with an 18.1kWh battery, which allows the car to travel for approximately 80km before needing to recharge.

Because of this, the RAV4 has a manufacturer-claimed fuel consumption of just 1.2l/100km, though this is with the assumption that owners make use of the electric mode whenever possible.

The SUV can travel at 135km/h in electric mode, and charging the battery takes anywhere from 2.5 to 9 hours, depending on whether you use an outlet with an 8A or 32A current.

The benefits of the PHEV system are not just felt through fuel savings, either, as the improved output means the RAV4 can now sprint to 100km/h in an admirable 6.0 seconds.

Beyond its special powertrain, the new RAV4 still has plenty going for it, as it will be positioned as the flagship of the range when it touches down in South Africa.

Like the other hybrid models, the Toyota badges have a blue tint to denote the car’s electric nature, and the PHEV is also treated to a set of bespoke 19-inch alloy rims and an altered front end with a different grille.

It also has a blue engine-start button, red stitching for the leather seats, and PHEV-branded floor mats.

The rest of the equipment sheet is very similar to the range-topping VX variants, as the new RAV4 comes with dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats with electronic adjustability, a digital rear-view mirror, a wireless smartphone charger, a nine-speaker JBL stereo, and a 9.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.