Toyota RAV4 hybrid coming to Australia early 2019

Toyota Australia has announced the petrol-electric Toyota RAV4 hybrid will grace  showrooms from the first half of 2019.

Confirming the arrival time with motoring.com.au this week, Toyota stakeholders said the electrified version will be the Japanese manufacturer’s first foray into high-riding hybrids locally, and the sixth of eight petrol-electric vehicles promised here before 2020.

“We’ll outline more details closer to launch but at this stage it’s going to be our first hybrid SUVs. It’s one of the models where we’re trying to expand our hybrid offering,” said Toyota Australia spokesman Orlando Rodriguez.

“It will be here in the first half of 2019,” he continued.

In due course, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 hybrid is set to be accompanied by hybrid versions of the C-HR and the Yaris.

Revealed at this year’s New York motor show and already slated for Australia, the RAV4 hybrid pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with electric batteries and an eight-speed automatic gearbox – all underpinned by Toyota’s new TNGA platform.

It is understood the hybrid will supersede the current diesel-powered RAV4 offering in Australia, however the spokesman declined to comment.

“The new one hasn’t been offered yet with a diesel but we’ll confirm those details later on this year,” he said.

The TNGA architecture, which also underpins Toyota’s new Camry, C-HR and Corolla, brings multi-link rear suspension, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) driver aids, Apple CarPlay Compatibility and more powerful and efficient powertrains – along with a fresh design.

Toyota claims its new RAV4 will also bring “true off-road capabilities” thanks to the availability of Multi-Terrain Select, while on-road performance and efficiency is aided by the Toyota-first Dynamic Torque Vectoring all-wheel drive system with Rear Driveline Disconnect.

Comprising “world-first” ratchet-type dog clutches on both the front and rear wheel shafts, Toyota says the AWD system can send up to 50 per cent of engine torque to the rear wheels, and distribute it to the left or right rear wheel for improved handling. When AWD isn’t required (on the freeway, for example), the Rear Driveline Disconnect feature helps reduce fuel consumption.

The all-new AWD system will be one of three available on the new RAV4 is the US, where the AWD-i system will be available on hybrid grades and the standard (non-Dynamic Torque Vectoring) AWD system will be offered on mainstream models.

New RAV4 equipment will include projector-beam LED headlights for some models, and a new top-shelf XSE Hybrid variant brings piano-black accents on the front-end, mirror caps, wheel-arches and lower body rockers, plus two-tone paint with a black roof.

Presenting a bolder, more aerodynamic new body design that’s lower, longer, wider, a claimed 57 per cent more rigid and rides on wheel sizes up to 19-inch, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 rides on a longer wheelbase and wider wheel tracks.

The new Toyota RAV4 measures 4600mm long (up 5mm), 1855mm wide (up 10mm), 1700mm high (down 10mm) and rides on a 2690mm wheelbase — 30mm longer than before.

International RAV4 options will include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic moonroof, Qi wireless phone charger, up to five USB ports, premium 800-Watt 11-speaker JBL audio and a hands-free power liftgate.

Inside the new RAV4 interior is a new 7.0-inch touch-screen, repositioned standard Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), larger centre console with more storage, in-dash tray, new controls and more rear leg and hip room.

Rounding out the changes is the availability of a new safety suite comprising Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Road Sign Assist (RSA).

Toyota is expected to release further pricing and specification details later this year.