Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid range, MPG, battery & charging
Range, fuel economy and charging are a strong suit for the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, with best-in-class claims in all three areas
| Fuel economy | CO2 emissions | Electric range | Wallbox charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 282mpg | 22g/km | 46 miles | 2hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) |
Depending on your usage, the Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid could save you thousands of pounds in running costs compared to a conventional petrol, diesel or hybrid car. With one of the longest pure-electric ranges in the family SUV class, you can travel further without using fuel; 46 miles is more than a Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Kuga or Volvo XC60 will manage.
But as is the case with all plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), you’ll need regular access to a charging socket to realise those cost advantages – otherwise you’re carrying around a heavy electric motor and battery pack without reaping any of the benefits. Charging from a wallbox doesn’t take long, and even from a domestic socket you’ll wake up to a full battery by topping up overnight. This is how we’d recommend running a plug-in hybrid.
Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid range, MPG & CO2 emissions
All versions of the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid come with 19-inch wheels, which means they all boast the same low CO2 rating (22g/km) and 46-mile electric range. Not only is that best in class – a Peugeot 3008 hybrid will do 40 miles; a Ford Kuga 35 miles – it also means that no matter which Toyota you choose, if you’re a company-car driver, you’ll benefit from a 6% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rating.
But that doesn’t mean the RAV4 is without appeal for private buyers. That quoted 46-mile range is probably closer to 30-35 miles in real-world driving, but if you charge regularly and do mainly short trips, you could find visits to the petrol station reduce dramatically. In truth, like all plug-in hybrids, the RAV4’s 282mpg fuel-economy figure doesn’t mean an awful lot; you’ll see 40-45mpg without charging, but top up the batteries every day and your car could return a whole lot more.
Charge time
The Toyota RAV4 boasts pretty quick charge times for a plug-in hybrid, thanks to its relatively powerful 6.6kW on-board charger. This means you can top up the car’s batteries and realise the RAV4’s 46-mile range in just two and a half hours using a 7.4kW home wallbox. Like most plug-in hybrids, there's no option for rapid charging. All versions come with two cables as standard, however, which means you can also charge from a conventional three-pin socket. Doing so will take seven and a half hours.
