Key highlights
- The new RAV4 GXL PHEV will sit below the existing XSE and GR Sport plug-in hybrid grades.
- Toyota has also confirmed revised drive modes for RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in Australia.
- The GXL PHEV will use a 201kW front-wheel-drive system with a 121km WLTP electric-only range.
Toyota is expanding the plug-in hybrid range of its new-generation RAV4 in Australia, with a new GXL grade due to arrive between January and March 2027. The 2027 Toyota RAV4 GXL PHEV will be the entry point to the plug-in hybrid range, sitting below the XSE FWD, XSE AWD and GR Sport AWD.
Australian pricing has not been confirmed yet. Toyota is expected to announce the price closer to the GXL PHEV’s arrival, although an estimate of around $54,000 before on-road costs has been reported based on the pricing gap between existing RAV4 hybrid and PHEV variants. This figure should be treated as speculation until Toyota confirms the price. For context, the current RAV4 GXL hybrid FWD is priced from $48,990 before on-road costs, while the existing RAV4 XSE FWD PHEV starts from $59,515.
That would give Australian buyers a more accessible way into the RAV4’s plug-in hybrid technology, although the final price will determine how closely it sits against other PHEV SUVs.
Read more: Toyota range-extender EVs to launch next year globally, Australia debut soon?
What does the Toyota RAV4 GXL PHEV get?
The new GXL PHEV will share much of its equipment with the GXL hybrid FWD. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 10.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.
It will also include Toyota Connected Services, a wireless smartphone charger, dual-zone climate control, five USB-C ports and an in-built dashcam. The GXL PHEV will miss some of the higher-grade features found in the XSE, including the larger 12.9-inch touchscreen, surround-view camera, electric tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, sunroof and upgraded leather-look and suede upholstery. That means the new grade is focused more on providing access to the PHEV powertrain than matching the equipment level of the more expensive variants.
201kW system and 121km electric range
The front-wheel-drive RAV4 GXL PHEV will use a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a single electric motor and 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery. Combined system output is rated at 201kW, while the claimed WLTP electric-only driving range is 121km.
For buyers who regularly drive shorter distances, that electric range could allow much of their weekday driving to be completed without using the petrol engine, provided the vehicle is regularly charged. The existing XSE and GR Sport PHEV grades use all-wheel drive, adding a second electric motor to the rear axle. They produce 227kW and have a claimed 113km WLTP electric-only range.
RAV4 gets revised drive modes
Toyota is also introducing an updated Drive Mode Select system across RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in Australia, with the changeover scheduled between October and December 2026. Front-wheel-drive models will gain revised Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow and Custom modes, with changes to engine, steering and transmission settings.
All-wheel-drive versions will replace the existing Trail and Snow settings with Rock and Dirt or Mud and Sand modes, using different traction-control parameters to suit the selected terrain. The changes apply beyond the new GXL PHEV, making them relevant to buyers considering other versions of the latest RAV4. Toyota has not yet confirmed final pricing for the GXL PHEV. More details are expected closer to its Australian showroom arrival in the first quarter of 2027.
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