Toyota Unveils 2016 RAV4 Hybrid at New York Show
Toyota presented the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid at the 2015 New York Auto Show, marking the model’s first hybrid variant and expanding the brand’s hybrid range in the US.
Toyota introduced the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid at the 2015 New York Auto Show, expanding its hybrid line-up with the first electrified version of its popular SUV. The RAV4 Hybrid joins the refreshed RAV4 range, which also received a facelift for the new model year.
The RAV4 Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The system includes Toyota’s Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive, which uses a rear electric motor to deliver extra torque to the rear axle when required. This setup is similar to the arrangement used in other Toyota hybrids, such as the Highlander Hybrid in the US market.
Toyota did not release official power or fuel economy figures at the show. Pricing details were also held back, with the company stating that further information would be announced closer to the model’s autumn 2015 US launch. The RAV4 Hybrid is the eighth hybrid in Toyota’s US line-up, reflecting the company’s continued commitment to hybrid technology fifteen years after the Prius first arrived in the US.
Hybrid SUV market expands
The RAV4 Hybrid faces competition from other hybrid SUVs and crossovers, including the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the BMW Concept X5 eDrive, both of which also appeared in New York. The addition of a hybrid powertrain to the RAV4 broadens its appeal to buyers seeking lower emissions and better fuel efficiency without moving to a smaller vehicle.
- 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
- eCVT transmission
- Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive with rear electric motor
The 2016 RAV4 Hybrid will be available in the US from autumn 2015. Toyota has not confirmed plans for European or UK sales at this stage.
Related:2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Facelift to Debut at New York Auto Show
