Wearing an exclusive new paint color, Supersonic Red, the 2021 Toyota RAV4
plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has been announced ahead of its
November 20 unveiling at the Los Angeles auto show. Toyota touts it as
"the most powerful RAV4 yet," and describes it as having "spirited
acceleration, nimble handling, and impeccable style." We'll be the judge
of those things, eventually, when we see it in person and drive it. It
will be sold alongside the conventional RAV4 hybrid.
As more Toyota models are adapting conventional hybrid powertrains,
the new RAV4 model also doubles Toyota's selection of plug-in models
from one, the current Prius Prime, ahead of a planned onslaught of pure
electric vehicles due by 2025. Heather Updegraff, vehicle marketing and
communications general manager, says 44 percent of hybrids sold in the
U.S. in calendar year 2018 were Toyotas. The brand has six hybrids in
its lineup, and plans to expand that in the coming years. In 2018, 9
percent of all Toyotas sold here were hybrids, and the goal is to
increase that to 25 percent, also by 2025. A hybrid version of the new-for-2020 Highlander SUV goes on sale early next year, with a 550-mile fuel tank range.
Toyota did not reveal fuel economy, range estimates, or pricing for
the RAV4 PHEV. The Prius Prime is priced about $3,500 higher than an
equivalent conventional hybrid Prius. The 2021 RAV4 PHEV is likely to be
available only in higher trim levels for the first model year, with the
drivetrain trickling down to the lower-mid LE trim level in subsequent
years.
Toyota also announced new warranty extensions for all its hybrid,
PHEV, and fuel-cell models, beginning with the 2020 model year.
Batteries will be covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles, up from eight
years or 100,000 miles. The warranty for other EV, PHEV, or fuel cell
components will remain at eight years or 100,000 miles. The warranty
coverage also will be extended to each vehicle's second owner.
