Toyota includes powerful RAV4 Hybrid model in the lineup

MANILA: Hybrid cars have been ever so popular in the recent years and the crossover segment has embraced the technology with wide arms. However, we haven’t had the hybrid powerplant take the performance-oriented route until now, but Toyota decided to spice things up by introducing the RAV4 Hybrid.

The new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will be making use of an engine that will be much more powerful than its direct competitors, that is, the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Subaru Forester e-Boxer. It will have the 2.0-litre internal combustion engine (petrol) paired with an electric motor that will take the total power production to 222 PS.

On the contrary, the Subaru Forester e-Boxer has an engine that produces 145 PS of power while the Honda CR-V Hybrid’s engine produced 181 PS of power. Hence, the extra 41 PS (over the CR-V) and 77 PS (over the Subaru) will place a big role towards getting the RAV4 Hybrid to be the true performance-oriented hybrid crossover.

The 222 PS of power would be enough for the car to do the 100 kmph sprint from a standstill in just 8.1 seconds. The fuel efficiency will be around 22.2 kmpl. Plus, the car would be having an all-wheel-drive mechanism where the power would be sent down to the rear wheels by the electric motor and not the driveshaft. This technology is called the E-Four and can be activated easily. Moreover, this technology activates even if the car comes under slippery roads or under hard acceleration situation.

However, apart from just this, there is also a more conventional all-new 2.0-litre engine in the pipeline and would be offered in the future. Hence, if we have the next-generation of the Toyota RAV4 anytime soon, the new engine could be given under the hood.