Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid gains racy-looking GR Sport trim

Toyota has given the plug-in RAV4 the GR Sport treatment, bringing a new suspension setup and revised styling

Toyota RAV4 GR Sport
  • New range-topping trim level for the RAV4 PHEV
  • Racier styling and enhanced equipment specification
  • Same plug-in hybrid powertrain with tweaked suspension

The Toyota RAV4 may not be an obvious choice for a sporty makeover, but the Japanese company has decided to give its large plug-in hybrid SUV the GR Sport treatment.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The RAV4 GR Sport will slot in at the very top of the RAV4 range, costing £49,450. That represents a jump of £5,310 compared with the RAV4 plug-in hybrid in regular Design trim – so what exactly are you getting for all that extra cash?

Well, many of the upgrades are aesthetic, beginning with black 19-inch alloy wheels with machined pinstripe detailing. You’ll also get a new grille design, foglight bezels and front splitter, along with black finishes for the wheelarch trims, side mouldings and part of the tailgate. And if that’s not enough to let people know you’ve bought the GR Sport version, there are badges on the grille and the tailgate.

Best plug in hybridsTop 10 best plug-in hybrids 2024

There’s more GR badging inside the car, of course, along with sports seats trimmed in synthetic suede and man-made leather, and you’ll also find swanky silver stitching dotted about the place. Happily, you’ll also find a whole range of additional luxury equipment. A head-up display, powered seat adjustment, a wireless phone charger, a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree camera are all provided as standard.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

On the safety front, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are also thrown in, and that’s on top of the plug-in hybrid’s already generous safety kit, because the PHEV gets a more comprehensive standard safety package that other RAV4 models by adding an enhanced pre-collision system and emergency steering assist.

Like in the Design-trimmed plug-in hybrid, you’ll also find Toyota’s recently updated infotainment system in the GR Sport, with its 10.5-inch central display and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. The system comes with Toyota’s ‘Go Navigation’ sat-nav as standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain remains unchanged for the GR Sport, so it’s still a 2.5-litre petrol engine supplemented by a pair of electric motors and an 18.1kWh battery, all of which provides a combined power output of 302bhp, propelling the car from 0-62mph in six seconds. Changes have been made to the GR Sport’s suspension, however, with stiffer springs and revised shock absorbers designed to deliver a slightly more involving driving experience.

We’ll see if those tweaks have worked once we get to drive the GR Sport. And, if you fancy finding out for yourself, the car is available to order now, starting from just under £50,000, with first customer deliveries expected early next year. 

Looking to go fully electric? Read our in-depth review of the Toyota bZ4X

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!
Carbuyer Car of the Year – Dacia Duster
News
23 Oct 2024

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k
Best cheap fun cars
Best cars
25 Oct 2024

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
25 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024