2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is further evidence that a rose by any other name smells as sweet. To establish greater clarity, Toyota dropped Prime in favor of Plug-in Hybrid in the nameplate of the RAV4 version capable of traveling up to 42 miles on battery power alone. (That’s segment-leading range, by the way.)

Although we offer high praise for every version of the RAV4, we are drawn to the RAV4 PHEV because, in addition to all the attributes of the conventional RAV4, the plug-in-hybrid version is measurably quicker. We also appreciate spending less on fuel. Otherwise, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is very similar to the standard RAV4.

We review the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of plug-in hybrid SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.

The only change of note is Toyota replacing the RAV4 Prime nameplate with RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid.

If we were shopping the RAV4 PHEV and the extra four grand or so didn’t bust our budget, we’d move up to the XSE. Just the infotainment upgrades, like the 10.5-inch touchscreen, are worth it.

The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid lives and breathes in a sparsely populated segment. Key rivals are pretty much limited to the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid and the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, which begin at around $41,000, while the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid starts near $40,000. If you simply want a hybrid RAV4 — one that doesn’t plug in — the also-recommendable RAV4 Hybrid begins at around $33,000.

Before buying, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying. Toyota products are known for great resale value, and the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is no different. It is predicted to top its rivals, Hyundai and Ford, and sit slightly below Kia. Recouping more when you sell or trade in a vehicle means more money to put down and lower payments on your next one.

The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traits we already enjoy about the standard RAV4 — easy driving manners, a high seating position that affords good visibility, and impressive steering and brakes. But it’s also fast. As in, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is actually one of the fastest vehicles Toyota makes, with a 0-60 mph time in the mid-5-second range. That’s sports-car quick, and it comes courtesy of the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid’s sophisticated gas-electric power that makes a combined 302 horsepower. In our latest testing of the RAV4 PHEV, we noted how we accidentally chirped the tires without much effort yet still relished the vehicle’s overall comfort. Although acceleration qualifies for sports-car comparisons, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is still an SUV with the rather conservative driving dynamics that entails. The standard all-wheel drive (AWD) inspires foul-weather confidence, and there’s a Trail Mode for light off-road duty.

Like other hybridized Toyota vehicles, this one uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that tends to drone under heavy acceleration, and we also noted some road and wind noise. None of these are deal breakers; moreover, we think the RAV4 Prime’s pros far outweigh these minor nits.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV can travel up to 42 miles on electric power alone, which is more than the Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (34 miles), Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid (33), and Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid (37). As for its overall efficiency in mixed city/highway driving when operating in gas-electric hybrid mode, the RAV4 PHEV earns 38 mpg, which is 5 mpg more than the Kia and Hyundai and 2 mpg less than the Ford — but the Ford Escape PHEV only comes in front-wheel drive and not all-wheel drive like the others. At up to 600 miles, total driving range of the Toyota RAV4 PHEV impressively trounces its rivals.

The RAV4 PHEV’s 5-passenger cabin is functional and quite spacious, though it feels a bit dated compared to its rivals. For example, you won’t get the slick dual-screen setup here that you would in the Kia, and other controls look about five years old because they are; this generation of RAV4 debuted in 2019. That said, we like that controls are easy to use and within reach. For example, a simple turn of a dial changes the temperature and volume. And while the SE’s touchscreen is on the smaller side at 8 inches, the XSE has a more prominent 10.5-inch system, as well as a more modern 12.3-inch digital driver-info display.

The RAV4 is known for its roomy interior and cargo space, and the RAV4 PHEV version doesn’t give up much despite housing a battery in its chassis. It has the same rear legroom — a good 37.8 inches — and cargo capacity of 33.5 cubic feet behind the seats and 69.8 with them folded. That’s the same total cargo space and just about 4 cubic feet less with the rear seats up compared to a standard RAV4. This is less rear-seat legroom than the competitors mentioned here, while the cargo capacity is somewhat less than the Tucson PHEV, but far above the Ford Escape PHEV.

Not surprisingly, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid looks similar to the standard RAV4. Which is to say, an angular, utilitarian profile. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid announces its electrified status with PHEV descriptors on the side and back. The XSE stands out with a two-tone treatment in which the roof is black, contrasting well with body colors like red or blue.

Infotainment system
The infotainment systems in the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SUV arrive with either an 8.0-inch (SE) or a 10.5-inch (XSE) touchscreen, over-the-air (OTA) updates, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Also included are Wi-Fi, satellite radio, Bluetooth, voice control, and five USB ports.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Another standard tech feature, smartphone integration, ditches the cable connection. Phones can stay in pockets or purses. Look, Ma, no cables!

All-wheel drive
Standard with every RAV4 PHEV, this is an electric form of all-wheel drive with a second electric motor driving the rear wheels. It produces the same kind of grip and traction as a conventional all-wheel-drive system but without the fuel-economy penalty.

42 miles range
According to Department of Transportation stats, the average driver covers 37 miles per day. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid can travel up to 42 miles per day on battery power alone. Therefore, many drivers can handle their daily driving duties without burning a drop of gas.

12.3-inch digital driver information display
Standard on the XSE model, this customizable instrument cluster can show information such as how the hybrid system is functioning and navigation directions, as well as the usual things like speed, fuel levels, and so forth.

Safety Sense 2.5
A suite of advanced safety and driver-assist technology, it bundles automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and more. It’s standard on both RAV4 PHEV trim levels.

The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and an 18.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The total output is 302 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, and power is transmitted via a continuously variable transmission. Charging the battery takes about 2.5 hours on a 240-volt setup and 12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is rated to tow up to 2,500 pounds.

Warranty

New Toyota vehicles include a basic warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain has a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. Hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, while the battery has a warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Safety

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV attained Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in crashworthiness for 2024. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) gave it the top 5-Star score.