Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV review: RAV4, but better

Toyota’s RAV4 has long been New Zealand’s default choice for the sensible, dependable family SUV, but the GR Sport Plug-in Hybrid pushes it into new territory: it’s the most powerful RAV4 yet and, along with the GXL and XSE PHEVs in the latest RAV4 line up, represents the first plug-in hybrid sold new in New Zealand by Toyota.

As it does in the XSE AWD PHEV, the hybrid powertrain bumps RAV4 outputs up to an impressive 227kW by mixing two electric motors - one on the front axle, one on the rear - with the familiar 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol four-cylinder engine.

As ever with Toyota hybrids, combined torque isn’t officially stated; Toyota lists individual motor torque outputs rather than a system figure, so the GR Sport pumps out 227Nm from its petrol engine, 272Nm from its front electric motor and 123Nm from the rear. And, no, you can't just add that all together...

Toyota states an all-electric range of 144km for the GR Sport, but with all due respect to Toyota, this is a filthy lie.

Well, it's an NEDC figure, which is essentially the same thing these days, but it is what head office insists TNZ use here, even though we have moved on to the far more realistic WLTP system. Luckily TNZ is far more realistic too and says the GR Sport will do around 90 to 100km in real world conditions. Which it genuinely did do during our week with it.

It’s clearly a RAV4, but clearly a RAV4 above the rest.

While the GR Sport shares its powertrain with the XSE, it also gets extra suspension and chassis tweaks from Gazoo Racing to make it a bit more special, as well as nice touches like the 20-inch alloy wheels that are actually 2.2kg lighter than the same size wheels on the XSE, unique front and rear bumpers with diffusers, and a rear wing, that actually increase downforce and stability.

But the really good bits are underneath - the GR Sport gets a 20mm wider track front and rear, retuned springs, upgraded shocks, and anti-roll bars, while a stiffer rear brace and front subframe reinforcements reduce body roll and improve steering response.

Think of this GR Sport as a RAV4 turned up: the hardware is quietly serious, but the focus is on real-world speed, control, and efficiency rather than headline drag-strip antics.

On the outside: what are the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV's main design features?

The GR Sport dresses the familiar, squared-off, new-gen RAV4 form in more assertive kit: a unique front bumper and grille, added wings and scoops, and blacked-out exterior trim that signal its flagship status.

Don’t let the 227kW headline or the GR Sport badges mislead you into expecting a brutish power dump onto an unsuspecting road, the GR Sport is more measured and mature than that.

The big 20-inch alloy wheels fill the guards properly, and the double-bumped bonnet delivers that modern Toyota truckish vibe you see on Land Cruiser and Hilux, with a blocky, upright stance that feels purposeful from the driver’s seat.

Colour is a big part of the drama - the hero red of the test car is impossible to miss and makes the GR cues pop, but it can also read a bit shouty; in subtler tones like black, the details look more handsome and cohesive. To my eyes at least.

There’s a hint of first-gen Nissan X-Trail in the square-shouldered outlook over the bonnet, but it’s very much contemporary RAV4 with a nice GR garnish: bold, chunky, and unmistakably the top-spec performance grade.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV's cabin like?

It’s clearly a RAV4, but clearly a RAV4 above the rest. The GR Sport seats are excellent - supportive, comfortable, and convincingly premium - and they set the tone for a cabin that pairs sportiness with everyday practicality.

The sporty seats do come with a sacrifice, however, as unlike the XSE the GR Sport only has heated seats, missing out on the XSE's ventilated pews in favour of sexy sportiness. They are still extraordinarily good seats though.

The leather steering wheel, complete with red stitching and a GR badge, feels suitably special, and Toyota’s trademark “RAV4 islands” of storage and controls remain smart and user-friendly.

There are still hard plastics in places, a hallmark of the current RAV4, though fewer and largely out of touch-points here, which keeps durability high without overly compromising perceived quality.

The JBL audio system is a standout, delivering clean, strong sound, while the rest of the environment follows the RAV4’s proven brief: logical layout, plenty of storage, roomy back seats, and a big boot.

Tech levels are generous too, with 45-watt USB-C charging, multiple USB ports, wireless phone charging, and thoughtful touches that make daily life easy.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV like to drive?

Don’t let the 227kW headline or the GR Sport badges mislead you into expecting a brutish power dump onto an unsuspecting road, the GR Sport is more measured and mature than that: it’s the quickest RAV4 yet, no question, but it delivers pace with restraint rather than shock.

In this spec, the RAV4 feels like Toyota giving you everything you asked for and a bit more.

It will push you to 100km/h from a standing start in a respectable 5.9 seconds, but the real transformation is in the chassis. Toyota’s GR Sport philosophy prioritises suspension, steering, and body control over raw output, and this one nails that brief.

Ride quality is noticeably firmer than a standard RAV4, but it’s never harsh; “sporty comfortable” is the right descriptor. Push into a series of corners and the body remains impressively flat and planted, with confidence that encourages you to keep pushing. Turn-in is crisp, grip is strong, and there’s enough shove to punch cleanly out of bends.

Despite the front-drive bias you can sense at times - especially in the wet - it doesn’t devolve into understeer or torque-steer drama. Instead, it feels incredibly well-balanced for a family SUV, a near-perfect compromise that’s happy doing school runs Monday to Friday and then rewarding a proper back-road drive on Saturday.

And while we usually treat statements of extra wings having any meaning full effect outside of cosmetic on sported-up family SUVs as abject marketing nonsense, I do have to admit there is genuinely something to that here - a back to back experience of both the XSE and GR Sport around Hampton Downs at Toyota's recent GR brand event demonstrated that the GR Sport felt remarkable more stable and controlled under heavy braking than the XSE, while the suspension tweaks made it remarkably flatter and composed through high speed corners too.

Efficiency is quietly ruthless as well. Toyota claims 1.0l/100km for its RAV4 PHEVs under controlled testing cycles - numbers only ever relevant on a fully charged battery - while under real world conditions for a week we saw around 3.7l/100km, highlighting how frugal it can be when you’re using the PHEV system as intended, and even when driven briskly it maintains strong economy.

If you want one midsize family SUV that can be sensible and brutally frugal during the week and genuinely enjoyable on the weekend, this is it.

Driver-assistance tech is equally impressive: lane keeping and corner-speed management in adaptive cruise are well judged, subtle and easily overridden, adding calm rather than nagging. The driver attention monitor does its job without being obnoxious, and the only real quibble is a pop-up warning that briefly hijacks screen space.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV's warranty and servicing situation?

The RAV4 GR Sport comes with Toyota's standard 3 year/100,000km warranty that is extendable up to 5 years and 150,000km if serviced at an authorised dealer or service agent under Toyota's Service Advantage programme, with the same applying to roadside assist. Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, while Toyota's Service Advantage programme also includes 5 years/60,000km of capped price servicing.

On the whole: what do we think of the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV?

The GR Sport is genuinely the RAV4 that makes you grin. It takes everything that’s made the latest RAV4 so successful - space, sensibility, reliability - and adds a chassis tune that turns winding roads into a treat without spoiling the weekday commute.

The performance is ample rather than outrageous, but the efficiency is strong, and the tech is finely judged. Yes, there are still some hard plastics, but they’re durable and strategically placed, and the equipment list is generous enough to embarrass pricier rivals.

In this spec, the RAV4 feels like Toyota giving you everything you asked for and a bit more. If you want one midsize family SUV that can be sensible and brutally frugal during the week and genuinely enjoyable on the weekend, this is it.

Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV FAQs

What kind of car is the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV?

A medium-sized family SUV.

Does the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV have hybrid or EV technology?

The GR Sport is a plug-in hybrid with a 22.7kWh battery and two electric motors.

What’s the fuel economy of the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV?

Toyota quotes a WLTP combined consumption figure of 1.0l/100km for the GR Sport, with real world driving producing around 3.7l/100km.

Is the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV safe?

The current RAV4 is as yet untested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP. It features 8 airbags.

What safety and assistance features does the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV have?

What are the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV's main rivals?

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV LS ($64,990): the default plug-in SUV, not as sporty and less spec.
• BYD Sealion 6 Premium ($68,990): exceptionally refined and comfortable, not sporty in any way.
• MGS6 Essence AWD ($63,990): a full EV aimed at the RAV4, lacks GR Sport's dynamic polish
• Mazda CX-5 Takami ($61,990): dynamically excellent AWD chassis, but no electrification in sight.
• GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV ($58,990): more power and electric range, but nowhere near as sharp.