THE Toyota RAV4 has long made a strong case as a practical, capable family SUV.
The plug-in hybrid adds a new dimension because with a full battery, it feels much more like an electric car than a petrol hybrid, delivering its acceleration quickly and smoothly in a manner that can quickly become addictive.
The GR Sport model also adds firmer chassis settings, sportier dynamics and styling but, crucially, doesn’t spoil the ride. Quite a feat . . .
I found it comfortable on all road types; Fast A-roads, B-roads and around town. The suspension seemed to strike a particularly good balance with little body roll in corners, while potholes were less likely to knock the car off course. Yet it never felt clunky or jittery – it even rode better than the regular hybrid RAV4 I had in mind as a comparison.
There’s bags of room in the cabin and a generous boot, too. The main let-downs are a hard-plastic-heavy dashboard that feels a little plain for a top-of-the-range model, and more tyre noise than I’d like at higher speeds.
Overview
Toyota’s RAV4 is now offered in the UK as a plug-in hybrid, with front-wheel drive or Toyota’s AWD-i all-wheel-drive system, depending on trim. The GR Sport comes with AWD-i as standard.
Its 2.5-litre petrol engine works with a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motors. The combined output for the AWD-i system is an impressive 309PS.
Toyota quotes up to 83 miles of electric-only range for the all-wheel-drive model, although the distance you get will depend on conditions, charging and driving style.
The car uses a CVT transmission with shift-by-wire controls. AWD-i adds an electric motor at the rear, giving the RAV4 the ability to send drive to all four wheels when required.
My test car was finished in a very fetching Urban Rock bi-tone which can be specced without any extra cost. I do like the Scarlet Flare Bi-tone colour though; and an extra £300 doesn’t seem unreasonable . . .
Design
The RAV4’s upright shape and prominent wheel-arch cladding give it the rugged look expected of a family SUV. The latest design brings a three-dimensional front end, slim LED lighting and a rear logo stretched across the tailgate. It’s all very smart without looking overly butch or complex.
The GR Sport stands out with its dedicated grille, wider black wheel-arch extensions, front and rear spoilers, unique under-runs and 20-inch machined alloy wheels. It also has a wider stance than other grades, with a 20mm increase in tread and wider front arches.
Interior and practicality
The cabin is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The seats look superb but the dash is a bit under-whelming. It’s just short of disappointing and is rescued by some sensibly placed physical buttons for the more often used functions.
It’s a horizontal dashboard layout, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 12.9-inch multimedia touchscreen. The GR Sport adds black synthetic leather and suede-like seat upholstery, red accents, GR logos, aluminium pedals and a dedicated steering wheel.
There’s good space in both rows. Three adults should be comfortable enough across the back for shorter journeys, while children have plenty of room to settle in. The 672-litre boot is generous, expanding to 1,690 litres with the rear seats folded and measured to the roof.
The cabin’s materials are less convincing than its space. I found the dashboard a little heavy on hard plastics, and the overall look lacks some colour and varied texture for a car at the top end of the range. The red stitching helps, but doesn’t entirely lift the ambience.
The GR Sport’s equipment includes a head-up display, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker JBL audio system which sounded very good indeed.
Technology and safety
Toyota’s latest Safety Sense features are fitted across the range. They include pre-collision assistance, lane-departure alert, road-sign recognition, lane-tracing assistance, intelligent adaptive cruise control and emergency steering assistance.
The updated systems add features such as Lane Change Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert and an improved Blind Spot Monitor with a Rear Vehicle Approach Indicator. Excel and GR Sport also have a three-dimensional Panoramic View Monitor. A head-up display is fitted to the GR Sport.
Around town, I found the RAV4 easy to place and park. Rear visibility is decent for an SUV, and the parking aids help when manoeuvring in tighter spaces.
Driving impressions
The GR Sport is a very satisfying drive for any petrolhead. It doesn’t disappoint dynamically but you won’t find any audible highes like you would with it’s (now defunct) baby brother, the AWD GR Yaris.
With a full battery, the RAV4’s acceleration feels very EV-like: rapid, smooth and immediate. That makes the plug-in hybrid pleasant to drive in everyday conditions and thrilling when you have an open road. It feels quicker than it’s official 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds and, thanks to the AWD system there’s no scrabbling away from the lights.
The four drive modes throw up no surprises; Eco is there when you want to prioritise efficiency; Normal feels like the natural everyday setting; Sport sharpens up throttle response and Custom lets you tailor the car to your own preferences.
However, I found the GR Sport’s real charm wasn’t that it tried to turn the RAV4 into a hard-edged performance SUV. It was that it added more involvement without giving up the comfort and ease that make it useful every day.
The GR Sport’s suspension and chassis tweaks make a noticeable difference to the way it handles. There’s less body roll through corners, and potholes are less likely to knock the car off course. At the same time, the firmer set-up doesn’t make the ride jittery. Toyota seems to have got the balance right: sporty, without feeling clunky.
It was easy to place on motorways, A and B-roads, and around town. Decent rear visibility and the parking aids make it straightforward to manoeuvre. Steering feel is a huge improvement on the previous RAV4 and very welcome on this sporting model.
The GR Sport’s sweet spot is the family driver with a petrolhead streak: someone who needs space, a useful boot and all-weather reassurance, but still enjoys a car that feels composed, quick and responsive on a decent road.
My main reservation on longer, faster roads was tyre noise. It became more noticeable at higher speeds. The factory-fitted tyres may be a factor, but I can’t say for certain. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker but something to bear in mind if tranquility on the motorway is your thing.
Range, economy and charging
Toyota quotes up to 83 miles of electric range for the AWD-i RAV4. The GR Sport’s quoted weighted combined fuel economy is 176.6mpg, with weighted CO₂ emissions of 36g/km.
These figures depend on the test cycle and assume a charged battery; real-world fuel use will vary with how often the car is charged and how it is driven. Over a week with the RAV4 I managed a pretty good 52 mpg. Had I kept the battery topped up throughout the week, I suspect it would have been into the 60s.
The car supports 11kW AC charging, with a quoted full charge time of around three hours. DC charging is also available, with Toyota quoting a 10–80% time of 28 minutes.
Trim levels and prices
Toyota’s September 2026 price list gives these on-the-road prices for the RAV4 plug-in hybrid range:
- Icon – £44,195: Front-wheel drive with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and steering wheel, power tailgate and Toyota Safety Sense.
- Design – £46,095: Front-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, bi-tone paint, ventilated front seats, driver’s seat memory and wireless phone charging.
- Excel – £50,045 FWD / £52,390 AWD-i: Adds leather upholstery, a head-up display, JBL audio, a panoramic-view monitor and further convenience equipment. A panoramic roof is available on Excel.
- GR Sport – £52,045 AWD-i: Adds GR styling, 20-inch GR Sport wheels, dedicated suspension and steering tuning, GR interior details and a head-up display.
Verdict
The Toyota RAV4 GR Sport AWD-i combines the plug-in hybrid’s electric-car-like response with the practicality and all-weather capability expected of a family SUV. The GR Sport’s chassis changes are particularly well judged.
The hard plastics and rather plain cabin ambience don’t quite match the top-of-range positioning, and there’s more tyre noise at speed than I’d like. Even so, the RAV4’s blend of comfort, truly sporting credentials and everyday practicality is compelling. It looks the part too . . .
At a Glance
- Make & Model: Toyota RAV4 GR Sport AWD-i Plug-in Hybrid
- Base Price (OTR): £52,045
- Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol plug-in hybrid
- Battery: 22.7kWh lithium-ion
- Power: 309PS (305bhp)
- 0-62mph: 5.8 seconds
- Top Speed: 112mph
- WLTP Electric Range: Up to 83 miles
- Charging: 11kW AC; 10–80% DC in 28 minutes
- Fuel Economy: 176.6mpg weighted combined WLTP
- CO₂: 36g/km weighted; test-car sheet also lists 131g/km combined WLTP
- Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles; service-activated cover may extend to 10 years/100,000 miles, subject to Toyota’s terms
