Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Toyota RAV4 EV to go on sale this summer

Stephen Edelstein
By

Toyota RAV4 EV parked roadsideTesla’s Model X will not be the first all-electric SUV on the market. Toyota built electric versions of its RAV4 from 1997 to 2003, albeit in limited numbers. The Japanese company is re-entering the electric car market with a new RAV4 EV this summer.

The RAV4 EV seems like a potential competitor to the Model X, but its powertrain was designed by Tesla. Toyota paid Elon Musk’s car company $60 million to develop a battery pack and electric motor. The motor sends 154 horsepower to the front wheels and gets its juice from lithium-ion batteries.

Recommended Videos

According to Toyota, the reincarnated RAV4 EV will have a range of 100 miles per charge. If the RAV4 can achieve that range in everyday driving, it will stack up well against other EVs. The electric SUV can be charged from either a 120V or 240V outlet in as little as six hours. The battery pack comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. In normal driving, the RAV4 EV will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 85 mph. It should be able to keep up with highway traffic, but just barely. It is also a major improvement over the original RAV4 EV, which had a top speed of 78 mph and took 18 seconds to reach 60 mph. The old RAV4 reportedly came close to the new car’s 100 mile range, and many of these first-generation models are still on the road.Toyota RAV4 EV dashboard

Related

The new RAV4 EV also has a “sport mode,” which makes the RAV4’s computer less frugal. In sport mode, the RAV4 will do 0-60 in 7.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 100 mph. The gauges also change from blue to red, either to impart a sense of sportiness, or to symbolize the car’s anger about being driven irresponsibly (sport mode reduces range).

Why Toyota decided to put a sport mode on an electric SUV is anyone’s guess, but its other modifications seem more sensible. Compared to a regular RAV4, the EV is more aerodynamic; it sports a drag coefficient of 0.30. This is because of the more slippery nose, with its shrouded grille and redesigned front bumper. The headlights are more efficient LEDs (except for the high beams, which are halogen).

Toyota also added a few luxuries, including heated front seats upholstered in “Neutron” fabric and Toyota’s Entune connectivity system. These items may have been thrown in to justify the RAV4 EV’s higher base price. A conventional RAV4 costs $23,500-$30,000, but the EV will sticker for $50,610, including an $810 shipping charge. Saving the planet doesn’t come cheap.

Admittedly, the RAV4 EV will not be a mass-market item like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. Toyota will start selling its electric SUv this summer, but only in California. It will eventually be sold elsewhere, but Toyota only plans on building 2600 cars. That will make the RAV4 EV very rare. It also makes business sense. Toyota will have the market to itself until its partner’s Model X goes on sale in 2013.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more