Toyota Forecasts One-Third of RAV4 Sales in Australia to be Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Toyota Australia Anticipates Strong Sales for RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

Toyota Australia is expecting a surge in sales for the upcoming RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), with the local VP for marketing and sales predicting that nearly one in three RAV4 sales will be plug-in models.

During the launch event of the new-generation 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, John Pappas, the vice president for sales and marketing at Toyota Australia, shared that the brand is aiming for 30% of the first year’s sales to be PHEV models.

“We’re projecting that the plug-in hybrid will account for approximately 30% of the order intake in the first year,” Mr. Pappas stated.

Mr. Pappas also revealed that the company’s dealer network had already received over 10,000 pre-orders for the new RAV4 before its official launch. The forecast for the SUV nameplate suggests over 40,000 registrations for the 2026 calendar year, encompassing both new models and run-out examples of the previous generation.

With only 3842 RAV4s delivered in Australia by the end of March as the old generation is phased out, it is estimated that over 35,000 new-generation RAV4s will hit Australian roads by the end of the year. Mr. Pappas’s projections hint that around 10,000 of these could be PHEV variants.

If these expectations materialize, Toyota would become a significant player in the PHEV market, potentially surpassing competitors like BYD and Mitsubishi based on last year’s figures.

The RAV4 PHEV lineup, set to be released in the coming months, will offer three variants with prices starting at $58,840 before on-road costs. Featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine similar to the RAV4 Hybrid, the PHEV version boasts more powerful electric motors and a larger battery pack for enhanced performance and extended EV driving range.

With an output of 227kW in AWD configuration, the RAV4 PHEV is the most powerful RAV4 model ever produced. Its 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery enables a WLTP-certified EV driving range of approximately 100km per charge.

Although the RAV4 PHEV marks Toyota’s first venture into the Australian market, the previous-generation RAV4 Prime was available in various international markets with a similar drivetrain.

CarExpert will be providing an Australian launch drive review of the new 2026 Toyota RAV4 on Wednesday, 22 April at 17:00 AEST. Stay tuned for more updates!

Explore the Toyota RAV4 showroom to learn more about this versatile vehicle.