Winter wonderland instead of loss of production: While Toyota had to close all 14 plants in its home country of Japan due to heavy snowfall, the white splendor was most welcome elsewhere: The world’s largest car manufacturer sent the brand new GR Sport version of the SUV RAV4 over snow-covered roads and slopes in and around Luleå Northern Sweden to present to journalists.
It would take 40 sled dogs to pull a RAV4 plug-in hybrid and driver on skids (DIN curb weight 1930 kg). Theoretically, because in practice no more than 18 animals are harnessed, even in sport, and that’s the extreme case, as our “musher” (dog sled driver) explains to me. Each dog is calculated with a pull weight of 50 kg, nine of them take us four across the frozen Gulf of Bothnia to our test vehicles. We change and start our test route. Quieter than pulled by huskies, we make progress, the barking of the draft animals, which we have grown fond of, still in our ears. When we drive the cars over the ice, we are not even much faster than with a sled, 30 km/h is the speed limit (the dogs pulled us at almost 20 km/h). However, we will probably emit even less CO2 locally, because we are initially on the move electrically. As a plug-in hybrid, the RAV4 has an electric WLTP range of 75 kilometers thanks to the 18.1 kWh Li-Ion battery, so its purchase is subsidized in Austria with 2750 euros (thanks to a price trick, the GR Sport ). Even later, when we glide along in hybrid mode, the driving noise is not significantly louder, because the 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine is so well insulated that it is not noticeable even under load. The character of the stepless planetary gear fits in perfectly with it, which doesn’t annoy you with annoying howling. The driving experience is simply relaxing.Relaxation instead of sport This impression is also shared by the chassis, because it even irons out the partly washboard-like ice on the roads amazingly well – even though it was specially tuned to be harder on the GR Sport. The handling is improved compared to the standard version, the steering conveys a fine feeling for the road and thus safety in icy corners, which we rush through quickly on spike tires. The Toyota RAV4 with the designation GR Sport is not really a sporty vehicle from the Shot of a GR 86, a GR Supra or a GR Yaris, don’t be fooled. It’s simply a trim line that includes sporty details such as sports seats (made of Ultrasuede and textile leather), specially designed bumpers, black wheel arches and side moldings or corresponding badges, all of which make for a slightly wilder appearance. There are also black 19-inch alloy wheels with five double spokes and a pinstripe design. “The RAV4 pulls on the tracksuit,” that’s what Toyota calls it.Plug-in hybrid and full hybrid to choose fromThe RAV4 charges when needed just as enthusiastically as sled dogs when the musher takes the brake claws out of the ice. A system output of 306 hp enables the standard sprint in 6.0 seconds, with a top speed of 180 km/h being governed. The 185 hp Verbenner works with two electric motors, the front 182 hp, the rear 54 hp. The latter turns the car into an all-wheel drive vehicle. Alternatively, Toyota also offers the RAV4 as a full hybrid without a charging plug, either as a front-wheel drive vehicle or with all-wheel drive. The drive of the all-wheel drive is basically the same as that of the PHEV, but the front motors are weaker: 178 hp combustion engine, 120 hp electric motor, resulting in a system output of 222 hp. The front-wheel drive version dispenses with the 54 hp electric motor on the rear axle and has a system output of 218 hp. Depending on the variant, the two are around 300 kg lighter than the plug-in and can sprint in a good eight seconds. Modernized interior The sports seats in the GR Sport are good for travel and the space in the 4.60 meter long car is appealing. Tall people can also make themselves comfortable on the back seat (wheelbase: 2.69 metres). The plug-in hybrid fits 520/1604 liters in the trunk, and 580/1690 liters for the full hybrid. The choice of materials is okay, the design looks a bit conservative despite sporty accents. The instrument cluster is now (not only on the GR Sport) a display with different views, on the PHEV it is already 12.3 inches in size. The central touchscreen has grown to 10.5 inches, and cloud-based navigation is included. GR Sport marks the top equipment and includes, among other things, advanced assistance systems, 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel, head-up display, JBL sound system, heated windscreen washer nozzles and electric memory seats. PricesThe Toyota RAV4 GR Sport as a plug-in hybrid is not available as Sports model in the price list – there is generally only the “Active” equipment level. You can also order an equipment package, for example “GR Sport”. The background is that the base price is decisive for whether a PHEV is funded – and the GR Sport would be over the limit with a total of 62,990 euros. The base price is 54,990 euros. It’s different with the full hybrid, there are a total of seven different equipment levels, from City (only for the front-wheel drive, 40,190 euros) to Active and GR Sport (only all-wheel drive, 56,990 euros). FahrzitThe Toyota RAV4 is also as the GR Sport, a companion that is as inconspicuous as it is calm and encourages you to slide instead of racing. Sports badge or not. Apart from the adrenaline rush promised by the name, nothing is left to be desired in terms of equipment. There are probably two sled dogs in the trunk – the sled then has to be put on the trailer (trailer load: front-wheel drive: 800 kg; hybrid all-wheel drive: 1650 kg; PHEV: 1500 kg). Why? EquipmentWhy not?Not a real sports versionOr maybe…… Audi Q5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mercedes GLB, Volvo XC 40
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