RAV4 GR closer to Le Mans Hypercar than you’d believe
We had the choice of one of four Toyotas for our trip. A GR Yaris, a C-HR GR Sport, a RAV4 Trail or a RAV4 GR Sport. We opted for the latter. For two good reasons. One, it was still a GR and we were on our way to support the factory Gazoo Racing effort at the Le Mans 24 Hour. And two, for this trip, practical trumped sporty. So the RAV4 GR Sport was the perfect option.
Not available in South Africa, let’s say yet, we picked our GR Sport up at Toyota’s French headquarters at Versailles. Handsome in its typical GR regalia, our ruby red car balanced its black trim well. Black wheels and a black roof add to the sporty allure. Twin chrome tailpipes and chrome badging soften it subtly at the rear. The black cabin has velvety leather trimmed heated and ventilated sport seats.
Smart black cabin adds to sporty feel
Digital dials gain a multifunction display with a dedicated Hybrid window. This one had the latest CarPlay, Auto and button-rich touchscreen cartainment dominating central dash. It has five USBs and two 12-volt ports, and a wireless charger. A convenient reversing camera supplements rear park distance control too. A touch too much touch for our liking, we prefer more buttons, as you may well know, for very good reason.
The GR Sport adds a subtly sportier effect to the RAV4 in markets where it’s available. Like our local Corolla Cross and Hilux GR Sport siblings, it mainly brings those sporty looks. But that’s not all. A GR suspension pack stiffens the dampers and coils up and tweaks the drive modes to deliver, yes, a sportier, yet impressively smooth drive. The rest is much the same as the rest of the RAV4 E-Four Hybrids. Only it’s called Hybrid AWD-i in Euro Toyota speak.
AWD-i Hybrid also takes a few more steps forward over its reinvented font wheel drive Prius-derived Corolla and Corolla Cross Hybrid kid brothers. Like the SA RAV4 E-Four Hybrids, this one’s a petrol-electric all-wheel drive. In fact, it’s closer to the Le Mans GR010 Hybrid Hypercar we went to behold at Le Mans, than it is to those FWD street siblings. The RAV4 also has petrol drive on one axle, and electric on the other. Only the other way round to the electric front and petrol rear racer.
RAV4 GR more Le Mans Hypercar than Prius
The RAV4 AWD-i also adds the regular, punchy Prius-like fourth generation front drive hybrid system. So, the front axle is powered by a 131 kW 221 Nm Atkinson cycle 2.5-litre petrol 4-cylinder coupled to an 88 kW and 202 Nm e-motor via a CVT transmission. That’s aided and abetted by a second, 40 kW 121 Nm electric motor driving a two-stage reduction gear transaxle at the rear.
AWD-i responsively and automatically optimises torque distribution between the front and rear axles according to driving conditions. The split varies between 100% front, to a 20 to 80 front to rear output. Distribution is rear-oriented when cornering. To inspire driver confidence. And enhance steering feel. Maximum combined output is a staunch 163 kW. The mechanically identical GX-R returned impressive performance against our stopwatch when we tested it back home.
Toyota claims a combined 4.8 l/100 km. Expect to use closer to six litres per hundred every day. That’s still impressive in this neck of the woods. Understand that your hybrid is happiest in city or in slower driving and you’ll soon master it. Driven frugally, you should see 1,000 km on the 55-litre petrol tank. An Auto LSD Trail Assist mode improves traction on the dirt. The driver can further tailor vehicle dynamics via Drive Mode Select. And while we never got round to it, our GR Sport AWD-i is rated to tug up to a 1,000 kg braked trailer.
RAV4 GR Sport super smooth on the freeway
Our drive out of Paris west to Le Mans took us via a few city areas, through industrial suburbs and on to a country freeway. Pleasing to drive, take your time to exploit this AWD-i Hybrid system’s potential and you soon start to understand its earth saving potential. Super smooth on the freeway, it is however at its best in and around town.
That practicality and space came into its own in the wee hours over the Le Mans 24 Hour race weekend when our RAV4 GR doubled as our bungalow for a few hours. The race was good on track too. Although Ferrari finally broke Toyota GR’s five-year winning streak in an after an epic battle on track to crown an incredible weekend.
Our RAV4 GR Sport proved the perfect companion for that crazy trip. So similar in concept to that race car, Toyota is slowly but surely moving its hybrids in a Gazoo Racing direction. Toyota is of course not only fast growing its GR range, but it is also on a major hybrid push in South Africa. So this sportier version of the RAV4 would be a most welcome addition to the range in our market. All considered, the timing seems perfect. How about it, Toyota South Africa? – Michele Lupini
Road Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Toyota RAV4 GR Sport AWD-i Hybrid Engine: 131 kW 221 Nm 2.5-litre petrol I4 Motors: Front 88 kW 202 Nm, Rear: 40 kW 121 Nm Combined Max Output: 163 kW Drive: CVT AWD TESTED: 0-60 km/h: 3.58 sec 0-100 km/h: 7.42 sec 0-120 km/h: 10.00 sec 0-160 km/h: 17.46 sec 400m: 15.5 sec @ 149 km/h 80-120 km/h: 4.96 sec 120-160 km/h: 7.17 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 180 km/h Fuel: 4.8 l/100 km CO2: 110 g/km RATED: 9
