Forget the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport plug-in hybrid has the power and fuel efficiency to beat the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, so why don't we get it in Australia? 

The Toyota RAV4 is about to cement its status as Australia’s second most popular vehicle after a bumper year of sales in 2024, so why are we still without the performance version?

Despite being sold in Europe in plugless and plug-in hybrid guises, where the model doesn’t even crack the continent’s top 25 best-selling vehicles, the RAV4 GR Sport sadly isn’t on Toyota Australia’s radar.

“We are always looking at opportunities to enhance our model line-up, but we have nothing to announce regarding RAV4,” a Toyota spokesperson told CarsGuide.

Toyota hasn't said why it has chosen not to offer the variant here, although it feels very much like a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' strategy, particularly as sales boom.

It’s a shame because the plug-in hybrid variant genuinely is a more souped-up version of the standard hybrid we get in Australia, and something our very sensible line-up is lacking, regardless of its sales success.

Take its 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid system, for example, which adds a much bigger 18.1kWh battery pack.

Not only does it deliver 75km of WLTP-rated electric range, it gets a sizeable bump of 62kW/49Nm in power and torque over the standard hybrid's peak 163kW/221Nm.

That translates to a total output of 225kW/270Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.0 seconds flat, which is at least 2.0 seconds quicker than the top-spec Edge AWD sold locally and about as quick as a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Fuel consumption is significantly better, too, at just 1.0-litre/100km compared to 4.8-litres/100km on the Edge.

It's also better than Australia’s two top-selling plug-in hybrid models, the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, both of which deliver a minimum fuel consumption of 1.1-litres and 1.5-litres, respectively.

Carbon emissions are low at just 22g/km, which is also an improvement on both of those models.

In terms of features, the GR Sport variant gets the bulk of the Edge’s equipment list in Europe as well.

There’s 19-inch alloys, a 12.5-inch digital driver’s display, a 10.5-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and a drive mode selector.

But on top of that there are also paddle shifters, synthetic leather and suede seats with ‘GR’ badging, which also extends to the steering wheel and rubber floor mats.

GR badging adorns the exterior, while its front end looks far more aggressive thanks to a sportier front grille and bumper.

Lets not forget the exclusive five-double-spoke GR Sport rims either, which come decorated with a neat pinstripe pattern. It's the sort of makeover that would stand Toyota's mid-sizer out further against the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.

Mitsubishi is reportedly working on a high-powered Ralliart version of its Outlander with three electric motors and 285kW.

Toyota Australia sells GR Sport versions of various models in Australia already, including the C-HR and Yaris Cross (both trim levels with no performance benefits) as well as the pumped up HiLux GR Sport.

Outside Japan, Australia is also the only market to get full-fat GR versions of both the Yaris and Corolla hatchbacks — we really do love souped-up cars Down Under.

For now, we can only dream of a more performance-oriented RAV4 arriving in Australia under the current generation, which enters its sixth year on the market in 2025.

But hopefully Australia’s steadfast support of the RAV4 translates to something a little bit more thrilling in the next-generation offering (which is set to arrive in 2026), because if there’s any market that deserve it, it’s us.