Three new variants join the Toyota RAV4 range in Australia, with the facelifted midsize SUV set to arrive in the first quarter of 2022
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 range will launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2022 with three new variants set to join the best-selling Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage midsize SUV rival on our shores.
While the familiar RAV4 GX, GXL and Cruiser grades all make a return, a new RAV4 XSE trim will join the range as an upper-mid-tier, hybrid-only variant slotting between the GXL and Cruiser.
Meanwhile, the much-rumoured RAV4 Edge Hybrid is now official for Australia, joining as a new range-topping variant priced at $52,320 before on-road costs – exclusively with Toyota’s electric AWD system coined eFour.
A total of 14 grades will be offered on the lightly-facelifted 2022 RAV4, which now ranges in price from $34,300 for a GX 2.0-litre petrol 2WD to the $52K Edge Hybrid.
The former entry point, a price-leading GX manual, has been deleted from the range, meaning all RAV4 grades now get an automatic transmission.
Price changes vary across the range, with all GX grades becoming less expensive compared to the 2021 model. The popular GXL rises in price by $410 for the 2.0-litre petrol, while both GXL hybrid grades fall by $410.
The Cruiser gets routinely more expensive across the 2.0-litre petrol and both 2.5-litre hybrid grades, with the luxury-spec RAV4 increasing in price by $1585.
Meanwhile, the ruggedly-styled Edge adds the aforementioned AWD hybrid powertrain while retaining a 2.5-litre petrol option with mechanical AWD. The Edge petrol is now priced at $49,820 – which is up $905 on last year.
The four powertrain options carry over from the 2021 RAV4, with the GX, GXL and Cruiser all offering a 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder engine producing 127kW of power and 203Nm of torque. The two-litre uses a CVT automatic with a mechanical launch gear and is only offered with front-wheel drive.
From there, it’s a step to the 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid, which makes 160kW of power as a front-wheel drive or 163kW of power with 0optional tri-motor AWD. Both use an e-CVT automatic.
The GX, GXL, new XSE and Cruiser trims all offer the choice of hybrid powertrains with FWD or AWD, while the Edge hybrid is AWD-only.
Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, said that the hybrid makes up over 70 percent of RAV4 volume in Australia.
The Edge uniquely provides the option of a non-hybrid 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder that produces 152kW of power and 243Nm of torque, with an eight-speed torque converter automatic and a mechanical AWD system.
There have been subtle changes across the RAV4 lineup with some grades receiving more in-depth attention than others.
The entry-level GX (from $34,300) now sees its 17-inch alloy wheels finished in a light grey colour, while it picks up DAB+ digital radio inside, plus LED interior lights and a rear seat-belt reminder system.
Kicking off at $37,825, the mid-spec GXL has new 18-inch wheels that it shares with the XSE and Cruiser hybrid – but they’re differently-coloured on each. The GXL’s wheels are finished in dark silver. In the cabin, the GXL picks up illuminated door switches.
The new XSE grade can be spotted by its black roof, and extends the GXL’s specification by adding twin-spoke wheels, Softex artificial leather trim, two-stage front seat heating, 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, leather door trims, mood lighting, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, wireless charging, and smartphone mirroring.
Cruiser hybrids are identifiable by their gloss black wheel design (shared with the XSE), while the Cruiser gains three-stage seat heating (up from two-stage) plus three-stage seat cooling, along with eight-way power adjustment for the passenger seat. There’s also a digital rear-view mirror.
Along with the addition of a hybrid powertrain, the Edge now swaps to a new matte grey 19-inch wheel design.
Key options include premium paint ($675), navigation and a full-size spare pack on the GX hybrid ($1300) or navigation pack only for that grade ($1000), plus a panoramic sunroof only available for the Edge petrol ($1300).
Servicing the 2022 RAV4 continues to be required every 12 months/15,000km with Toyota Service Advantage pricing pegged at $230 each for the first five services.
Australian photography is expected to arrive soon.
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
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