The Toyota RAV4 is currently the most popular SUV on the North American market. In fact, the compact SUV overtook the Corolla in 2020 as the brand’s most sold vehicle. The versatile model performs about as well in many other regions of the world, and that is partially because there is a variant for everyone… almost. The current-generation RAV4 is hybrid-only, but in a recent Drive interview, Chief Engineer Yoshinori Futonagane mentioned that there is a real possibility of a proper GR RAV4, since the 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine could fit in the SUV’s engine bay.
"We could actually fit a 2.4-litre turbo in that engine compartment," Futonagane-san said.
"There are no official plans at the moment, but you know, the only bits that are missing is a corporate appreciation of the market demand and the potential wow factor… If people started making a noise and saying, 'Yeah, we want a 2.4-litre turbo', it might end up on the agenda,”, he later added.
According to Fotonagane-san, the limitations are not technological, but rather related to Toyota management’s awareness of customer demand. In my mind, what this means is “we will build it if people say they want it”. The VW Tiguan R proved that compact performance SUVs can be a thing. Unfortunately, the German model had a short run (2020-2024), but a successor is 2027-2028. Meanwhile, Toyota has a chance to beat competitors to a new compact performance SUV with a proven reliability track record.
The 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine has already proven to be something of a workhorse. Toyota is featuring it extensively in its model lineup, with the Land Cruiser, 4Runner, and Tacoma being some of the vehicles powered by it. In non-hybrid form, the engine makes 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet in non-hybrid trim. If the bigger 4Runner can sprint to 60 mph in around 7.3 seconds, the lighter, number RAV4 should be able to shave at least half a second from that time.
Currently, the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport is the sportiest version of the popular Japanese SUV. With a plug-in hybrid setup featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and two electric motors, the RAV4 PHEV packs 324 horsepower, which is enough for a 5.8-second run to 62 mph. That’s hot hatchback territory. It can also drive up to 54 miles on electricity. Toyota already has a “hot” version of the RAV4, but there are still those looking for a simpler vehicle. That is exactly where a non-hybrid Toyota GR RAV4 could be a good idea.
Why a proper Toyota GR RAV4 is more feasible than you think.
With CAFE effectively neutered, there is no one to look at car manufacturers’ carbon footprint under a microscope. Moreover, Toyota is already selling a ton of hybrid and electric vehicles, which easily offsets any environmental impact non-hybrid and performance models could have. The real question is, do we want it enough for Toyota to make one?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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About the author
Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from Torquenews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.
Image source: Toyota press
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