Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has already confirmed that the all-new sixth-generation RAV4 will be launched next month in March. A dealership even revealed the official prices of the next-generation compact crossover: PHP 2.183 million for the RAV4 HEV AWD ADV and PHP 2.499 million for the RAV4 HEV AWD LTD.

But if there was one question that was raised by many, where is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version? Well, it was first launched for the North American market last year as the RAV4 GR Sport, which means it might take a while before it arrives in other markets like the Philippines.

Fortunately, we might not have to wait that long, as Toyota just launched the all-new RAV4 PHEV in Japan. So what is the significance of its being revealed for the Japanese market? Well, since TMP gets the RAV4 HEV from Japan, perhaps it will only be a matter of time before the plug-in hybrid arrives in the Philippines.

Back to the vehicle itself, the all-new RAV4 PHEV is more powerful than the HEV variant and has the ability to run on electric power. Thanks to an increased lithium-ion battery capacity of 22.7 kWh and adopting a silicon-carbide semiconductor in the power control unit (PCU), the RAV4 PHEV can do up to 150 km without a single drop of fuel.

Just like the HEV, the PHEV version of the RAV4 comes with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine. However, the plug-in hybrid benefits from a pair of electric motors, which give the JDM-spec RAV4 PHEV a combined 329 PS. This makes the plug-in hybrid RAV4 more powerful than the GR Corolla and the GR Yaris, which both make 300 PS. Power is then sent to the wheels via an e-CVT.

Since it's a PHEV, this particular RAV4 benefits from a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. It can support up to 1,500 W and can also be used as a 100V external power supply in case of emergencies or power outages. For extreme cases, the RAV4 PHEV can be set to “HV power supply mode”, wherein the vehicle can supply power for approximately 6.5 days when powered at 400W (fully charged state with a full tank of gas).

In Japan, the RAV4 PHEV is available in two trim models, Z and GR Sport. The latter gives the RAV4 a more aggressive exterior courtesy of a honeycomb-style grille, GR Sport bumpers with side air vents, a front lip spoiler, a wing-type rear spoiler, and stylish 20-inch alloy wheels. In addition, the GR Sport version also comes with suspension modifications for better handling and agility. These include a GR Performance damper, a GR suspension brace, and a GR-tuned suspension system.

With the Toyota RAV4 PHEV now in Japan, we're hoping TMP decides to bring it here and join the HEV models.