The hardware specifications of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is quite promising because it features a complete hybrid system that combines an efficient electric motor with a 2.5 liter Atkinson cycle petrol engine.

Buyers will have complete control over the model they choose. You can either go for a front wheel drive variant or choose an all-wheel drive model if traction is what you seek. The new RAV4 hybrid features an electric engine mounted on the front, but there’s another variant which comes with it mounted in the rear. It might be surprising for some, but by changing the position of the engine, the manufacturer has managed to boost its traction and increase its towing capacity to 1,650 kilograms.

The team behind the hybrid car explained that by moving the electric motor to the rear, the weight is evenly spread over the SUV and there’s no central prop shaft that renders the power. It makes it easier to get the maximum out of the vehicle. When combined together, the engines deliver 197 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 8.7 seconds. Considering its large size and build, it is a feat that they have achieved.

The specifications of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid revealed refer to the EU variant. It has been designed to comply with Euro 6 regulations. However, the specifications and the emission of the vehicle might slightly vary in other regions according to the local rules. Compared to other countries, Europe has stringent emission rules, which is why both the customers and the manufacturers prefer to go for electric vehicles. They are completely green, offer great performance and with a car like Model S from Tesla, there is no need to worry about mileage.

On the inside, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has a couple of active safety features integrated into it, including the notable Panoramic view monitor. The monitor gives the driver a 360 degree view of the vehicle’s surroundings as well as a bird’s eye view which makes it exceptionally easy to switch lanes, park it in congested locations and maneuver efficiently at slow speed. The infotainment system features a 7” color screen combined with a 4.2” multi-information system display.

Toyota have a couple of other cars lined up as well for the world market. They are still in the phase of producing hybrid cars, whereas fully electric vehicles are a distant dream for most manufacturers except for Tesla. We do have Chevrolet, BMW and others coming up with promising vehicles though.