<span>Toyota unveiled the new Rav4 in Dubai last week, and central to the range is the manufacturer's first</span><span> hybrid SUV to go on sale in the </span><span>Emirates. The VXR</span><span> – which was launched alongside the two-wheel-drive GX, the 4x4 GXR and the 4x4 Adventure</span><span> – is the latest in a line of vehicles with a </span><span>focus on sustainability. </span> <span>This new hybrid will be sold alongside </span><span>Toyota's hydrogen-</span><span>fuelled Mirai</span><span>, which first came to the UAE </span><span>in 2017. The Rav4 launch took place at Al-Futtaim Toyota, an automotive company that claim</span><span>ed its place as one of the pioneers in alternate propulsion in the region, after it launch</span><span>ed a range of hybrids </span><span>in 2008. Since then, more than 4,000 vehicles of this kind have been sold </span><span>across the</span><span> country.</span> <span>Al-Futtaim also opened the first hydrogen refilling station in the country at its Al Badia Festival City showroom in Dubai, to coincide with the launch of the Mirai.</span> <span>The new VXR can be driven entirely on electrical power with zero-fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, or by combining the power generated from both the petrol engine and the car’s two electric motors. </span> <span>This latest model delivers 218hp and 221Nm from the 2.5-litre petrol engine, with an additional 121</span><span>Nm, which is supplied by the electric motor. Fuel consumption weighs in at 22.2</span><span> kilometres</span><span> per litre. In comparison, the petrol-</span><span>fuelled GX, GXR and Adventure are all powered by 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engines, with eight-speed automatic transmissions, which deliver 203hp and 243</span><span>Nm of torque. </span><span> </span> <span>The range retains the general Rav4 styling – you certainly wouldn't mistake it for any</span><span> other vehicle out there – but the body shell </span><span>has been altered to become noticeably more assertive. The interior also retains an air of sophistication. Toyota says there are 19 new features available, </span><span>including a </span><span>new navigation system and panoramic sunroof in the top-spec VXR. </span> <span>The new range is likely to be popular in the UAE, where Toyotas have a reputation for durability</span><span>. A survey carried out last month by classifieds website </span><span>Dubizzle Motors showed the Camry was the most popular second-hand car </span><span>in the</span><span> country, with the Land Cruiser and Corolla not far behind. </span> <span>Prices for the 2019 Toyota RAV4 start at Dh99,000 for the 2WD GX version, while the GXR, Adventure and VXR variants retail for Dh119,900, Dh129,900 and Dh139,900, respectively.</span>
