Toyota RAV4 Adds Tesla Charging Access, Off-Road Upgrades for 2027

PLANO, Texas — Toyota is betting that direct access to the Tesla Supercharger network will make its best-selling plug-in hybrid more competitive, equipping every 2027 RAV4 PHEV with a standard NACS port and an 11-kW onboard charger. The change, announced Wednesday, eliminates the need for an adapter and marks the first time the charging standard appears on a Toyota plug-in hybrid sold in North America.

The port relocation to the driver’s side accompanies the switch. Toyota says the 11-kW unit cuts Level 2 charging times on a 50-amp circuit, while the SE trim retains its 52-mile electric-only range rating. The move follows Toyota’s 2023 agreement with Tesla, which initially targeted battery-electric models starting in 2025.

Off-road buyers get a separate set of upgrades. The Woodland grade — offered in both hybrid and plug-in forms — receives new springs, shocks, and jounce bumpers that lift ground clearance to 9.1 inches, a full inch higher than most other trims. Redesigned all-weather mats, standard roof rails with crossbars, and a factory tow hitch round out the package. Every all-wheel-drive RAV4 now includes Multi-Terrain Select with dedicated Rock & Dirt and Mud & Sand modes, replacing the previous single Trail setting.

Pricing inches up modestly. The Hybrid LE front-wheel-drive model starts at $32,300, a $400 increase. The PHEV SE opens at $42,100, up $600. Destination charges rise to $1,595 across the board. A rearview camera washer, a five-year Remote Connect trial (up from one year), the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen, and Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 are now standard on every grade.

Powertrains carry over unchanged: the 2.5-liter hybrid produces 222 horsepower in front-drive form and 229 with all-wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid delivers 321 combined horsepower with standard all-wheel drive. Hybrid models reach dealerships later this year; plug-in versions follow in early 2027.

The updates arrive as the RAV4 cedes U.S. sales leadership to the Honda CR-V through September — 336,844 units to 253,664 — a reversal analysts attribute partly to Toyota’s production transition for the sixth generation. In Canada, the RAV4 still holds a narrow lead. Globally, the nameplate has surpassed 15 million sales since its debut.