The "Prime" Years (2021–2024)
6.6 kW Standard Across All Canadian Trims: Unlike the US market — where the base SE trim was limited to a 3.3 kW onboard charger — Canada received the 6.6 kW charger as standard equipment on every RAV4 Prime trim from the very first 2021 models.
On a Level 2 home charger, this meant a full charge in approximately 2.5 hours.
Standard Household Charging: All models came with a dual-voltage cable (120V/240V). On a standard Canadian 120V household outlet, a full charge takes approximately 12 hours, regardless of which onboard charger you have — the outlet simply can't deliver power fast enough to make a difference.
The Name Shift (2025)
Toyota retired the "Prime" name in 2025 to simplify its lineup and make the plug-in hybrid designation clearer to Canadian consumers. While the badge on the back changed to PHEV, the charging hardware carried over unchanged — the same 6.6 kW system found in every Canadian model since 2021, with a 2.5-hour full charge on a 240V Level 2 charger.
The Next-Gen Revolution (2026)
DC Fast Charging (CCS1): For the first time, Canadian drivers on select trims can use public "Level 3" fast chargers (like those at Ivy, Flo, or Petro-Canada stations). This allows the battery to go from 10% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes. This capability is exclusive to the XSE with Technology Package and Woodland trims, which feature a CCS1 combined charging port.
11 kW AC Charging: All 2026 RAV4 PHEV trims receive a significant upgrade to an 11 kW onboard AC charger — nearly double the 6.6 kW of the outgoing model. On a capable Level 2 home charger, this meaningfully reduces home charging times compared to the previous generation.
The Charging Port Split: The key distinction between trims isn't the AC charging speed — it's whether the car can also DC fast charge. The SE and GR Sport trims use a standard J1772 port (AC only, 11 kW). The XSE Technology Package and Woodland trims add a CCS1 port, which supports both AC charging and DC fast charging.
1. Level 1 Charging (Standard Household Outlet)
This is the most basic charging method, suitable for overnight charging at home. It uses a standard Canadian 120V household outlet. All RAV4 PHEVs come with a portable charging cable (sometimes called an EVSE) included from the factory.
Wall plug: NEMA 5-15P (standard three-prong 120V household plug)
Car-side connector: J1772 (the same standard connector used by all Level 1 and Level 2 AC chargers in North America)
Outlet required: NEMA 5-15R (standard 120V wall outlet)
Level 2 is the most common home charging solution, requiring a dedicated 240V circuit and either a wall-mounted EVSE unit (hardwired or plug-in) or a high-power portable cable. The same J1772 plug connects to the car regardless of the outlet type used.
Car-side connector: J1772 (Standard AC)
Common outlet types: NEMA 14-50 (240V/50A — range/RV outlet), NEMA 6-50 (240V/50A — welder's outlet), or NEMA 14-30 (240V/30A — dryer outlet). Most dedicated EV installations use a NEMA 14-50 or are hardwired directly.
Level 3 (DC Fast Charging) is new to the RAV4 PHEV lineup as of the 2026 6th Generation, but it is not available on all trims. Only the XSE with Technology Package and Woodland come equipped with a CCS1 (Combined Charging System Type 1) port, which supports both AC and DC charging. The SE and GR Sport trims use a J1772-only port and cannot use DC fast chargers at all.
Connector: CCS1 (DC Fast + AC combined port)
Infrastructure: Public DC fast charging pedestal (Level 3 stations such as Ivy, Flo, and Petro-Canada)
Speed: 10% to 80% in approximately 30–35 minutes