- A leaked memo details issues with Queensland Police’s Toyota RAV4 Hybrid fleet.
- Reports indicate the hybrid battery may overheat under heavy load or stress.
- Toyota insists the RAV4 Hybrid performs as intended in extreme environments.
The Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling vehicle in the world last year, even as it approached the end of its lifecycle. Its reputation as a dependable hybrid SUV for families is well established, but it seems the same can’t be said for police duty, at least according to Australia’s Queensland Police Service (QPS).
In January 2025, QPS announced plans to add 400 RAV4 Hybrids to its fleet, replacing general-duty police vehicles like the Camry sedan across the state. However, a leaked internal report suggests that not everything went according to plan during high-intensity driver training.
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According to 7News Brisbane, testers found that the RAV4’s hybrid battery “may overheat under extreme conditions of hard braking combined with high acceleration.”
The internal report added: “If warning lights appear, officers should cease urgent duty driving and pull lover to allow the system to cool”, adding that “in extreme circumstances the vehicle may enter limp mode” which limits its performance. Hardly ideal when officers are chasing suspects at full throttle.
Footage aired by 7News shows the RAV4 Hybrid being pushed hard around a training course, with the traction control system automatically disabling itself, with a negative effect in handling precision.
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Following the incident, a Toyota spokesperson told CarExpert: “Toyota Australia technical teams have inspected the vehicles in question and determined they are functioning as designed. In extreme scenarios such as police driver training, the vehicle may intervene to protect the hybrid system. As noted by the QPS, there have been no incidents of this nature during normal duties.”
What Will Happen To The RAV4 Fleet?
Around 200 police-prepped RAV4 Hybrids are currently in service across Queensland. Speaking to 7 News Brisbane, Police Union president Shane Prior questioned the decision to deploy them, asking, “What danger does that put our people at?” He added that “if there is any risk whatsoever, those cars simply should not be on the road. All that testing should’ve been done beforehand”.
Interestingly, a QPS spokesperson ensured that all vehicles introduced to their fleet, including the RAV4 Hybrid, are “rigorously tested as part of an internal and external evaluation process to ensure they are fit for purpose”.
Besides the RAV4 Hybrid and the Camry, the QPS fleet comprises of the Hyundai iLoad, the Kia Stinger, Sorento and EV6, as well as various examples of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux.
This isn’t the first time a mainstream SUV has faced scrutiny in uniform. Earlier this year, Italy’s Carabinieri union claimed that the Alfa Romeo Tonale exhibited serious handling issues at high speeds and on rough roads. Stellantis, unsurprisingly, defended its product, standing by the SUV’s capability.
Queensland Police Service / Facebook
