TOYOTA is expanding its SUV line up into premium territory by introducing its large Highlander 4x4 into the UK and announcing prices for the plug-in hybrid version of its RAV4.

The Highlander will cost from £50,595 in Excel trim and £52,575 for a higher specification Excel Premium model while the new RAV4 will be priced from £47,395.

Order books for both new models open on January 4 with on sale dates later in the year.

The Highlander Hybrid is the fourth generation of Toyota's large SUV but the first to go sale in the UK.

Built on Toyota's GA-K platform it has seating for up to seven and a fourth generation hybrid electric powertrain.

Measuring some 4.95 metres long it is as big as a Range Rover and is built at Toyota's factory in Indiana in the United States. Performance statistics for UK models are still to be announced but the model uses the same 2.5-litre based hybrid powertrain as other Toyotas.

Excel specification includes 20-inch alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, three-zone air conditioning, a panoramic roof and a JBL Premium Sound System. The Premium model adds a head-up display, power tailgate with hands-free operation, heated rear seats, 360-degree camera and a different 20-inch alloy wheel design.

The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is the new flagship of Toyota's hybrid electric range and also the most powerful RAV4 yet with its powertrain producing 302bhp.

It has an all-electric default operating mode enabling a 46-mile driving range on a full battery charge at speeds of up to 84mph.

Official fuel consumption is 282mpg with a CO2 emission figure of 22g/km giving it a benefit-in-kind rate of six per cent for company car tax payers.

With a 2.5-litre petrol engine plus an electric motor it has a 0-62mph acceleration time of six seconds and will be available in two grades, Dynamic and Dynamic Premium.

Based on the equivalent RAV4 Hybrid specification, the Plug-in Dynamic will offer 19-inch machined-face alloy wheels, nine-inch multimedia touchscreen, access to connected services, heated front and rear seats and LED projector headlights.

To support its EV capability it will come with a 6.6kW cable for fast charging from a wall box.

The Dynamic Premium version is priced from £50,895 and includes black leather upholstery, ventilation and memory settings for the front seats, a panoramic roof, head-up display and JBL Premium Sound System.

The standard RAV4 hybrid can be had from around £29,000 in its cheapest Business Edition Plus guise.