New Toyota RAV4 revealed: boxy off-road appeal meets PHEV power

The wraps have finally come off the sixth-generation Toyota RAV4, a key model for the Japanese brand not just in the UK, but globally.

Since the RAV4 arrived in 1994 it’s been a staple of the family SUV class, and the outgoing version proved as popular as ever, becoming the third best-selling car in the world last year. 

Key to the RAV4’s success over the decades has been its build quality, genuine off-road capability and, in recent years, hybrid efficiency – something that will continue with the new model with full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options, although only the latter will be offered here.

Design and development

While we caught the new RAV4 testing multiple times during its development, we can now see its design in production form and it’s clear there’s a degree of influence from Toyota’s most recent offerings. 

The newcomer retains very similar upright proportions to the outgoing RAV4, while the front end features a set of C-shaped LED headlights – similar to the ones found on the new Prius and facelifted bZ4X. 

The surfacing of the RAV4 is blocky, too, hinting at its rugged off-road appeal along with plastic wheelarch extensions. Around to the rear, we can see the RAV4’s new model logo sitting between its rear lights – themselves embedded in a black piece of trim on the bootlid. 

RAV4 GR Sport

The GR Sport variant first arrived on the previous RAV4 in 2022, and the trim has been kept for the new model. This adds 20mm to the RAV4’s track width, high-performance dampers and tuned springs, strengthened rear bracing and tweaked power steering for what Toyota claims to be “increased engagement”. 

To cast the GR Sport visually apart from the standard RAV4, it gets unique black 20-inch alloy wheels, a ‘functional matrix’ grille shape, GR badging and some tweaks inside, including aluminium pedals, suede sports seats and red accents throughout. 

PHEV only for the UK

Sitting on a revised version of the previous RAV4’s TNGA G-AK platform, the new car continues with hybrid power and the option of front or four-wheel drive. 

The plug-in hybrid RAV4 comes with front-wheel drive for the first time, with a larger 22.6kWh battery (up from 18.1kWh) enabling up to 62 miles of electric-only range – an increase of 18 miles over the old RAV4 PHEV. The plug-in hybrid system can also accommodate a 50kW charge, meaning it will replenish 10 to 80 per cent of its energy in 30 minutes. 

The lower-end PHEV is more powerful than before, too. The front-wheel-drive model conjures up a total 264bhp, while the four-wheel-drive version has 300bhp – enabling a 0-62mph sprint of 5.8 seconds. The SUV should also be better to drive than before, thanks to a 10 per cent stiffer body and improvements to refinement. Plus, a fresh terrain response system has been added to give the RAV4 the off-road ability it’s always been known for. 

The full hybrid, which went off sale in the UK towards the end of the current RAV4’s lifespan, will be offered in other markets, but not over here. That’s no great surprise, given that 80 per cent of fifth-generation RAV4 sales were of plug-in hybrids before the hybrid went off sale. Nevertheless, it’s still something of a shame, because there’s now a more powerful 188bhp hybrid in the all-wheel- drive model and a 181bhp set-up in the front-wheel-drive version. Full specifications on efficiency for the UK market will be available closer to the RAV4’s on sale date – which will be Spring 2026.

Interior and tech

Inside the new RAV4 you’ll find a new 12.9-inch central touchscreen –apparently designed with European customers in mind – giving the driver key information in one view, along with customisable shortcuts and an overall “user-centric experience”, according to Toyota. In front of the driver, there’s a 12.3-inch screen which can also integrate the car’s sat-nav and a revised head-up display.

Many car firms are now investing in ‘software-defined vehicles’, which should enable the vehicle to be updated more easily throughout its life. Toyota says it’s achieved this with the new RAV4 by introducing the Arene software development platform. Essentially, the software allows for Toyota’s Safety Sense features to respond more swiftly. There are also new safety systems on the RAV4, including front cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and a rear vehicle approach indicator, with “more advanced” lane change assist and pre-collision functions.  

The current RAV4 is only offered in plug-in hybrid guise from £44,395 and without the re-introduction of a hybrid, the new model is likely to increase slightly in price – although there will still be a significant gap to its £77,845 Land Cruiser bigger brother.  

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