New 2025 Toyota RAV4: details, specs and prices

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.

Toyota RAV4 GR Sport

Toyota has launched the new RAV4 with the GR Sport trim - which only arrived on the previous model in 2022. GR Sport not only 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 that’s exclusive to the GR Sport, plenty of GR badging and some tweaks inside too - including aluminium pedals, suede sports seats, red stitching and red accents throughout. As a seemingly tenuous link to Toyota’s dominated WRC campaign there’s even some knee pads on the centre console - just in case you decide to throw the RAV4 around a rally stage.

Design and development

Having caught the new RAV4 testing multiple times during its development, we can see the overall design in production form it similar to the old car though 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. Other markets also get an ‘outdoor-inspired’ Woodland trim with a raised ride height, exclusive paints, all-terrain tyres and a reshaped grille and front bumper - though we suspect our choices in the UK will be limited to the GR Sport and standard RAV4. 

Powertrain and specs

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.

Mated to the tried and tested 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, 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. There’s also a new 11kW AC charger which is twice as fast as the previous version – providing a 10 to 80 per cent top up in around three hours. 

To ensure the range figure Toyota quotes is consistent all year round, there’s improved cooling over the old RAV4 PHEV with a revised thermal management system to keep it at an ideal operating temperature for efficiency and charging performance. 

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. While that’s slightly de-tuned (due to European emissions regulations) from what the 320bhp North American RAV4 PHEV will offer, the UK market RAV4 will still come with a 0-62mph sprint time of just 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. In the GR Sport there’s also track, snow and normal modes - which aren’t hidden away within layers of infotainment menus, they’re large physical buttons on the centre console - reminding us of the RAV4’s traditional user-friendly cabin.

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 dimensions 

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. 

Functions like the sat-nav, media, climate and vehicle control commands can also be managed via the RAV4’s new voice assistant and there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity too. 

Sitting at 4,617mm long, 1,879mm wide and 1,686mm tall the RAV4 (in GR Sport trim) is larger in every direction compared to the old car. While UK specifics regarding interior space is yet to be announced, other markets have seen up to 17 litres of extra boot space - which would create around 537 litres of space in the RAV4 PHEV.

Tech and safety

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 and receive over-the-air updates throughout the car’s lifespan to help it feel fresh. There are also new safety systems on the RAV4, including front cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and a rear vehicle approach indicator.

The RAV4’s “more advanced” lane change assist lane change assist function has been revised too by working in conjunction with the blind spot monitoring system. The pre-collision system has been upgraded as well with further scope for collision detection and improved recognition, along with braking assistance. Finally, there’s the new and improved panoramic view monitor to help with manual parking - just as well because we found the current camera’s resolution a bit pixelated. 

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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