By RAY MASSEY, MOTORING EDITOR
The original Toyota RAV4 re-wrote the rule book on family cars by establishing in the 1990s a whole new segment - the compact sports utility vehicle or SUV.
Scary to think how long ago it is since the original RAV4 from Japan caused such a stir when launched in 1994 - the year in which: Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first black president to end the apartheid era; the Channel Tunnel was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II; Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, and The Lion King were released in cinemas; and Justin Bieber and Harry Styles were born.
Then, the RAV4 was the exciting much-feted new kid on the block.
Today it is one of many compact SUVs in a very crowded and competitive market.
Since then, more than 15 million RAV4s have been sold globally in 180 countries, including 2.5million across Europe, of which 273,000 were in the UK.
More than three decades on, does the new sixth generation RAV4 stull cut the mustard?
The Toyota RAV4 - the original SUV - is now in its sixth iteration. We've tested it to see if the Daddy of sports utility vehicles still has the right ingredients to compete with rivals...
With prices starting from a fraction under £44,000 I’ve been driving a selection of this chunky new SUV on- and off-road to find out.
And I have to say I was very impressed - especially when venturing off civilised tarmac roads and motorways onto miles of twisting rufty-tufty gravel and dirt tracks in the rugged hills above Malaga in Spain where the international launch took place.
I knew I was getting very comfortable with it the moment I wound down the driver’s window, but my elbow on the sill and simply relaxed and enjoyed the drive.
Intriguingly, the new RAV4 will be sold in the UK only as a plug-in hybrid - and is the first model to feature the Japanese car-maker’s new PHEV technology.
Self-charging hybrid versions will not be available here, which Toyota says is a commercial decision based on past sales patterns. Plug in hybrids also offer tax benefits for company car drivers.
Two versions of the new RAV4 PHEV are on offer to British customers - front- and all-wheel drive - with four trim grade levels.
Entry level Icon trim (from £43,845) and Design (from £45,745) are available only as front-wheel drive.
The higher Excel trim is available in both front-wheel drive (from £50,045) and all-wheel drive (from £52,390).
Top of the range is the motorsport-influenced GR Sport (from £52,045) available only as all-wheel drive.
Icon introduces a new-generation Toyota multimedia system with a 12.9-inch touchscreen and is equipped as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and steering wheel, power back door, lots of safety kit including blind-spot monitor and tyre pressure warning, and includes a choice of solid or metallic paint finish.
Design features 20-inch black alloy wheels, a bi-tone exterior paint finish, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats (with a memory setting for the driver’s seat) plus a wireless smartphone charger.
Excel offers a premium specification with 20-inch machined black alloys, head-up display, leather upholstery, an additional wireless smartphone charger, and a JBL audio system. It also receives extra safety technology including front cross traffic alert. It has two wireless chargers and two 45W USB charging ports so front seat occupants can charge multiple devices simultaneously.
GR Sport adds motorsport-influenced styling and equipment including lightweight 20-inch alloys, a tuned chassis and suspension, and ‘GR-dedicated’ elements including a bold honeycomb front grille, steering wheel and front seats.
GR stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s specialist motorsport arm.
An airy powered panoramic sunroof is an option on higher spec cars and it has a decent-sized flexible boot and towing capability.
Acceleration from 0-62mph ranges from a spirited 7.5 seconds on the front-wheel drive to an even punchier 5.8 seconds on the all-wheel drive models
Top speed on all Toyota RAV4 variants is governed to 112mph. But with fuel prices soaring, Ray says drivers will likely be more concerned about frugality over outright pace
What's it like to drive?
The sprightly new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid system comprises a 2.5 litre inline 4-cylinder 16v petrol engine linked to 22.7kWh lithium Ion hybrid battery, a 151.4k front electric motor in the front-wheel drive version which develops 268bhp, plus an additional 40.7kW rear electric motor in the all-wheel drive (AWD) versions which raise the power threshold to 305bhp.
Acceleration from 0-62mph ranges from a spirited 7.5 seconds on the front-wheel drive to an even punchier 5.8 seconds on the all-wheel drive models. Top speed on all variants is governed to 112mph.
Fittingly, at a time when fuel prices are soaring, it will also manage up to a claimed 85 miles in EV electric-only mode.
Information displayed on new head-up display - more than double the size and with enhanced visible projection can be tailored to suit.
My first outing was in a front-wheel drive model for a relatively domesticated run around busy urban areas, small towns, and villages, where slow speeds, lots of traffic, tight lanes, roundabouts and speed cameras were the order of the day. But it coped well enough and smoothly with a high riding driver’s seat giving good visibility.
Front-wheel drive versions have traditionally been the biggest selling RAV4s in Britain as many customers like the rugged looks of an SUV without needing the more flexible off-roading 4X4 capability of an all-wheel drive model.
But in the all-wheel drive versions I was much more adventurous and at home.
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After some great initial driving on tarmac through twisty hillside terrain, I then ventured off-road to continue my ascent - and subsequent decent - along miles of a serpentine single-track gravel and dirt trail with steep drops through the Sierra de Mijas mountains.
In trail mode it was planted, grippy and still capable of doing a fair lick.
Now I would not expect the RAV4 to cope with serious hard-core off-roading - like rock-crawl or the Hannibal Trail through the Alps.
But it certainly has sufficient capability for terrain well beyond basic ‘grass and gravel’ country picnics, Center Parcs and polo. I was eating up that gravel and loving it.
Front-wheel drive versions have traditionally been the biggest selling RAV4s in Britain as many customers like the rugged looks of an SUV without needing to go off-road
Ray says the RAV4 feels engaging to drive and the GR Sport versions are the most rewarding on the right road
But it’s nippy around town too and engaging to drive. I never felt bored.
It was just as much fun in the sporty GR Sport version which has a wider and lower stance and dynamic styling befitting of its motorsport tweaks.
These include dedicated suspension and tuning, optimised power steering, aerodynamic upgrades including front and rear spoilers, honeycombed mesh 3D-effect grille, and exclusive beefed-up 20-inch lightweight black alloy wheels.
Clever tech
Much of the tech which makes RAV4 a seamless drive is hidden under the skin.
A new electronically controlled braking system is designed to deliver a more natural and easier-to-use feel.
The clunkily named ‘vehicle braking posture control’ uses braking data from each individual wheel to improve stability by minimising body roll and yaw when turning.
Other clever engineering helps increase stability when cornering, while ‘downhill assist control’ automatically applies the brakes when descending steep hills to prevent excessive speed and help more controlled descents.
Ray says the interior of the RAV4 - especially in all black - is too muted and feels bland against the competition
A new ‘shift-by-wire’ system enables intuitive, electronically controlled gear shifting.
The main drive modes are Eco (for greater fuel efficiency), Normal (for daily driving), and Sport (for a more responsive experience). You can toggle between EV and Hybrid, or just allow the vehicle to do so automatically for you as needed.
Trail mode - which I used off-road - give improved all-wheel drive traction on slippery tracks, though in the Spanish sunshine Snow mode was not required.
The RAV4’s 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery has 30 per cent more capacity and 8 per cent higher output than its predecessor.
Plug-in charging from a fast 50kW DC onboard charger will replenish the battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
Charging at home or with standard public chargers will take around 3 hours using a new 11kW AC charger, which Toyota says is twice as fast as the previous version.
It’s a shame that the black interior trim on my cars was so uninspiring.
Adequate, comfortable and functional, yes. But lacking flair. If it could match the exterior styling and the engineering excellence, it would be a more balanced mix.
Ray says the original SUV still has plenty of old-school charm in 2026 and can 'still do the business'
The Cars & Motoring verdict
The new Toyota RAV4 goes on sale in the UK from May with first deliveries in July.
I found it a fun and engaging SUV that retains much of the initial excitement of its original forebear six generations and three decades ago.
It’s a comfortable, flexible and engaging SUV that looks the business and can do the business.
The PHEV system will save you some pennies at the filling station - provided you keep the battery topped up.
And it still has some old-school charm.
Will it fit in my garage? New Toyota RAV4
Price: from £43,845 to £52,390
On sale UK from: May
First deliveries: July
Length: 4,600mm
Width: 1,855mm
Height: 1,700mm
Wheelbase: 2,690mm
Propulsion: Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
Petrol engine: 2.5 litre inline 4-cylinder 16v petrol
Front electric motor: 151.4kW
Rear electric motor (AWD only): 40.7kW
Power: 268bhp (FWD models) / 305bhp (AWD models)
Acceleration (0-62mph): 7.5 seconds (FWD) / 5.8 seconds (AWD)
Top speed: 112mph
Hybrid battery: 22.7kWh Lithium Ion
Distance in EV-only mode: Up to 85 miles
Wheels: 18-20 inch
Kerb weight: Up to 2,060kg
Gross vehicle weight: Up to 2,570kg
Towing capacity (braked): 800kg (FWD) / 2,000kg (AWD)
Boot capacity: 446 litres (up to tonneau cover) / 672 litres (up to roof)
Rear seats folded: 1,189 litres (up to tonneau cover) / 1,690 litres (up to roof)
Context:
The new sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 is available in the UK only as a plug-in hybrid starting from £43,845.
Context:
This marks Toyota's shift toward electrification in the competitive compact SUV market they originally created.
Context:
Over 15 million RAV4s have been sold globally since the model launched in 1994, establishing the SUV segment.
