By ROB HULL
One of Toyota's longest-running models - and an SUV pioneer - has received an overhaul for 2025 and will arrive in Britain exclusively with plug-in hybrid power.
Sold in the UK since 1994, this is the sixth iteration of a car that's proved immensely popular worldwide.
Global sales of this evergreen vehicle have surpassed the 15 million mark - with more than 2.5 million delivered to European customers and the UK one of the largest markets with almost 190,000 examples registered to date. Last year, it was the world's third most popular motor, amassing a staggering 1.02million registrations.
Key to its success, especially in Britain, has been its incredible reliability and bulletproof build quality - traits that have remained consistent for more than three decades.
It's also one of the earliest hybrid-powered SUVs sold in the UK - a tradition it will retain from 2025 as Toyota continues to tread carefully in its transition to electric vehicles.
If you hadn't guessed it by now, this landmark motor is the RAV4 - a perennial favourite among Britain's drivers that is now likely to be available well beyond the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.
RAV4: Unveiled this week, the sixth-generation is looking to add to the 15m global sales of the popular SUV since 1994 - but Britons are being given limited choice
The new versions is a major departure from the quirky original, which debuted over 30 years ago with a two-door design and relatively tiny proportions
Toyota is the brand arguably most synonymous with the conventional hybrid, courtesy of the early success of the Prius.
But while it has produced a new RAV4 with a self-charging hybrid powertrain, this won't be coming to the UK.
Instead, we're only getting the - more expensive - plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Using a revised version of the replaced RAV4's TNGA G-AK platform, buyers in Britain will still get some choice: the option of front or four-wheel drive.
The front-wheel-drive model produces 264bhp, while the four-wheel-drive variant has 300bhp from its e-motor and combustion engine combination.
This jump to 'class-leading' power predominantly comes from the 16kW increase in grunt for the front-mounted electric motor, which has been upped to 150kW.
As such, the four-wheel-drive version can hit 62mph from a standing start in just 5.8 seconds.
Thanks to a larger 22.6kWh battery (up from 18.1kWh in the old model), the new RAV4 can also travel further than before in electric-only mode, up to 62 miles.
This is 18 miles more than the model it replaces and means UK owners would likely only need to charge once a week to cover the average daily mileage (19 miles per day) using the RAV4 like an EV.
The PHEV system has an onboard 50kW DC charger, meaning the battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent charge in half an hour using an ultra-rapid public device.
Charging at home or with a standard 7kW public charging point is also quicker, with a new 11kW AC charger - which is twice as fast as the previous version - upping energy from 10 to 80 per cent in around three hours.
Toyota says it should be better to drive too, thanks to a stiffened body for better cornering control and a big focus on upgrading refinement.
The four-wheel-drive version also gets a revamped terrain response system, just in case you do plan to take it away from the tarmac.
Toyota is the brand arguably most synonymous with the conventional hybrid, courtesy of the early success of the Prius
The UK will only get the plug-in hybrid version of the new RAV4. It will provide an impressive 62 miles of driving range in EV only mode, granted it's been fully charged
The new model has C-shaped headlights similar to those on the new Prius. It also gets a striking new grille made up of what look like rifling holes you find in machine gun barrels
The RAV4 isn’t one of those mainstay motors with a steadfast design that has been tweaked and evolved over generations, say the VW Golf.
Instead, Toyota has torn up the styling book for its SUV on a number of occasions, with this latest example bearing very little resemblance to the boxy, three-door RAV4 that emerged in 1994.
To bring it into line with the rest of the Toyota range, it shares a similar set of C-shaped headlights that you’ll find on the new Prius and recently facelifted bZ4X EV.
On the standard PHEV, the LED clusters perch above a striking new colour-coded grille made up of what look like rifling holes you find in machine gun barrels.
There’s certainly a hint of C-HR in its profile, with blocky bodywork and deep angular indents in the lower rear door panels, which are enhanced by a contrasting black side skirt.
Squared-off wheel arches with chunky plastic protective extensions suggest its offroad prowess.
To the rear, Toyota has followed in the tyre tracks of the likes of Land Rover, Skoda and VW by lettering the nameplate centrally below the window on the bootlid, which is flanked by a new brake light arrangement.
A GR Sport trim will be available (like the previous-generation model) with tweaks from the Gazoo Racing team, which oversees its quest in the World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship
There’s definitely a hint of C-HR in the RAV4's profile, with blocky bodywork and deep angular indents in the lower rear door panels, which are enhanced by a contrasting black side skirt
The GR Sport trim adds 20mm to the RAV4’s track width, uprated high-performance suspension dampers and tuned springs, strengthened rear bracing and tweaked power steering
Like the previous fifth-generation RAV4, Toyota has allowed its Gazoo Racing division – the one spearheading its World Rally Championship quest as well its challenge in the World Endurance Championship hypercar class – to design a GR Sport trim level.
To stand it apart, it has a more conventional lower bumper section with a black mesh panel to provide cooling for the combustion engine under the bonnet.
It also gets unique black 20-inch alloy wheels, aluminium throttle and brake pedals, suede sport seats and plenty of red accents and ‘GR’ logos dotted around internally and externally.
But there are mechanical upgrades too.
The GR Sport trim adds 20mm to the RAV4’s track width, uprated high-performance suspension dampers and tuned springs, strengthened rear bracing and tweaked power steering for what Toyota claims will result in ‘increased engagement’.
Toyota says the RAV4 cabin has been tuned for European customers with a 12.9-inch central touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster and a head-up display
The main display has all the key information in the top menu screen with a selection of customisable shortcuts to allow drivers to tailor the setup to make repeat adjustments quickly
While Toyota is yet to confirm its boot size, these images show it's a cavernous space with plenty of room for luggage and fortnightly food shopping for a large family
Toyota bods claim the cabin has been tuned for European customers.
That's why - they claim - the RAV4 now has an abundance of tech, including a 12.9-inch central touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster and a head-up display - it sounds like information overload, doesn't it?
However, the main display has been designed to present all key information in the top menu screen with a selection of customisable shortcuts to allow drivers to tailor the setup to make common adjustments quicker.
Doing so should reduce distraction and provide a 'user-centric experience'.
That said, it is disappointing to see the temperature control settings buried at the bottom of the central touchscreen, which will demand more of the driver's attention to adjust on the move than it would if this was a selection of dedicated buttons on the dashboard.
The Japanese marque has also made great strides in providing software updates to its cars, having previously fallen behind rivals like Tesla for offering downloadable upgrades to the infotainment as well as tweaking the vehicle's performance.
This is thanks to the arrival of its 'Arene' software development platform.
Pricing for the new RAV4 will be confirmed at a later date. Expect it to start from between £45,000 and £50,000
Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but you can expect there to be a premium compared to the model on sale today.
The outgoing RAV4 PHEV - which is still available to order in the UK - starts from £44,395, so a slight hike in cost should still see this much-loved SUV sit below the £50,000 bracket.
This means it should be price close to the Honda CR-V, but it will be undercut by European - and certainly Chinese- rivals.
The new GR Sport version, which is sold with a £5k premium today, will likely go over the £50,000 threshold.
The original RAV4 broke away from convention when it arrived in 1994 with a compact design with a boxy look, short overhangs and a small wheelbase
The first-generation was originally available as both a two and three-door model, though a more practical five-door version followed from 1996
The RAV4 might have arrived in 1994, but its roots can be traced back to the RAV-FOUR concept unveiled at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show. After a positive public response, Toyota gave the production version the green light in 1991.
It took the market by storm with a design that broke away from convention. Compact (it was just 3.69 metres long, which is the same as today's Toyota Aygo X city car), boxy, short overhangs and a small wheelbase, it quickly stood out from the crowd. And while its rear-mounted spare wheel hinted at its off-road capabilities, the option of a high driving position made it a trendy daily driver - essentially dipping into an untapped SUV market at the time.
It was originally available as both a two and three-door model (a five-door coming in 1996) with power delivered by a 127bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, mounted transversely, while the transmission provided permanent all-wheel drive.
Showcasing Toyota's early dabbling in electrification, in 1997 it launched a front-wheel-drive RAV4 EV in selected markets (not the UK). It used a nickel-metal hydride battery installed under the floor and a single e-motor producing 45kW (63bhp). Its estimated range was approximately 120 miles.
The second-generation RAV4 was built on an entirely new platform, offering different suspension and full-time all-wheel-drive managed by a rear differential
In 2001, Toyota introduced the first diesel engine for the RAV4
The turn of the Century brought a very different second generation RAV4 built on a new platform with different suspension and full-time all-wheel-drive system using a rear differential.
Both three and five-door versions were slightly longer than before (5.5cm and 4cm respectively) and two petrol engines were offered: a 121bhp 1.8-litre and 148bhp 2.0-litre units. In 2001, diesel power was offered in the RAV4 for the first time via a 2.0 litre D-4D direct injection unit with 114bhp.
Interior upgrades also included various rear seat configurations to make it more family friendly.
The MK3 RAV4 arrived in 2006 with a more sophisticated appearance, while also dropping the quirky three-door option
This version of Toyota's popular SUV debuted a new all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled coupling that operated automatically, according to the vehicle’s speed, throttle operation, steering angle and G-forces
The RAV4 had another identity change in 2006 when the third-gen car arrived with a more sophisticated appearance, while also dropping the three-door option.
Based on an all-new platform, it measured 19cm longer than the mk2. It also debuted an all-new Toyota all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled coupling that operated automatically, according to the vehicle’s speed, throttle operation, steering angle and G-forces. RAV4 also got the first application of Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control.
Engine choice was extended to 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 and 3.5-litre petrol units and a new 2.2-litre diesel.
The fourth-generation RAV4 really bulked up. It was 23.5cm longer than the previous model, and this resulted in more cabin space and a 47% increase in luggage capacity
While traditional petrol and diesel power units were available from launch, in 2016 the RAV4 was sold as a full hybrid for the first time
The fourth generation RAV4 saw the biggest growth in dimensions, with length upped by a relatively expansive 23.5cm. This contributed to a 47 per cent increase in luggage space compared to its predecessor.
It added more advanced AWD technology was introduced with a new intelligent Dynamic Torque Control system and the addition of two new functions: cornering control and a Sport driving mode.
While traditional petrol and diesel power units were available from launch, in 2016 the RAV4 was sold as a full hybrid for the first time. This achieved class-leading fuel consumption in official tests, as well as diesel-rivalling low CO2 emissions.
This is the outgoing Toyota RAV4, which is still available to order in the UK for just under £45k
The fifth-generation RAV4 was the first version sold with a PHEV powertrain from 2020.
The Mk5 is built on the New Global Architecture (NGA) platform, which achieved a low centre of gravity, light weight and a strong chassis for better handling and stability.
It was originally sold only with a conventional hybrid drivetrain. This used Toyota’s fourth generation hybrid technology, together with a new 2.5 litre hybrid engine, which brought significant gains in terms of power, response and efficiency.
It wasn't until 2020 that a PHEV drivetrain was added for the first time.
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