Toyota RAV4 2026 (2026 - )

It’s been more than three decades since Toyota launched its first RAV4 and during the years that followed it has sold more than 15 million models across 180 countries, of which 2.5 million have been snapped up by European customers. It is the company’s global best-seller and now Toyota has unleashed a new, sixth-generation version that raises the bar even further.

It is only available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain this time round, but buyers can choose between richly equipped trims called Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport. Icon and Design are sold with front-wheel drive, Excel has the option of all-wheel drive and GR Sport is AWD as standard. 

Pricing is key in such a competitive sector and Toyota have got that spot on with an entry figure of £43,845. We opted for the RAV4 Design specification, costing £45,745 for our week-long test.

The latest RAV4 is the first vehicle to be powered by Toyota’s new-generation hybrid technology that sees a 2.5-litre petrol engine working alongside a 22.7kWh battery (an increase of 30 per cent compared to the outgoing version) and an electric motor with an extra 16kW of power. With a total of 268bhp, this car can complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.5 seconds and has a maximum speed of 112mph. It can also deliver up to 85 miles of electric-only range.

If you’re looking for extra power, the all-wheel drive version gains an extra electric motor and boasts 305bhp – that sees a drop in the 0-62mph time to 5.8 seconds, although the EV range is slightly less at 83 miles.

With the upgraded hybrid technology, along with suspension and body improvements, the 2026 RAV4 is more efficient and also more engaging to drive. While the emphasis is still on comfort rather than outright speed, it is swift out the starting blocks and acceleration also impresses. It’s a confident motorway cruiser sitting effortlessly at 70mph, and the great driver visibility is always appreciated in busier towns and villages. This car will likely feature on the dreaded school run with cars, cyclists and pedestrians darting out from all angles, so excellent driver visibility is paramount.

When faced with more testing B roads with lots of twists and turns, the RAV4 has really improved – it seems to have gained a certain edge with age and the road-holding is planted and very assured. Any body sway is kept in check and the steering is perfectly weighted with plenty of driver feedback.

There are drive modes which are called Normal, Eco, Sport and Custom and these alter the dynamics and handling accordingly, while steering wheel-mounted paddles allow you to shift through simulated gears in this fully automatic CVT transmission.

It is also possible to save the EV charge and a clever geo-fencing set-up will ensure sufficient EV range is saved to navigate upcoming LEZ or BEV-mandatory zones on sat nav routes.

Long gone are the days when the RAV4 was offered as a funky three-door model complete with a spare wheel on the back door. These days, it’s a fully-sized, five-door family SUV and the latest sixth-gen model boasts a stronger, more rugged look than its predecessor.

It features the company’s trademark 3D hammerhead front end with sweeping light clusters and a contoured bonnet – it’s also the first Toyota in Europe to showcase the blacked out Toyota badging. Factor in LED tail lights with the indicators incorporated into one unit, roof rails, rear privacy glass, a gloss black rear spoiler, a powered tailgate and the choice of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels and this model certainly boasts plenty of kerb appeal.

There is even a fresh palette of colours to choose from and our test car looked stunning in a new Forest Green shade.

Moving inside, the interior is upmarket, modern and features a nice mix of physical and touchscreen controls to navigate the numerous on-board features. The main focal point is a 12.9-inch multi-media screen that offers user-friendly access to the built-in sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, DAB radio, Bluetooth, six-speaker sound system, reversing camera and lots more besides.               

Behind the steering wheel is a new free-floating 12.3-inch driver display that can be customised to taste and this clearly shows all the important numbers such as speed, speed limits, EV range and the likes.

The seats are upholstered in a smart looking Ultrasuede material and these are powered and, along with the steering wheel, can be heated against the winter chill. There are also memory settings, which is handy if several drivers share the vehicle.

Throughout the cabin there’s lots of squishy soft-touch surfaces, but there is also rather a lot of harder plastic, which despite being practical and easy to clean, rather lowers the tone a little.

A family SUV needs to tick all the boxes when it comes to catering for an active family and the new RAV4 does just that. It stretches 4,600mm in length, is 1,855mm wide, 1,700mm tall and has a 2,690mm wheelbase. Those numbers translate into a versatile family vehicle with room for five occupants and space for all their luggage too.

Up front, a couple of six-foot-plus adults can stretch out in comfort and there’s room for a couple more in the back too. Add a third and it gets a tad too cosy and the poor soul relegated to the middle seat will have to straddle a large transmission tunnel. But the space is fine for three youngsters.

There is a powered tailgate and the boot can swallow 672 litres of kit, increasing to 1,690 litres (to the roof) with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is additional storage space beneath the boot floor which is ideal for keeping charging cables out if the way.

Then, throughout the cabin, you will find numerous practical storage solutions, including a lockable glovebox, a deep cubby that can be opened sideways by the driver or front passenger, door bins, a sunglasses compartment, front and rear cup holders, seat back pockets, a dashboard tray for the front passenger, a wireless charging pad and four USB ports.

With family getaways in mind, the front-wheel drive RAV4 can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 800kg, increasing to two tonnes for the all-wheel drive models.

Charging the 22.7kWh battery takes about three hours from an 11kW port, although a 10 to 80 per cent fast charge can be achieved in 30 minutes thanks to the vehicles 50kW on-board charger.

With strong rivals including the Kia Sportage, Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai vying for sales in this competitive SUV sector, Toyota needed to keep the RAV4’s pricing just right, and they have succeeded on that count with the entry-level Icon version costing £43,845. The Design specification, as tested, was £45,745 and the Excel with front-wheel drive is £50,045, increasing to £52,390 for all-wheel drive. The GR Sport, which is only sold with AWD, costs £52,045.

The official fuel efficiency figure, like all plug-in hybrid models, is quite pie in the sky at 166.2mpg, so expect to see around the mid-40s on a combined run.

A carbon emissions figure of 38g/km will result in a first-year road tax bill of £115, increasing to £200 after 12 months. But, as the RAV4 exceeds the government’s £40k Expensive Car Supplement threshold, owners will need to pay an extra £440 from years two to six.

Business drivers considering the RAV4 as a company car receive an attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of seven per cent and the vehicle, as tested, sits in insurance group 36.

Toyota has a great reliability record, but for added peace of mind, the RAV4 is sold with a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that can be increased to 10 years or 100,000 miles provided the car is serviced regularly at a Toyota-approved centre.

It’s great to see the RAV4 move with the times, but not in such a radical way to scare off the faithful Toyota customers – of which there are many. The 2026 model boasts a fresh, more robust look and is packed with all the techno treats you could wish for. It covers practicality needs really well and comfort levels are exceptional.

Yes, there are more dynamic rivals out there, but the latest RAV4 is a brilliant all-rounder that will surely see the sales figures tick over at quite a pace moving forward.