Toyota RAV4 Review 2025

One of the family SUV mainstays for the past 30 years — largely because it was one of the first designed primarily for use on the road rather than off it — has been thoroughly redesigned for its sixth incarnation. Here’s the low-down on the all-new Toyota RAV4.

Known to aficionados as the XA60, the Mk6 Toyota RAV4 is the boldest-looking version yet. Its bodywork features an array of dramatic creases and sheer surfaces that combine to give it a much tougher appearance than the outgoing model, the result resembling a cross between Toyota’s C-HR and Land Cruiser ranges. Based on the studio photos released so far, it’s a successful melding of themes.

A similar approach has been taken inside this five-seater, the dashboard in particular being home to a variety of chunky fixtures and fittings, with two separate screens in a manner similar to Toyota’s other recent models, although the Arene software running the various functions is making its debut in the latest RAV4.

Given the popularity of family focused SUVs of this size, the new Toyota RAV4 Plug-in won’t be able to rest on the laurels of its past glories in order to succeed against a wide array of alternatives, including the highly regarded Honda CR-V.

Despite its age and likely replacement in 2026, the Ford Kuga continues to sell strongly, as do the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage cousins.

Another regular name to pop-up in the UK’s best-selling cars charts is the Volkswagen Tiguan and we suspect it won’t be long before other PHEV-equipped rivals such as the BYD Seal U and Jaecoo 7 also start climbing up the order.

What’s not yet officially confirmed but is also likely to be offered is a replacement for today’s Suzuki Across — it’s essentially a RAV4 Plug-in with some mild styling modifications. Expect that around six months after the Toyota goes on sale.

Scrutinising the new RAV4's interior reveals that immediately ahead of the driver is a 12.3-inch 3D-replicating display for key information, while the centrally mounted 12.9-inch touchscreen is for the integrated navigation and more granular level aspects of the climate control and driver assistance aids. Positively, there are groups of easily accessed physical buttons and switches for operating more frequently required aspects, such as to alter the interior temperature.

Smartphone mirroring for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will also be accessed via the screen, forming just a small element of what will likely prove to be generous levels of standard equipment right across the line-up of trims.

Exactly what they’ll be isn’t yet clear save for the sportier-looking Toyota RAV4 GR Sport model which will be the range’s flagship. It has more aggressively angled bumpers with a greater degree of gloss black paint on its lower extremities, plus the suspension is specific to that model with the claim that it will handle in a manner that better suits enthusiastic drivers in a way other RAV4s won’t. At this stage, it’s a relatively safe bet that below the GR Sport will be the brand’s usual Icon, Design and Excel specification hierarchy.

While the outgoing RAV4 has been on sale in both self-charging and plug-in hybrid guises, as with the sleek Toyota Prius, only the PHEV option will make it to the UK market this time around. As the plug-in has been the more expensive option, in order to make the latest RAV4 as financially accessible as possible, it will also be available in front-wheel drive format as well as the present AWD-i all-wheel drive guise.

The former has a total petrol and electric combined output of 268PS, while the AWD-i version will be the punchier of the two with 304PS overall. Full performance figures are yet to be released although Toyota’s already suggesting the quickest RAV4 will squirt from a standstill to 62mph in 5.8 seconds.

Nestling under the latest RAV4 PHEV’s passenger space is a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack which provides a provisional claimed electric-only driving range of 62 miles when tested to the WLTP Combined cycle standards.

As well as having an AC on-board charger capable of managing a flow rate of 11kW, reducing the charge time from 10%-80% down to around three hours, the sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 can also be connected to a faster DC connection with a 50kW on-board charger. That same 10%-80% recharge is tackled in sub-30 minutes, enabling speedy top-ups on longer journeys.

At this early stage there are many details about the latest Toyota RAV4 that are yet to be confirmed, such as fuel efficiency claims and boot capacities. They’ll be revealed in due course, closer to it opening for orders later in 2025, ahead of customer deliveries likely beginning right at the end of the year or early 2026.

Pricing similarly remains an unknown at this point but it’s likely that the least-costly front-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 Plug-in will be more than the cheapest C-HR Plug-in at £39,340 but below the existing all-wheel drive RAV4 PHEV’s £44,395 price tag.

Keep this page bookmarked for further news and details about this important newcomer ahead of our full and comprehensive Toyota RAV4 Plug-in review later in the year.