Toyota RAV4 2026 review | Distinctive styling for able all-rounder

What is the Toyota RAV4?

The Toyota RAV4, the Japanese company’s global best-seller, is one of the founding fathers of the family SUV sector. The first RAV4 was a trend-setter back in the mid-1990s. Remarkably, the car is now into its sixth generation, with this latest all-new version launched in 2026. The range is now fully electrified – and the UK line-up goes one further, by only offering the Toyota RAV4 in plug-in hybrid guise. The regular hybrid version is no longer available here, due to lack of demand.

This pushes up the entry-level price of a new Toyota RAV4 to around £44,000, which is quite a jump over regular petrol-powered rivals such as the Kia Sportage and, to a lesser extent, the Volkswagen Tiguan. However, compare the Toyota RAV4 to its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) competitors and the price gap is minimised.

It’s competitive in other ways too. A bigger battery means it now has an EV range of up to 85 miles, while it’s available in mud-plugging all-wheel-drive guise alongside the core front-wheel-drive model (not all of its rivals are). There’s a new software system too, which Toyota says delivers much-improved infotainment, alongside enhanced safety and driver assistance tech.

Design-wise, the latest RAV4 is clearly inspired by the current Toyota Land Cruiser. This is a model that has drawn upon its heritage, with retro styling cues, and some of that rugged angularity has carried across to the RAV4. It’s a more assertive-looking machine than before, one that’s proudly more ‘4x4’ than crossover-like ‘SUV’. Even the ‘RAV4’ script on the tailgate is bolder than ever.

There’s now a GR Sport version of the latest Toyota RAV4, too. This has race-inspired exterior styling cues along with below-the-surface upgrades to the suspension in order to improve the car’s handling.

There is, of course, no shortage of competitors for the Toyota RAV4. These include the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail, Mazda CX-5, Ford Kuga, Skoda Karoq, Citroen C5 Aircross, MG HS and Vauxhall Grandland, along with newer (and significantly cheaper) Chinese rivals such as the Jaecoo 7, Chery Tiggo 7 and BYD Sealion 5.

How practical is it?

The Toyota RAV4 measures exactly 4.6 metres long. This makes it a little bigger than family SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai, and notably longer overall than its Toyota C-HR small SUV sibling. It’s around 1.85 metres wide – with GR Sport models 25mm broader thanks to their wider tracks and beefier wheelarches. Regular models are 1.7 metres tall, with the GR Sport sitting slightly lower to the ground.

Accessibility is good. The Toyota RAV4 has tall, vertically-positioned doors, helping you get in and out easily. There’s plenty of space, and the dashboard architecture helps provide a more commanding view out. The seats in regular cars are OK, but we much prefer the nicely-bolstered seats in the GR Sport. Its red-stitched steering wheel feels sportier, too.

The driving position is good, and the control layout is clear. Pleasingly, Toyota has retained a good array of physical buttons and controls, including simpler steering wheel buttons. The steering wheel heater now extends all the way around the rim, too. There’s lots of headroom, and this feeling of spaciousness carries through to the rear seats, where access is again easy and foot room is plentiful.

There are some nice detail touches, such as the sturdy, rugged door handles, handy centre console stowage shelves and a clever centre stowage box that can be opened from either side. The electronic gear shifter frees up space in the centre console for extra-large cupholders, and there are soft knee pads below the dashboard to protect passengers during vigorous off-roading.

Boot space is OK, although rivals are better. With the seats up, there’s a 446-litre cargo capacity, but more than 500 litres is generally expected in this sector (it does extend to 672 litres if you load it to the roof, mind). The boot lip is nice and low, with a flat floor, so it’s easy to access. Fold the rear seats (sadly not via remote-fold levers in the boot itself) and space expands to 1,690 litres. The standard power tailgate is augmented by a kick sensor on all except Icon grade.

All models have a black-themed interior. Upholstery is black on Design, Excel and GR Sport, with the entry-level Icon featuring dark grey fabric that looks pretty much black as well. There are blue design accents on Design models, and red detailing on the GR Sport. If you want a brighter alternative, you perhaps need to choose a rival family SUV – such as higher-spec versions of the Mazda CX-5.

As for exterior colours, Toyota says five of them are new, with smart choices including Massive Grey, Forest Green, Urban Rock and Avant Garde Bronze. The trademark GR Sport red is appealing too, bringing direct parallels with models such as the iconic Toyota GR Yaris.

What's it like to drive?

The Toyota RAV4 won’t surprise, but will please those who are familiar with previous models and want something that’s just as safe, secure and effortless to drive. Its platform, called TNGA-K, is more rigid, while enhanced suspension provides more grip.

The springs have a long-travel feel that’s good at soaking up rutted roads, particularly in base Icon grade. This version has more absorbent 18-inch wheels, whereas other models have 20-inch wheels. Body control is on the softer side, which again is good for comfort, although does mean it can lean a bit in corners. Choose the GR Sport if you want to lessen this; it has firmer dampers and bespoke steering, which is a bit meatier than the light setup in regular models.

The Toyota RAV4 is more than able during light off-roading, courtesy of its ground clearance and suspension travel. AWD versions are grippier, and also feature a rear limited-slip diff lock, making the most of what grip there is. They have electronic downhill assist control as well.

The plug-in hybrid tech is available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) guises. Both FWD and AWD share the same 149bhp electric motor, with AWD adding an additional 40bhp rear motor. Factor in the 2.5-litre petrol engine that, again, is shared by both versions, and the FWD has a 268bhp total system output, while the AWD delivers 305bhp.

Both are generous figures, giving 0-62mph acceleration in 7.5 seconds for the FWD, or just 5.8 seconds for the AWD. Both cars have the same electronically-limited 112mph top speed. The Toyota RAV4 tends to default into EV mode, in which it serves up nicely linear and smooth acceleration, with the engine kicking in when you want full power. Unlike previous models, Toyota has worked to lessen the high-revving, single-gear ‘CVT effect’ of the transmission, making it feel more natural and refined.

It’s possible to cruise at motorway speeds in pure EV mode, which is impressive. And even when the battery is discharged, the Toyota RAV4 makes good use of electric drive when running in regular hybrid mode, boosting refinement as well as fuel economy.

Overall, the RAV4 is more refined than ever, with better isolation from wind and road noise. Even the door seals have been enhanced to reduce levels of noise from outside.

As before, you can tow with the latest Toyota RAV4 PHEV. FWD models have a braked trailer maximum weight of 800kg – which leaps to a much more useful 2,000kg on AWD models. The latter is a big improvement, which will boost its appeal to caravanners and others who need plenty of towing capacity.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

The RAV4 has an all-new ToyotaConnect infotainment system that runs through a 12.9-inch touchscreen in all versions. Compared to older Toyotas, it has a new home screen concept, which the firm says was designed with European drivers in mind. All relevant information is displayed in a single view, rather than swiping between multiple screens, and it offers customisable shortcuts and a ‘quick settings’ menu. Owners can also configure a personalised user profile. As the processor is four times faster, it’s much more responsive than before. Over-the-air updates will keep it fresh over time.

Toyota has teamed up with tech partners to optimise functionality. TomTom does the built-in sat nav, and also delivers speed camera alerts. There are Google ‘points of interest’, while native Spotify lets you access your account without going through your smartphone. Naturally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard. Icon-spec cars lack a wireless smartphone charger, but you get one on Design and GR Sport – and Excel features two of them.

All models get two 15W USB ports in the front; in Excel, they charge at a more powerful 45W rate. There are two more USB ports in the rear. A ‘floating’ 12.3-inch driver display is new, and again has customisable settings. It can show navigation, safety and driver assistance features, while an ‘eco’ display provides data such as power consumption. Excel and GR Sport models have a new head-up display as well, projecting information several metres in front of the driver for best readability.

The MyToyota app comes with a 10-year trial subscription that includes cloud navigation, in-car voice control and smartphone app services such as driving analytics. New cars also come with a free one-year trial of an intelligent voice agent. Toyota says this can even conduct Wikipedia searches, along with offering smart navigation that hunts out mobile speed cameras, remote climate control activation and a novel drive recorder.

The Toyota RAV4 now offers ‘Smart Digital Key+’ functionality. This gives access to the car via smartphones or smartwatches, and also allows a key to be shared through your smartphone wallet. Up to seven digital keys can be created – so you can share access with up to six people.

Standard rapid-charging tech is worth a mention, as it’s not a given on plug-in hybrids. It allows Toyota RAV4 drivers to use DC rapid chargers, which will take the 22.7kWh battery from 10-80 percent capacity in around 30 minutes.

The Toyota RAV4 follows the firm’s familiar line-up of Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport grades – the latter a new addition for the RAV4. Even the entry-grade Icon is well-equipped. Standard features include dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.9-inch multimedia display, a reversing camera, a powered tailgate and rear privacy glass.

Design grade is next, which has 20-inch black alloy wheels, two-tone exterior paint, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and a wireless smartphone charger. It also has nicer black Ultrasuede upholstery, rather than the dark grey fabric of Icon – and is the first model in Europe to have gloss black Toyota logos on the outside. Design costs just £1,900 more than a comparable Icon, too.

Excel is the premium grade, with 20-inch machined black alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a head-up display and a premium JBL sound system. It has two wireless smartphone chargers, instead of one, and is available with a panoramic sunroof as an option.

GR Sport is the motorsport-influenced model, with styling updates outside and in, plus that dedicated GR Sport chassis tune. Again, a sunroof is an optional extra.

Toyota RAV4 running costs

With its hybrid engines, the Toyota RAV4 has long been a fuel-efficient family SUV. Now it is PHEV-only, there’s the potential for even lower running costs, with owners able to take advantage of cheap-rate home electricity rather than relying on expensive petrol at the pumps.

A generous EV range of up to 85 miles means a much higher proportion of everyday driving will be done in electric mode. This will slash the fuel bills of many owners, without requiring them to plug it in at home every single evening.

The updated 2.5-litre petrol engine is more efficient, too. Take the claimed fuel economy figures of up to 217mpg with a pinch of salt, but rest assured that you should see very impressive mpg in real-world driving. We look forward to trying the new Toyota RAV4 on UK roads to see what it’s capable of. Sub-40g/km CO2 emissions will prove beneficial for company car drivers as well.

Toyota will have optimised the RAV4 for sensible running costs elsewhere, too. It may not necessarily be the cheapest in terms of servicing or insurance costs, but it will still be competitive – and the added draw of Toyota’s acclaimed reliability should also help avoid any big bills in the longer term.

The Toyota RAV4 has a standard three-year, 60,000 mile warranty – but this can be extended up to 10 years or 100,000 miles for free, simply by having the RAV4 serviced each year at a Toyota dealer. It is called the ‘Toyota Relax’ service-activated warranty.

Toyota RAV4 reliability

It’s a Toyota, so reliability is expected to be first-rate. This is a car already on sale in other key markets such as North America, and no issues have arisen to date. The testing process during development will no doubt have been exhaustive.

The 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey certainly provides plenty of confidence in the latest Toyota RAV4. As a brand, Toyota moved up from fifth place to fourth in the latest survey, with less than one in five owners reporting an issue (and even then, most of them related to the 12V battery). Nearly nine in 10 repairs were carried out for free, and almost six in 10 were sorted out within 24 hours.

The previous Toyota RAV4 PHEV performed well too, scoring seventh overall in the car rankings. It has a glittering reliability rating of 99.2 percent, making it one of the most reliable cars on the road. Here’s hoping this great performance can carry across to the latest Toyota RAV4.