The single most important new car debut of 2025 is coming up fast. More important than any supercar, more important than any heritage nameplate revival, arguably more important than any electric car. It’s not a truck, it’s America’s favorite crossover. We’re about to find out what the 2026 Toyota RAV4 looks like from all angles, but for now, Toyota’s gone and teased the latest iteration of its best-seller.
First, a little bit of a re-cap on just how much this matters. Last year, the RAV4 was the third-best-selling car in America. Not third-best-selling Toyota, third-best-selling car. It posted better sales numbers than every Lexus and every Volvo combined, and was only beaten by the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, both of which are multiple trucks rolled into one nameplate thanks to heavy duty and electric versions.
When you’re dealing with volume like that, you really want to take the time to get a redesign right. With a new Chevrolet Equinox, the Ford Bronco Sport, a new Honda CR-V, a new Hyundai Tucson, a new Kia Sportage, the Mazda CX-50, a new Subaru Forester, a new Volkswagen Tiguan all having launched since the current RAV4 debuted in 2018, everyone’s fighting for a piece of the RAV4’s pie. Toyota better stay on its A-game.
Huh, I guess the “A” in “A-game” stands for aerial in this case, because Toyota’s decided to tease the new RAV4 from above. It’s an angle that doesn’t give the game away, but it does give us enough hints as to what might be in store. For one, the front end looks pretty blocky, with a nearly square plateau in the hood and a fairly blunt nose. We’re looking at stronger hood surfacing than on the current model, and a flatter front.
At the same time, we’re seeing a taper to the greenhouse from above that looks stronger than on the current RAV4, and some fairly pronounced haunches. At the same time, it looks like we’re getting a different D-pillar treatment, and we’re getting a completely different rear lighting setup that doesn’t seem to protrude nearly as much from the body as the rear lighting on the current model.
While exterior photos of the new RAV4 are purposefully vague, it doesn’t take much surfing of Toyota’s regional Instagram pages to produce this image of an interior, shared in a carousel with an overhead shot of the new RAV4 from the Czech Toyota account. Although low in resolution, it does give us a good glimpse of what the cabin of the next RAV4 will be like. As expected, both a heads-up display and Toyota’s driver monitoring system make an appearance, while thick-bezeled infotainment and instrument cluster screens adopt a semi-floating form. Compared to other iterations of Toyota’s new cluster, it seems that the steering wheel controls have been cleaned up, although the angle of the shot makes it hard to tell if that massive new screen is paired with a volume knob.
However, there are enough pixels here to learn that some climate functions have been moved to the touchscreen of the new RAV4, a step backward for anyone in a cold enough climate to need gloves for portions of the year. However, I do spy what may be a button pad on the dashboard, so we’ll have to see what controls that contains.
What else can we expect from the next RAV4? Well, don’t be surprised if there’s increased focus on electrification. The Camry sedan and Sienna minivan have already gone all-hybrid, so there’s a good chance hybrid sales mix expands on the RAV4 compared to the previous one, even if a pure combustion powertrain stays as an option. At the same time, expect the electrified powertrain to be Toyota’s fifth-generation system, sharing tech with the Camry since the models are expected to share a platform. This should translate to increased efficiency, which is exactly what buyers want to see.
Expect to learn a whole lot more about the new RAV4 on May 20, when Toyota’s set to show off its revamped U.S. best-seller for real. It’s only a matter of time before it’s absolutely everywhere in the real world, so get ready to get acquainted with the latest iteration of America’s favorite crossover.
Top graphic credit: Toyota
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
We have a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid in our family fleet, and it is mostly a perfect appliance. It’s got space, it’s comfortable and it’s been as reliable as gravity.
It does however have one glaring issue. When the rear wheel motors power on they tend to surge. In bad weather this will invariably kick the tail out hard. If you stay on the throttle, you straighten right out, but woe unto the driver that takes their foot off the gas or goes for the brakes. I hope this new model has some thought put into how power is distributed to make it more of a true AWD car, rather than just a car where all wheels can technically be driven.
Except for the screens, that interior looks very mid 1980s. But it doesn’t matter, Toyotas are magic.
I had the same thought. I had an ’84 Tercel 4X4 and the angularity of this one gave me that same vibe.
There is nothing wrong with that!
80s Japanese cars were even available with really cool digital dashes too 😀
I was of the impression that the RAV4 beat out the F150 to become America’s #1 selling vehicle last year after Ford’s 48 (49?) years, not 3rd.
It beat the F150, but Ford thinks they’re clever by lumping all the F-Series together as one “model” when they aren’t at all.
RAV4s went off my radar once I tried to sit in the passenger seat of a current generation rental version and my hair was rubbing the headliner. Yes I’m tall but I’ve never experienced this problem in any other CUV.
I remember an Acura crossover with a raked roofline a few years back where people over 5 feet tall could not get in the back seat
WOW! I don’t care
That makes two of us. I had the current one as a rental a few weeks ago, bleck. Life is too short, I don’t care how reliable it is.
Two years ago, we bought a used car from a Toyota Dealership and it had a unsolvable gremlin that kept it in shop for a few months. In the meantime, they gave us loaners off the lot.
One was a brand new base model 2023 RAV4. Wasn’t terrible to drive, but nothing to write home about. Here’s the issue:
I live a coastal town. Every year, (Until recently) they would have a huge 4th of July celebration on the beach, where everyone would set off tons of fireworks. Having kids, we went each year. And, over the years we never had an issue driving, parking, and leaving the sand. We had done it in a Ford Escape AWD, a 4WD TrailBlazer, and even one year I did it in my FWD Fiesta. Never had an issue. Never got stuck.
The RAV4 got stuck. Of course, there’s SUVs and Dude-Bro trucks everywhere, and many are all too happy to show off their recovery skills. Guys walks up and says “I’ll grab my F250 and tow strap, and we’ll get you out.” He brings his beast over, and we try to decided if to pull it forwards or backwards out of its little ruts it dug itself into. . While looking it over, we both noticed, that the RAV4 didn’t have a tow hook on it. Front or back. (My fricking Buick station wagon has tow hooks!) So, we had to loop over a piece of frame to tow it out.
Having it for about 2 weeks, was enough to know it was absolutely useless as a “AWD” vehicle. Great for groceries, but don’t leave the pavement in one.
I’ve been saying for years that AWD systems are not equal. If they work, they use more fuel, and too many of these things lose little mpg on paper over FWD. The reason, of course, is that they contain the minimal amount of hardware needed to upsell to people who marketing have convinced need AWD when, if those AWD systems are good enough for you, the FWD would suit you just as well for cheaper. If you actually need AWD, you need one that works. The even bigger joke is Toyota’s “AWD” system for the hybrids where there’s little more than a cordless drill motor on the rear axle that shuts off at low speed, though maybe it helps with battery regen. And the lack of tow hooks is annoying on normal cars, never mind pretend off roaders that are more likely to get stuck on (likely rare, at least) occasion that someone puts their placebo AWD to the test.
*Yawn* Rav-Bore *Yawn* At least the teaser image is grey.
These are definitely gray cars no matter what color they have painted.
Though oddly enough, the second(?) gen was weirdly fun to drive for what was basically a Camry wagon on stilts. I had a couple as rentals, then my housemate bought one. The next gen after that lost the plot completely, though the current one is not as bad as the two in-between. I rent soooo many cars…
that dash and steering wheel remind me of my dad’s ’86 Toyota Pickup that he’s had since ‘88, if you put modern gear into it. That brown color and the boxyness and angles.
Aww. I was hoping the teaser image of SIX meant a six speed manual option.
Or an inline 6
I thought the teaser image was SEX. Not sure what I was hoping for when I clicked.
Automotive Rorschach test. I initially saw SIX, but after reading the article and thought maybe they’re going for SEX, but I didn’t see or read anything sexy.
Someone say sex?!?!
Sorry. Pavlovian reaction.
I’ll reserve full judgement until it is revealed but that interior isn’t giving off “better than the current model” vibes from the teaser shots.
MSRP will start at $40,000 excluding dealer adjustments. Guaranteed.
Hardly. That’s Grand Highlander money. It’ll probably around $32k if they do like they did for the Camry going full-hybrid: more than the base gas one was, but under where the hybrid version started.
And then here in the Southern part of the country, add $8K of port-installed TruKote.
Assuming the Grand Highlander doesn’t spike up to 60k in the next few years.
I’m just going to hold off until the RAV5 comes out.
It’s been in development for decades!
I’m just hoping for the return of the 3 door soft-top.
Surely one of these times they’ll listen to me.
I had one drive past me yesterday but it was a 1st gen 2 door hard top. Wow I forgot how small those were. I live in the long winters road salt belt, it was rough but road worthy.
I saw a 1st gen 2 door in Cambridge Ma recently. Purple with flames. It really is a pretty cool looking car. We recently had a tv shoot in my town with a black 4 door. They are smaller but so stylish. Boy cars have gotten ugly. And big.
You forgot to ask for a manual transmission and retro cool CD /cassette player combo.
You jest, but Escape From New York just got a brand new collector’s edition VHS release (in Europe). Apparently VHS is retro cool with Gen Z.
I lived through that garbage and I’ll take Laser Disc, DVD, Blu-Ray, UHD, streaming, or even broadcast over VHS. Broadcast preferably on a channel that doesn’t advertise, because I can’t tolerate 5 minutes of commercials every 11 minutes. My bladder is not that over-active yet.
I only jest slightly! The cars are too damn complex!
I feel like Toyota could throw us a bone here and actually do that. It’s not like the RAV4 isn’t every third car on the road right now, as Toyota laughs all the way to the bank with bazillions. Would it kill them to offer up a fun version, even if it wasn’t a smash hit?
Which btw, I actually think people would eat up the idea of a softy Wrangler/Bronco with the Toyota reputation for longevity, especially compared to those options. Half the people I know with Wranglers bought them simply because they’re fun convertibles they can drive in the winter.
Yeah I was mostly kidding, but I might actually buy one.
The only feature I care about since I’m not buying a new car right now is an Automatic setting for the damn headlights.
Most of the current gen do come with auto lights…but Toyota’s auto setting is usually fully defeatable and nixes the DRLs too, and for some reason Toyota drivers are significantly more likely to switch them to the fully off setting. For some reason it’s more likely to happen than any other make with a similar light switch setup.
Even with auto lights, Toyota has been long since restrictive with a wiper activation setting. So inevitably during a daytime rain there’s a bunch of grayish Toyotas out with no lights on, wipers probably going on full blast regardless of how hard it’s raining.
Exactly. I haven’t been scientific but if I’m looking at a car with its lights off, nine out of ten times it’s a Toyota.
Programming. Damn programmers. Our 2024 Rav4 Plug-in lights bug me to no end. When in the Auto mode and you go to shut off the car, the damn thing yells at me to turn off the lights, so I have to shut Off the lights. My 2022 Prius was programmed differently. When lights are in Auto, the light shut off automatically when I shut off the car. The logical way to program that setting. For the Toyotas that are programmed like the Rav4, yeah, you have to turn on the lights manually every time in the car, so usually left off. I leave the lights Auto in the Prius all the time.
As long as this one doesn’t look like I drew it left-handed with my eyes closed, it’ll be a visual improvement. Unless they went full Hyundai. You never go full Hyundai.
I know it’s a great car, I’ve just never seen such an alignment between ugly and popular for any car in history. I loved the first 3 generations of RAV. Just something about the “whole being less than the sum of the parts” for me, all the way down to the annoyingly tiny, bright brake lights.
Two interior shots sourced from Toyota Europe Newsroom
https://newsroom.toyota.eu/get-ready-for-the-new-reveal-from-toyota-on-may-21/
Toyota USA Newsroom has the overhead exterior shots
https://pressroom.toyota.com/the-countdown-to-the-next-adventure-begins/
It looks like the hatch is not super sloped, could it even be more upright? Could it actually have storage space under it? One hopes.
Good catch, that’s a definite plus. Maybe they’ll try to cram in a third row and call it the Rav-6. No wait….Grand Rav.
Some of the spy shots have had sort of a Forester-like appearance aft of the greenhouse. Would make sense since upright/boxy is in and gives more space (literally) for the Corolla Cross beneath it.
A more vertical tailgate would be great for cargo space. Though even with that, the greenhouse looks pretty narrow up at the roof rails at the back, so it may not be much help.