The all-new 6th-gen Toyota RAV4 is sportier than ever
Seven, that’s how many years the outgoing fifth generation Toyota RAV4 has been in production. As such, it is due for a replacement which has just been unveiled in Japan after a teaser campaign.
Now in its sixth generation, the pioneer of the compact crossover segment and one of the best-selling SUVs of all time has been almost completely redesigned inside and out, gets new electrified powertrains, is safer, and more capable than ever before.
Still riding on the TNGA-K platform which it shares with the Alphard and Camry as well a handful of Lexus models, the all-new Toyota RAV4 is has three versions designed for different types of buyers: the Core, Adventure, and the GR Sport.
It receives a more adventure-oriented design for this generation both on the exterior and interior, following the trend for many crossovers and SUVs these days.
The front fascia is more upright and wears Toyota’s signature Hammerhead design as seen on their recent models. It gets boomerang C-shaped headlights connected by a horizontal strip, and a large front mesh grille.
The side profile is highlighted by rugged overfenders and larger windows. The rear is more upright, with its taillights housed in a singular wraparound black panel for a sleeker appearance.
The interior has been redesigned to prioritize functionality. It follows what Toyota calls the Island Architecture where most related functions are grouped with each other for a better usability.
It features new user interfaces for the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.5- or 12.9-inch infotainment system which comes with integrated digital climate controls, and hard buttons and dials. Higher variants will get a premium JBL audio system.
The new RAV4 also introduces a new electronic gear selector, housed in a gearshift panel which also houses the electronic parking brake and auto-hold switches.
A GR Sport variant adds a more aggressive set of bumpers, a large GR Matrix grille, sportier lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels, gloss black body cladding, a larger rear wing spoiler, blacked-out roof and pillars, and a GR-tuned suspension and steering.
Those looking for something more adventurous will like the new…uhhh…Adventure variant (Woodland in North America) which gets a beefier exterior with a more rugged front grille, bulkier bumpers, blacked-out six-spoke 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, higher ground clearance, and larger roof rails with crossbars.
Unsurprisingly, the new generation RAV4 does away with pure-ICE powertrains and is now exclusively available with a range of electrified powertrains.
The first and more mainstream option is still a hybrid 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle engine (A25A-FXS). This is paired to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery, and produces a total combined output of 230 horsepower mated to a CVT.
The second option is a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines the same engine with dual electric motors and a higher output lithium-ion battery. This setup produces a combined 325 horsepower and offers an 150km all-electric range.
The usual safety bits are present, including Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 which now comes with Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS). This feature automatically slows down and stops the vehicle on the side of the road if it detects that the driver is unresponsive.
Sales are set to begin in Japan and North America by the latter part of this year. As for the Philippines, with every generation of the Toyota RAV4 having been offered here in our market, it’s a matter of when and not if Toyota Motor Philippines will launch it here. One thing is for sure, this is definitely worth looking forward to. Do you agree?
Photos from Toyota
