Toyota has unveiled the robust new RAV4 and the new sixth-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain, building on the legacy of its predecessors by introducing advanced technologies that redefine performance and efficiency whilst it claims to pioneer new standards for safety and the digital user experience.
Toyota believes that versatility and reliability have earned the RAV4 enduring popularity for generations of customers in Ireland where more than 34,000 have been sold to date. It is one of the best-selling hybrid SUVs in the country and was Toyota’s best-selling model in 2024.
The new RAV4 will be available in Europe exclusively as a plug-in hybrid or a full hybrid, emphasising Toyota’s multi-pathway approach towards carbon neutrality. This provides customers with a choice of sustainable options, regardless of where they live or their individual circumstances.
With 30% more battery capacity, the new plug-in hybrid RAV4 with its next-generation plug-in hybrid system, and its new high-capacity lithium-ion battery with 22.7 kWh enables an extended all-electric range of 100 km (WLTP combined), sufficient for most customers’ daily driving needs.
Toyota’s Battery Extended Care Program covers the battery each year for up to 15 years of vehicle age or up to one million kilometres driven, subject to an annual service within the Toyota Network.
The new battery pack claims significantly faster charging at home or with standard public chargers due to a new 11 kW AC charger which is twice as fast as the previous version, replenishing the battery in as little as three hours. Plug-in charging with a DC 50kW onboard charger it is claimed can replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes depending on conditions.
The new battery pack combines with an improved front motor, which now delivers 150 kW to achieve powerful acceleration with an exhilarating 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds. A front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration is introduced on a plug-in hybrid RAV4 for the first time, making enhanced electrification even more accessible.
The new plug-in hybrid RAV4 claims to intelligently maximises its electric range with the help of geo-fencing technology, which automatically optimises EV driving to be ready for whatever the journey brings. By combining real-time road and traffic data from cloud navigation with insights into a driver’s routine routes and driving style, the system can automatically switch between hybrid and electric modes to optimise range.
The new RAV4 has a robust looking new exterior style. The front design and silhouette express off-road credentials, whilst retaining similar dimensions to its predecessor. On the inside, a redesigned cabin claims to give all passengers a sense of space and refined, premium comfort.
The introduction of Toyota’s new Arene software development platform is the first step towards fully software-defined vehicles, enabling the creation and deployment of advanced safety and entertainment features in a digital environment.
Arene powers Toyota’s most up-to-date T-Mate system and its safety technologies, including Front Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitor, which are introduced for the very first time on the all-new RAV4. Also included are a new and more advanced Lane Change Assist which helps drivers to change lanes safely and conveniently during motorway driving, and an upgraded Pre-Collision System which expands head-on collision detection and improving recognition of obstacles, bicycles and motorbikes.
The latest 12.9” multimedia system also makes its global debut, delivering enhanced connectivity, navigation and security tools, all faster than ever before thanks to Arene. A new home screen concept, designed with European customers in mind, gives drivers all relevant information in one view. The digital cockpit experience is enhanced by a responsive and precise voice assistant that can handle navigation, media, in-car temperature, and vehicle control.
