Toyota reveals the next generation RAV4

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  • All-new, redesigned 6th generation RAV4 will be available in Core, Sport, and Rugged styles across seven grades, including a new-look Woodland and first-ever GR SPORT
  • America’s best-selling compact SUV will now be 100% electrified, in a choice of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrains
  • First-ever RAV4 GR SPORT, developed in partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing, with GR-tuned handling, aggressive exterior style, exhilarating PHEV powertrain with AWD, and more
  • RAV4 Woodland grade available in HEV or PHEV with AWD standard, higher ride height, all-terrain tires, split grille, and more
  • Debut of 6th generation PHEV powertrain with up-to 320 hp output and 20% more all-electric drive range of 50 miles (manufacturer estimated, 42 miles previously)
  • RAV4 HEV models move to 5th generation hybrid system and boost output to 236 hp on AWD models and 226 hp on FWD models – with FWD coming to RAV4 Hybrid for the first time
  • Launch of Toyota’s Arene software development platform, which enables Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 and a new generation of the Toyota Audio Multimedia System



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    Clear no from me. I like the outgoing model (that I own) so much better. Climate controls are also on the screen now. Hoping for a robust facelift and a rework of the interior somewhere down the line. Otherwise I will just drive my 2025 Rav4 until it falls apart.

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Looks like a total piece of ****, imo. What's it cost, like 50k now? Laughable.
 
That GR tune-up will be so necessary when you're trying to get a good parking spot at the strip mall. :rolleyes:
 
I thought we'd be over the lobster claw headlights by now. C'mon Toyota, you had some momentum going with the new Landcruiser and things are heading in the wrong direction now with the appalling new 4Runner and this thing.
 
To say the compact SUV segment* has been booming for the last decade or so, has there ever been one that didn't look terrible?


*those based on or platform share with the Golf-segment cars.
 
TheCracker
To say the compact SUV segment* has been booming for the last decade or so, has there ever been one that didn't look terrible?


*those based on or platform share with the Golf-segment cars.
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*That would apply to the Corolla Cross and not to this one, no? Either way - I think the model this new RAV4 is replacing was a good looking car.
 
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Ironically enough I have a 2025 RAV4 as a rental right now and it is utterly depressing to drive lol. It is NPC grey to boot. While I have a strong dislike of CUV's, Toyota has a long way to go to match the good looks of Mazda ones lol
 
TheCracker
To say the compact SUV segment* has been booming for the last decade or so, has there ever been one that didn't look terrible?


*those based on or platform share with the Golf-segment cars.
Click to expand...
I think the current CR-V looks pretty good. I hope I do...I bought one.
 
Yeah, Toyota are doing the wrong kind of square bizz design and I love me some square bizz from the eighties.

Trying to capture this classic bumper cladding and overfenders isn’t working for the newer cars. Make it body color.
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Or keep it clean like this.
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Eunos_Cosmo
I think the current CR-V looks pretty good. I hope I do...I bought one.
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'Look terrible' was probably a bit of a strong statement to be fair :lol: - and no offence intended to anyone who owns something included in that blanket statement (as an X3 owner it pretty much covers me too).

But i do stand by the fact that almost none of them actually look 'good'. Some are inoffensive enough and some of Mazda's offerings, for a period, were really quite nice, but as a segment as a whole they're mostly a mess of incoherent styling features and poorly proportioned.

Looking at Toyota current (UK) lineup, its as if they're a collection of cars from different brands. It's as if their designers are not allowed to look at other current Toyotas as inspiration. I guess it doesn't matter really as Toyota sells cars off the back of their reputation for reliability, not their desirability.
 
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TheCracker
'Look terrible' was probably a bit of a strong statement to be fair :lol: - and no offence intended to anyone who owns something included in that blanket statement (as an X3 owner it pretty much covers me too).

But i do stand by the fact that almost none of them actually look 'good'. Some are inoffensive enough and some of Mazda's offerings, for a period, were really quite nice, but as a segment as a whole they're mostly a mess of incoherent styling features and poorly proportioned.

Looking at Toyota current (UK) lineup, its as if they're a collection of cars from different brands. It's as if their designers are not allowed to look at other current Toyotas as inspiration. I guess it doesn't matter really as Toyota sells cars off the back of their reputation for reliability, not their desirability.
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The problem with the compact CUV is they are typically fighting packaging constraints. They are based on compact sedans such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc. To maximize the utility, they should be relatively cab forward, because the powertrain is compact and out in front of the front wheels, which means optimal packaging should trend towards minivan or tall hatchback shape - short, low nose, long passenger compartment - and for a long time, they followed this. Every CRV prior to the current gen had this kinda dorky shape. The new CRV...which isn't blowing anyone's mind with packaging brilliance, has added quite a schnoz to the front end. If you look under the hood, it's mostly empty space under there. To some degree, they've compromised the packaging for better, more traditional SUV-like proportions. There might not be less interior volume than the preceding model, but it's also a longer vehicle - vanity inches. Despite all that, its hard for me to even imagine a better daily driver than a CR-V hybrid - it's near perfect at it's job.
 
Eunos_Cosmo
The problem with the compact CUV is they are typically fighting packaging constraints. They are based on compact sedans such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc. To maximize the utility, they should be relatively cab forward, because the powertrain is compact and out in front of the front wheels, which means optimal packaging should trend towards minivan or tall hatchback shape - short, low nose, long passenger compartment - and for a long time, they followed this. Every CRV prior to the current gen had this kinda dorky shape. The new CRV...which isn't blowing anyone's mind with packaging brilliance, has added quite a schnoz to the front end. If you look under the hood, it's mostly empty space under there. To some degree, they've compromised the packaging for better, more traditional SUV-like proportions. There might not be less interior volume than the preceding model, but it's also a longer vehicle - vanity inches. Despite all that, its hard for me to even imagine a better daily driver than a CR-V hybrid - it's near perfect at it's job.
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This all day. My oldest daughter had finally, after eight years owning of her first car, sold her white 2000 Honda HR-V 3-door model w/manual transmission. She bought it for $2800AUD and sold it for $4850AUD! She did have to fix a couple of things before selling, but her not-to-distant-in-the-future father-in-law, got the parts cheap and performed the labor.
The thing was a workhorse. The length of an A2 Golf, perfect design with a box as the cargo area, like the Cherokee and Bronco II.

I do applaud Honda for bringing back the flat snout and toning down the cladding for a cleaner look.

Edit: Forgot to add, she bought an ix35.
 
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Eunos_Cosmo
The problem with the compact CUV is they are typically fighting packaging constraints. They are based on compact sedans such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc. To maximize the utility, they should be relatively cab forward, because the powertrain is compact and out in front of the front wheels, which means optimal packaging should trend towards minivan or tall hatchback shape - short, low nose, long passenger compartment - and for a long time, they followed this. Every CRV prior to the current gen had this kinda dorky shape. The new CRV...which isn't blowing anyone's mind with packaging brilliance, has added quite a schnoz to the front end. If you look under the hood, it's mostly empty space under there. To some degree, they've compromised the packaging for better, more traditional SUV-like proportions. There might not be less interior volume than the preceding model, but it's also a longer vehicle - vanity inches. Despite all that, its hard for me to even imagine a better daily driver than a CR-V hybrid - it's near perfect at it's job.
Click to expand...
I think that's the issue. Being hatchback/small front-drive platform based, the natural thing to do is just stretch the hatchback shape upwards, like Tesla essentially does with the 3 and the Y, but that stretch at the nose causes design issues. What most companies have done is create a full-size SUV/4x4 style 'stacked' nose with a blunt front and a fairly horizontal bonnet/hood. Trouble is, then the rest of the 'stretched hatchback' shape doesn't really fit in with that blunt nose. So they then add 'chunky' styling clues to the rest of it which when placed on a relatively small shape makes the whole thing look too close together and fussy.

In my eyes, the 3rd-gen CR-V was the pinicle of its design. The gens before just looked dorky, like the designers didn't really know how to style it around the packaging, but they'd nailed by their 3rd attempt. Like Porsche did with the Cayenne.
 
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TheCracker
I think that's the issue. Being hatchback/small front-drive platform based, the natural thing to do is just stretch the hatchback shape upwards, like Tesla essentially does with the 3 and the Y, but that stretch at the nose causes design issues. What most companies have done is create a full-size SUV/4x4 style 'stacked' nose with a blunt front and a fairly horizontal bonnet/hood. Trouble is, then the rest of the 'stretched hatchback' shape doesn't really fit in with that blunt nose. So they then add 'chunky' styling clues to the rest of it which when placed on a relatively small shape makes the whole thing look too close together and fussy.

In my eyes, the 3rd-gen CR-V was the pinicle of its design. The gens before just looked dorky, like the designers didn't really know how to style it around the packaging, but they'd nailed by their 3rd attempt. Like Porsche did with the Cayenne.
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Funny, I think that's the worst one of the lot :lol:

I'd rank them:

1. 1st Gen
2. 6th Gen (current)
3. 2nd Gen
4. 5th Gen
5. 4th Gen
6. 3rd Gen

For the Rav4
1. 1st Gen
2. 2nd Gen
All the rest look terrible and I can't rank them.
 
So this is what every parking lot will look like for the next five years.

Wait, no, most people will buy them in white or black instead of blue or red.
 
GBO Possum
Let us hope that Toyota listens to this dealer...
electrek.co

Open letter from auto dealer calls on Toyota to 'do better' on EVs

Adam Lee, a third-generation car salesman and owner of 13 dealerships, wrote this op-ed calling on Toyota to take EVs more seriously.
electrek.co electrek.co
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Let's hope they know better. EVs just aren't ready yet and the masses aren't ready. They're currently an option for the relatively wealthy but that's about it, for the vast majority of Americans EVs don't cover all their bases. More importantly, the infrastructure isn't ready and there is a ton of pushback in the US that automakers have little power to fight. I think Toyota is absolutely right when it comes to hybrids being an overall more efficient solution for the next 10+ years.
 
Keef
Let's hope they know better. EVs just aren't ready yet and the masses aren't ready. They're currently an option for the relatively wealthy but that's about it, for the vast majority of Americans EVs don't cover all their bases. More importantly, the infrastructure isn't ready and there is a ton of pushback in the US that automakers have little power to fight. I think Toyota is absolutely right when it comes to hybrids being an overall more efficient solution for the next 10+ years.
Click to expand...
electrek.co

Meet China's new $10,000 EV: The Chery QQ Domi

It’s not a BYD, but you can buy one in China for less than $10,000. Chery’s “fashionable and fun” new...
electrek.co electrek.co
 
Keef
What's your point? There is zero market for that car in America.
Click to expand...
My point is that "They're currently an option for the relatively wealthy but that's about it" is just not true.

And although the American demand for a Chery is probably on the low side, it has about the same accommodations as a Mini Cooper, and Americans buy Minis.

Too small? How about this one, sized similar to Tesla Model 3, priced at $17,000.

electrek.co

This $17,000 Nissan EV is off to a hot start in China and it's about to go global

Would you buy Nissan’s new EV for under $17,000? Nissan said the N7 has already “exceeded our expectations,” as orders...
electrek.co electrek.co

Or this Xpeng for $20K?

electrek.co

XPeng launches its new AI-powered MONA M03 Max BEV in China for under $20,000

After unveiling a new Max variant of its MONA M03 sedan, XPeng has officially launched it in China at an insanely low price of RMB 139,800.
electrek.co electrek.co
 
To add, Kei vehicles are being stamped as legal in some states. There is a market for smaller vehicles and having more choices at those low prices will definitely attract USA consumers. However, as pointed out, how cheap after tariffs?
 
05XR8
To add, Kei vehicles are being stamped as legal in some states. There is a market for smaller vehicles and having more choices at those low prices will definitely attract USA consumers. However, as pointed out, how cheap after tariffs?
Click to expand...
Billionaires don't buy affordable cars. They buy politicians.
 
TheCracker
To say the compact SUV segment* has been booming for the last decade or so, has there ever been one that didn't look terrible?


*those based on or platform share with the Golf-segment cars.
Click to expand...
It's subjective, but I'd say the Alfa Tonale isn't a bad looking car, for an SUV. I'd hope I like it though, as I've just bought one.

But SUV's by their basic design will never look sleek, so I can understand people just not really liking them aesthetically in general.

This new Rav 4 is certainly a no in the looks department for me.
 
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GBO Possum
My point is that "They're currently an option for the relatively wealthy but that's about it" is just not true.

And although the American demand for a Chery is probably on the low side, it has about the same accommodations as a Mini Cooper, and Americans buy Minis.

Too small? How about this one, sized similar to Tesla Model 3, priced at $17,000.

electrek.co

This $17,000 Nissan EV is off to a hot start in China and it's about to go global

Would you buy Nissan’s new EV for under $17,000? Nissan said the N7 has already “exceeded our expectations,” as orders...
electrek.co electrek.co

Or this Xpeng for $20K?

electrek.co

XPeng launches its new AI-powered MONA M03 Max BEV in China for under $20,000

After unveiling a new Max variant of its MONA M03 sedan, XPeng has officially launched it in China at an insanely low price of RMB 139,800.
electrek.co electrek.co
Click to expand...
Highly disagree, especially in the North American market. EVs don't make much sense at all if a person can't charge at home, and charging at home implies having a space with a car to install a charger. I live in a neighborhood of $250,000 houses in Ohio where most of them don't have garages.

Most of an EV's problem isn't range, it's the difficulty of living with it. If owning an entire home with a garage is required to avoid wasting an hour+ of your day just to keep your EV topped up then yes I would say EVs are reserved for the relatively wealthy.
 

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