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The first new RAV4 in seven years sees the conventional petrol engine bow-out completely, and the GR Sport become a plug-in hybrid more powerful than the GR Corolla.
All-new sixth generation RAV4 has finally been revealed. Image: Toyota North America
Teased selectively over the last two weeks, Toyota, in the early hours of Wednesday morning (21 May), finally debuted the all-new RAV4 in North America and Japan as one of its most important new models to date.
A new look
The replacement for the current fifth generation that went on-sale in 2018, the sixth generation of Toyota’s Recreational Actively Vehicle with 4-Wheel-Drive debuts as a near ground new product more compact in appearance than its predecessor, and solely motivated by electrified powertrains consisting of hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
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Styled to resemble not only the Camry, but also certain Lexus models, as well as its junior sibling, the C-HR, the RAV4 again rides on the TNGA-K platform, but with revised frame mounts and suspension joints, plus improved structural rigidity to the body itself.
Dimensionally, the RAV4 retains the same measurements as before, but with a 13 mm ground clearance increase when specified with the optional off-road tyres.
Mounted on alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20-inches, boot space, with the rear seats up, increases from 733-litres to 749-litres, while for only second time in the RAV4’s 31-year history, a GR Sport again tops the range, this time not only exclusive to Europe or Japan as the case has been.
Dramatically new inside
Equally as dramatic as its exterior, the RAV4’s interior adopts a design derived not only from the Camry, but also the all-electric bZ4X and in some areas, the Tacoma bakkie.
>Based around what Toyota calls an island architecture concept, the old integrated infotainment system makes way for a new freestanding 10.5-inch or optional 12.9-inch display, both with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the instrument cluster measures 12.3-inches and comes in a box-type binnacle whose top surface has been lowered by 40 mm.
Besides the bZ4X-style steering wheel with physical buttons, the centre console renounces touch-sensitive buttons by also sporting two recesses, one for the wireless smartphone charger, a further storage box that doubles up as an armrest, and type-C USB ports.
Gone, however, is the conventional gear replaced by a toggle switch selector as part of the new shift-by-wire setup, as well as the normal climate control buttons, whose interface now resides within the pair of infotainment systems.
New spec
In the United States, where the RAV4 upstaged the Ford F-150 to become the country’s best-selling new model last year with sales of 475 193 versus 460 915 units, specification consists of a new Head-Up Display, imitation leather upholstery and heated front seats.
Depending on the grade, which in the States will consist of LE, SE, XLE, XSE, Limited, Woodland and GR Sport, the RAV4 will come standard with a six-speaker sound system, or on higher-end versions, a nine-speaker JBL audio.
Toyota’s latest Safety Sense 4.0 array of safety and driver assistance system also comes standard, however, no exact details about the various systems was divulged.
Goodbye ‘normal’ petrol engine
As mentioned, the biggest change are choice of the engines where after 31 years, the RAV4 no longer comes with an electrically unassisted internal combustion engine.
Instead, so-called Core (LE, XLE and Limited) and Sport models (SE, XSE and GR Sport) in the US are motivated by the familiar 2.5-litre normally aspirated petrol engine combined with a single electric motor and battery pack.
Official Toyota North America power figures suggest 226 horsepower or 166 kW, which increases to 236 horsepower or 174 kW with the addition of a second electric motor on all-wheel-drive derivatives.
For reference, the current RAV4 E-Four’s setup develops 163 kW in South Africa.
Whereas the latter powertrain comes standard on the Woodland that Toyota classifies under the Rugged or off-road banner, the option involves the plug-in hybrid that becomes the sole choice for the GR Sport.
Using the same 2.5-litre engine, the electric hardware consists of a pair of electric motors being powered by a new 22.7-kWh battery pack.
In total, the combined output amounts to 320 horsepower or 235 kW, which represents an uptake of eight kilowatts over the outgoing plug-in hybrid, and makes it more powerful than the 221 kW made by the GR Corolla.
The claimed all-electric range is a projected 150 km with 30 a minute wait set to apply from 10-80%. Reportedly, the plug-in hybrid GR Sport will get from 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.
South Africa gets the nod but…
Confirmed for arrival in the States later this year priced from $35 000 (R627 936), Toyota South Africa Motors has meanwhile approved the RAV4 for the local market, but without specifying when.
Based on the marque’s Australian division, though, expect the newcomer to only arrive early next year.
As a reminder, the now outgoing RAV4 range consists of six models priced from R712 700 for the base 2.0 GX-R, to R989 800 for the unbadged plug-in hybrid E-Four.
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