Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 arrives at its sixth generation with one of the most significant technological leaps in its history. The Hammerhead design language gives it a more rugged, modern appearance, while inside it debuts the ARENE digital platform, featuring a 12.9-inch ToyotaConnect multimedia screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The range splits into two mechanical families: the self-charging Hybrid (HEV) with 183 hp and front-wheel drive, rated at 4.9-5.2 L/100km WLTP combined, and the new-generation Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), which debuts a 22.7 kWh lithium-ion battery -30% more capacity than the previous generation- capable of delivering up to 137 km of 100% electric range in the 268 hp front-wheel-drive version, or 121 km in the 304 hp intelligent all-wheel-drive AWD-i version, the most powerful in the range. Fast DC charging at 50 kW allows the battery to go from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes, an uncommon figure for the D-SUV segment. Dynamically, the revised TNGA-K platform is 9.7% more rigid than the previous generation, with specific reinforcements at the front (+31%) and rear (+27%) suspension mounting points, resulting in more stable handling and a quieter ride thanks to new sound-insulation materials. Boot space reaches 514 liters to the parcel shelf (749 liters to the roof) on the Hybrid version, and 446 liters on the Plug-in Hybrid due to the space taken up by the battery. The Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 safety package comes standard across the range, featuring a Pre-Collision System, full-range adaptive cruise control, and road sign recognition. It is worth noting that, at launch, the sixth-generation RAV4 does not yet carry a Euro NCAP rating, as it is assessed under the tougher 2026 protocols rather than the 2025 criteria it was originally engineered for; Toyota expects a safety specification update during 2026. In short, the new RAV4 keeps the formula that made it Toyota's best-selling SUV -efficiency, hybrid reliability, and now more technology- while adding a plug-in option that is far more competitive on electric range than the previous generation.