2025 Toyota RAV4 takes shape! What we know so far about the new-generation Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5-rivalling hybrid family car

The Toyota RAV4 is the most popular medium SUV on the Australian market.

But times are changing and its rivals – including Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage – are putting the pressure on.

The current fifth-generation RAV4 has been around since 2018 so it's well overdue for more than a mere spit and polish.

Read More About Toyota RAV4

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The next-gen RAV4 is tipped to be available on our shores in 2025, but few confirmed details have been made public as yet, which is why speculation is rife and rumours are swirling.

What will the new 2025 Toyota RAV4 look like? What engine or hybrid set-up will it have? Is Toyota planning to make a full EV version? How much will the next-gen RAV4 cost?

Will Toyota go full gnarly and turn the RAV4 into a mini Land Cruiser (spoiler alert: probably not), or will it play it safe and just do a RAV4 that's even more gentrified? We'll find out soon-ish, but for now here's what we know so far about the next-gen RAV4...

The current RAV4 has a continuously variable transmission (in the hybrid) or an eight-speed automatic transmission (in the 2.5-litre petrol).

What engines will the 2025 Toyota RAV4 have?

Typically, RAV4 owners don't often express a desire or need for tree-stump-pulling torque in their favourite medium-size SUV, but that doesn't mean that car lovers everywhere aren't keen to know what Toyota is planning to throw in the new-gen RAV4 to move it along.

Will Toyota drop the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.5-litre petrol-only engines from RAV4 and commit to a comprehensive hybrid and EV line-up?

The RAV4's hybrid variants have thus far offered an appealing and accessible entry into the realm of non-ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.

As we move rapidly into an age in which companies have to at least be seen to be doing their bit for the planet, Toyota looks set to continue with its commercially successful hybrid approach.

The RAV4’s hybrid variants have thus far offered an appealing and accessible entry into the realm of non-ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.

The RAV4 hybrid has a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and electric motor set-up with a 6.5 Amp hour nickel-metal hydride battery system.

Combined system output for power is 163kW (in the Hybrid electric AWD) and the torque output (courtesy of the combustion engine only) is 221Nm.

The current RAV4 has a continuously variable transmission (in the hybrid) or an eight-speed automatic transmission (in the 2.5-litre petrol), driving modes (including Eco, Normal and Sport), and an EV mode for driving only on battery power to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The newer hybrid setup found in the related Lexus NX is also a distinct possibility for the next-gen RAV4. Oh and don't forget Toyota Australia says it's keen on plug-in hybrids now, so expect a PHEV - or 'Prime' as Toyota USA calls it - version to land on our shores in the next generation.

Typically, RAV4 owners don’t often express a desire or need for tree-stump-pulling torque in their favourite medium-size SUV.

It's unclear whether Toyota will go offer EV variants of the RAV4, but if it does it will likely go with the existing bZ4X-based set-up – so there'll be front-wheel-drive (FWD) variants (150kW and 266Nm, with a front-mounted electric motor that drives the front wheels), and dual-motor AWD (160kW and 337Nm, with a second electric motor at the rear axle).

These bZ4X variants have a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery, yielding 436km of driving range for the FWDs, and 411km for the AWDs. Driving ranges in the RAV4 may vary because of its eventual kerb weight in EV form.

What platform will the 2025 Toyota RAV4 use?

The TNGA platform (Toyota New Global Architecture) is a modular unibody shared between Toyota vehicles and as a result the current RAV4 has a shorter, lower and wider body than before, but has a longer wheelbase and wider track.

This modular architecture underpinning the RAV4 is the TNGA-K medium-to-large platform and that also underpins the likes of the Kluger and Camry, as well as the Lexus NX and RX. It is expected to roll on an updated version of this platform, ushering in improvements to rigidity and more.

Will Toyota drop the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.5-litre petrol-only engines from RAV4 and commit to a comprehensive hybrid and EV line-up?

What will the 2025 Toyota RAV4 look like?

Check out our artist's renders of what the next-gen RAV4 might look like.

Some believe the new-gen RAV4 will stick closer to the current model – sleek but chunky but not too chunky – while others believe that Toyota will wholeheartedly go the way of the upcoming Prado (aka 250 Series LandCruiser) and turn the RAV4 into a smaller LandCruiser.

The aforementioned new raft of LandCruisers all sport an entirely new look and feel – kind of a uniformly trad-cool design across the different models – and chances are Toyota is planning to punch some of that retro styling into the next-gen RAV4.

At the moment, for a current-gen RAV4 you can expect to pay anywhere from ,760 (excluding on-road costs) through to ,360.

How much will the 2025 Toyota RAV4 cost?

At the moment, for a current-gen RAV4 you can expect to pay anywhere from $39,760 (excluding on-road costs) for a 2024 RAV4 GX 2WD through to $58,360 (excluding on-road costs) for a 2024 RAV4 Edge (AWD) Hybrid.

Nothing gets cheaper, so expect to pay at least a few grand more than that for some variants in the next-gen RAV4 line-up, especially with new tech, new variants, and potentially new powertrains on offer.

When will the 2025 Toyota RAV4 go on sale in Australia?

So, when will we get it here in Australia? There are whispers of 2025, but there are also mutterings of 2026 or 2027, but we reckon next year is likely.

Keep checking CarsGuide for updates and the latest news and developments.