The new Toyota RAV4 is set for a major interior upgrade, revealed as part of the first teasers of the new, boxier model due to be revealed next week.
Family Cars
The next-generation 2026 Toyota RAV4 family SUV has been teased for the first time, ahead of its global reveal next week.
Included in the changes is a redesigned cabin, with two large digital displays, and chunky styling akin to what is planned for the exterior of the new RAV4.
But you'll need to squint hard for a clear look at the SUV's exterior in the images released officially so far, because Toyota is giving little away about the styling details and engines of its latest family SUV for the time being.
The covers are set to come off next Wednesday, May 21 at 11:00am AEST, ahead of a possible local showroom arrival six to 12 months later.
As previously reported by Drive, the sixth-generation RAV4 will be an evolution of its predecessor, rather than all-new from the ground up, with new styling and an overhauled interior on a familiar footprint.
Three teaser images released by Toyota USA show zoomed-out, top-down views of different versions of an SUV in varying environments, from a suburban street to a snowy forest and winding tarmac road.
It is not identified as the RAV4, but the blocky styling aligns with spy photos and leaked images of the new SUV published online over the past six months.
Toyota Australia has only shared two of the three exterior images – the suburban street and winding road – but added a further photo of the new RAV4's interior, showing off a new front-seat and centre-console design.
The most revealing image has been released by Toyota Europe, providing our first look at the new RAV4's dashboard.
Two large screens take centre stage – seemingly running new-generation Toyota infotainment software – plus what looks to be a more angular dashboard, a new steering wheel, and new components elsewhere.
The teaser images show the RAV4's cabin will retain rotary dials, but there are still some climate-control functions visible along the bottom edge of the touchscreen.
The conventional gear shifter of today's model appears to have been replaced by a stubbier alternative to save space.
The exterior image Toyota Australia has omitted from its social media post appears to show an off-road-themed version, possibly a new Woodland edition for the US market.
But included in the Australian and US teaser sets is a photo of a red RAV4 with a black roof and badges, which may be a GR Sport variant – a first for both markets, after such a variant was introduced in Europe in recent years.
As previously reported by Drive, it is set to combine a familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an updated electric motor and battery pack for more power and lower fuel consumption.
In the Camry, this new-generation hybrid system delivers a power output of 170kW – up from 160kW – and cuts fuel use by 10 per cent.
The current RAV4 is rated to consume just 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres, a 10 per cent improvement on which would make it one of the most frugal, non-plug-in cars on sale.
Plug-in hybrid power may be offered for the first time, as Toyota Australia has committed to introducing the technology – possibly by the end of this year.
An electric version is reportedly in development for overseas markets, and could reach Australian showrooms.
More details of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 are due after its reveal on May 21, Australian time.
Family Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
