New Toyota RAV4: fresh details of SA lineup revealed
The new Toyota RAV4 has been unveiled on South African shores, with the Japanese automaker’s local arm announcing with which trim grades the sixth generation will be available once it arrives in our market in 2026.
Scheduled to officially launch in South Africa in the first half of 2026, the new RAV4 has made its local debut at Toyota’s ninth annual State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event – the latter model, which is among every Toyota on the horizon for SA this year, showcased alongside several new SA-bound models, including the new Land Cruiser FJ and bZ4X all-electric crossover.
Locally, the new RAV4 will be available with the choice of three powertrain options, which will include a traditional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). As we reported in 2025, the 2.5-litre PHEV setup will be available with front- and all-wheel drivetrains. The PHEV GR-Sport will be equipped with the latter and produce 227 kW (FWD PHEV models are endowed with 200 kW). In addition to several model-specific exterior trim elements, the GR-Sport also gains a 20 mm-wider track, and updated suspension and steering.
In addition to GR-Sport trim, which is a first for the RAV4, GX and VX levels of specification will also be available.