I’m underwhelmed

 

Get over it

What am I missing? Thought that new battery plant in the US will mean domestic production at least for RAV's sold in the USA.

They just started production literally a few weeks ago, and I think they have always said it would be hybrid batteries first, PHEV later.

Anyone notice the wording about going to 2 electric motors on the plug ins. I believe now there are 3 and the hybrid has 3. MG1,MG2, MGR.

I think they mean drive motors only; the MG1 doesn't drive the wheels, so it could be considered as part of the transmission. Who knows ....

 

Toyota started the shenanigans already. Notice how AWD will be optional on hybrids (except limited) while currently it is standard. How much will that cost?

Those performance and off road trims I suspect I'll never see them just like now you never see an Adventure or Woodland trim so Toyota, please don't make these models so prominent in your presentation.

The tires for the street models look lower profile, no a good thing for a daily driver.

LX looks great if the pic is correct.

No more Japan built option which is a big deal to me.

Don't see any more dials for the climate controls, big miss

Still don't know about the rear cable or price.

For the wife and I it's going to come down to the price of the XLE and the SE PHEV. If it's going to be 5k higher, I'll probably have to get a CRV for the wife and go in a different direction for me like a GX or an EV.

 

Toyota started the shenanigans already. Notice how AWD will be optional on hybrids (except limited) while currently it is standard. How much will that cost?

Those performance and off road trims I suspect I'll never see them just like now you never see an Adventure or Woodland trim so Toyota, please don't make these models so prominent in your presentation.

The tires for the street models look lower profile, no a good thing for a daily driver.

LX looks great if the pic is correct.

Don't see any more dials for the climate controls, big miss

Still don't know about the rear cable or price.

For the wife and I it's going to come down to the price of the XLE and the SE PHEV. If it's going to be 5k higher, I'll probably have to get a CRV for the wife and go in a different direction for me like a GX or an EV.

Yup. As soon as I saw AWD not standard on all HVs my eyebrows went up…..

 

Still looks like Japan only for PHEV Production.

 

What am I missing? Thought that new battery plant in the US will mean domestic production at least for RAV's sold in the USA.

 

It may be time for my wife to replace her 2016 RAV4 Hybrid AWD. We will stick with AWD because we live at the bottom of a steep hill. AWD helps a lot in our Canadian winters. In fact, I just bought a 2025 Camry XSE Hybrid AWD for this reason. Previous model Camrys did not allow Hybrid and AWD in the same car.

I wonder what the differences between TSS 4.0 and 3.0 are. The 2025 Camry just got TSS 3.0. Now just one year later the 2026 RAV4 models are getting TSS 4.0? In contrast, I believe it was 3 years from 2.5 (in 2021) to 3.0 (in 2024).

 

My read is TSS 4.0 will use Arene. Toyota’s new software. The RAV will be the first with Arene. I’d expect weekly OTA updates…..

 

I don't care for the appearance of the "Core" or GR RAV4. The Woodland styling is probably the best looking of the 3 from the front end (IMHO). That rear end though... is thicc as hell. Not in a good way. I also am a little sad to see the original RAV4 font/badge retired after ~30 years.

Damn what have they done with my baby.

I'll be happy for the folks holding out for a 4.6 and look forward to seeing people mod their new rides here, but I hope my 2023 Limited lasts me a very long time because I love this thing. 🥰

 

Anyone notice the wording about going to 2 electric motors on the plug ins. I believe now there are 3 and the hybrid has 3. MG1,MG2, MGR.

 

Arene OS:

 

Well, I use my R4 for mainly local shopping, so upping the battery only to 50 miles is attractive, and also the higher horsepower (18 more) is nice but not needed.

I bought mine on a lease since I got a $6,500 rebate, so I guess one is in my future in a couple of years.

Nothing else is "amazing" to me.

But I'll buy one.

 

Will the Phev’s still be made in Japan ?

 

I hope so, but that's from a European perspective. I can imagine that in the US the tariffs dictate otherwise.

 

Every small suv I could find was incredible boring to drive (including the rav4). So the GR Sport could be very interesting, if they could make small suv that handles like a camry se.

While my rav4 was getting cablegate repaired I was loaned a camry se, and it's handling made it way more fun to drive.

 

Not a big fan of having climate control integrated in the info system, happy it has a spare wheel, and comes standard with 17 inch wheels. Now waiting for the other shoe to drop pricing???

 

I doubt we will see pricing anytime soon. They announced pricing will be available right before they start to head for dealer lots. So, I'm thinking Fall at the earliest. Too many variables in the N.American economies yet to be worked out....

 

This video uses AI to translate what is being said, but around the 8:20 mark they show a very good demo of a fully functional interior software tour, including the snazzy new 360 camera suite.

 

The GRS will probably price itself out, like TRD model did.
The Rav market is mostly for the A-B folks who need some style, some go, some space, good mpg, and reliability. GRS is probably above that demand.
Why are people wanting "sports car" driving from a Rav? Mini SUV's are far from "sports car", thus we should not be expecting a mass produced mini SUV to perform like a wheels on rails.

Except for GRS, the other front grills are fugly IMHO.

Not a big fan of having climate control integrated in the info system

Me neither, the more you touch the screen the faster it gets messed up, especially if you are pressing in same spot all the time. I suspect the new OS has more "auto smarts" in it, so perhaps you have to touch the screen less. Would be nice if it had active mic ("Ai") so you could just say "display map" or "set temp 76" without having to touch any speak button or anything, etc.

 

The GRS will probably price itself out, like TRD model did.
The Rav market is mostly for the A-B folks who need some style, some go, some space, good mpg, and reliability. GRS is probably above that demand.
Why are people wanting "sports car" driving from a Rav? Mini SUV's are far from "sports car", thus we should not be expecting a mass produced mini SUV to perform like a wheels on rails.

Except for GRS, the other front grills are fugly IMHO.


Me neither, the more you touch the screen the faster it gets messed up, especially if you are pressing in same spot all the time. I suspect the new OS has more "auto smarts" in it, so perhaps you have to touch the screen less. Would be nice if it had active mic ("Ai") so you could just say "display map" or "set temp 76" without having to touch any speak button or anything, etc.

Voice commands in my 2021 RAV4 Prime XSE work terribly. The vehicle is always misunderstanding what I am saying.
Also, instead of making the RAV4 plug-in GR version more of a sports SUV, I would much rather they had made a change so that you could actually put snow tire chains on it — something that the owner's manual says you are not supposed to do with the 2021 RAV4 Prime.
Jan

 

The offroad and sport is marketing nonsense IMO but it sells. Look at Honda when the 2nd gen Honda Ridgeline came out in late 2016 as a 2017 model. They said something to the effect that few folks tow or go offroad. The the next Passport debuts in 2019 with an offroad sales pitch (probably to go after Subaru). Now everything is lifestyle, adventure, and trailsport. I do like the look of the Woodland though. Unless something changes only the core models will be obtainable or not marked up.

 

My take on the gen 6...UGLY!! Sad mixing of a Rivian and Tesla nose and the sides are like a bulging, bloated Highlander. The front lights and tail lights are the goofiest designs...more nutty than anything even KIA does. The GR and the "off road" models are essentially cosmetic. No true, hardcore performance mods on the GR--it is NOT like a GR Yaris or Corolla GR. No real skid plates on anything. The off road tires and the GR "performance" tires are crap, cheap brands. They are all hybrids and we don't know if Toyota has done anything to really, truly and permanently fix the CABLEGATE corrosion issue.

 

I've been making the rounds on YouTube through the various talking heads that usually get invited to these press events.

It does look like Toyota used beefier rear liftgate hinges on the Gen 6. They appear unlike anything I have seen so far in their lineup. The Gen 5 shared a similar design as a CC or Highlander, these look more solid.

The rear hybrid cable issue appears to (at least potentially) be resolved in Gen 6. In several of the videos during the part where the reviewer is showing off the inclusion of a temporary spare tire, you can see an orange hybrid cable below the tire, similar to the way the Corolla Cross Hybrid handles it's rear drive cable.

It's not a full confirmation of the issue being fixed but it's next next best thing until someone climbs under one and acknowledges it for sure.

I am also looking forward to all the 0w-08 oil threads and arguments in the near future. 🍿

 

Looks as if the rear connection goes through the rear deck like the Corolla Cross. This is interesting as the 2025 Camry does not, correct?

I don’t like how low the connection is on the 2025 Camry. We will need some underside inspection as you mentioned. If it’s the same design as the Corolla Cross I’m good with that.

 

The consensus of what looks like hundreds of thumbs up/down and posts on the Reddit RAV4 Club is that the body styling is ugly and few like it.

 

In a way it doesn't even look like a Toyota anymore. The styling seems borrow aspects from their competition in some areas.

The inside, while sporting some new technology, is in some ways a step down with the removal of more physical controls such as HVAC, seat/steering heating etc.

I was hopeful for the future Toyota was heading in with keeping these basic analog controls even on their new Crown Signia, Camry, Tacoma, 4Runner etc. But it looks like 24MM/Arene vehicles will potentially be moving away from physical knobs and switches like the rest of the market competitors.

If something happened to my current RAV4 and I suddenly found myself in the market for a new car I would probably still stay with Toyota, but for the first time would consider another SUV in their lineup.

Maybe it's one of those things that once you see it in person it isn't as bad? Or once you see 100,000 on the road everyday you get used to it, but I don't have the same feeling as seeing the unveiling of the 4.5 for the first time as I am with this new design.

I've never really liked Toyota's obsession with putting a hammerhead front end on half their lineup over the past several years. I prefer a more truck like front end. That is probably why the 4.6 isn't appealing to me.

Anyway, we are gonna see folks on both sides of the fence and different folks will have different tastes. I still will look forward to seeing members bringing their new 4.6s home later this year, and showing them off here and seeing the cool things people do to mod them.

 

Yuck.

 

it doesn't even look like a Toyota anymore.

I don't have the same feeling as seeing the unveiling of the 4.5 for the first time as I am with this new design.

If something happened to my current RAV4 and I suddenly found myself in the market for a new car

I'm so very glad I got my gas model 2021 when I did. I hope it never blows the engine or trans or gets in a wreck. I don't know what the h*ll I would buy to replace it. I don't want a hybrid and everything on the market now is just so bland and ugly and mommy van vanilla looking.

 

I was never a fan of the RAV looks even the current gen. The CRV looks more in line with my taste. With that said, if they moved that cable splice that's more than enough to offset the the lack of knobs and perhaps the price because I'll no longer feel the need to keep a reserve on hand. Price is going to be the big one. No one said the Tacos were going up that much. I paid 46k for my Prime out the door. Granted I got a 3k discount but if it jumps over 5k that's more than price creep for what's basically an evolutionary car. There are so many trims that it will take some time to see where Toyota has gotten greedy.
I always thought the GR name was something sacred and it represented some type of racing excellence but here it looks like just a badge and tires which totally dilutes what I thought GR stood for.

 

Price is going to be the big one. No one said the Tacos were going up that much. I paid 46k for my Prime out the door. Granted I got a 3k discount but if it jumps over 5k that's more than price creep for what's basically an evolutionary car. There are so many trims that it will take some time to see where Toyota has gotten greedy.

Toyota's COO was on CNBC yesterday ahead of the RAV4 launch, and there were some interesting comments on the current tariff situation in the US. One can infer from this conversation to definitely expect some potential sticker shock on the 4.6 later this year. Perhaps even the 4.5 come June/July.

and

 

I think the big Suprise is TSS 4.0.

My understanding of the new operating system is that it is an integrated central OS for the engine ECU(s), CAN bus, infotainment, and TSS 4. Currently most cars use a separate OS for the infotainment system and code for the ECUs. Integrated OS that does all functions is certainly the future.

I think the big changes will come with the Rav 4.7 with the next Gen 1.5 engine, full autonomous driving V5 or V6, a new body style that capitalizes on the smaller and lower 1.5 engine, probably new battery Tech, hopefully matrix headlights, and possibly multiple fuel types.

As suspected, the 4.6 is an incremental update. Hopefully they fixed the design flaws of the 4.5.

The biggest issue is the price. I was lucky and purchased my loaded XSE around $37K, pre Covid in 2019. I would not/could not pay $50K+ for a Rav or perhaps any car for that matter.

 

As suspected, the 4.6 is an incremental update.

Thread title says "all new". Incremental is not all new. Pretty much the same 2.5 engine and PSD (power split device AKA eCVT) with slight increase in power.

At least it is not a turbo four banger that is put in the new 4Runner and Land Cruiser.

 

From the Kirk Kreifels video this actually just looks like the 12 volt battery cables not the traction battery connector. It is a pre-production model though.

 

Yes, I agree. Good catch.

 

My brother-in-law said that the RAV4 has gone from girlie car look to the butch look!! He was never a big fan of RAV4 styling.

 

"Pat".

I disliked Rav4 until the 4.5 was released. Now I am back to not liking any Rav other than 4.5.
I once owned a 2005 CRV, it had that vectoring 4x4, it was a great plain boxy "ugly" mini SUV. I wonder if Honda is just salivating over the fugly Rav 4.6? The CRV's of today are fairly nice.

 

They screwed up by dropping the amazing HVAC controls that we have on the 5th generation. But overall, looks nice. Glad to see they got rid of the non-hybrid option.

 

I'm not a fan of the body redesign but could probably live with what to me appears to be more angular looks, especially the sides and boring front and rear. As in one of the review vids, the backend looks so much like the Rogue that it appears to have been intentionally copied. It does look like Toyota has gone with way more robust looking rear hatch struts but we'll have to see whether or not the hinges have been strengthened as well. For most of the models I'm glad to see a traditional shifter and not a move towards what Honda has done with the Passport now incorporating a button shifter. Fan controls moving to the bottom of the infotainment screen will probably not be too difficult to manage. I think about the misery Subaru inflicted on it's customers when they moved the fan controls two menus deep on their infotainment screen.

All in all there seems to be quite an array of models, features and packages that should appeal to everyone and only limited by how much one wants to spend. I know that Toyota won't release pricing for several months but if it's anything like the new Gen 6 4-Runner pricing, you can quickly add $12-14K by moving from the base model to one that is nicely optioned. Without knowing what tariffs bring we may be looking at some serious sticker shock !