[Rav4-lim]

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

Probably just needs it's own "technical" thread, this way it doesnt becomes a RTFM debate.
0-8 in api spec is crap. It's nothing I would ever use.

As for the Gen4.6 Rav, if I wanted a new mini SUV, there's high probability I am not getting a Gen4.6 Rav. I hated the older Rav designs, Gen4.5 came along and it was a buy, now some ugly Gen4.6 comes along, I go look at something else. The issue I have with automakers, they don't stick with good designs and just refine them for 10-20yrs. A new Gen4.6 most certainly means all new issues to deal with after you ink the paperwork. Buying a new Gen model with all new issues, is not for me. My 2020 Gen4.5 had enough BS issues to deal with.

 

[MiniToyTruck]

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

As long as they keep putting out underpowered garbage they can get bent.

Remember, the now 4-cylinder 4Runner was once had a V8 option and the rav4 a V6, and you will never convince me a turbo makes up for a lack of displacement reliably....

And turbo engines can get bent. If I wanted turbo problems, I would go back to german problems. Thought I read 50k as the top end right now, so who knows what it could climb to....but that is getting to SQ3 and Macan territory (and the dealers treat you nicer....better couches).

 

[Lorenzo1000]

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.

 

[Glideslope]

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.

View attachment 217930

Yes, I agree. Good catch.

 

[FKHeath]

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.

 

[Big Daddy]

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.

 

[Variman]

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.

Thats where I think Toyota was smart. The HSD, especially in the gen 5 iteration, negates the use of a turbo. Certainly not a performance car but it has ample, smooth power.

I was sorry to see that Toyota did not offer the 2.5 Hybrid in the base Tacoma. I may have bought one. It has about the same HP and torque as the outgoing 2.7 4 cylinder NA engine that was used for decades on the truck.

 

[RoelP]

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.

 

[IveBeenRued]

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.

 

[dickwol]

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 !

 

[Rav4-lim]

and you will never convince me a turbo makes up for a lack of displacement reliably.

Toyota rarely strays away from norm.aspirated, less stress means better reliability and longevity. If however they had something like a 350hp turbo or SC 4cyl Rav with a Torsen 4x4 system, I would not hesitate as long as the rest was not fugly. We'll never see such........ from Toyota.

 

[Rav4-lim]

But it looks like 24MM/Arene vehicles will potentially be moving away from physical knobs and switches like the rest of the market competitors.

No to few knobs of any kind........ so what happens when the Arene OS dies or the hardware fails, you then have no controls? Maybe button-&-speak from wheel is a seperate ECU? Or, maybe Arene is an upper-level interface that talks down to some other ECU? Hard to see if that screen unit with Arene has become the central ECU for those controls (radio, hvac, settings, etc).

Arene is an SDK OS, so I wonder if you can roll your own?

Arene debuts in Toyota's all-new RAV4 - Toyota Media Site

Woven by Toyota announced the new Arene software development platform, debuting in the all-new RAV4.

media.toyota.co.uk

 

[Rav4-lim]

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.

 

[Jlhrstv]

Looks nice, but where would we even get one? Toyota's dealer network in the USA is disaster.

- Need Service or warranty work - Good Luck

- Last one we bought is sitting because the Toyota dealer hasn't even transferred the tile after 3 months leaving us making payments on something we can't legally register or drive.

 

[Big Daddy]

"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.

The new style is not my first choice for sure, reminds me of a F150 front or a Ram truck, As my wife is saying vehicles are moving away from being aerodynamic with curves to the boxy look.

 

[lutey]

I'm a little late to the party, but here's my video on the new RAV4s. Pretty much all my predictions from a number of months ago came to fruition. If I wasn't getting a new pickup.. i'd definitely be in line for the rugged model. Looks sweet.

 

[FeralFriends]

Videos I have seen on YouTube are usually of the "Limited" version. I am shocked to see that the Dash is hard plastic. I also find the back lift gate looks like a Nissan design.

 

[ReverendRides]

What does everyone think of the just announced 2026 RAV4? To me it looks nice, but not as dramatic of a change or improvement as I was anticipating.

 

[Dimitrij]

To my eye, the nose has improved, while the rear became a little more awkward.

As far as the looks go, that is

 

[FGP]

After having seen more reviews of the 'Core' 2026 RAV4 models (especially in outdoor lighting), I think that's the sharpest looking one (more modern and futuristic), though I agree with others that the rear-end design looks dated (and is too similar to Nissan Rogue).

The 26 RAV4 actually has some significant improvements over the existing generation:

• More power.
• Better fuel economy (to be announced).
• Better hybrid system (latest generation).
• Better interior design.
• Better technology.
• Improved safety (Toyota Safety Sense 4.0).
• Improved NVH (eg, more sound insulation, etc).
• More modern exterior design.
• More cargo capacity (based on the more upright rear-end design).
• Still has a spare tire.

About the only thing that didn't change is the wheelbase dimension of the new RAV4, meaning driver and passenger space will probably be nearly identical to the existing generation.