The world of crossover SUVs has been booming, with more and more buyers opting for bigger more practical cars over sedans and hatchbacks. The king of the class is the Toyota RAV4. The Toyota RAV4 has not only topped the leaderboard in terms of sales in the crossover segment, but it has also consistently been one of the best-selling models in the United States.
This is thanks to its incredibly roomy cabin, its brilliant cargo space, and its great value for money and it currently dominates the compact SUV segment. Toyota has always come with a multitude of bonuses including their generous warranties and their top-tier safety systems. However, the current generation of the RAV4 is slowly approaching the end of its production cycle.
Being one of the most popular SUVs on the market worldwide, there are a lot of speculations about what the future could hold for the RAV4. The 2024 model has already been revealed with very minor changes leaving us to speculate what is on the horizon for the 2025 Toyota RAV4 as we tick off another year of the fifth-generation RAV4.
Information for this list of 10 changes coming to the 2025 RAV4 was speculated using current trends and the latest press releases from Toyota.
10 The 2025 RAV4 Will Likely Be The Start Of A New Generation
The biggest expectation that is circulating is that the 2025 RAV4 will mark the start of a new generation for the SUV. The current generation RAV4, which has been running since 2019, is now entering its sixth model-year, which has historically been around where full rehauls are done.
There are a lot of rumors that the 2025 Toyota RAV4 will be the first model year of the sixth generation. So what does a new generation mean? It means that Toyota will be completely rebuilding the RAV4, including new technology, changing its look, and re-looking at its powertrains. It will also very likely include new color options for the popular SUV.
9 A Sleeker And More Aggressive RAV4 For 2025 Is Likely
As part of a new generation, the RAV4 will most likely get a visual overhaul, with its body work and stance being completely different from the previous generation. The current generation RAV4 is by no means a bad-looking SUV, in fact we think Toyota has done a great job at making it quite handsome. However, Toyota’s future is changing and with it their design language.
The RAV4 will be one of the first Toyota SUVs to enter this new era, following the Crown crossover closely, and will help set the standard for their design going forward. What we can expect based on what Toyota has shown us with each new iteration of their SUVs, particularly the RAV4, is a sleeker and more aggressive design, with sharp lines meant to make the SUV look brawnier.
8 The RAV4 Could Become An All Hybrid Line-Up
Powertrains are always a big point of contention when looking towards the future. Electrification is upon us and many brands, including Toyota, are jumping on the bandwagon, and for good reason. Electric vehicles and hybrids are selling well. The RAV4 is potentially on the block to lose its combustion engine and become a pure hybrid SUV.
This isn’t a bad thing though. The current powertrain in the RAV4 is not anything particularly special; it’s a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder that produces a humble 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Toyota’s hybrid engines are also top of class right now, including the one in the current iteration of the hybrid RAV4s. A more powerful, torquier RAV4 is incredibly likely looking towards 2025 and the new generation.
7 Improvements To Build Quality And Sense Of Luxury Are Crucial
When talking about the competitors to the RAV4, one of the biggest points of contention is build quality. While the current generation RAV4 offers higher trim levels which deliver the interior quality that you would hope for, the base model is incredibly spartan. In a lot of areas, Toyota leaned too heavily into the ethos of function over form.
The Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, offer brilliant interiors even at the base level. Toyota is one to learn from their mistakes and it is likely that they will rectify the interior with the next generation. From replacing cheap plastic to upgrading seat materials, the new RAV4 will feel much more in-line with its competitors.
6 A Bigger And Better Display Screen To Fight Competitors
While the RAV4 is king in terms of sales, it does have its shortcomings and its rivals do have the edge in some areas. Key competitors to the Toyota SUV are the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson. Kia and Hyundai have done a great job at ensuring their cars are cutting edge, especially when it comes to the infotainment system.
More and more people are drawn to cars which host the biggest and the best in terms of tech. This is one area where the RAV4 falls short. Whilst Toyota’s multimedia center is completely capable, the screen in the current generation is not quite as large as competitors. We’ve seen Toyota offer a 12.3-inch screen in a lot of their newer offerings, including the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma, and hopefully the 2025 RAV4 receives the same treatment.
5 Safety Sense 3.0 Will Finally Grace The RAV4
One of the biggest edge that Toyota has always had is their safety features. They have led the game in terms of innovative technology that improves the driving experience. The current RAV4 hosts Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a completely capable system; however, there have been some updates that will hopefully make their way into the next-gen model.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 offers a range of upgraded systems including
- Lane tracing assist
- Lane departure alert
- Pre-collision warning
- Road sign assist
- Automatic high-beams
- Dynamic radar cruise control
- Proactive driving assist
The new system provides gentle braking into corners as well as slight steering assistance to ensure smooth and safe cornering. This upgraded safety system will sharpen the RAV4's edge even further.
4 A New Set Of Kicks: Alloy Wheels Across All RAV4 Trims
Toyota has slowly been making the switch to alloy wheels across the board. New Toyota models that come out, such as the Toyota Crown crossover, are equipped with alloy wheels across the board. Toyota has also slowly included alloy wheels in more and more trim levels of the RAV4 over time. It looks as though the 2025 sixth-generation RAV4 will only feature alloy wheels.
The benefits of alloy wheels are prominent across the range. Steel wheels have historically been the default due to the fact that they are generally cheaper. However, alloy wheels are much lighter, meaning they offer better performance, fuel economy, and a general increase in reliability.
3 A Special Edition Is Likely
Special editions are a common occurrence in Toyota line-ups. They garner a lot of positive attention and, quite frankly, they’re just cool. The current generation of the RAV4 comes in the Woodland Edition special variant which boasts off-road tires, a TRD suspension kit, mud-flaps, a roof-rack, and snazzy bronze colored rims.
Special edition models often sell particularly well and the Woodland hybrid is the perfect example. Toyota knows this which is why it's fair to say that the next generation of the RAV4 will come with a limited-run special edition. Next year, 2024, will also mark the 30th anniversary of the RAV4, which means a commemorative trim may also be on the table.
2 More Variants of The RAV4 Prime May Be On The Horizon
One of the most successful variants of the RAV4 is the RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid. Currently, you can get the Prime XE and XSE. Alongside just how good the SUV is, you also potentially qualify for tax credit up to $7,500 by buying the prime. The United States’ government is consistently incentivizing owning an electric vehicle and it's likely that this has contributed to the popularity of the RAV4 Prime.
Toyota has had a lot of success in terms of their hybrids and their electric vehicles. The RAV4 Prime has been an excellent seller for the Japanese firm. It makes sense then that as we move towards the new generation that they would start to offer more trim levels of the RAV4 Prime, allowing buyers more options.
1 Production Will Only Start Towards The End Of 2024
As we sit and eagerly await details about one of the world’s most loved SUVs, we take a look at when we might be able to expect the arrival of the next generation model. Based on general trends and the fact that the 2024 RAV4 hasn’t hit shelves yet, we can safely assume that we’ll be waiting until the end of 2024 into early 2025 to get our hands on the next generation of the RAV4. Whether we see the loss of the combustion engine RAV4 or not, a lot will also change about how the capable little SUV performs.
As Toyota enters a new era, the RAV4 the first in the SUV line-up to undergo a rehaul. This is momentous as it not only sets a standard for what we can expect from Toyota in terms of the RAV4 going forward but their entire SUV line-up.