Sharp Angles, Sharper Power: The New Toyota RAV4 Redefines the Box

The car once likened to a job interview—reliably dull but unshakably dependable—has entered its sixth generation. Yes, the new Toyota RAV4 is here, and while it still resembles a box, it’s now a particularly stylish one.

Toyota, ever the bastion of sensible design and practical engineering, seems to have let loose a little this time. Rulers were clearly wielded with flair: sharp lines, C-shaped lights, and a square-jawed profile signal a bold stylistic departure. Gone is the gentle streamlining of past models—this is geometry with horsepower.

Speaking of which, the RAV4 is now exclusively a hybrid. Farewell, pure gasoline engines; may they rest beside CD players and button radios in the great garage of obsolescence. The self-charging hybrid (HEV) offers 226 horsepower with front-wheel drive or 236 with all-wheel drive. For those craving more punch, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) boasts a head-turning 320 horses—enough to quicken the pulse of even the most stoic driver.

With a 22.7 kWh battery, the electric-only range stretches to 100 kilometers—unless, of course, you live halfway up the Alps. Plug into a charger faster than your local parking warden writes tickets, and you’ll hit 80% from 10% in just thirty minutes.

Inside, the cabin strikes a minimalist chord—a flight deck designed by someone who once flirted with Scandinavian design blogs. Screens abound: a 10.5- or 12.9-inch infotainment display paired with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. All conspicuously sunshade-free, so you can fully experience the brilliance of both the screen and the sun itself.

For the full visual impact, dive into the photo gallery. Because sometimes, a thousand words still can’t quite match a sharply lit press shot.