Toyota Wants More EVs; Including a New Battery-Powered RAV4

• The next RAV4 will certainly be more electrified than the outgoing model.

• Toyota will reveal a new BEV crossover for Europe in March.

One of the most eagerly awaited new vehicles this year is undoubtedly the sixth-generation Toyota RAV4. The hugely popular compact SUV debuted in 2018 as a 2019 model, and in a category as hotly contested as compact SUVs, even the RAV4 needs to evolve at some point.

And even though sales of the current RAV4 are still going strong, the Japanese giant is out of options: it needs to overhaul its best-selling model from top to bottom. If the unveiling is expected later this year, the upcoming RAV4 will certainly be a 2026 model.

But that’s not all, because Toyota could be inspired by the strategy employed with its latest Camry sedan. The RAV4 could therefore go straight to a standard hybrid powertrain. The variant with a simple ICE engine could disappear from the options list. Of course, the return of a RAV4 PHEV is already assured, given its strong popularity, but it’s above all the addition of a pure electric version that has people talking.

This is where the future RAV4 would differ greatly from the Camry, which, at the time of writing, does not have this battery-powered alternative in its line-up. It will be interesting to see where Toyota goes from here, as the current bZ4X crossover hasn’t exactly been a success. If Toyota discontinues the bZ4X and replaces it with an electric version of the RAV4, which we hope will be more efficient than the brand’s first EV, it could well accelerate its electric shift.

The RAV4’s reputation is an asset in Toyota’s game, and the automaker must take advantage of it, whatever the type of powertrain. Of course, with a fully electrified range, the RAV4 would have to be fitted with an electric motor on the second axle in both hybrid variants, while the electric option would be equipped with a pair of electric motors, or a single motor if Toyota decides to come back with a less expensive version.

In fact, Toyota will be unveiling a brand-new all-electric vehicle on March 12, according to a press release issued by Toyota’s UK media site. And it looks to have the proportions of a highly aerodynamic SUV. If we had to bet on the identity of this new vehicle, we’d probably bet on a production version of the bZ Compact SUV prototype unveiled in 2022.

And even if the public is increasingly interested in hybrid vehicles, that doesn’t mean Toyota is slowing down its electric offensive. So, the next few months are likely to be busy in terms of new battery-powered model unveilings.