New Models / 19 May 2026 / Michael Taylor

New Toyota RAV4 goes on sale in South Africa – Pricing and features

Toyota has officially launched the new RAV4 in South Africa.

The RAV4 is one of three new cars the Japanese carmaker debuted at its inaugural Matsuri Festival at Kyalami this past weekend, alongside the bZ4X and the Land Cruiser FJ.

Now in its sixth generation, the RAV4 is set to compete in South Africa’s popular midsize SUV segment alongside models like the VW Tiguan, Ford Territory, and Haval H6.

It is now on sale in four specifications with either an internal combustion engine (ICE) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain.

A fifth model with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain will be added in the near future, though Toyota South Africa Motors stated that its price tag will only be confirmed upon release.

Engines

The new RAV4 line-up is split across three trim levels – the GX, VX, and GR-Sport.

The entry-level GX is exclusively sold with the HEV drivetrain, which takes the form of a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with a small electric motor.

This gives the SUV a combined total of 176kW. Unfortunately, Toyota does not publish the combined torque stats for its hybrids, so we only know that the engine produces a total of 221Nm.

The GX features an “E-Four” all-wheel-drive system and uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Thanks to its hybrid underpinnings, the SUV achieves a frugal fuel consumption of 4.5l/100km, which gives it a range of over 1,200km on its 55-litre tank.

Moving on, the mid-range VX is available with either the HEV or an ICE powertrain.

The latter is a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 127kW and 203Nm.

Unlike the other models, it is front-wheel-drive, though it also uses a CVT.

The ICE VX also has a higher average fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km.

The last model, the GR-Sport, is only available as a HEV.

Features

The next-gen RAV4 has a much sharper appearance than its predecessor, with more angular styling, semi-hexagonal wheel arches, and a set of slim horizontal LED headlights and daytime running lights.

On the GX and VX, there’s a new honeycomb-style grille similar to what we’ve seen on the facelifted Corolla Cross or the next-gen Hilux.

However, the flagship GR-Sport has a less prominent black grille with a small GR badge in the corner.

There are four colours to choose from: Midnight Green, Moon Grey, Platinum Pearl White, and Smokey Blue.

In terms of size, the new SUV is 4,600mm long, 1,885mm wide, and 1,695mm tall.

It also has a 2,690mm-long wheelbase, and 201mm of ground clearance.

Equipment on the GX includes 18-inch alloy rims, a full-size spare alloy wheel, electric side mirrors, keyless start and entry, fabric seats, a multifunction steering wheel, an electric driver’s seat, and six speakers.

On the dashboard, you’ll find a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a 10.5-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also has cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, traction control, stability control, and seven airbags.

The VX expands on this with adaptive headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an electric tailgate, a moonroof, leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel, electric front seats with heating, ventilation, and memory settings, a nine-speaker JBL stereo, and a wireless charger.

It has a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen, and a new heads-up display.

The list of driving aids has also been expanded to include blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera.

Finally, the GR-Sport adds a number of sporty Gazoo Racing-themed elements, such as larger 20-inch alloys, red brake callipers, a two-tone black roof, paddle shifters, and exclusive GR badges.