Here’s Your First Official Look (Update)

[UPDATE] Toyota Europe gives us a glimpse of the interior with new teaser images.

Replacing a hugely successful product is never easy. Toyota sold 475,193 RAV4s in the United States last year, securing the top spot well ahead of the Camry and Corolla sedans. Despite its age, the compact crossover saw a 9.3 percent increase in sales compared to the year prior. It was the best-selling SUV in America for the eighth consecutive year, so Toyota has to tread carefully when introducing a successor.

Although Toyota doesn’t explicitly say this is the next-generation RAV4, teaser images appear to match a prototype spotted earlier this year. A camouflaged test vehicle was seen in Detroit at the end of January, featuring what looked like the production body and final lights. Having everything in place is typically a sign that an official debut is inching closer. That reveal date is now confirmed for May 20. More previews could arrive before the full unveiling.

Photo by: Toyota

Aerial shots in the teaser highlight the RAV4’s versatility, showing it in a winter landscape, on a winding road, and presumably performing school-run duties in a suburban neighborhood. Toyota says its bestseller is ready for “urban streets to outdoor retreats,” though the model’s name isn’t mentioned.

The earlier RAV4 spy shots hinted at a slightly larger vehicle with a more upright silhouette, possibly offering more headroom and cargo capacity. The design appeared to feature cleaner lines and a flatter profile, though the camouflage could have distorted some details. The prototype showed a larger quarter window and what looked like C-shaped headlights to echo Toyota’s latest design language.

Toyota is reportedly keeping RAV4 production in the United States to avoid the Trump-era tariffs. While the original plan involved importing the model from Canada and Japan, Reuters suggests production may continue at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK). If that’s the case, output of the next-gen model wouldn’t begin there until 2027.

Photo by: Toyota

However, with the official debut set for next week, the redesigned RAV4 could arrive in the U.S. as early as the 2026 model year. When Motor1 asked Toyota about production plans, a spokesperson declined to comment. We should know where the U.S.-bound vehicles will come from when the new model is revealed a week from tomorrow.

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are a given, but it remains to be seen whether Toyota will drop the base gas-only variant in the U.S. If so, expect a higher entry price. The base 2025 RAV4 Hybrid currently starts at $33,695, around $3,000 more than the ICE model.

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Source: KGP Photography

The RAV4 might not be the most exciting car in Toyota’s lineup, but its massive success helps bankroll fun projects like the GR86 and GR Corolla. Without popular SUVs like this, Toyota wouldn’t be able to tease fans with the possible return of the Celica or promise to keep the Supra name alive beyond the current BMW-esque generation. For that alone, enthusiasts have good reason to appreciate the RAV4’s popularity.