Toyota RAV4 Only Offers AWD Version In Japan With Minimal Change

The latest Toyota RAV4 for the Japanese market. (Doc. Carscoops)

Toyota launched RAV4 for Japanese market specifications as a model for 2025. It is reported that this is his last refresher before changing generations.

Launching from Carscoops, Thursday, November 28, the SUV is now present with all-wheeled driving (AWD) for the domestic market. In particular, the gasoline version will now come as a standard with 4WD, while hybrid self-charging will exclusively feature the E-Four AWD Toyota system, which has previously become standard in the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.

In addition, the car experienced several small overhauls such as a switch from Toyota's signature blue badge to the latest HEV standard emblem and showing a blue spot on the back door.

Then, the model also has a variety of more standard features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Parking Support Brake, Connected Navigation system, and there are puddle lights integrated into the rearview mirror.

In the PHEV variant, the Japanese manufacturer now has a steel-component backup rim which is known to be more cost-effective.

This updated RAV4 will make its debut on November 28 at a price to be announced. Production of both gasoline and hybrid variants will begin in December 2024, following the production of the PHEV version in January 2025.

This SUV was rumored to be changing generations in the future and is expected to be present in the pure electricity version (EV).

This report states that the BEV version of the RAV4 will be built on the same GA-K platform as the internal combustion version (ICE) with several modifications or upgrades so that electric motors and battery packs can be installed in it, compared to using a special architecture for electric vehicles.

It was also stated that the electric version of the RAV4 will offer a crane capacity of up to 1,360 kg in the United States (US) compared to 1,134 kg offered in the PHEV variant and 794 kg in the conventional hybrid today.

Before the BEV version arrives, Toyota will launch its next-generation RAV4 in 2025 and will be present in the hybrid version of the North American market.