The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 has received a grand unveiling at the New York International Auto Show, ahead of its arrival in UK showrooms early next year.
Size-wise, it’s taller, wider and longer than the previous model and boasts an edgier design with half-hexagon wheel arches, which lend the SUV a more futuristic look.
It’s the latest model to benefit from being built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform – underpinnings that were first used for the Prius, as well as the C-HR and Auris.
As such, this should unlock significant benefits to ride, handling and safety, making for a more enjoyable driver experience.
Two new powertrains will be introduced too: a 2.5-litre hybrid electric system and a 2.0-litre petrol unit. Toyota says both these powertrains are more powerful and fuel-efficient than those currently available in the RAV4.
Sadly, the Japanese car maker stopped short of providing any numbers such as power output and fuel consumption, so we’ll have to wait until closer to the model’s launch to learn just how much these factors have been improved.
The RAV4 mk5 will hit European roads during the first quarter of 2019.