I’ve been staring out the window for thirty minutes trying to figure out how to start this review.

Should I use some sort of clever switcheroo? A funny anecdote from my time with it?

Nothing. My mind is a blank. Two weeks into a loan from Toyota Australia, the new RAV4 has assumed a misty grey zone in my brain right alongside instructions for brushing my teeth or tying my shoelaces.

It isn't particularly engaging, interesting, or fun. Even the fresh 2026 styling won't exactly blow your frock up.

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But that is precisely why it’s a global juggernaut. Toyota has sold more than 11 million of these worldwide. Locally, it’s the brand's top seller and Australia’s second-favourite car outright.

This isn't because buyers are boring. It's because few cars get the job done so seamlessly that you instantly forget you're driving them. Humans usually judge products by how much they annoy us - it’s why companies have a dedicated customer complaints line, and not one for "Thanks, this did the job."

The RAV4 simply does the job. It is genuinely hard to complain about. So, the new-generation model only needs to answer one question: Does it still do the job?

What's changed?

By the end of the last model’s run, buyers completely ignored the standard petrol engine; hybrids made up roughly 95 per cent of sales.

So Toyota took the hint. The pure-petrol option is dead. Instead, the big news for 2026 is the arrival of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant boasting a very useful 113–121 km of claimed electric range - alongside the normal hybrid.

For now, the core lineup spans five trims: GX, GXL, XSE, Cruiser, and the sporty Edge and GR Sport. I tested the front-wheel-drive hybrid Cruiser, which kicks off at $56,990 (add a few grand more if you want all-wheel drive).

Yes, the entire range is pricier than before. Some might view that as a hurdle when cheaper Chinese rivals exist, but let's also be real: those competitors won't be worth a single RAV4 floor mat the second their warranties expire.

Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD. Photo: James Coleman.

What’s it like to live with?

Having spent way too much time in the back of Toyota rideshares, I feared the worst: jittery suspension, dull plastics, and that specific new-car upholstery scent that triggers a headache within three blocks. In today's market where even the most basic cars are crossing into more premium pastures, this wasn't going to cut it.

Thankfully, the new RAV4 is highly refined.

In Cruiser spec, you get plush leathers and nicely weighted buttons, along with a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay that displays maps right in front of you, next to the digital speedo. Even the old, clunky infotainment setup has been replaced by Toyota's clean new "Arene" operating system, which makes many rival screens feel unnecessarily complicated.

The engine still flares up noisily under heavy acceleration, and road noise isn't quite at Lexus levels. It won't carve up corners, and it won't go off-road beyond a gravel driveway. But you already knew that.

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Crucially for future Uber passengers, it doesn't sway or shudder. But even from the driver's seat, it's a massive step up. Acceleration is smooth, steering is direct, and Toyota has even added 'Vehicle Braking Posture Control' to mitigate body roll through corners. In a RAV4, that's like saying it uses an F1 KERS system.

As for all-important fuel consumption, Toyota's claims have often fallen foul of real-world tests but I was averaging 5.3 litres per 100 km after two weeks of commuting around Canberra - not far off the claimed 4.9 litres.

Maybe I should have used the new "Eco Run" slipstream mode, which effectively turns fuel-saving into a game by awarding you a "leaf score" for sitting in the aerodynamic pocket behind the vehicle in front. However, to prevent it also working as a incentive to tailgate, you have to be using the adaptive cruise control - the second you touch the accelerator to creep closer, it disables.

The new operating system inlays your maps into the screen. Photo: James Coleman.

The verdict

In the end, my only real grievance centres on the electronic boot. Why must it beep like a reversing semi-trailer every time it opens or closes? I know it’s moving - I’m the one who pressed the button.

Otherwise, the RAV4 is as ... RAV4 as always. Just significantly more polished than it ever has been, and that's really all Toyota needed to do.