New Toyota RAV4 GR Sport boasts up to 304hp

The RAV4 desperately needed a revving up a bit - Gazoo Racing has duly supplied the tinsel

By PH Staff / Wednesday, 21 May 2025 / Loading comments

When revealing the latest version of the RAV4 in Tokyo, Toyota lent into its status as one of the industry’s original compact crossovers hard: “It was quirky. It was a bit of fun,” reckoned head of design, Simon Humphries, describing the concept reveal in 1989. “No one at the time would have thought that it was about to change the automotive world. But that's exactly what this little monocoque SUV did.” It didn’t really, of course - it was the trickle-down desirability of enormous luxury SUVs that eventually spiked an abiding interest in something smaller and more affordable - yet unquestionably it was a significant car for its maker: Toyota has reportedly sold 15 million RAV4 units in 30 years.

So it grasped the concept of ‘everyday adventure’ well enough. But it also failed to understand the full scale of the opportunity, and entirely missed the boat when it came to building go-faster versions of its new creation. This restricted the RAV4 to a turgid progression from hairdressers’ car to school-run special over five generations, while European OEMs romped ahead with rebranded, profit-making derivatives. Now, finally, off the back of enormous strides taken by Gazoo Racing elsewhere in the mainstream, Toyota appears to have learned its lesson - behold the all-new RAV4 GR Sport.

Now, the word ‘Sport’ there should alert you to the fact that this isn’t a pureblood GR variant in the mould of the Yaris or Corolla, and that’s likely by dint of the model’s status as a plug-in hybrid (exclusively so in the UK). But thanks to the presence of a new 22.7kWh battery and more powerful motor, in all-wheel-drive format the RAV4 is said to provide a total output of 304hp and be capable of 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds - plenty quick enough to qualify it as a fast family crossover (though admittedly we don’t know much more about the precise details of the powertrain other than it can drive for up 62 miles on electric power alone).

If that thought doesn’t have you rushing to trade in your VW Tiguan R, then perhaps its ‘motorsport-inspired character’ will. Mr Humphries reckons the GR Sport has been extensively re-engineered during 70,000 hours of development. The flagship is 20mm wider than standard and features improved rear bracing for better rigidity, alongside a chassis that has earned uprated dampers and retuned springs. You get lighter 20-inch wheels too, and a GR-specific grille design. Inside, there are sports seats and plenty of badges to remind you that your RAV4 is part of the Gazoo Racing club. Quite how much entry will cost you in the UK isn’t yet clear, though if the sixth generation drums up anything like the response to the first, Toyota will be tickled pink.