Can the new-look RAV4 earn its place on fleets? By Simon Harris.

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What is it? Large PHEV SUV  How much? From £43,675 (P11D)  Economy? 166.2-217.3mpg (WLTP weighted combined)  EV range: Up to 85 miles

The first thing you notice in the 2026 Toyota RAV4 isn’t the new 12.9-inch screen, but the fact that you get a better view of the road.

Toyota has dropped the highest point of the dashboard by 40mm and squared off the rear glass; a piece of old-school ergonomics that makes this sixth-generation model feel far less like a tank than its predecessor. It is a practical win that you appreciate immediately when trying to thread through a narrow urban car park or reverse into a tight charging bay.

On the move, the car feels exactly like what it is: a heavy, methodical evolution of a proven platform. During our drive, we took the 305hp all-wheel-drive version onto a loose gravel track to see if the rugged styling was more than just a costume.

While it was a brief encounter rather than a punishing trail, the AWD-i system stayed remarkably composed, finding traction on the shifting surface without any frantic electronic intervention. For a driver facing a winter motorway slog or a muddy worksite access road, the revised TNGA-K platform provides a reassuring safety net. Once back on the road, the transition between electric and petrol power remains one of the smoothest in the business. Even with a depleted battery, the car avoids the thirsty, laboured feel that plagues many heavy plug-in rivals on a long run.

However, the new ‘Arene’ software platform isn’t quite the digital revolution promised. While the processor is four times faster, the native navigation remains frustratingly opaque. At several complex junctions, the maps lacked the graphical clarity needed to pick the right lane. While a driver might be tempted to reach for a smartphone map instead, doing so breaks the vital link between the GPS and the PHEV system. The car’s own navigation is designed to stay in sync with the powertrain, to save and deploy electric power at the most efficient moments. Giving up that connection for the sake of a clearer interface means sacrificing the car’s ability to intelligently manage its range.

Strategically, the UK’s move to a PHEV-only line-up for the RAV4 is a straightforward play for the tax brackets. By hitting a class-leading 85 miles of electric range on a full WLTP cycle, the RAV4 lands safely in the 7% Benefit-in-Kind bracket for the 2026/27 tax year. This is exactly where it needs to be to attract those still needing a stepping stone on the way to full EV. Toyota has also added 50kW DC fast-charging, which makes a 30-minute motorway coffee stop a viable way to put an 80% charge back into the 22.7kWh battery.

With prices for the Design FWD starting at £43,845 and the GR Sport AWD at £52,045, the RAV4 has moved significantly upmarket. It isn’t a ground-up reinvention, but it remains a deeply logical choice for those who need a predictable, tax-efficient workhorse that can handle a relentless motorway schedule. While the emerging competition is fierce, the combination of Toyota’s reliability and that 7% tax hook makes it a difficult package for any fleet manager to ignore.

In Brief

Key fleet model: Design FWD

For: 7% BiK tax; 85-mile EV range; comfort

Against: Vague sat-nav graphics

Seven-word summary: Tax-efficient PHEV with class-leading range

Also consider: Škoda Kodiaq, Mazda CX-60, Honda CR-V