12:23 15-09-2025

Toyota brings back the RAV4 name for its next electric SUV

Toyota is preparing a change of course: instead of the opaque bZ codes, the Japanese brand is bringing back the iconic RAV4 name. That’s what the new midsize electric SUV will be called, set to take over from the current bZ4X.

When the bZ4X arrived in 2021, Toyota tried to launch the “beyond Zero” line. The label turned out too convoluted for mainstream buyers, and key markets opted to return to familiar badges. The upcoming electric RAV4 is poised to become the C-segment flagship and will slot into a range that already includes the Urban Cruiser and the C-HR+.

Production will be set up in Kentucky, alongside the new Land Cruiser Se. Both crossovers are slated to offer a spacious cabin with three rows of seats, leaning into practicality rather than the sportier lines seen on the bZ4X. It’s a pivot that should make showroom conversations simpler and play to what family buyers actually want.

Meanwhile, the current bZ4X has just undergone a major update. The refreshed electric crossover gets revised hardware, new 57.7 and 73.1 kWh batteries, and improved eAxle motors. Depending on the version, WLTP range spans from 445 to 573 km, while DC charging remains at 150 kW—a cautious move, but a consistent one.