2024 Rav4 Trim Levels

[Freypal]

Hi, I'm looking at getting a new Rav4 early next year with the phev seeming to tick all the right boxes for us. 

Only issue is I'm a bit disappointed by there being only two trim/spec levels currently. And no add-ons... The Design and GR Sport. The Design spec has more or less everything we'd want except a big thing is cloth seats with us having young kids and regularly carrying muddy gear etc... We could look at seat covers i know but it would be nicer to have the option of factory leather etc... Also seems you can't add the pano roof to the design either. 

Given the GR Sport doesn't add anything else we'd want, the £5k or so premium is a no go. Does anyone know if additional mid tier trims are expected? Is it normal for the end of year to lead to specs disappearing (dynamic/excel etc) and being re-added in the new year perhaps?

Thanks! 

[Flatcoat]

The short answer is no. Toyota UK have a strange idea when it comes to trim specs. In addition the small sales volumes for the PHEV (and factory production allocated to the UK) will not justify a wider offering. It’s very much take it or leave it and go elsewhere. I suspect Toyota will increasingly find the latter as more PHEV’s come to the market in the next 12 months. 

[philip42h]

44 minutes ago, Freypal said:

Does anyone know if additional mid tier trims are expected? Is it normal for the end of year to lead to specs disappearing (dynamic/excel etc) and being re-added in the new year perhaps?

Your guess is as good as anyone else's. You can / should, of course, ask your local dealer but they [probably] won't be any the wiser.

In recent years Toyota UK have offered, across the model range:

• A basic / budget model - typically named as Icon
• A standard / everyman model - typically named Design
• A sporty model focusing on style - previously named Dynamic and presently renamed to GR-Sport
• A 'posh' model focusing on luxury and toys - typically named Excel

For reasons unknown to us all, there has never been a RAV4 PHEV Excel. So, as you note, you are limited to a choice of Design or GR-Sport. (There's no 'budget' version of the RAV4.)

In recent years Toyota have been cutting down on the range of options available - probably to simplify manufacturing and make cancelled orders more resellable.

Spec changes used to be announced in the autumn for production and sale the following year, so I'd be surprised if we don't already know what is orderable for 2024 ... I am occasionally surprised! 😉 

Oh, and, I previously had a RAV4 with fabric seats and they were really very good ...

 

[Flatcoat]

Dealers will not know of forthcoming trim changes too far ahead. The press often know of new models or specs before the dealers - and even if the dealers do know, their job is to sell cars today, not in 6 months time. Sales people are just that, they are not car nerds or enthusiasts. I used to be married to a car sales person who sold for many brands so know how it works. 
 

The OP might need to look at Lexus or other brands to get their wish list. 

[philip42h]

15 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

The press often know of new models or specs before the dealers ...

... so, it's worth keeping an eye on the Toyota UK Media Site since that is where the press releases are published.

[GBgraham]

1 minute ago, philip42h said:

... so, it's worth keeping an eye on the Toyota UK Media Site since that is where the press releases are published.

Or do you think the options are just limited for RHD ?

Because here in Greece we have 7 LHD RAV4 Hybrid Models and 5 PHEV models 🤔

[Freypal]

Thanks all! The kit and finish of the design spec isn't a deal breaker and seems pretty good on the whole, I just wanted to check if anything was known on the horizon as an alternative.

[philip42h]

28 minutes ago, GBgraham said:

Or do you think the options are just limited for RHD ?

Because here in Greece we have 7 LHD RAV4 Hybrid Models and 5 PHEV models 🤔

Shropshire is in the UK! 😉 So best to look on the UK site for UK options.

Greece is in Europe. The US is on the other side of the pond. So wise to avoid media reports based on US or European offerings.

And Japan is a RHD country ... so it's probably a UK marketing thing rather than anything to do with Toyota!

[FROSTYBALLS]

37 minutes ago, GBgraham said:

Or do you think the options are just limited for RHD ?

As Japan, where the Rav4 is built for the European market, is a RHD country, wouldn't have thought the UK being RHD as well would be an issue as regards options.

Probably more to do with what the importer (in this case Toyota GB) decides to offer.

Ireland, which is also RHD, offers the PHEV in 3 grades.

[GBgraham]

27 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

As Japan, where the Rav4 is built for the European market, is a RHD country, wouldn't have thought the UK being RHD as well would be an issue as regards options.

Probably more to do with what the importer (in this case Toyota GB) decides to offer.

Ireland, which is also RHD, offers the PHEV in 3 grades.

If that is the case it is Muppetry on Toyota UK.

Imo the RAV4 is top end in pricing and if you can't get the spec you want you go and look elsewhere, I would and probably South Korea.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Your choice.

[GBgraham]

3 hours ago, philip42h said:

Shropshire is in the UK! 😉 So best to look on the UK site for UK options.

Greece is in Europe. The US is on the other side of the pond. So wise to avoid media reports based on US or European offerings.

And Japan is a RHD country ... so it's probably a UK marketing thing rather than anything to do with Toyota!

A tad condescending old chap.

JFYI, I am a Brit living in Greece so I do know it's in Europe and where most if not all countries are in the rest of the world 😉

From what I can see, North America and Canada nearly out strips the rest of the worldwide on sales so the UK and even Japan are tiny cogs!

 

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, GBgraham said:

A tad condescending old chap.

JFYI, I am a Brit living in Greece so I do know it's in Europe and where most if not all countries are in the rest of the world 😉

From what I can see, North America and Canada nearly out strips the rest of the worldwide on sales so the UK and even Japan are tiny cogs!

Not condescending at all ... Simon was enquiring what grades and option might become available in the UK in the coming months. Telling him that Greece is better served for options is "rubbing salt into the wound".

[Yugguy1970]

Japan has often had better spec models than we got.

Their 2.0 vtec Civics and Accords had 230bhp not 197.

The good old days of proper high revving no turbo hot hatches.

Vtec just kicked in yo!

[Flatcoat]

4 hours ago, GBgraham said:

A tad condescending old chap.

JFYI, I am a Brit living in Greece so I do know it's in Europe and where most if not all countries are in the rest of the world 😉

From what I can see, North America and Canada nearly out strips the rest of the worldwide on sales so the UK and even Japan are tiny cogs!

 

North America has its own local factory.