UMW Toyota Motor has announced that the all-new 2020 Toyota RAV4 will be launched (virtually) on 18-June. No further details have been shared but the interested customers can register their interest on UMW Toyota Motor’s website.

Here’s what we know so far:

The Toyota RAV4 will be imported from Japan, so don’t expect it to be cheap.

Recent changes in sales tax is also not working on the RAV4’s favour it will only widen the price gap between it and archrival Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, both of which are locally-assembled and thus are entitled to a full sales tax exemption. The imported Toyota RAV4 still needs to pay half of the usual 10 percent sales tax.

How much?

We estimate that it will be priced between the RM 180k – RM 210k range, putting it above the most expensive Honda CR-V 1.5 TC-P and its stablemate the Toyota Camry 2.5V.

Update: Prices have been confirmed, from RM 203,880 - RM 223,880.

What’s the engine?

Unlike the Toyota Camry, which is offered in a variety of engine options including the ageing 2AR-FE engine and the new Dynamic Force series engines (Malaysia only gets the 2AR-FE), the Toyota RAV4 is only available with Dynamic Force engines, available either as a 2.0- or 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine, the latter is also available as a hybrid but it is ruled out for Malaysia due to pricing issues.

The entry 2.0-litre variant will be priced slightly below that of the Toyota Camry 2.5V, while with the 2.5-litre variant slotted above it.

In other words, it will be first Toyota model in Malaysia to come with the latest Dynamic Force series of engines. We say Toyota because that engine is already available here on the Lexus ES 250 and Lexus UX 200.

Safety features?

The full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS is a given, considering that the Toyota Corolla Altis already has it. What needs to be confirmed is whether will its Adaptive Cruise Control come with Stop-Go traffic function. The feature is available in the Corolla Altis but not the Camry, because the latter was launched earlier.

What else should you know?

The Toyota RAV4 is underpinned by the TNGA-K platform, which is also used by the Toyota Camry and the latest Toyota Harrier (yet to be launched here).  

What will the Toyota RAV4 compete against?

When the model is launched in Malaysia, it will go head-to-head against the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Mitsubishi Outlander in the C-segment SUV market.