Can’t Wait for the New Toyota RAV4? Discover These 10 Top Alternatives for 2025
May 22, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
The all-new Toyota RAV4 is here, and it’s looking like it’ll be a great family car. We had a quick poke around a pre-production version in May, and it’s a really spacious and well-equipped SUV.
It’ll go on sale in 2026, but what if you don’t want to wait that long? Well, there are loads of great alternatives to the new RAV4 to consider in the meantime, and we’ve picked out 10 of the best.
The best Toyota RAV4 alternatives in 2025 are:
- Current Toyota RAV4
- Hyundai Tucson
- Volvo XC60
- Skoda Karoq
- Nissan Qashqai
- Toyota bZ4X
- Lexus NX
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Tesla Model Y
- Used Range Rover Velar
1. Toyota RAV4
You can still buy the current RAV4 and it’s a spacious and comfy SUV
Just because there’s a new Toyota RAV4 on the way doesn’t mean the current one isn’t worth considering. It’s still a comfortable, spacious and well-equipped SUV which comes with a frugal plug-in hybrid engine. It may be a bit noisy under acceleration when the engine kicks in, but with 46 miles of pure-electric range you’ll be able offset that most of the time.
2. Hyundai Tucson
This car turns heads and has a lovely interior
The Hyundai Tucson ticks all of the family SUV boxes. It’s spacious inside, has a big boot and comes with all the toys you could ever want. It may not be quite as comfortable as a RAV4, but the interior does feel more premium and the exterior styling will turn more heads.
3. Volvo XC60
The XC60 has loads of safety features and it’s relaxing to drive
For a bit of Scandi chic, how about a Volvo XC60? Not only does it look really cool, it’s also loaded with safety features and driver aids to protect you and your family out on the road. The interior is lovely as well, if not quite as spacious as some alternatives, and it’s pretty relaxing to drive too.
4. Skoda Karoq
It’s a practical and well-equipped car which is easy to live with
Skoda has a long-standing reputation for making no-nonsense, practical cars, and the Karoq is no exception. It may not set your pulse racing, but what you get is a really practical, comfortable and economical SUV which will ferry you around with minimal fuss. You can even get clever rear seats which can slide forwards and backwards for added legroom or boot space, depending on your needs.
5. Nissan Qashqai
A comfortable and roomy car which is great value for money
The Nissan Qashqai has been one of the UK’s best-selling cars for years, and it’s easy to see why. The latest model is really comfortable, has a solid, practical cabin and comes with loads of kit as standard. The boot may not be the largest, but other than that the Qashqai is a great all-rounder.
6. Toyota bZ4X
A great electric alternative to the RAV4 for Toyota lovers
If you fancy making the switch to an EV, but want to stick with the Toyota brand, then the bZ4X is a good shout. It’s about the same size as the RAV4, although the boot is quite a bit smaller, and it’s available with either single- or dual-motor power options and up to 313 miles of range. It’s comfy and well-equipped, but it’s a shame that some of the interior controls are fiddly to use.
7. Lexus NX
Offers the benefits of the RAV4 in a more upmarket package
You can think of the Lexus NX as being like a Toyota RAV4 in a posh suit, because under that sporty-looking body it has the same basic 2.5-litre petrol hybrid engine. It has a much nicer interior than the current RAV4 and offers similar levels of interior space, but it’s too bad that a luxurious SUV like this makes such a racket under acceleration.
8. Volkswagen Tiguan
Easy to live with and well equipped with a premium badge
The Volkswagen Tiguan follows a simple yet effective family SUV recipe. It looks smart, offers plenty of space inside and it’s easy to drive. The infotainment system is a bit fiddly to use, but you do get a lot of kit as standard and there’s a good range of economical engines on offer.
9. Tesla Model Y
A great electric SUV with loads of tech and a massive boot
The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric car in the UK, and the latest one is a great SUV. You get a cavernous boot, loads of rear legroom and blistering performance, however you may find the total lack of buttons inside quite tricky to get used to.
10. Used Range Rover Velar
A premium luxury SUV for the same price as a RAV4
For around £50,000 you could get your hands on a Range Rover Velar – one of the best-looking luxury SUVs around. We found a 2024 Velar with 9,100 miles on the clock for this budget, around the same price as a top-spec version of the current RAV4. It looks great and has a spacious interior, but it’s not quite as comfortable as you may expect a Range Rover to be.
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