Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid was the best-selling vehicle in July and is on target to be the best selling non-ute in the nation in 2026. But there is a stylish RAV4 alternative held back from Australia.
Dubbed the Harrier, the coupe-style is based on the RAV4 and sold in Japan and some other Asian markets.
It – unlike the RAV4 – hasn’t been updated yet and is due for a makeover in the next 12 months to bring it inline with the new RAV4.
A Toyota RAV4 by another name
The Harrier is built on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, which spawns the RAV4, Camry and several models, including the NX and RX.
This means it’ll likely follow in the RAV4’s footsteps and have conventional and .
Hybrid versions use a 2.5-litre petrol-electric combo to make 143kW in both front- and layouts. Fuel use is a miserly 4.5L/100km, or 0.1L/100km more for heavier examples.
Plug-in hybrid versions add a bigger , a more powerful motor for a total of 272kW and an electric-only of up to 121km calculated via the benchmark WLTP standard.
Fuel use is a claimed 0.7L/100km, but this requires owners to constantly have the battery with a substantial amount of as fuel use rises dramatically when the battery is depleted.
Is there room in Toyota’s line-up?
Toyota has form selling two SUVs in the same category, with its conventionally-styled Corolla Cross SUV and design-focused C-HR.
The Corolla Cross is by far the more popular, but the C-HR pulls in a different demographic.
Toyota could apply that same logic to mid-size SUVs that demand a bigger slice of the Australian car buying pie.
SUVs account for 65 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia, and is the only body style growing in popularity in 2026. So brands are investing more in SUVs and expanding line-ups.
What will the new version look like?
Toyota hasn’t officially revealed the Harrier yet, but expect it to borrow heavily from the RAV4 and the new Corolla Cross.
Unofficial digital renders published online show the Harrier wearing the same lattice work grille as the new RAV4 and Corolla Cross, as well as sharp and body character lines seen on several new Toyotas.
The big difference is the coupe-style rear end with a floating roofline, which is in a similar vein to the smaller C-HR.
Full length tail-lights could be an option, too.