With one in four vehicles on New Zealand roads being a Toyota, it’s no surprise that the RAV4 has finished 2025 as New Zealand’s top-selling new vehicle once again, firmly cementing its place in Kiwi hearts.
Renowned as an SUV perfectly built for the Kiwi lifestyle, our customer stories prove the RAV4 is always ready for just about anything – fishing trips, camping trips, mountain biking trips, road trips, and the classic “we forgot the tent” trips. It’s adventure-ready, but also everyday-ready, because getting out there is for everyone. And so is the RAV4.
Details of the RAV4’s latest accolades were provided in Toyota’s press release, extracts of which are included below.
DRIVEN People’s Choice Award - 2025
New Zealand’s top-selling new vehicle in 2025
The people’s pick
The RAV4 has done it again – winning the DRIVEN People’s Choice Award for the second straight year and finishing 2025 as New Zealand’s top‑selling new vehicle. Toyota New Zealand is celebrating the SUV’s continued dominance as Kiwis once again confirm their love for a model that has become part of everyday life across Aotearoa.
Kiwis once again voted for the RAV4 in the DRIVEN awards, recognising its balance of practicality, comfort and hybrid efficiency. The same confidence was reflected in the market, where 11,295 RAV4 were sold in 2025, cementing its place as the SUV New Zealanders rely on every day. Further amplifying its popularity, more than 50,000 fifth-generation RAV4s have been sold in New Zealand since its launch in 2019.
The RAV4’s popularity continues to rise as more New Zealanders opt for hybrid powertrains, value spacious and comfortable interiors, and look for a vehicle that moves effortlessly between city commutes and rural adventures. The D‑RAVs marketing campaign taps into Kiwis’ love of recreation and classic Kiwi humour, reinforcing the RAV4’s place in the hearts of drivers nationwide. Its ability to meet such a wide range of needs has made it a staple on New Zealand roads – and 2026 is set to take that legacy even further.
The next‑generation RAV4 will arrive in Toyota Stores in the first half of 2026, bringing new styling, new interior, upgraded technology, enhanced fuel efficiency and – for the first time in New Zealand – a Plug‑In Hybrid variant. This exciting expansion gives customers more choice, more capability and even cleaner mobility options.
Toyota New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Tatsuya Ishikawa says the RAV4’s achievements reflect the deep and enduring relationship between Toyota and New Zealanders.
