2027 Toyota RAV4 safety upgrade arrives this month, with no price rise 

Key highlights

• Toyota says the changes improve both active and passive safety systems across the Australian RAV4 range.
• The safety update will not bring a price increase, with the range continuing from $45,990 before on-road costs.
• The upgraded RAV4 is expected to undergo Euro NCAP testing before an Australian safety rating is confirmed.

Toyota Australia has confirmed the long-awaited safety upgrade for the new RAV4 will begin reaching Australian showrooms from late October 2026. The update is intended to help the 2027 Toyota RAV4 secure a five-star safety rating under the latest testing requirements, after delays pushed the SUV’s Australian arrival from late 2025 to March 2026. Toyota has not revealed exactly what has changed. The company says the upgrades cover both active and passive safety systems. Active safety refers to technology designed to help prevent a crash, while passive safety systems are designed to protect occupants if a collision occurs.

Toyota previously said there would be no new features or structural changes as part of the update. The company has again declined to provide specific details about the changes. “We can confirm that Toyota has made further incremental improvements to RAV4 active and passive safety features,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson said. The upgrades will apply across the entire RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid range.

Read more: 2027 Toyota RAV4 GXL PHEV adds cheaper entry point in Australia

Why the Toyota RAV4 needed a safety upgrade

The new-generation Toyota RAV4 was originally expected to arrive in Australia in late 2025, but last-minute quality-control delays pushed its local launch to March 2026. That timing created a problem for Toyota because the RAV4 would now need to be assessed against the tougher 2026 ANCAP testing protocols, rather than the 2025 requirements for which the vehicle was originally engineered.

The Toyota RAV4 currently remains unrated by ANCAP. That matters in Australia, particularly for buyers who need a five-star vehicle for family use or fleet policies. ANCAP has previously advised consumers and fleets to wait for a safety rating before buying an unrated vehicle.

Toyota is expected to submit the updated Toyota RAV4 for testing through Euro NCAP later in 2026. ANCAP has indicated it can use the European test results for the Australian and New Zealand-specification vehicle, provided the requirements are met. Until that testing is completed, however, the upgraded RAV4 cannot be described as a five-star car.

No price increase for the safety update

The safety improvements will not increase the current RAV4 prices. As of October 2026, the range starts at $45,990 before on-road costs for the RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD and extends to $66,340 for the GR Sport PHEV AWD.

Toyota recently announced further changes to the 2027 RAV4 range, including a new GXL plug-in hybrid grade and an updated drive mode system for all-wheel-drive versions. Those changes are expected to take effect in early 2027, with pricing yet to be confirmed. Toyota says any future price changes associated with those updates will not be directly related to the safety upgrades. For Australian buyers considering a RAV4 before the end of 2026, the key point is that vehicles arriving before the updated stock will remain unrated. Buyers prioritising a five-star safety rating may therefore want to wait until the upgraded model has been tested and its rating confirmed.