Toyota may bring back some physical buttons to the RAV4 cabin

A Japanese company has received feedback from customers who purchased its current crossover regarding a number of functions that have been moved to the multimedia touchscreen. Many were not pleased with the changes.

The current sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 was unveiled in May 2025, initially with versions for North America and Europe. Later, the manufacturer revealed the SUV destined for Australia, and in November, two different versions of the car for China were presented. In Japan, HEV versions of the new 'Rav4' debuted in December 2025, while PHEV variants joined the family in February 2026.

Now, the company has gathered the first customer reviews of the 'sixth-generation' crossover. It turns out that many customers disliked the fact that control of certain functions had been moved from physical buttons and dials to the central touchscreen of the infotainment system.

For instance, the current RAV4 retains a physical volume knob, hazard light button, drive mode selector, and buttons for adjusting air temperature. However, controls such as those for the fan speed of the climate system, air distribution, and seat heating have been moved to the multimedia touchscreen. Many users were not keen on this decision.

According to Australian publication Drive, citing Toyota RAV4 chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane, the initial plan involved moving all buttons to the touchscreen area, but developers ultimately settled on a 'minimum' approach. Nevertheless, even this option did not go down well, with dissatisfaction expressed even by Chinese customers, who, according to a Toyota representative, are considered 'proponents of touchscreen controls'.

According to the publication, the Japanese manufacturer is now considering the possibility of reintroducing some of the most requested physical buttons and dials into the cabin of the current Toyota RAV4. When asked directly whether the company was prepared to give the crossover more physical buttons, Yoshinori Futonagane replied: 'If necessary, yes, we will do it.' It is possible that such changes could be implemented during future updates to the model.

For context, it was previously reported that a 'hot' version of the Rav4 could be on the cards. The company noted that it might consider developing and releasing a Toyota GR RAV4 modification if there is sufficient demand from the target audience. It is speculated that such an SUV could feature a modified 2.4-litre petrol turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the T24A-FTS, which is already available in the current Lexus RX range. In the RX 350, this engine produces 279 bhp, while in the RX 500h, it forms part of a hybrid setup with a combined output of 371 bhp.

It is worth noting that the current sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 also offers a GR Sport version. This crossover features a number of visual differences, particularly in the front-end design, as well as a revised suspension. However, it retains standard mechanicals: a plug-in hybrid powertrain with an E-Four all-wheel-drive system, delivering a combined output of 329 bhp.