Toyota’s facelifted RAV4 will be priced from £23,695 when it arrives in showrooms in late December and the Japanese brand is adding a hybrid variant to the range.

Customers can choose from a 2.5-litre full hybrid, a new 2.0-litre D-4D diesel and a revised 2.0-litre Valvematic petrol with improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions are offered.

Toyota’s Safety Sense – a package of integrated active safety and driver assistance features – is also available as an option on all versions of the RAV4 beyond the entry-level model.

The entry level Active grade features the new 2.0 D-4D diesel engine and comes equipped as standard with Touch 2 multimedia system with touchscreen, six-speaker audio system with DAB radio, cruise control, sunglasses holder, shark fin antenna and leather steering wheel cover. This is an addition to current items including 17-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, rear privacy glass and electric door mirrors.

The RAV4 Business Edition – also powered by the 2.0-litre diesel engine – gains front and rear underruns. Standard specification includes the Toyota Touch 2 with Go navigation and on-board connectivity system, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, retractable door mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers, rear-view camera and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The new Business Edition Plus is launched as a hybrid/front-wheel drive-only grade and comes with LED front and rear lights, a power tailgate, keyless entry and push-button start.

All three powertrains and front and all-wheel drive options are offered in Icon trim. Additional features include 18-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, LED headlamps, combination leather and Alcantara upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat (with power-adjustable lumbar support), heated front seats and an Alcantara dashboard finish. On these models the Toyota Touch 2 system is provided with an optional upgrade to “Go” status with satellite navigation and connectivity functions.

The Excel models adopt the full Toyota Touch 2 with Go package, plus leather upholstery, roof rails and front and rear parking sensors.

The optional Toyota Safety Sense pack is priced at £695 on all versions of the new RAV4, apart from Active grade.

The safety pack includes radar-controlled Pre-Collision System that can detect both vehicles and pedestrians on the road ahead. This works with a Pre-Collision Brake and Brake Assist to alert the driver of potential collisions, prepare the brakes to deliver extra stopping power and, if the driver fails to react, to initiate braking autonomously.

The same radar unit also equips RAV4 with Adaptive Cruise Control. Other features include Road Sign Assist, which recognises principal motorway and major route signs and repeats on the TFT screen in the driver’s instrument binnacle.

Camera sensors monitor the white lines of motorways and major dual carriageways to provide a Lane Departure Alert, warning the driver if the vehicle strays out of its lane without the turn indicators being used. The same system also provides a new Sway Warning, detecting from irregular vehicle movements that the driver may be becoming drowsy. If it believes the driver’s attention is becoming potentially unsafe, it will flash up a Sway Warning alert on the TFT screen with a coffee cup image, recommending the driver takes a break from the wheel.

Toyota Safety Sense is completed by Automatic High Beam, which uses full beam headlight operation. The system detects oncoming traffic and vehicles ahead and automatically dips the lights, returning them to full beam as soon as the road ahead is clear. This function can be switched off if the driver prefers to operate the lights manually at any time.

Two new exterior colours are available for RAV4: Blue Crush and Barcelona Red. Cabin trims are unchanged.

Toyota RAV4 prices

Active 2.0 D-4D diesel 6MT/FWD £23,695

Business Edition 2.0 D-4D diesel 6MT/FWD £24,595

Business Edition Plus 2.5 Hybrid CVT/FWD £26,195

Icon 2.0 D-4D diesel 6MT/FWD £26,995

Icon 2.0 Valvematic petrol CVT/AWD £28,295

Icon 2.5 Hybrid CVT/AWD £29,795

Excel 2.0 D-4D diesel 6MT/FWD £27,995

Excel 2.0 Valvematic petrol CVT/AWD £29,295

Excel 2.5 Hybrid CVT/AWD £30,795