We are approaching the era of software-defined vehicles. Executives from companies like BMW and Rivian have spoken at length about the importance of software and how it will help shape the next generation of cars, trucks and SUVs.
Toyota shares this sentiment, emphasizing how software can make its cars more practical and safer. But the company’s cautious approach means it has been slower to adopt software-defined vehicle technology than many of its competitors. With the new RAV4, Toyota has finally taken the first steps toward a software-defined future. It still has a lot of catching up to do.
As Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe He explained to usA big part of what makes a “software-defined vehicle” is the logical computing architecture. This means that all vehicle programs are routed more efficiently, resulting in improved interconnectivity and reduced production costs.
The new RAV4, by definition, is neither. However, Toyota insists that the technology, infotainment and infotainment improvements added to the 2026 model help lay the foundation for bigger and better things in the future.
Photo by: Toyota
There are some highlights worth noting, the most important of which is the switch to 5G connectivity, a first for any Toyota. The RAV4 also gets an improved voice recognition system, over-the-air updates for fixes and features, and what the automaker calls one of the most advanced Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) apps yet.
The hardware is mostly familiar – 10.9- and 12.9-inch displays similar to what is currently offered in other Lexus and Toyota products. The new software isn’t significantly different either, it’s basically a reprise of what Toyota offered a few years ago in the Tundra, but much improved with better support and higher speeds.
With all these improvements in mind, Toyota has one main goal for the future: safety.
Toyota RAV4 chief engineer, Yoshinori Futonagane
Photo by: Toyota
We spoke with the RAV4’s chief engineer, Yoshinori Futonagane (you can read the… The full interview is here), who told us how smarter vehicles and better software will inevitably make driving safer. Futonagani-san says the company aims for “zero deaths, zero accidents.” He explains (via translation):
“So the ultimate endgame is safer vehicles.” But the ultimate endgame could be zero deaths and zero accidents. This is the direction we are moving in. So the RAV4 is almost at the starting line, in the very early stages.
So, if we take our current safety system, TSS — Toyota Safety Sense — we’ve taken all the older versions of TSS and all that data so we can create better awareness with the newer systems, so you can react.’
However, one big concern I had while driving the new RAV4 was the fact that Toyota removed some of the buttons and dials. Functions like fan speed, for example, are now built into the display itself. Many, myself included, would argue that removing hard buttons is necessary It interferes with road safety. But Toyota says there’s a very specific reason for these changes.
Simply put: Toyota wants you to use its voice control systems for almost everything. Doing so results in “less distraction” than fiddling with hard buttons or digging into the screen, Futonagani-san says. Whether we agree or not, Toyota believes this is the way forward:
“The one thing we had to make sure was that the driver or passenger could use the interface more easily because that means less distraction and safer driving. And also voice recognition. If the customer gets lost in the menus, it means you are distracted. Of course, it affects safety, but also as a product, it becomes detrimental when the system is not good.
Of course, technologies like 5G and voice recognition don’t represent major breakthroughs, as automakers have been using these features for decades. But Toyota’s commitment to implementing this type of technology across its entire lineup represents a big step forward for a brand that’s often reluctant to take risks in the name of safety and reliability.
Toyota certainly still has a way to go in becoming a software-defined company, but the RAV4 is a solid first step toward that goal.
