Japan
Toyota may reverse one of the sixth-generation RAV4’s more debated cabin decisions. Chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane says the automaker is reviewing owner feedback on whether to restore physical fan-speed controls, which moved to the center touchscreen for this generation.
The current RAV4 keeps only temperature and volume as dedicated physical controls; fan speed now lives inside the touchscreen’s climate menu. Futonagane says the team debated internally over which controls to keep as physical switches before settling on the current layout, and the question of adding fan-speed buttons back is still open. “If it’s necessary, yes, we’ll do it,” he said.
What stands out is where the pushback is coming from. Toyota’s own team had expected Chinese buyers, generally seen as the most touchscreen-forward market, to be comfortable with the change. Instead, complaints have come from Chinese owners as well as others, prompting the reconsideration.
Toyota has not committed to a running change or a timeline. The review covers only the fan-speed control; temperature and volume remain physical dials regardless of the outcome.
