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2026 Chevrolet Tahoe ReviewToyota Unveils All-New 2026 RAV4
The next-generation Toyota RAV4 goes full-hybrid, adds off-road Woodland and powerful GR Sport trims for even broader appeal.
Revamping the RAV4
Toyota just revealed the new sixth-generation RAV4, their top-selling compact crossover. Despite riding the top of the segment in sales, Toyota allowed the RAV4 to rest on its laurels for much of its fifth generation, allowing close competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5/CX-50 to lap it in key metrics and overall quality. Toyota looks to regain ground with this upcoming generational turnover that promises big, bold changes to the most familiar of crossovers.
The biggest shift for the RAV4 will come under the hood as all models going forward will be hybrid in some form. Toyota’s conservative approach to electrification has seen them push hard on expanding hybrid powertrains to their entire fleet while devoting time and resources to a select few specific BEVs (battery electric vehicles). The move to hybrid-only powertrains for the RAV4 aligns the crossover with other vehicles in Toyota’s lineup including the Camry, Sequoia, and Sienna.
Hybridizing the RAV4
The 2026 RAV4 will feature two hybrid powertrains. The base hybrid pairs a 2.4L four-cylinder with two electric motors which, in front-wheel drive LE and XLE trims, will produce 226 horsepower. All-wheel drive versions of the LE, XLE, and Limited get a slight bump in power to 236 horsepower. The SE, XSE, and new off-road oriented Woodland trims will be offered with either the regular hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
That PHEV version gets a more significant boost in output in the 2026 update. Adding a 21-22-kWh battery pack (larger than the last generation’s 18.1-kWh) gets the PHEV up to 320 horsepower (an 18-horsepower jump over the last generation). Electric-only driving range also increases, from 42 to now 50 miles. The PHEV RAV4 will be capable of DC fast-charging, getting from a 10- to 80-percent charge in about 30 minutes. AC charging improves as well, going from 6.6 kW to 11 kW.
Not only will the RAV4 be going hybrid only, but it also adds a new GR Sport trim exclusive to the PHEV.
New GR Sport Trim
The days of the sport sedan may be waning, but the days of the sport SUV have only just begun. Or so it would seem given Toyota’s announcement of the new GR Sport trim for the RAV4. The GR, or Gazoo Racing, appellation is shared with other sporty Toyotas like the GR86 and GR Supra and indicates Toyota is serious about making the GR Sport a genuinely zesty driving experience.
The GR Sport comes exclusively with the more powerful PHEV powertrain. In addition to its 320 horsepower, the GR Sport RAV4 will get upgraded steering, a sporty suspension tune, a stiffer chassis, and stock summer tires. That last one should dispel any doubts about Toyota’s dedication to making the GR Sport as adept and lively on pavement as possible.
Of course, no “sport” trim would be complete without a few added visual flourishes. The GR Sport gets exclusive two-tone styling including optional Supersonic Red paired with a blacked-out roof and black cladding on the lower third giving it a sleeker profile. It also features a black-out “Functional Matix” grille and a small, and presumably non-functional, spoiler cresting the rear hatch as a final accent.
The RAV4’s New Looks, Upgrades, & Basics
The sixth-generation RAV4 gets a thorough makeover, adopting the brand’s “hammerhead” design language to the front end as seen on the Prius and returning C-HR (now in EV form). New split headlights add a sense of urgency to the newly aggressive styling that is complimented by a very Lexus-like lattice patterned grille. The new Woodland trim, like the GR Sport, has its own unique styling. In its case, trading sleekness for a robust and rugged look amplified by additional body cladding, standard roof rails, a unique split grille, and a half-an-inch of added ground clearance thanks to all-terrain tires.
Toyota has also redone the RAV4’s interior. The design is clean and functional yet also more premium in its look and feel than the prior generation. The central touchscreen gets a larger standard screen, now 10.5 inches, with higher trims getting an expansive 17.9-inch screen. The digital gauge cluster gets larger as well, going from 7 inches to 12.3 inches. Wireless smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now comes standard. Higher trims will add a heads-up display. The 2026 RAV4 will also come equipped with the latest edition of Toyota’s collection of advanced safety features, Toyota Safety Sense 4.0.
Expect the 2026 Toyota RAV4 to arrive at dealerships in late 2025.
