The next Toyota RAV4 will make make a great car even better

The next-generation Toyota RAV4 is coming, replacing the best-selling model launched in 2018. The new RAV4 will only be available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, discarding the ICE powertrain completely. This is in line with Toyota’s recent practice, having changed the popular Camry sedan to hybrid-only for the 2025 model.

The current, outgoing RAV4’s popularity is built on a solid foundation. It is a compact crossover SUV, the most popular kind of car in the US. Starting at just over $30K for the hybrid, it is very affordable, and offers true value for your money as well.

The excellent fuel efficiency of the hybrid made it a no-brainer compared to RAV4 ICE, or any other ICE crossover of similar size. The Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) version comes with a spicy 302 hp and can run 42 miles on battery power alone. And, of course, it is a Toyota, with the top reliability and solid resale value built into the brand.

The new RAV4 will only be the sixth generation, replacing the current one launched in 2018. As with previous generations, Toyota seems to be improving what is already a winning formula, rather than coming up with radical changes.

2026 Toyota RAV4 overview

Making a great car better

Toyota is always very careful when launching a new generation of a popular model, and the outgoing RAV4 was very popular indeed. Last year, it unseated the Ford F-150 as bestselling model in the US. But despite a major facelift in 2021, the seven-year-old RAV4 was getting old, and it was time for a new one to wow drivers.

Software-defined car

Drivers today want cars to have functionality that mimics or complements our smartphones. The new RAV4 is Toyota’s next step to a fully software-defined vehicle, with advanced connectivity, safety, and security features that can be continuously updated over-the-air to provide the latest tech as it becomes available.

This RAV4 will be the first car with the latest version of Toyota’s audio multimedia system. It still offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and dual Bluetooth connectivity, but with a more user-friendly interface. Voice assistant is now better and faster, while maps and navigation will be integrated into the digital gauge cluster. This RAV4 will also be the first vehicle to get the latest Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 system.

Familiar shape made better

When you look at the new model, it is still unmistakably a RAV4. The lines and shapes are familiar, but everything has been updated. With the ICE option dropped, the range has been simplified, with buyers getting quite a few luxury and pricing options, as well as a normal everyday RAV4, a more off-road vibe, and more performance-oriented options.

Under the skin, the new RAV4 is built on the latest version of the K chassis, a universal platform used in models such as the Highlander, Crown Signia, and Lexus RX. According to Toyota, this chassis is more rigid than before, and improved construction materials in the body resulted in less micro-vibration when driving.

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New hybrids only

Next-gen HEV, PHEV with more power

The big, but not unexpected, news is that Toyota is dropping the ICE engine in favor of the more powerful and efficient HEV and PHEV drives. The engine is still the familiar 2.5L Atkinson inline four cylinder, but the power has been increased significantly.

Hybrid available in FWD and AWD

The hybrid is now available in FWD, previously only on the ICE versions. The current AWD hybrid makes 219 hp, and the new FWD ups that to 226, with the AWD with a third motor going to 236 hp. This will put pressure on the RAV4’s nearest competitor, the Honda CR-V, which makes 203 hp with its 2.0L hybrid.

New PHEV, more power, longer EV range

The RAV4 PHEV costs quite a bit more, but has the double benefit of more horsepower and longer electric range. The new PHEV goes up from the current 302 hp to 320 hp, which takes it into high-performance territory, something Toyota used very cleverly.

Besides the power advantage, the main benefit of a PHEV is that it can run as an EV only for some distance before having to use the ICE engine. The current RAV4 PHEV can run for 42 miles on battery only, which is more than most drivers need in a day, and the battery can be recharged overnight like an EV at minimal cost. The new model will go over 50 miles on a charge, and some trim levels have DC charging fast enough to go from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes.

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From gravel travel to street racing

What you need, how fancy you want

The 2026 RAV4 brings order to a model range that got completely out of hand with the 14 different powertrain and trim level combinations of the current model. The buyer can decide what they want the car to do, and then choose a trim level and drivetrain option to match their budget. The new RAV4 is divided into the following three groups:

• The Core is the normal RAV4 we use for everyday driving and weekends away, so the design is basic RAV4 sensible. There are three trim levels, all using the normal hybrid drive, with a choice of FWD or AWD on two of them.
• The Rugged is the Woodland trim, with chunky tires, better ground clearance, and a generally more off-roady vibe. It comes only in AWD, and you can choose between the HEV and PHEV drives.
• Sport is obviously designed for better performance on paved roads, and two letters pay testament to this: GR, or Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsport division, and a name not lightly bestowed. The Sport is available in HEV and PHEV, FWD and AWD in the bottom trim, and the GR only as PHEV and AWD.

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