Flash Drive: 2026 Toyota RAV4

The 2026 RAV4 comes with a alternative of front-wheel (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), two powertrains, hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and selections of three Core Grades; two Sport Grades; the Woodland Grade and the first-ever GR Sport Grade. Whew!

Each RAV4 has driver-selectable drive modes that add to the efficiency.

• Regular is the manufacturing unit default and is tuned for balanced, on a regular basis driving.
• Eco is essentially the most fuel-wise and is sweet when on the open freeway for lengthy stretches of mile-after-mile driving.
• Sport makes the throttle and steering extra responsive, and holds the transmission shifts bit longer at increased RPM.
• Customized permits the system to be adjusted to the motive force’s most well-liked settings.
• EV mode permits the car to be operated as a pure electrical car for brief distances at low pace, relying upon sure situations, equivalent to battery cost stage.

Core Grades

• LE and XLE
• 2.5-liter HEV – 44 mpg
• FWD: 226 horsepower (hp); Towing: 1,750 kilos
• AWD: 236 hp; Towing: 3,500 kilos

• Restricted
• 2.5-liter HEV – 44 mpg
• AWD Commonplace. Towing: 3,500 kilos

Sport Grades

• SE
• 2.5-liter HEV – 37 mpg mixed
• AWD Commonplace; FWD elective
• 2.5-liter PHEV – 41 mpg Mixed (in hybrid mode)
• 52 All Electrical Vary (AER)
• 7.2 kW onboard charger
• AWD Commonplace: 324 hp and 172 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque; Towing: 3,500 kilos

• XSE
• 2.5-liter HEV or PHEV
• 11 kW onboard charger
• AWD Commonplace; Towing: 3,500 kilos

Woodland: Rugged Grade

• 2.5-liter HEV or PHEV
• 41 mpg Mixed for the HEV; 49 AER for the PHEV
• 11 kW onboard charger
• AWD Commonplace; Towing: 3,500 kilos

GR Sport

• AWD Commonplace: 324 hp and 172 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque; Towing: 3,500 kilos
• 2.5-liter PHEV
• 41 mpg Mixed and 48 AER
• 7 kW onboard charger

Charging

The RAV4 PHEV XSE and Woodland grades have an 11-kW onboard AC charger with a CCS (Mixed Charging System) charging port for DC fast-charging. It permits charging from 10-to-80% state of cost in roughly half-hour.

The SE and GR Sport PHEV fashions have a 7-kW onboard charger and are outfitted with a charging port for 120-volt widespread family wall plug. Cost instances will likely be about 12 hours to a full battery. If putting in a house Degree 2 240-volt charger, the battery will go 10-to-80% in round 4 hours.

Driving Expertise: Core and Sport Grades

The Core and Sport Grades differ of their street presence by being both FWD or AWD and shod with 17, 18 or 20-inch tires. Our brief time in every grade was on clean, dry paved roads on a lovely sunny Arizona fall day. My driving associate and I discovered the trip to be comfy, which included the seats and suspension. The suspension when cornering, on mild metropolis and desert nation roads (by no means exceeding the posted pace limits) was well-matched for the curb weight that ranged between 3,640 and three,920 kilos relying on if we have been in a FWD or AWD grade.

The Core Grades had the hybrid system whereas the Sport Grades had the plug-in hybrid. The 2 variations between the 2 powertrains are, when accelerating exhausting from a cease, the facility help from the plug-in hybrid provides a lift, and with the PHEV you may choose to solely run in all-electric mode (in case you have a cost).

This latter level makes shopping for the PHEV enticing as with the ability to go 52 all-electric miles every day ought to cowl most house owners’ in-town errands for a number of days, making going to the fuel station a faint reminiscence.

Driving Expertise: GR Sport

The GR Sport was developed along side Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division, which all of the high-performance Toyota and Lexus fashions run via earlier than being launched to the general public. Mikio Hayashi, the pinnacle of GR advertising and marketing, was on the media occasion and informed us: The “positioning of the GR Sport model is on the entry stage of the GR mannequin hierarchy with the aim of getting the widest potential viewers.” He continued, “Even being entry stage, we made certain it was worthy of carrying the GR branding.”

The GR Sport is excess of an look package deal with these particular components and tools.

• Offset 20-inch wheels
• Summer time efficiency tires
• 15 mm decrease trip peak
• Devoted damper tuning and coil springs
• Entrance efficiency damper
• Rear suspension cross member reinforcement
• Entrance lip spoiler
• Break up Wing rear spoiler
• Rear diffuser

So what did we discover completely different with the GR Sport? Our greatest method of describing it’s, when coming into corners above the posted pace restrict, we felt no slipping, the tires didn’t break free, the physique didn’t roll and, on left-right-left-right sweepers the GR Sport tracked confidently with none feeling of dropping management. In a number of non-scientific 0-60 mph runs, we turned sub-8-second instances from the 324 hp and 172 lb.-ft. of torque.

Toyota has a crack staff of elite drivers, the The land-Undet, which interprets into “Wonderful Ability,” testing on the Shimoyama observe that was designed to recreate and be impressed by the Nürburgring in Germany. Their ability has completed a very good job rising the dealing with and efficiency of the entry stage 2026 RAV4 GR Sport.

Driving Expertise: Woodland Grade

The Woodland is constructed for average off-roading, however actually not rock crawling. Please go away that to the Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia. The Woodland will likely be good for attending to the cabin deep within the woods or heading to the slopes for some snowboarding.

Geared up with 235/65/18 Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tires, the Woodand labored nicely once we did some path driving on sandy, rocky and rutted surfaces. The 8.5-inch floor clearance was lots for the kind of rocks we encountered.

Pricing

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid fashions are anticipated to start out arriving at U.S. dealerships in December 2025. The beginning worth will likely be within the low $30,000s for the hybrid FWD mannequin. The 2026 RAV4 PHEV pricing will likely be out there nearer to when they’re anticipated to start out arriving at U.S. dealerships in spring 2026.

Observations: 2026 Toyota RAV4

Toyota going all-in with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains is a testomony to the corporate’s perception in lowering gasoline use and serving to to contribute to lessening the auto’s affect on the atmosphere.

The graceful operation and seamless transition between gasoline and electrical modes has been a promoting level for the Toyota Hybrid System, now in its fifth Technology. The sixth Technology PHEV powertrain continues to enhance its all-electric driving vary, for the 2026 RAV4 as much as 52 miles. If you wish to reduce your gasoline bills, then the plug-in hybrid possibility must be excessive in your must-have checklist.

A be aware a couple of plug-in hybrid car: To make this expertise work to its fullest, it’s essential to plug it in at any time when potential, however undoubtedly in a single day. You already do that along with your cell phone. The idea can’t be too far-fetched if it means, relying in your driving habits and patterns, possibly by no means going to a fuel station once more.

You’ll pay extra for a hybrid versus a gasoline-only powered automotive, and extra for a PHEV over a hybrid. Since we don’t have the pricing, it’s secure to say any further value for a hybrid will likely be made-up each mile you drive. For the plug-in hybrid, for those who drive most of your miles on the town or in rush hour visitors, your fuel price range will likely be reduce to close nothing.

Regardless which 2026 Toyota RAV4 you go along with, strive to not smile too broadly when passing gasoline stations.

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Story by John Faulkner. Images by John Faulkner and Toyota.