The 2026 Toyota RAV4, America’s bestselling SUV, is getting a whole new makeover. Toyota’s compact SUV debuts its sixth generation with an all-hybrid lineup and a new look defined by modern, boxier styling.
For the first time, buyers can choose from three distinct design personalities: Core; Sport, headlined by the new GR Sport; or Rugged via the Woodland trim. Each version brings its own flavor with unique interior and exterior touches, but all are powered by conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains. As with the Camry, there are no gas-only models.
We got an in-person look at the 2026 Toyota RAV4 at the company’s North America headquarters, where we had the chance to climb inside, explore the cabin, and examine the details that set it apart.
Modern, Boxy Exterior
Core models, including the LE, XLE, and Limited trims, stick to a more traditional look, as seen here with a clean, paint-matched grille. The Woodland trim revives the idea behind the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition and features a standard roof rack, black cladding, and chunky all-terrain tires for a tougher stance. Meanwhile, the Sport variants—SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport—have a more athletic appearance including a rear spoiler.
Core models are exclusively powered by Toyota’s standard hybrid powertrain, with front-wheel drive being standard and all-wheel drive available as an option. Rugged and Sport variants offer more flexibility, giving buyers a choice between the traditional hybrid and the more powerful plug-in hybrid setup.
All-wheel drive comes standard on the off-road-focused Woodland trim, while the GR Sport stands apart as the only RAV4 offered exclusively with the plug-in hybrid system.
The baseline design of the 2026 RAV4 avoids the sleeker aesthetic of the Prius or Crown Signia, instead leaning more into the Land Cruiser side of the portfolio with a higher beltline, straighter character lines, and a boxier vibe. Modern design cues like split headlights and a paint-matched grille are applied, as well.
Even so, the rear gets perhaps the most dramatic changes, with sleek horizontal LED taillights accented by techy vertical light elements. In keeping with Toyota’s latest practice, “RAV4” is boldly spelled out across the tailgate.
Sport models get a larger, more aggressive black grille, more pronounced body cladding, and a front fascia with oversized (fake) air intakes. Glossy black trim replaces the pieces found on Core and Rugged models. A contrasting black roof, rear spoiler, and unique 20-inch wheels wrapped in summer tires complete the look.
The Woodland trim gets a squarer grille, Rigid Industries LED foglights, and all-terrain tires. It’s also the only model to have Toyota’s logo on the grille rather than on the sheetmetal. It comes equipped with a standard roof rack and crossbars, as well as a tow hitch for, well, towing but also attaching bike racks or other gear.
The Woodland doesn’t feature a suspension lift but is nevertheless 0.8 inch further from the ground due to the knobbier rubber. Detailed specs like ground clearance and approach, breakover, and departure angles aren’t yet available. We don’t expect much in the way of mega off-road ability, though.
More Tech, More Versatility
While the current RAV4’s interior has all the essentials a small SUV needs, it’s dated compared to those of the latest competitors. The 2026 model ushers in a refreshed, modern cabin packed with technology and featuring a more versatile, spacious center console.
The console’s clever two-level design provides designated spots for multiple smartphones without sacrificing cupholder space—and there’s still plenty of room left for wallets, keys, or other everyday items.
Front-seat passengers also have access to a built-in tray on the dashboard. On either side of the center stack, two square knobs control drive modes and all-wheel-drive settings, while the cupholders have a removable insert to accommodate larger bottles or gear. The center console’s dual-hinged compartment opens from both driver and passenger sides.
The Core trim has a compact shifter that controls a new shift-by-wire system, while Sport and Rugged versions get a chunkier shifter similar to the Tacoma’s that takes up more space.
Every 2026 RAV4 comes equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster—a significant leap from the 7.0-inch display found in the 2025 model. This new cluster puts navigation graphics in the driver’s line of sight, reducing time spent with your eyes off the road.
The infotainment experience gets a major boost, as well. The LE, XLE, SE, and Woodland have a high-res 10.5-inch touchscreen, while the Limited, XSE, and GR Sport step up to a sprawling 12.9-inch display.
All 2026 RAV4s run Toyota’s latest infotainment system, which we’ve seen in models like the Tundra, Tacoma, and Camry. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Toyota has refined the voice control system for what it says are faster, more natural interactions.
The climate controls blend physical and touchscreen elements; temperature adjustments are done using buttons below the screen, while the digital ventilation controls are permanently anchored at the bottom of the screen.
The RAV4 has never been particularly luxurious, and the 2026 model continues that trend. Every interior we saw featured a predominantly black-on-black palette, with subtle color accents varying by trim.
While the understated look isn’t necessarily a drawback, we can’t help but wish Toyota’s designers had made some bolder color choices. The Limited model we saw had Toyota’s SofTex faux-leather upholstery, and it extended to the front door panels for a more refined look.
Woodland models share the SofTex seats but add an embossed pattern, rubber floor- and cargo mats, plus a striking bright orange trim on the steering wheel and center console.
At the sporty end of the spectrum, GR Sport models boast sueded sport seats with moderate bolstering, GR logos on the headrests and steering wheel, and eye-catching red stitching.
One feature we’ve long appreciated in the current RAV4 is its nearly 90-degree rear door opening, which makes access effortless. However, we noticed that some of the 2026 prototypes we inspected lacked this generous door swing—a detail we hope will be addressed in production models.
Despite this, the rear passenger area remains impressively spacious, with a nearly flat floor. Cargo capacity appears to remain good for the class, but specifications are still forthcoming.
Familiar Hybrid Powertrains
First unveiled in the 2025 Camry, Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid powertrain centers on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Output clocks in at 226 horsepower with front drive and 236 with all-wheel drive.
For those eyeing more power, the Rugged and Sport lineups’ redesigned plug-in hybrid setup (a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a larger battery and dual electric motors) delivers up to 320 horsepower. That “up to” likely applies to the GR Sport models, while SE and XSE trims may receive a slightly lower output.
The PHEV’s larger battery and other refinements mean it now has an impressive 50 miles of estimated electric-only range—an 8-mile improvement over the outgoing RAV4 plug-in. That version was called the Prime, but that nomenclature is being retired for now. Transmission details remain under wraps, but both powertrains likely use a CVT, following the example set by the Camry.
Powertrain specs are scarce at the moment, including battery sizes or electric motor outputs, but we’re told the traditional hybrid gets improvements to the transaxle, power control unit, battery, and other components.
XSE and Woodland models powered by the PHEV system have DC fast-charging compatibility, with Toyota estimating 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. This isn’t groundbreaking, but we’re happy to see certain PHEV models get faster charging than before. These trims get a CCS1 charge port, while SE and GR Sport PHEV models will be equipped with a J1772 port. Charging on Level 2 chargers will also be quicker thanks to an 11-kW AC onboard charger.
Fuel economy numbers haven’t been revealed, but we estimate a slight increase over the current 41/38/39-mpg city/highway/combined numbers, particularly now that the hybrid is available in front-wheel drive.
Towing capacity has increased to 3,500 pounds for AWD models (except for the LE), while the LE AWD and all front-drive versions can tow 1,750 pounds.
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 rides on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, the same one that the current generation is based on. However, we’re told the 2026 RAV4 has more structural rigidity in its unibody and suspension mounting points with the goal to deliver a smoother ride.
A Tech-Forward RAV4
The 2026 RAV4 debuts a new software development platform called Arene—an in-house creation from Woven by Toyota. Although details remain sparse, Arene serves as the backbone for the RAV4’s safety, security, and connectivity systems, enabling the SUV to receive over-the-air updates not only for its infotainment but potentially for advanced driver assistance features, as well. This integration should keep the RAV4 evolving long after each one leaves the showroom.
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 will be the first Toyota model to feature the all-new Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, as well. While full details will be unveiled closer to its on-sale date, we anticipate this suite of advanced safety technologies will remain standard across all trims, backed by upgraded hardware
On Sale Later This Year
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 goes on sale toward the end of 2025. We expect pricing to start around $35,000, which is $1,305 more than the current RAV4 Hybrid. While this is significantly more than what the competition starts at, the demand for hybrids is strong across the U.S., and the current RAV4 Prime is one of the few vehicles that has a shorter time on dealer lots compared to the national average.
We’ll have more information about the 2026 Toyota RAV4 as we get closer to its on-sale date later this year.