2026 Toyota
RAV4 Preview

Last year, the Toyota RAV4 compact crossover toppled the Ford F-150 pickup as America’s most popular vehicle. So, launching an all-new sixth generation of this best-seller requires careful consideration, which is what Toyota has done for the upcoming 2026 RAV4. This exciting new RAV4 will discontinue traditional gasoline engines in favor of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains across all variants. It’s a successful approach that the automaker has already taken with the Camry, Sienna, Crown Signia, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia. Ensuring that the 2026 RAV4 has something for everyone, Toyota will offer three design categories: Core, Rugged, and Sport.

At the same time, the 2026 RAV4 lineup will expand from the current model's approach by offering front-wheel drive (FWD) with its hybrid powerplants for the first time, while maintaining all-wheel drive (AWD) availability across all grades. Furthermore, Toyota will introduce the new Woodland as a standalone rugged grade and debut the first-ever RAV4 GR SPORT trim for U.S. buyers. The 2026 RAV4 will also launch Toyota's new Arene software platform and the latest Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 system when it hits dealerships later this year. Here’s a preliminary look at the 2026 Toyota RAV4.

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Trims and Powertrains

Every 2026 RAV4 variant will have an electrified powertrain, marking the end of traditional gasoline engines for the nameplate. The hybrid system will use Toyota's fifth-generation technology with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor support. Front-wheel-drive hybrid versions (LE, XLE, and SE) will produce 226 horsepower, a 23-horsepower improvement over the previous generation's 203-horsepower FWD gas versions, while all-wheel-drive editions (LE, XLE, SE, Limited, XSE, and Woodland) will make 236 horsepower, climbing from the prior generation's 219 combined system horsepower.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system will combine a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a high-capacity battery pack. The PHEV editions (SE, XSE, Woodland, and GR Sport) will produce up to 320 horsepower with standard AWD, an 18-horsepower increase over the outgoing PHEV system. The plug-in hybrid configuration will offer an estimated 50-mile all-electric range, with DC fast-charging capability available on the XSE and Woodland through a CCS charge port. The SE and GR Sport PHEV will use a J1772 charge port.

Design and Styling

The 2026 RAV4’s styling trio begins with the Core design, where the main attributes will be a sleek, paint-matched grille with Toyota's “hammerhead” front end, wide overfenders with black cladding, and chiseled body panels. The Core editions will include the LE, XLE, and Limited trims with wheel options ranging from 17 to 20 inches. The Rugged design will be exclusive to the new Woodland trim, set apart by a slightly raised hammerhead-style front end and an exclusive black split grille with integrated Rigid Industries LED lighting.

The Woodland will stand approximately half an inch higher due to its standard all-terrain tires. It will also have raised roof rails with crossbars as well as a rear activity mount for outdoor gear. The Sport design will encompass the SE and XSE trims along with the new GR SPORT edition, which will have a GR Functional MATRIX grille, front and rear wing-type spoilers, and unique 20-inch wheels with summer tires.

Capability and Safety

Towing capacity will increase significantly on select AWD versions, with the hybrid XLE, Woodland, SE, XSE, Limited, and all PHEV grades capable of pulling 3,500 pounds. FWD RAV4s and the LE AWD will be rated to tow up to 1,750 pounds. The TNGA-K platform will undergo structural improvements, including reinforced frame joints and suspension mounting points, to enhance handling and ride comfort. The GR Sport will add performance-focused elements, including GR-tuned suspension and steering, enhanced body rigidity, and sport summer tires on exclusive wheels.

The 2026 RAV4 will also be the first Toyota model to have Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 4.0, powered by the Arene platform with updated hardware and enhanced detection capabilities. The standard safety features will include the complete TSS 4.0 suite, although Toyota had not released specific details about the new system's capabilities at the time of this writing.

Technology and Interior

The redesigned RAV4's interior will focus on functionality with a refreshed center stack that groups together the touchscreen, drive mode controls, and storage. Higher trims will get Toyota's new shift-by-wire system with a simple toggle switch. The dashboard will offer either a 10.5-inch or a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen with built-in climate controls, while all versions will come standard with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.

As mentioned earlier, Toyota's novel Arene software platform will debut in the all-new RAV4, allowing new features to be added through over-the-air (OTA) updates. The updated Toyota Audio Multimedia system will offer wireless smartphone connectivity (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), dual Bluetooth connectivity (allowing two phones to be synced simultaneously), and an enhanced voice assistant. Upholstery will range from fabric to SofTex leatherette, with the Woodland grade getting a unique Mineral color option. The XSE and GR Sport will have SofTex-trimmed seating accented with perforated Brin-Naub microsuede.

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