2026 Toyota RAV4 Is a Hybrid Family SUV Worth Waiting For
2026 Toyota RAV4 SUV Could Go Hybrid-Only Illustration by Avarvarii – Car and Driver
What It Is
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The sixth generation of Toyota’s top-selling model, the RAV4 compact SUV, will bring a more modern design, new technology, and updated mechanicals to this popular crossover. We think there will be an even greater emphasis on hybrid models, which already make up a significant portion of RAV4 sales. And Toyota may also play up its off-road heritage with additional rugged trim levels including a possible TRD Pro variant like the RAV4’s big siblings, the 4Runner and Tacoma.
Why It Matters
The RAV4 is not only the bestselling Toyota, it’s the bestselling vehicle in America that’s not a pickup truck. Toyota moved nearly half a million of these things in 2024, and it needs to get the new model right to keep up with the current crop of compact SUVs. The outgoing generation placed sixth out of eight in our most recent comparison test of the segment, and it’s showing its age in terms of performance, refinement, and design. The new model needs to catch up with class leaders in these areas while maintaining its strong reputation.
Platform
The 2026 RAV4 will be based on the latest iteration of Toyota’s TNGA underpinnings that are used for nearly every model in the automaker’s lineup. The RAV4 specifically uses the TNGA-K version.
Powertrain
We won’t be surprised if Toyota goes hybrid-only with the new RAV4, as it has with the Camry mid-size sedan. In fact, we expect the RAV4 to share the Camry’s gas-electric drivetrain. In the sedan, the setup uses a 2.0-liter inline-four gas engine and produces a total output of 225 hp with front-wheel drive and 232 hp with the optional all-wheel-drive system that adds an electric motor to power the rear wheels. The RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, previously known as the RAV4 Prime, should also continue, and we hope it’ll offer the same surprising performance as the current model, which has 302 hp and provides shockingly quick acceleration.
Competitors
The RAV4 will continue to compete in a crowded segment, squaring off against popular choices such as the Chevrolet Equinox, the Ford Escape, the Honda CR-V, the Hyundai Tucson, and the Nissan Rogue.
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What Might Go Wrong
Toyota could play it too safe and fail to make the RAV4 stand out in its crowded segment. If it isn’t styled distinctly enough or doesn’t offer a significant step up from the current model in terms of driving refinement—in particular with powertrain NVH, a weak spot of the existing RAV4—it’ll be eclipsed by many of its challengers in the compact-SUV world.
Estimated Arrival and Price
We think the new RAV4 will debut in the fall of this year and go on sale as a 2026 model-year vehicle by the end of 2025. The starting price will likely be right around $30,000.
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