Toyota just revealed the sixth-generation, 2026 Toyota RAV4. Seven trims include an off-road friendly Woodland and brand-new GR Sport! And all of them hybrid!
Toyota lifted the veil on the sixth-generation, 2026 Toyota RAV4. Its compact crossover mainstay that first arrived in the U.S. in 1996. 29 years later, the RAV4 returns with a new look, a big chunk of new tech, and either a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain as the only choices. However, you still choose between front- (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD).
And the latest RAV4 wears several hats, or, perhaps, jumps many hoops. Toyota achieves this by breaking the RAV4 into one of three different styles: Core, Sport, and Rugged. From there, trims fall into one of these styles.
Core serves as the RAV4 foundation, housing the LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Sport follows suit with the SE, XSE, and brand-new GR Sport trims. Finally Rugged stands alone with the lifted Woodland trim.
REVOLUTIONARY STYLING
Sharply departing from the outgoing RAV4, designers added lots of sharp lines and squared off the sixth-generation model. In front, much of the grille looks flat, with a plumb-straight fall to the ground. You also see sharp headlights just below the hood-line with two streaks of light pointing toward the center and LED main lamps pushed off to either side.
From there, the three different styles take distinct paths. Core versions get a hexagon patterned grille and wide mounted fog-lights. On the other hand, Sport versions, especially the GR Sport, get a much more open hexagon front grille, narrow, vertical fog-lights, and a pronounced front spoiler. Finally, the Rugged/Woodland sees a largely blanked out grille, with higher and horizontally mounted Rigid fog-lights.
In profile, the RAV4 takes a more familiar two-box shape, but several character lines cut into the doors and body, producing a pronounced rear fender flare. And the rear looks similar to the outgoing model, albeit a modern take on it. Save for the Sport versions with its large, roof mounted rear spoiler.
And, across the line-up, wheel size spreads from 17-20 inches.
MODERN TECH HEAVY INTERIOR
Of Course, Toyota increased the size of screens offered in the new RAV4. But, more importantly, engineers also updated the system that runs it. Toyota named it Arene. It allows a faster running, more capable setup. Among them, improved voice assistant tech and a Toyota safety system 4.0, which we’ll learn more details of closer to the RAV4’s arrival to dealers.
The screens themselves measure 12.3-in for the fully digital instrument cluster, which now comes standard on the RAV4. A 10.5-in center display comes with the LE, XLE, SE, and Woodland trims, while a 12.9-in screen gets mounted on the Limited, XSE, and GR Sport.
Both offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as dual Bluetooth connectivity. At the bottom of the screens, digital HVAC controls will handle everyone’s heating and cooling needs. Finally, Toyota will offer a head up display as an option.
Depending on the trim, you sit on either fabric or SofTex material on the seats. And the color varies from black to light gray. The Woodland trim gets a third mineral color.
PLUG IT IN
Following in the 2025 Toyota Camry’s footsteps, the RAV4 only offers hybrid propulsion. And similarly offers both FWD and AWD. But three trims offer a more powerful, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option: the Woodland, SE, and XSE. Toyota makes it standard on the GR Sport.
PHEV versions of RAV4 get standard AWD. They also travel as far as 50 miles on electricity alone. By combining the efforts of a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with electric motors and energy from the battery pack, they provide 320 total system horsepower to play with. That’s more than an Acura Integra Type S! Not the mention 18 horsepower better than the outgoing RAV4 PHEV.
And if you want to keep the engine quiet, Toyota will install DC fast charging capability on the XSE and Woodland trims of PHEV, which will take you from 10-80 percent charge in about 30 minutes.
ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAIN
The rest of the line-up makes use of the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS), which also starts with a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. For the first time on the RAV4, the hybrid (HEV) comes in both FWD and AWD. All trims at least offer AWD, several of them as standard equipment, but the LE, XLE, and SE trims come standard with FWD.
Those three trims get 226 total horsepower to pull this compact crossover around, which seems perfectly reasonable. It’s also a clean 20 HP bump up from the internal combustion engine of the outgoing models.
Going AWD with the standard hybrid raises total system power by 10 to 236 horsepower, or four more than the AWD 2025 Toyota Camry. How’s that for bragging rights.
STRONGER PLATFORM
Built on the TNGA-K platform, Engineers used reinforced frame joints and suspension mounting points to make it more structurally rigid than before. I presume that will also improve the ride and handling a bit, but a drive review will confirm.
That aforementioned probably helped allow Toyota to increase maximum towing capability. If properly equipped, some of the AWD trims will tow 3500 lbs. A good figure for this class of vehicle. The rest of the line-up, as well as all the FWD RAV4s manage half of that, or 1750 lbs.
Finally, Toyota kept it dimensionally very close in size to the outgoing model. Depending on the trim, you see minimal changes. See chart below:
Dimensions
Length: 180.9-in (181.8-in for Woodland and GR Sport)
Width: 73.0-in (74.0-in for Woodland and All Sport trims)
Height: 67.0-in (67.8-in for Woodland, 66.4-in for GR Sport)
Wheelbase: 105.9-in
WOODLAND RAV4
The lone RAV4 to use the Rugged style. The Woodland trim visually stands out with a very different looking grille and fog-lights (as mentioned above). From there, the Woodland also includes larger, raised roof rails with crossbars attached. As well as a 1.25-in rear activity mount.
And, critically, Toyota mounted all-terrain tires on the Woodland, which serves two purposes. First, the tire offers more grip off of the pavement. Second, its taller sidewall physically raises it by half an inch, gaining a bit of ground clearance. All in all, the Woodland stands 0.8-in taller than all other RAV4s.
Inside includes all weather floor and cargo mats. And, of course, it comes standard with AWD.
GR SPORT RAV4
Unlike the GR Corolla, the GR RAV4 sticks with the standard powertrain, but the more potent of the two. As a result, it also comes with standard AWD. From there, Toyota says the GR Sport gets a Gazoo Racing tuned suspension and power steering. It also comes with “enhanced” body rigidity, summer tires on 20-in wheels with more offset to widen the track.
Finally, and as mentioned above, you see a different grille and both front and rear spoilers. But, more than the others, how it drives will play a critical role in this RAV4’s success.
SUMMARY
Toyota says to expect to see the 2026 RAV4 to arrive at dealers “later this year.” And that we’ll learn more detail, like how much it will cost as that date approaches. The RAV4 occupies the most popular segment in the U.S. market these days. Of course I will pay close attention to more news as it comes.
And it seems like several reviews are in order as soon as I get the chance. One on an autocross course, the other in the city, and a third off road. Hopefully all of the above soon.
