The RAV4 is all-new for 2026, and the headline is under the hood: every RAV4 on Toyota's current price list is either a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. The lineup is organized into Core (LE, XLE Premium, Limited), Rugged (Woodland) and Sport (SE, XSE, GR SPORT) designs, with prices running from $31,900 for a front-drive LE hybrid to $48,500 for the GR SPORT plug-in, plus a $1,595 delivery, processing and handling fee. Toyota said hybrids would begin arriving in December 2025 and plug-ins in spring 2026.
The new RAV4 rides on Toyota's TNGA-K unibody platform with a stiffer structure and retuned suspension. Front-wheel drive is now offered on select hybrid trims for the first time. Hybrid models are assembled in Lexington, Kentucky, and in Woodstock and Cambridge, Ontario; plug-in hybrids come from Japan.
Powertrain & Efficiency
The standard powertrain is Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, rated at 226 net combined horsepower with front-wheel drive and 236 with all-wheel drive. The plug-in uses Toyota's sixth-generation PHEV system, with 324 net combined horsepower and standard AWD.
The EPA rates the front-drive hybrid at 47 mpg city, 40 highway and 43 combined. AWD LE and SE models are rated 42 mpg combined, and the XLE, XSE and Limited 41. The Woodland, with all-terrain tires, is rated 38. For the plug-in, Toyota quotes manufacturer-estimated electric range of 52 miles for the SE and XSE, 49 for the Woodland and 48 for the GR SPORT, and up to 40 mpg combined; EPA figures for the plug-in were not yet listed on fueleconomy.gov when we checked.
The XSE and Woodland plug-ins have an 11-kW onboard charger and DC fast-charging, which Toyota says can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions. The SE and GR SPORT plug-ins have a 7-kW onboard charger; Toyota lists DC fast-charging capability only for the XSE and Woodland.
Towing is rated at 1,750 pounds for the AWD LE and 3,500 pounds for AWD versions of the SE and XLE Premium, as well as the Woodland plug-in. Ground clearance is 8.1 inches on most trims, 8.5 inches on the Woodland and 7.5 inches on the lowered GR SPORT.
Interior & Technology
This is where the RAV4 moves furthest from its predecessor. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is standard on every trim. The LE gets a 10.5-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen; the XSE, Limited and GR SPORT get a 12.9-inch screen, and the Limited adds a nine-speaker JBL system. The multimedia system is Toyota's first with onboard 5G connectivity, and the RAV4 is the first Toyota built on Arene, a software platform developed by Woven by Toyota that underpins both the multimedia and the safety systems.
Digital Key can now be managed from Apple, Google or Samsung wallet apps with a Remote Connect subscription, and a built-in drive recorder that uses the exterior cameras to save 20-second clips is standard. The XLE Premium adds heated front seats, SofTex upholstery, an eight-way power driver's seat and a power liftgate. The Limited adds heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a panoramic glass roof and two wireless chargers.
Safety
Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 is standard, along with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert from the base LE up. Higher trims add a 3D panoramic view monitor, Lane Change Assist, Front Cross-Traffic Alert and Traffic Jam Assist, which requires a Drive Connect trial or subscription.
Crash-test data is the gap in this review. NHTSA lists the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid as not yet rated, and the most recent RAV4 ratings from IIHS are for the 2025 model, the previous generation. Until those results arrive, our safety score reflects equipment only and sits below class leaders that have completed testing.
Pricing & Trims
2026 Toyota RAV4 prices and fuel economy
| Trim | FWD MSRP | AWD MSRP | Combined mpg |
|---|---|---|---|
| LE Hybrid | $31,900 | $33,300 | 43 FWD / 42 AWD (EPA) |
| SE Hybrid | $34,700 | $36,100 | 43 FWD / 42 AWD (EPA) |
| XLE Premium Hybrid | $36,100 | $37,500 | 43 FWD / 41 AWD (EPA) |
| Woodland Hybrid | — | $39,900 | 38 (EPA) |
| XSE Hybrid | — | $41,300 | 41 (EPA) |
| Limited Hybrid | — | $43,300 | 41 (EPA) |
| SE Plug-in Hybrid | — | $41,500 | 40 (Toyota est.) |
| Woodland Plug-in Hybrid | — | $45,300 | 37 (Toyota est.) |
| XSE Plug-in Hybrid | — | $47,200 | 40 (Toyota est.) |
| GR SPORT Plug-in Hybrid | — | $48,500 | 36 (Toyota est.) |
Prices exclude Toyota's $1,595 delivery, processing and handling fee. Sources: Toyota full-line pricing (Oct. 2, 2026); fueleconomy.gov; Toyota manufacturer estimates for plug-in models.
Our pick is the XLE Premium with front-wheel drive at $36,100. It keeps the 43-mpg EPA rating of front-drive models and adds heated front seats, SofTex upholstery, a power driver's seat, a power liftgate and front and rear parking assist with automatic braking. If you need AWD, the same trim is $37,500, rated 41 mpg combined and able to tow 3,500 pounds. The plug-in makes most sense for drivers who can charge at home and keep daily trips within its estimated 48 to 52 miles of electric range, but it starts $9,600 above the cheapest hybrid.
Rivals
Kia's 2027 Sportage Hybrid undercuts the RAV4 at $30,590 for a front-drive LX, and its FWD hybrid is EPA-rated at 41 mpg combined, 2 mpg below the RAV4. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid starts at $40,590 with an EPA-rated 33 miles of electric range. The Kia also has completed crash ratings: five stars overall from NHTSA for 2027 gas and hybrid models and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 model.
How we rated it: this review is based on Toyota's specifications and October 2026 pricing, EPA estimates and NHTSA/IIHS status available in October 2026; NHTSA and IIHS had not yet rated the 2026 RAV4. Drive Edition has not road-tested this vehicle.