A highly anticipated 2026 Toyota RAV4 hybrid has finally made a public appearance, and it’s now clear that it will come in Core, Sport, and Rugged styles across seven grades, including a redesigned Woodland, and the first-ever RAV4 GR SPORT.
Indeed, thirty years after the popular compact SUV was first launched in the United States, the all-new sixth-generation 2026 RAV4 is a long way from the original, and will be 100% electrified, in a choice of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), per a press release on May 20.
As it happens, the Core models include the well-equipped Luxury Edition (LE), Executive Luxury Edition (XLE), and Limited grades. Meanwhile, the Rugged design is exclusive to the outdoor-inspired all-wheel drive (AWD) Woodland model, which has now become a standalone grade to the RAV4 lineup.
Finally, the RAV4 GR SPORT leads the Sport designs, rounded out by the Executive Sport Edition (XSE) and Sport Edition (SE) grades and exclusively available with a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD, depending on the grade.
2026 Toyota RAV4 hybrid specs
Specifically, the company said that its RAV4 HEV models have moved to the fifth-generation hybrid system, boosting output to 236 horsepower on AWD models and 226 hp on FWD ones, marking the first time that FWD is coming to the RAV4 hybrid.
This is also the debut of the sixth-generation PHEV powertrain, with up to 320 hp output and 20% more all-electric drive range of the manufacturer-estimated 50 miles (80.47 kilometers), up from the previous 42 miles (67.59 kilometers).
Furthermore, the first RAV4 GR SPORT, developed in partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing will feature “GR-tuned handling, aggressive exterior style, exhilarating PHEV powertrain with AWD, and more,” while the Woodland edition, available in HEV or PHEV with AWD standard will boast “higher ride height, all-terrain tires, split grille, and more.”
And there’s more – the carmaker is also launching its Arene software development platform, enabling Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 and a new generation of the Toyota Audio Multimedia System. Plus, the PHEV XSE and Woodland will feature DC fast charging, taking about 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.
Commenting on the latest development, David Christ, group vice president and general manager at Toyota Division, explained that:
“With three distinct styles, two highly efficient electrified powertrains, and available front- or all-wheel drive, the all-new RAV4 offers something for everyone and is ready to take on all of life’s adventures.”
Elsewhere, Toyota has introduced new upgrades to its 2026 bZ battery electric vehicle (BEV), bringing significant improvement to the vehicle in terms of design, range, output, and charging performance, including a larger lithium-ion battery with a total capacity of up to 74.7 kWh.
Featured image courtesy of the Toyota website.
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