2026 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2025 Toyota RAV4: We Compare Their Specs
For 2026, Toyota drops the RAV4's gas-only powertrain, offering a choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid setups.
The redesigned model takes design cues from the latest Camry and the Grand Highlander.
A new GR Sport model, offered exclusively with the plug-in-hybrid powertrain, joins the RAV4 lineup for 2026.
Toyota continues its mainstream hybrid push with the 2026 RAV4 crossover SUV. Like the latest Camry, the new RAV4 will be hybrid-only, but unlike the family sedan, the compact crossover will offer both hybrid and plug-in-hybrid options. Toyota is also expanding the trim lineup for the bestselling RAV4, and the new model debuts fresh software systems. To give you a better idea of what has changed on the RAV4, we've collected the important specs and details for the 2026 and 2025 models, highlighting what's different in the new generation.
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Design and Dimensions
Toyota offers enough versions of the RAV4 for the 2026 model year that it saw fit to break them out into subcategories. Each style, as the automaker calls them, has its own look. Core includes LE, XLE, and Limited trim levels and features a body-color grille and black fender flares. Rugged, which is just the updated Woodland trim, has a split black grille featuring LED lights from Rigid Industries as well as raised roof rails. And Sport models—including SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport—will be available with two-tone paint and come with colorful stitching for the upholstery. Regardless of trim or style, the new RAV4 looks blockier than its predecessor inside and out, with the front- and rear-end treatments reminiscent of the Camry and Grand Highlander's designs.
The 2026 RAV4 has the same 105.9-inch wheelbase measurement as the outgoing 2025 model. Overall length is unchanged for most trims at 180.9 inches, while the Woodland and GR Sport are slightly longer, measuring 181.8 inches long due to differences in bumper design.
Interior and Cargo
The 2026 RAV4's standard infotainment setup uses a 10.5-inch center touchscreen, compared to an 8.0-inch screen in the 2025 model. The new model's upgrade option is a 12.9-inch screen, which handily outdoes the 2025's available 10.5-incher. Both systems feature a new version of Toyota's Audio Multimedia System software, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are once again standard. Toyota is also including a 12.3-inch digital gauge display on all 2026 RAV4s; for 2025, digital gauges were available or included only on upper trims.
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Toyota hasn't shared interior measurements or cargo capacity for the 2026 model yet, but we expect numbers similar to the 2025's, which are pretty competitive. In our testing, we were able to fit 10 carry-on suitcases behind the current RAV4's back seat and a max of 22 with that seat folded.
Powertrains
Prior to 2026, the RAV4 Hybrid was available only with all-wheel drive. Now that the gas-only version has been dropped, making the hybrid the base powertrain, Toyota added a front-drive version of the RAV4 Hybrid. That model makes 226 horsepower, 23 more than a 2025 front-drive gas model, while opting for all-wheel drive adds a motor on the rear axle and raises system output to 236 horsepower, 17 horses up on the 2025 AWD hybrid.
The updated plug-in-hybrid system in the 2026 RAV4 generates up to 320 horsepower, which is 18 better than the 2025 PHEV. All-wheel drive will once again come standard with the plug-in powertrain. All-electric range on the plug-in increases from 42 miles on the 2025 model to 50 miles for 2026, thanks in part to a larger battery capacity. On the XSE and Woodland trims, the PHEV will now be able to use a DC fast-charger via a CCS charging port. However, the SE and GR Sport have a different charge port and aren't fast-charge eligible.
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We don't yet have fuel-economy ratings for either powertrain, but it's a fair bet they will meet or beat the 2025 model's figures. The current hybrid returns at least 38 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive, while the 2025 plug-in comes in at 40/36 mpg city/highway on gas or 94 MPGe combined with the electric motor contributing.
Trims and Price
The 2025 RAV4 is available in LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Woodland Edition, SE, XSE, and Limited trims. For 2026, the LE and XLE will be offered with the hybrid powertrain and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, while the Limited combines the hybrid with standard AWD. The Woodland and XSE will come with all-wheel drive and a choice of either powertrain. SE models offer FWD and AWD with the hybrid and are also available with the AWD-only plug-in powertrain, and the GR Sport will exclusively pair with the plug-in-hybrid setup and AWD.
No word yet from Toyota on pricing, but the 2026 model should come in pretty close to the 2025's base MSRP of $30,645. We anticipate the GR Sport will command a premium over other trims, likely somewhere around $51K.
David Gluckman
Contributing Editor
Ever since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he's driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he's back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David's not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs. Read full bio
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