Toyota’s evergreen RAV4 is heading into its sixth generation with its biggest change yet: you can’t get one anymore with just a gas engine.
The all-new 2026 RAV4 joins Toyota’s growing list of models slowly but surely becoming hybrid-only. Not only that, its venerable best-seller here in Canada gets a full redesign inside and out, as well as new and improved tech to go along with these new powertrains underneath.
With the gas-only models now gone, the 2026 RAV4 lineup kicks off with Toyota’s newly updated, fifth-generation hybrid powertrain we first saw in the new Camry. It’s similar to the previous setup, using a normally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, but the electric end sees a series of improvements, most notably more compact electric motors and lighter batteries.
This results in a welcome power bump; front-wheel-drive 2026 RAV4s are good for 226 horsepower, while AWD models are rated at 236 hp. Even better news: all Canadian-spec 2026 RAV4s will be all-wheel-drive.
The uplevel plug-in hybrid powertrain—featured in what was formerly known as the RAV4 Prime, but the name’s now simplified to RAV4 PHEV—uses the same gas engine, but the electric end also sees a healthy round of improvements of its own including higher-output on-board charging, a larger battery pack, and much more. These tweaks are enough to give the RAV4 PHEV a bump to 320 horsepower, an electric-only range boost to 80 kilometres, and the ability to fast-charge from 10-to-80 per cent on a Level 3 fast-charger.
Beyond the updated powertrains, the 2026 RAV4 sees a whole new look inside and out. It doesn’t stray too far from what we’re used to seeing, but now features design cues we’ve seen on other Toyota models, such as the Prius-inspired headlights and Crown Signia-style front grille on certain trims.
Inside, Toyota modernized the RAV4 with a new layout and more digital real estate—the standard infotainment setup is a 10.2-inch touchscreen, while a much larger 12.9-inch display is available—running new software. We’re not so hot on the RAV4 losing most of its physical climate controls, but at least it retains physical shortcuts for temperature and defrost, with a volume knob smack-dab in the middle.
Along with the powertrains, sheet metal, and cabin, Toyota reshuffled the 2026 RAV4’s trim levels into three tiers: Core, Rugged, and Sport. The base LE, XLE, and XLE with the Premium package fall under the Core tier, followed by the outdoorsy Woodland trim in the Rugged. The familiar SE, XSE, and XSE with the Tech package fill in the spicy end of the lineup—capped off by the new-for-2026 GR Sport trim.
Toyota hasn’t dished exact pricing and availability for the 2026 RAV4 just yet, but production is expected to kick off later this year.
