All-new Toyota RAV4 shapes up for 2026

More details about the next-generation Toyota RAV4 have dropped this week, ahead of its mid-2026 Australian launch, including two new-to-the-brand hybrid powertrains, as well as a performance-orientated grade.

Heading into its sixth iteration in 32 years, the country’s favourite mid-sized SUV will also gain improved safety technology, as it fends off hot competition from the recently-released Subaru Forester redesign, as well as the restyled Mazda CX-5 also due out next year.

However, we will have to wait a little longer yet before learning what the pricing will be, as Toyota drips feed information on what might be the most important new release of 2026. The first images of the newcomer dropped back in May, with global production in Japan commencing in a few weeks’ time.

The biggest change to the new RAV4 is the Toyota-first adoption of a choice of two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) varieties in the mid-grade XSE and new GR Sport flagship. You can spot the latter by its different bumper design, wing spoiler, unique 20-inch alloy wheels and racier trim fitout inside.

Kicking things off will be a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a single motor mounted on the front axle, driving the front wheels and a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery in the XSE PHEV 2WD. Making 200kW of power, it can also provide up to 100km of range.

The second PHEV uses the same engine, but adds an electric motor on the rear wheels for all-wheel drive (AWD), bumping up the combined power output to 227kW.

As this makes the PHEV AWD the most powerful RAV4 ever sold in Australia, it will be the sole powertrain choice in the GR Sport and an option on the XSE. A similar set-up can be found in the closely-related Lexus NX 450h+ AWD PHEV.

One advantage of buying a PHEV will be its ability to power small appliances, thanks to a 1500W inverter. Great for camping trips away.

The rest of the 2026 RAV4 range – from the base GX and volume-selling GXL to the XSE, more-adventure-orientated Edge and luxury Cruiser grades – will continue with an evolution of the so-called “self-charging” 2.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain, that has been the sole option in the outgoing series since the petrol -only models (127kW 2.0-litre 2WD and 152kW 2.5-litre AWD) were dropped in June, 2024.

In GX, GXL and Cruiser, the HEV will employ a single motor only to produce, though it will again be available with an AWD option that adopts a second motor to deliver more muscle as well as grip. The latter is standard on the XSE and Edge.

Whether the HEV 2WD and AWD improve on the respective 160kW and 163kW outputs of the existing versions remains to be seen. In New Zealand and elsewhere, Toyota quotes 143kW, though with the promise of lower fuel consumption.

On the safety front, the RAV4 scores updated advanced driver-assist systems, including a new front cross-traffic alert, an improved blind spot monitor, upgraded lane trace assist to help keep the car within the lines better and a better ability to detect vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.

Plus, a three-dimensional surround-view monitor should help make parking the vehicle easier, while a more comprehensive array of assistance will be available through the Toyota Connected Services subscription, which includes automatic connection to emergency services in the event of an incident.

Finally, we have learned that the entire multimedia system has been overhauled, to improve the user experience.