10 Best Things About the 2026 Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Last year, Toyota sold nearly half a million RAV4 compact crossover SUVs. That’s more than any other single car model, except for a couple big pickup trucks. And it’s a record for the RAV4. 

That sales performance came before the fully redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4 hit dealerships in late January. Already, this not-too-big, not-too-small SUV was many people’s default choice of car. The all-new RAV4 brings fresh looks, upgraded technology, better gas mileage, and improved driving manners. For this review, we just spent a week testing the redesigned 2026 RAV4, which is priced from $31,900. 

Here are the 10 best things about the new 2026 Toyota RAV4. 

1. Hybrid Technology Comes Standard

Last year, the RAV4 came standard with a conventional gasoline engine. This engine was noisy, not especially quick, and – while economical for an SUV – not quite a fuel sipper. We generally recommended upgrading to the gas-electric hybrid model, which was quicker, quieter, and much more economical, especially at lower speeds. 

This year, Toyota is making the choice for you: Every 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a hybrid. For most RAV4s, that means electric motors will help shoulder some burden from the gas engine, even taking over completely for short stretches of steady cruising or gentle acceleration. (A selectable EV mode lets you lock in a bit of extra all-electric acceleration, but the engine generally comes back on if you accelerate harder or go past 25 mph.) A small battery powers the electric motors, and it’s recharged by the gas engine and with energy recaptured from the RAV4’s regenerative braking system. It’s the same setup Toyota hybrids have used for more than a quarter of a century, just progressively refined and improved. On the 2026 RAV4, this is the RAV4 HEV (standing for hybrid electric vehicle). 

Toyota also sells a RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, or PHEV. It has a larger battery that you can charge up from the grid, plus a more powerful electric motor to sustain fully electric driving. Toyota estimates it can travel up to 52 miles on a charge; after that, it operates like a standard RAV4 Hybrid until you can charge it up again. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

2. Class-Leading Mileage

Whichever RAV4 hybrid model you get, its fuel efficiency is at the top of its class. Our tested all-wheel-drive Limited model gets EPA estimates of 43 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 41 mpg combined. And we blew past that to average an incredible 47 mpg during a week of mixed driving. The only thing we didn’t do was cruise for long distances above 70 mph, which tends to cut into hybrids’ mileage. But the RAV4 is still a fuel-sipper at any speed. 

The RAV4’s EPA ratings vary by trim level. The standard HEV hybrid version maxes out at 47 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 43 mpg combined for front-wheel drive models. And the off-road-themed Woodland Edition is the least economical RAV4 at 41 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined. A few other permutations sit between these extremes, but every 2026 RAV4 gets great mileage. Last year’s RAV4 was sold only with AWD and got 41 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 39 mpg combined – barely edging out the new Woodland. 

No other SUV can match the RAV4’s EPA estimates without needing to plug in. And if you want AWD, no other SUV can crack 40 mpg except for two other Toyotas: the subcompact Corolla Cross Hybrid and Lexus UX 300h. 

The RAV4 PHEV is also a class leader. Priced from $41,500 (about $5,000 more than a comparably equipped hybrid), it’s the only PHEV south of $50,000 with more than 50 miles of range. It’s also quicker than any other PHEV SUV until you start looking at $60,000 luxury models. And it gets better fuel economy when running on gasoline (40 mpg) than any other AWD PHEV sold in the U.S. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

3. Squared-Off New Body in a Choice of Three Flavors

The last-generation RAV4 introduced a touch of rugged off-road flair. This year, the new RAV4 becomes boxier but also more stubbily endearing. The front end and rear end are more squared off, and the side windows got bigger – eschewing a sporty hunched-forward look for a more “useful SUV” vibe. At the same time, the new RAV4 adds some more upscale touches like crisply detailed headlights and taillights, along with some subtly creased bodywork along the sides. Lower trim levels have prominent blacked-out areas on the front bumper where our Limited test vehicle has fog lights. 

Toyota sells the RAV4 in a choice of seven trim levels, with three flavors that Toyota calls core, sport, and rugged. The Woodland Edition is the “rugged” model. It has its own wheels and a unique, simplified front bumper and grille, plus all-terrain tires. The sport-themed SE and XSE have subtle design differences from other RAV4s, including exclusive wheel designs. And the GR Sport, exclusive to the plug-in hybrid, goes all-out with a sport grille, body kit, and its own exclusive wheels, in addition to mechanical upgrades. Other models, including our Limited test vehicle, are the “core.” But many of those are also available with sporty cues like blacked-out wheels, so there’s less of a difference between the flavors than last year. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

4. Purposeful Dashboard

The redesigned RAV4 sports a brand-new dashboard design that borrows a boxy, purposeful shape from the tough Toyota 4Runner SUV and Tacoma pickup. Right angles are everywhere, and a big touchscreen is front and center. (We’ll talk more about that touchscreen in a moment.) If you want your SUV to look like a truck inside, the RAV4 has you covered. 

But it’s not a cheap, basic cabin, either. The RAV4’s interior is generally well-finished. And if you get beige upholstery like our test car, it dresses up the dash with an elegant two-tone effect. We didn’t love the center console bin, which cleverly opens to either the driver’s side or the passenger’s side – but closes with a clunky crash. A toggle for the cruise control felt wobbly. And a few plastics are on the cheap side. But overall, we found the RAV4's interior a pleasant place to be, and with some character.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

5. Next-Generation Infotainment

We mentioned the new RAV4’s big touchscreen. It measures 10.5 inches on most RAV4 trim levels, and it grows to 12.9 inches on top trim levels. Last year, most RAV4s had an 8-inch screen, with a 10.5-inch unit available on top trims. 

But the screen’s size isn’t the big deal. It’s the upgrade to Toyota’s infotainment software. The next-generation system makes its debut on the new RAV4, and it solves our key complaints: There’s now a “home” screen that lets you see multiple views side by side – for example, the GPS map next to information about your radio station. A big, heavily customizable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is now standard on all trims, too. 

A couple points about the RAV4’s digital transformation: We missed the old RAV4’s extra-simple climate controls, now that some of those have disappeared into a thin ribbon (or worse, menus) at the bottom of the screen. And Toyota charges a subscription fee for some features, including the nav system. Fortunately, you can sync your phone wirelessly to use your own GPS app via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

6. Plentiful Passenger Space

The redesigned RAV4 isn’t any bigger than last year's, but for plenty of happy owners, that’s no problem. It’s spacious and comfortable enough to fit four adults without a problem, or even squeeze in a fifth. And it coddles them with a power-adjustable driver’s seat standard on all trim levels, heated front seats included on all but the base LE, a heated steering wheel widely available as an option, and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on upper trim levels. 

A few competitors are even roomier than the RAV4, with extra space to stretch out in both the front and rear – along with a more open, airy feel. The rear seat could also be higher off the floor to provide more thigh support. But the RAV4 is usefully spacious and comfortable without feeling too big and bulky. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

7. Roomy Cargo Hold

Similarly, the RAV4 has ample cargo space, even if some competitors have even more. Toyota quotes 37.8 cubic feet of luggage room behind the rear seat and 70.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, slightly more than last year. (The plug-in hybrid, with a larger battery robbing some cargo room, drops to 33.5 and 63.5 cubic feet, respectively.) 

Towing capacity also improved this year. Most AWD RAV4s can tow up to 3,500 pounds, which is excellent for a compact crossover. Front-drive models, plus the AWD LE, drop to a still-competitive 1,750 pounds, while the GR Sport performance model isn’t recommended for towing at all. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

8. Pleasant Driving Manners

The old RAV4 was an easygoing, easy car to drive. But its gas engine was particularly loud even under fairly gentle acceleration, and even the hybrid could make an unpleasant drone. This year, the hybrid got reworked with more power and smoother, quieter operation. Last year’s AWD-only RAV4 Hybrid made 219 horsepower, while this year’s front-drive model produces 226 hp and the AWD model makes 236 hp. And the PHEV makes a ferocious 324 hp, up from last year’s 302 hp. 

Toyota also improved the RAV4’s ride and handling. It’s steadier and more solid, while still taking the edge off of bumps. The steering is still light and easy, but it firms up agreeably if you’re pushing harder – especially in the selectable Sport driving mode. You can also select a driving mode for different types of off-road terrain, depending on the trim level. And the PHEV’s GR Sport model has a sport-tuned suspension for even sharper handling. 

We still prefer the crisper, more precise driving manners of the Honda CR-V Hybrid. It inspires more confidence, it’s more fun to drive, it feels more solidly put together, and its engine sounds a little nicer to us. But the RAV4’s improvements are welcome. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

9. Key Advantages Over the Competition

The redesigned RAV4 faces a lot of strong competitors. These include the hybrid versions of the Honda CR-V, the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage twins, the Mazda CX-50, and the Subaru Forester, plus the new hybrid-only Jeep Cherokee. But the RAV4 has some clear advantages. First of all, it beats all of their gas mileage. Versus both the Mazda and the Subaru, it has superior controls and quicker, quieter acceleration. It also has more room than the Mazda, has a lower starting price than the Jeep or the Honda, and is more agile than the Hyundai, Kia, or Subaru. It has more high-end features than the Honda, too, and a smoother ride than the Mazda. 

On the other hand, the competition has advantages, too. The CR-V is roomier and more upscale – at least in terms of driving manners and interior quality, if not big screens and the longest list of features. The CX-5 has sharper handling and a better-finished interior. The Forester has better visibility. The Cherokee has a smoother ride. And the Tucson and Sportage offer luxury features at lower sticker prices. 

The RAV4 PHEV faces plug-in hybrid versions of the Tucson and Sportage, along with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan Rogue twins. The Hyundai and Kia have shorter ranges than the Mitsubishi and Nissan, but they get better gas mileage once the range is used up. But the Toyota beats all the competition on both fronts – while also packing more power and a similar or lower starting sticker price. However, because of this dynamic, you could find the competition selling at a discount from sticker – and the RAV4 PHEV facing markups. 

If you’re not committed to a hybrid, you might shop the RAV4 HEV against non-hybrid versions of these SUVs. That cuts the competition’s price tag, at the expense of higher fuel costs. 

2026 Jeep Cherokee Laredo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

10. Well-Equipped for Less Than $35,000

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 doesn’t have the lowest prices in its class. But at $31,900 (plus a mandatory $1,450 destination charge), it still has a lot to offer. That money buys the base LE, which already includes push-button starting, a power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and, of course, the gas-electric hybrid powertrain. With the destination charge plus another $1,400 for AWD, the RAV4 is decently equipped, comfortable, functional, easy-to-use, up-to-date, and supremely economical for a sticker price below $35,000. 

As we mentioned, the RAV4 has a dizzying array of trim levels. Our test vehicle, the Limited, is the priciest RAV4 HEV model. It cost $46,883, including a collection of accessories and the destination charge. That’s a lot for this class. And many dealers are charging well above the sticker price, taking advantage of excitement over the redesigned and improved model. 

There are limits to what we’d pay for a RAV4. We liked driving it, we liked being inside it, and we loved squeezing 47 mpg out of it. But we’d still shop it carefully against the competition – and see what deals their sales teams are willing to make. 

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt