Next-gen 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid & Prime: What to Expect

Update: ‘Design & Development’ section updated with details about the plug-in hybrid model.

The Toyota RAV4, the brand’s best-selling model in the U.S., is expected to be redesigned in 2025. As it is today, there should be two new electrified RAV4 models on offer – the Hybrid and the Plug-in Hybrid. We expect the Hybrid to play a significant role in the U.S. and other markets, while PHEV sales are anticipated to reach new highs due to growing interest in this powertrain from EV skeptics.

Here are our expectations for the new Toyota hybrid and plug-in SUVs, based on our experience with the RAV4, recent product updates from Toyota, media reports, and new trends in the compact SUV segment.

Design & Development

On February 13, 2023, Drive reported that Toyota had begun developing the next-gen RAV4, which is expected, as the current model was introduced in 2018. Test prototypes should appear on public roads in the coming months if the company plans to unveil the new model in 2025.

On July 19, 2024, Auto News presented an overview of the next-gen RAV4. Cooper Erickson, Senior Vice President of Product, BEV, and Mobility Planning and Strategy, has hinted that the size and packaging of the RAV4 are unlikely to change considerably in future iterations. While he wouldn’t confirm any specific details, he did mention that a “dramatic change” is not planned.

Like the 2025 Camry, we’re expecting Toyota to more or less retain the hard points in the frame and redesign the panels for a cleaner and more sophisticated look. We anticipate that Toyota will enhance the ruggedness of the RAV4 during next year’s launch while maintaining its familiar look.

Specifications

Dimensions

When the fifth-generation RAV4 was introduced in 2018, it made the transition to the TNGA-K platform. For the upcoming sixth generation, Toyota is set to continue using this base with some modernization. We expect minimal or no changes to the dimensions, meaning passenger and cargo space will remain similar to today’s SUV. For reference, the current model is 180.9 inches long, 73.0 inches wide, and 67.0 inches tall (including the antenna) with a wheelbase of 105.9 inches.

NVH

The RAV4 Hybrid has faced criticism for its lack of refinement. The hybrid system is also known for being noisy. When combined with wind noise, it can be unsettling during long-distance travel. Toyota engineers are likely to have taken this feedback into account during the development of the next-generation RAV4 Hybrid. The redesigned SUV is expected to feature improvements in areas such as braking distance, handling, and overall efficiency.

THS 5

Toyota should offer the next-gen RAV4 Hybrid with a 2.5-liter gas engine and the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS 5), similar to the 2025 Toyota Camry. The engine should get assistance from two electric propulsion motors, one at the front and one at the back. The rear propulsion motor should also enable an eAWD drivetrain layout, giving the SUV additional traction when required on wet or snow-clad roads or while cornering.

Together, the gas engine and two electric motors should produce close to 235 horsepower. We expect at least one of the trims to deliver an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40 MPG or more (combined). For reference, the current RAV4 Hybrid, with its 219 hp powertrain, can achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 39 MPG (combined).

We believe there’s a strong possibility that Toyota may go hybrid-only with the next-gen RAV4 in the U.S., ditching the gas model. The company has seen a sustained increase in the share of hybrids, and was bold enough to launch the Camry exclusively as a hybrid, with fantastic results.

Next-gen RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

In an exclusive report on October 1, 2024, Drive reported that for the next-gen RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, the current 2.5-litre four-cylinder gas engine will continue, with refinements expected in the electric motors and battery pack. For reference, in the MY2025 Plug-in Hybrid, the system develops 302 hp, offering drivers 42 miles of pure-electric driving range (Toyota estimate), with a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds.

Features & Safety

Toyota should offer the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid with features like a panoramic sunroof, gesture tailgate, digital key, fully digital instrument cluster, Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, USB Type-C ports, power driver’s seat with memory function and lumbar support, and 360-degree camera system.

We expect the redesigned model to feature more comfortable front passenger seats. Based on our experience with the current-gen RAV4 models, which offered excellent space levels, this trait should remain unchanged in the new version. Also expected to change is the steering wheel, which could adopt a similar design to the Crown and the 2025 Camry.

The next-gen model should upgrade to the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes seven features:

• Proactive Driving Assist
• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Lane Tracing Assist
• Road Sign Assist
• Automatic High Beams

Price & Release Date

The RAV4 is produced in three factories in North America: Woodstock (Ontario, Canada), Cambridge (Ontario, Canada), and Georgetown (Kentucky, USA). The prices of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in the U.S. may start at just over USD 32,000, while the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid is expected to begin at USD 44,000. We’re expecting the initial cars to reach dealers towards the end of 2025.

Woodland Edition expected to continue

Toyota is expected to continue the Woodland Edition in the future RAV4, our pick in the line-up for its balance of looks, features, and capability. Enhancements include a new two-tone paint option, rain-sensing wipers with de-icer, and a 1¼-inch activity mount. Inside, optional heated front seats and a leather-trimmed steering wheel are included in the Weather Package.

The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition, in two-tone paint, comes with Army Green or Ice Cap base colors, and Midnight Black Metallic roof paint. The big attraction is the 18-inch, six-spoke bronze-colored TRD flow-formed alloy wheels, wrapped in Falken WILDPEAK AT tires. It would be interesting to see how the Woodland Edition evolves with the next-gen RAV4.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid FAQs

Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s exclusive illustration of the next-gen RAV4 based on recent Toyota designs.