2026 Toyota RAV4 comes with bigger battery and electric range to cover most daily driving
The next generations of Toyota's vaunted hybrid systems will debut on the new 2026 RAV4 and allow a 20% increase in all-electric range compared to the predecessor of America's most popular SUV.
Thanks to the adoption of a larger battery and silicon carbide in the front axle semiconductors, the plug-in hybrid model of the new Toyota RAV4 is now able to cover 50 miles of range on battery power alone.
That's an important step up from the 42 miles of its predecessor, which Toyota aimed at matching the exact average daily mileage nationwide, but often fell short of the advertised range.
2026 Toyota RAV4 price and release date
With the newly redesigned RAV4, Toyota is introducing an important change in its iconic SUV line, as there will no longer be a version with a gas-powered engine only. All RAV4 trims are now either hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, with a battery pack and electric motor augmenting the power output and driving range of them all.
The XSE and Woodland trims of the PHEV RAV4 even offer DC fast charging via a standard CCS port at public chargers now, taking 30 minutes to go from 10%-80% of battery capacity. At home, with something like the Tesla Universal EV Charger with Dual Plug, charging can also be quicker thanks to the built-in 11 kW AC charger.
The 2026 RAV4 price for each trim will be announced closer to its release date in the second half of the year, but they all come with Toyota’s standard 3-year or 36,000-mile warranty for all parts, and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain, as well as an 8-year or 100,000-mile hybrid system warranties.
New RAV4 specs
- 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 5th gen hybrid or 6th gen plug-in hybrid system
- Up to 320HP output
- Up to 3,500 lbs towing capacity
- 12.9-inch touchscreen with digital HVAC controls
- Up to 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
- New Arene development platform for active safety, connectivity, and multimedia
- First with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 system
- Better ride comfort
- Quieter cabin
- New Urban Rock, Meteor Shower, Everest, and Storm Cloud colors
While the increase in adhesive dampening that led to a quieter cabin and the smoother ride thanks to stronger frame joints and suspension mounting will be greatly appreciated, the new digital HVAC controls might not be.
Knobs and physical controls are back in vogue, but Toyota decided to introduce touch A/C controls, though it gave them a "permanent home along the bottom of the screen" so that muscle memory can find them easier without looking.
The other new RAV4 feature worth noting is Toyota's Arene development platform that is its "first step toward fully software-defined vehicles." It has allowed the debut of the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system with an always-on home button, where support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as dual Bluetooth phone connectivity come standard.
The 2026 RAV4 is the first model that will get the new Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 system with an upgraded active safety hardware and software kit.
Last but not least, the rugged Woodland trim now comes in an exclusive Urban Rock color, while Toyota is introducing new Meteor Shower, Everest, and Storm Cloud hues for the newly redesigned 2026 RAV4, too.
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