2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images, Redesign, Specs

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images, Redesign, Specs   –  The 2024 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the gas-electric version of the brand’s top-selling vehicle in Canada, alongside its gas-only sibling and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It’s unchanged from the 2023 version save for a new shade of Army Green paint offered on specific trims. The RAV4 Hybrid comes in five trims, starting with the LE at $37,880, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,930. I tested the next-up XLE, which starts at $40,980; it then goes to the SE, XSE, and finally the Limited at $48,880. My XLE tester had a Woodland package, plus that extra-charge Army Green paint, bringing it to $43,860 before taxes.  2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Here we have the XLE, which is a trim level above the base LE. The XLE comes with a sunroof, power tailgate, power driver’s seat, heated steering wheel (present on all trims), cargo privacy cover, heated front seats, push-button start, and rain-sensing wipers. A three-year trial of remote connection services is included with the XLE level, in addition to the eight-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections included in both of those models. A Google-based navigation and app system can also be subscribed to both of them.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Specs

The driving experience is on par with the power: the steering doesn’t have a lot of feel to it, but responds well; the vehicle corners smoothly; and it’s well-planted and confident on the highway. The turning circle is tight, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight places and parking spots. The selectable drive modes adjust the engine and transmission response, including for eco or sport. The Woodland adds a trail drive mode, which also adjusts the AWD, but consider this as a bit more traction on a cottage road rather than any serious trail.

The hybrid system automatically and almost seamlessly switches between gasoline, electricity, or a combination of both, depending on driving conditions. There’s an “EV Mode” button that’s intended to keep it on electric-only at low speeds, but the RAV4 does that on its own anyway, and the mode shuts off if you’re a touch too hard on the throttle.

Engine and Performance

Open the hood and you’ll find a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that, on its own, makes 176 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. When working in conjunction with the hybrid electric motor, you get up to 219 hp. The system powers the front wheels through an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive (AWD), standard on all trims, is achieved by another electric motor that powers the rear wheels fuel-free when needed. The hybrid battery charges through a front-mounted electric motor and through regenerative braking – capturing energy otherwise lost during deceleration – and the RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t get plugged in. (The RAV4 Prime does, which gives it some all-electric range in addition to its hybrid capabilities.)

The RAV4 Hybrid’s power is about average for the segment, and it does a good job for everyday driving. It can get noisy during hard acceleration, but it handles highway passing, and overall it’s smoother and better to drive than the gas-only RAV4.  2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Fuel Economy

Officially, the RAV4 Hybrid gets 5.8 L/100 km in city driving, 6.3 L/100 km on highway driving, and 6.0 L/100 km combined driving, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). That goes up to 6.4 L/100 km when you include in the Woodland’s aerodynamically problematic roof racks and knobby tires. I got an average of 7.5 L/100 km throughout my week on the road, which was spent mostly on highways and in cold weather—conditions in which a hybrid’s battery life is reduced—. The gas-only RAV4 has a combined fuel economy rating of 8.0 L/100 km. Those official figures are in line with its hybrid competitors, where the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson rate at 6.4 combined; the Kia Sportage 6.2; and the Ford Escape 6.0.  2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Safety Features

After conducting extensive crash tests, the NHTSA in the US awarded the RAV4 Hybrid the highest possible rating of five stars. One of last year’s Top Safety Picks was the 2023 RAV4 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While it received a perfect score of “Good” in all of the previous testing, it only managed a “Acceptable” in the more recent side collision and moderate front overlap tests. The former more accurately mimics the effects of being hit by a larger SUV, while the latter takes into account the possibility of harm to passengers in the backseat as well as those in the front. 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images

Its “Acceptable” side test results mean it earned a Top Safety Pick for the 2023 version. The 2024 model will likely lose the designation (which hadn’t happened at the time of writing) because for 2024, only “Good” in that test will qualify vehicles for awards. All trims include such driver-assist safety features as emergency front braking that recognizes pedestrians and oncoming traffic when you’re turning left, along with adaptive cruise control and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles sold in Canada. The top Limited trim – and the XSE when outfitted with its Technology pack – exclusively add a panoramic camera and emergency rear braking.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Price and Release Date

The 2024 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at $37,880 and runs to $48,880. Since it doesn’t plug in, it isn’t eligible for any provincial or federal rebates. The RAV4 Prime is, but it starts at $52,880.

The RAV4 Hybrid is competitive with rivals, all of which offer fewer trim choices than the 2026 Toyota. The 2024 Sportage runs from about $39,020 to $45,720; the Hyundai Tucson is $42,524; the Ford Escape in AWD is $45,544 to $49,974; and the Honda CR-V is $48,275, all prices including delivery.  2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Images