2026 Toyota RAV4 design revealed: 4 big changes drivers will love

If you’ve been waiting for news on the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 redesign, you aren’t alone. The compact little crossover SUV was actually the top-selling vehicle in America in 2024, dethroning the Ford F-150, which held that title for decades.

The 2025 RAV4 ended up selling 475,193 units last year, even though it was in its sixth year of production without a major update since 2019.

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Now, however, the 2026 RAV4 has finally been revealed in a late-night announcement on May 20. The 9 p.m. reveal showed some big changes are coming to America’s favorite SUV, and consumers will hopefully be excited about all that this sixth-generation model offers.

The 2026 RAV4 goes all-in on electric

The single biggest change that Toyota rolled out with the 2026 RAV4 redesign is the elimination of a model with a gas engine.

New RAV4s are available in only hybrid models, with two choices available to consumers: a hybrid model as well as a hybrid plug-in model.

The engine specs remain unchanged, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine still standard, but the RAV4 will become the eighth model in Toyota’s lineup with no traditional gas engines, joining the Sequoia SUV, Sienna minivan, and Camry and Prius sedans.

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RAV4 hybrids already made up 44% of the crossover models sold last year, with plug-in models accounting for another 6.5% of sales, so consumers have shown enthusiasm for the switch to alternative fuel options and are likely to embrace this change.

“The hybrid is faster turning; it has more sales orders on it, and the consumers and dealers are asking for it,” David Christ, North American head of the Toyota brand, said at a Tuesday event at the company’s North American headquarters. “It was pretty clear that the consumer is voting for the hybrid.”

Many model choices – and more powertrain options – are available on the RAV 4’s 2026 model

You’ll need to choose your model carefully if you’re buying a new RAV4, as Toyota has three separate groupings:

• Core models, which are available in hybrid only and offer multiple trim levels, including LE, XLE, and Limited
• Rugged models featuring a Woodland Trim, which comes with the hybrid powertrain as a standard option, but allows an upgrade to the plug-in model
• Sport models, which offer hybrid or plug-in hybrid as an option for SE and XSE trim levels, plus a new GR sport model that comes standard with the plug-in setup.

These models each have their own distinctive look, but there’s an important functional change as well. 

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In prior RAV-4 models, all-wheel drive was your only choice, regardless of model or trim level. Now, consumers have a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) on both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, depending on the trim level they select.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 has a new look

Toyota’s updates to the RAV4 also include some cosmetic changes. The new redesign is boxier, with fewer curves than the old model and a styling similar to the Grand Highlander and Camry designs on both the front and back ends.

The length on most new RAV4 models is largely unchanged; however, the Woodland and GR Sport are both a little bit longer, with 2025 RAV4s coming in at 180.9 inches  and the Woodland and GR Sport models measuring 181.8 inches in the 2026 lineup.

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The Woodland model also has a higher ride height, a split grille that gives it a distinctive look compared with other models, and includes all-terrain tires, while the GR Sport model has stand-out 20-inch wheels wrapped in summer tires.

Changes to the infotainment system on the new RAV4

Finally, the infotainment system is getting an upgrade with the 2026 RAV4 model.

Toyota’s 2026 RAV4 will include a 10.5-inch center touchscreen as part of its standard infotainment package, which is a decent upgrade compared to the 8.0-inch screen that came standard on the 2025 model.

Those who want to go bigger can upgrade to a 12.9-inch screen on 2026 RAV4 models, up from the 10.5-inch technology that was available via upgrade for older models. CarPlay and Android compatibility will be standard again, as is the norm for most vehicles these days, but drivers will also get access to an updated version of Toyota’s Audio Multimedia System software.

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Although it was reserved for upper trims or treated as an add-on option with the 2025 model, a 12.3-inch digital gauge display comes standard on all RAV4 models in 2026. 

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