Toyota RAV4.
Last Updated:
An all-new Toyota RAV4 is just around the corner for the 2026 model year… The illustrations above all seem pretty close to what the real thing might look like. The bottom image is an actual prototype of the 2026 RAV4.
The new RAV4 is rumored to be a new hybrid-only model in North America, with an updated PHEV model with a slightly longer EV range as an option.
As far as its design, there is nothing too crazy. With over 475,000 of them sold last year in the US alone, I can see why Toyota would be very afraid to rock the boat in any way.
Besides the usual suspects, one of the RAV4’s main competitors on the world stage is actually the Tesla Model Y, which also got a few revisions for the new year.
So far in the US, the Model Y is still loaded for around $46,000. Its only options besides the “full self-driving” gimmick are just colors and wheels as well as AWD. Everything else is standard. The RAV4 PHEV starts at almost the same price. However, if you add a premium package to the top model it comes to over $52,000, which is more than $4000 over the AWD Long Range Model Y.
It seems the next-generation RAV4 could be the best choice for those who really do not want an EV at any cost. With the EV market growing every single year by at least 7 to 8%, that pool is slowly shrinking.
I predict the new RAV4 will do well for 2 or 3 years. Then comparable EVs will just make more sense for an increasing part of the population. It already does for many since the Model Y is already more popular around the world than the RAV4.
Some will lament the disappearance of the regular non-hybrid powertrain, for some reason. But so far, going “hybrid-only” has worked well for Toyota. The 2025 “hybrid-only” Camry was more popular in 2024 than the previous year by almost 20,000 units. For a total of almost 310,000 units sold in 2024. Quite an amazing number in our current world of SUVs. That is more than twice the amount of Honda Accord units sold in the same year (147,972).
I think making the RAV4 more upscale looking is a good idea. Especially with what vehicles cost these days. Tesla sales are plummeting around the globe, so the Model Y, or any other Tesla, won’t be competition for anything soon. Updated model or not. Apparently a hated CEO does make a difference.