The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 is getting old. It went on sale in 2019, received an update in late 2021, and soon Toyota will replace it completely. Despite its age, the RAV remains one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., which means Toyota won’t want to upset that success with a radically new SUV.
The next-generation RAV4, which already rides on the automaker’s TNGA-K platform that underpins the updated Camry, will likely receive an evolutionary update. We expect the company to borrow styling cues from other recent models as it revamps the RAV4’s design, revamps its technology, and switches to hybrid-only powertrains. Goodbye, gasoline-only engines.
We don’t know when Toyota plans to launch the new RAV4, but the company’s recent launches may offer some clues as to what we can expect from the redesigned SUV. The new RAV4 should go on sale in the 2026 model year – here’s what we know so far.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Rendering
What will it look like?
We’ve seen snapshots of the new RAV4 in public that reveal certain design features and some teasers that show the SUV from above. Cleaner lines in the side profile show a beltline that runs straight from the A-pillar to the rear of the vehicle, except for a slight upward curve at the D-pillar. The trim near the top of the D-pillar suggests that the two-tone roof option will continue in the new model, while the tailgate appears more upright, which should result in more luggage space.
Photos leaked from China showed an image that may or may not be the new RAV4, with design elements inspired by the Crown Signia, especially at the front, and with more compact details at the rear. But it’s unclear whether this is just a projection or whether it’s real.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Rendering
Foto de flagrante do Toyota RAV4 2026
Foto de: KGP Photography
That said, we don’t expect the automaker to stray too far from the brand’s latest styling. Our projection predicts that Toyota will apply the boxier styling of the Tacoma midsize pickup and Sequoia SUV to the next-generation crossover, removing some of the flashy cladding.
We expect it to have a larger trapezoidal grille, with an upright front fascia flanked by tall, thin headlights. The boxier styling also extends to the rear, where slim taillights contour the side panels and enter the fender. It has a much more traditional design than the current crossover.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Interior Teaser
Photo by: Toyota
Teaser photos of the cabin show a much more modern interior, with a large central touchscreen and a second large screen acting as the digital instrument panel. It is also expected to have a redesigned center console and instrument cluster with a new dashboard layout.
How powerful will the new RAV4 be?
Toyota recently updated the Camry for 2025, dropping the non-hybrid engine from the base version of the sedan. We expect the 2026 RAV4 will likely follow suit and ditch the combustion-only engine for a full hybrid lineup.
Toyota already offers a RAV4 Hybrid, which is expected to become the new entry point with the 2026 model year. Currently, the powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a rear-mounted electric motor, which is expected to be carried over to the new crossover with some updates to make it more efficient.
Toyota also offers the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid (no longer the Prime). This version should be carried over to the new model year. It uses an improved version of the RAV’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but Toyota combines it with two electric motors instead of one for a total system output of 302 hp and a 0-62 mph time of 5.5 seconds.
The RAV4 Prime uses an 18.1 kWh battery and we hope Toyota can offer more pure electric range. Here it is worth noting that the brand only sells the RAV4 in Brazil in the SX Connect Hybrid versions, for R$ 349,290, and XSE Plug-in Hybrid, for R$ 402,420.
When will the new RAV4 be released?
Initial reports suggested the sixth-generation RAV4 would go on sale in early 2026 for the 2026 model year, with a reveal coming in just a few weeks. However, production of the RAV4 will remain in the US due to President Trump’s tariffs, with production continuing at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) in Kentucky (US). If true, production may not begin until 2027.
André Itamara Vila Neto é um blogueiro apaixonado por guias de viagem e criador do Road Trips for the Rockstars . Apaixonado por explorar tesouros escondidos e rotas cênicas ao redor do mundo, André compartilha guias de viagem detalhados, dicas e experiências reais para inspirar outros aventureiros a pegar a estrada com confiança. Seja planejando a viagem perfeita ou descobrindo tesouros locais, a missão de André é tornar cada jornada inesquecível.
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