If a few years ago medium and large SUVs were known for being expensive thanks to their greater weight, the same can no longer be said about current sports utility vehicles. Especially when it comes to the new generation of Toyota RAV4, which is now only sold with hybrid engines, full or plug-in, in all markets in which it is sold.
And if it depends on the numbers released by the brand so far, diesel and gasoline engines without electrification should not be missed. In the 2026 line, the SUV continues to have a 2.5 four-cylinder engine, which, depending on traction, can have one or two auxiliary electric motors.
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Source: Toyota
With them, the sixth generation of the SUV in the plug-in hybrid variant can exceed 1,350 km of autonomy when adding the capacity of the tank and batteries. This represents an improvement of 50 km over the previous PHEV model. Toyota is targeting a pure electric range of 150km in Japan, although expect those figures to be a little lower in the US due to ratings there, reaching just 80km.
In Europe and other regions that are based on the WLTP standard, the SUV can be driven for 100 km in local homologations before the 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine kicks in. Toyota hasn’t yet specified the gas tank capacity, but we know the previous generation RAV4 PHEV could carry 55 liters.
Photo by: Toyota
Power also increased
The extra range is made possible by increasing the battery capacity from 18.1 kWh to 22.7 kWh. Although quite boxy, the redesigned body is more aerodynamic than before. Toyota says it has further optimized the front and rear spoilers and reshaped the wheels to improve airflow.
Other benefits of the new PHEV include an increase in combined power from 302 to 320 hp for the new 2026 GR Sport. There is also support for fast charging at a maximum of 50 kW, allowing owners to replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent in half an hour.
Toyota RAV4 2026 GR Sport
Photo by: Toyota
As with the previous generation model, Toyota does not offer a diesel engine for the SUV anywhere in the world. The RAV4 is no longer offered in a gasoline-only configuration either. The versions announced so far for North America, Japan and Europe will feature fully hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Despite its somewhat discreet presence in Brazil, the RAV4 is a global model. Toyota sells its hugely successful SUV in 180 countries and regions. Around 15 million units have been delivered since the arrival of the first generation model in 1994. Today, it is the second most popular Toyota worldwide, surpassed only by the Corolla, which holds the title of best-selling car of all time, with an impressive 50 million units sold by 2021.
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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