2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review: This car could be Australia’s best seller in 2026. It’s a bit of a struggle to understand why…
If there’s one thing the editorial team at EV Central argue about more than anything else it’s whether we should write about plugless hybrids.
The purists among us argue they’re barely electric, the pragmatists suggest they are the gateway drug to PHEVs and BEVs that sell in huge numbers and shouldn’t be ignored.
For now the pragmatists are in the ascendancy, although when Iain Curry takes over the world it will be a different story.
All that waffle brings me to the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid medium SUV. Not on-sale until the first half of next year, we’ve had the chance of a brief drive and inspection of the car that could usurp utes and become Australia’s biggest seller.
Probably worth paying attention to then.
READ MORE: Toyota confirms compact EV for Australia: More affordable Toyota C-HR BEV on the way to fight BYD Atto 3 and Geely EX5 … but don’t rush your dealer just yet
READ MORE: Toyota HiLux BEV key numbers revealed ahead of 2026 arrival in Australia: They’re … interesting
READ MORE: New Toyota Corolla debuts: Toyota confirms EV for the next generation of the world’s best-selling car!
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid price and equipment
Big price rises of up to 11 per cent are order of the day for most of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid range. It now kicks off at a meaty $45,000.
All its key legacy rivals start below $40,000 and Chinese brands are cheaper again.
It’s a pricing play exuding great confidence, over-confidence or even arrogance. Depends on your view I guess.
The RAV4 plug-in hybrids that arrive later in 2026 basically sit atop the line-up and top out over $70,000 once on-road costs are added.
Even the cheapest RAV4 plug-in is giving up a price advantage over $20,000 to the likes of the Geely Starray EM-i and Chery Tiggo 7 CHS.
Not only that, the latest generation plugless hybrid accompanies its ambitious pricing with that much backing it up.
The 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain is basically unchanged apart from an emissions-driven power drop from 163kW to 143kW. That applies to the dual motor front-wheel drive or tri-motor all-wheel drive.
Toyota says changes have also been made to the transaxle, power control unit, battery and e-motors. Driving efficiency is claimed to be improved but no fuel economy numbers have been issued. Traditionally this has been one of the great assets of Toyota’s hybrid system, which is very frugal.
The underpinning TNGA-K architecture and independent suspension that attaches to it are familiar from the current model, as are the fundamental body proportions such as glasshouse and door openings. There are fresh noses (yes, plural) and new C-shaped LED headlights, but much is unchanged.
Inside, the dashboard has been overhauled with the all-new presentation and technology underpinned by the Australian debut of Toyota’s latest Arene software.
The screens are bigger, better and faster, there are more services and even a head up display now on offer at the top of the range. That’s a first for RAV4.
The equipment baseline includes standard dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the Toyota Connect app, including remote services.
Updated and refined safety systems are led by autonomous emergency braking and active cruise control. In the event of an accident, more comprehensive data will be transferred automatically back to a Toyota call centre. For the first time a Toyota will have an embedded dashcam using its onboard cameras. It can be voice-operated.
For more detailed rundown on RAV4 equipment, check out this article.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid : What we think
We got to drive two pre-production versions of the new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, an all-wheel drive Edge and a front-wheel drive Cruiser.
The Edge has the distinction of being the only new RAV4 to go down in price, dropping by $3010 (five per cent) to $55,340 plus on-road costs, as it is repositioned from the top to the middle of the range.
Meanwhile, the Cruiser has the second biggest price rise at 11 per cent, or $5580, to $56,990 plus on-roads.
Alongside these two at the Anglesea proving ground, where Toyota does a lot of testing, we also got to sample the outgoing fourth-generation RAV4.
Which simply underlined just how little the driving has changed from old to new.
In a basic way that is good news because the current RAV4 is a very civilised handling, comfy riding and calm driving vehicle.
From behind the steering wheel it’s right up there amongst the best medium SUVs going around.
Is there anything detectably different? The decrease in power means response is perhaps a little duller than before.
But if you’re looking for a big indicator of what an EV driving life might be like that side of it is all pretty subtle as the battery is tiny and electric running is extremely limited and slow speed. It helps more with smooth initial acceleration and we know from experience it helps with the fuel bill.
To help acceleration, the Edge could shift through pseudo manual gear steps in the e-CVT auto, but the Cruiser’s upgrade to shift by wire meant it missed out.
The Cruiser retained its composure on some rough stuff despite riding on 20-inch alloys, a substantial upgrade from the old model’s 18-inch wheels. There was perhaps more tyre noise though.
The Edge AWD rode on 19-inch tyres (as before) and perhaps steered a tad lighter mid-corner. On some grotty, wet gravel its AWD system ensured some surety, but the front-drive Cruiser behaved without vice as well.
Another similarity with the current RAV4 caused by retaining the same platform and therefore wheelbase is rear seat space. It remains behind some vehicles in the class. It’s not bad, it’s just not as good as the likes of the Kia Sportage.
Boot space has increased slightly, Toyota says, but no numbers have been provided.
Okay, what about all the infotainment changes? Well, our time was limited so we couldn’t drill in too deep, but the big screen is a win in terms of clarity and it has a home button – which other recent Toyotas do not.
You can tune the home screen to include functions you prefer to see, such as phone and sat-nav.
The dashboard sits 40mm lower to help visibility, and on the centre stack, buttons and dials have been grouped together to speed access.
There are hard buttons for audio power and volume, and for climate control temperature and window demister. The fan speed is a permanent display in the bottom of the screen.
The new high-spec digital instrument cluster is also a lot easier to use than the old, complex one.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Verdict
It seems Toyota is confident the existing RAV4 package is good enough, because if this first taste is anything to go by it’s hardly changed in the transition to what is allegedly a new generation.
The price rises that go with it are pretty gobsmacking though.
Will heaps of people simply stump up the extra cash because it’s a Toyota?
Almost certainly. But if you are considering a hybrid SUV then shop around because there are plenty of cheaper options than this that are just as good if not better.
Or for this money you could just get into the hard stuff and buy a PHEV or BEV.
SCORE: 3.0/5
2026 Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD specifications
Price: $55,340 plus on-road costs
Basics: Hybrid, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Fuel use: TBA
Battery capacity: TBA
Drivetrain: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and three electric motors; 143kW combined output
AC charging: NA
DC charging: NA
0-100km/h: NA
2026 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD specifications
Price: $56,990 plus on-road costs
Basics: Hybrid, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Fuel use: TBA
Battery capacity: TBA
Drivetrain: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors; 143kW combined output
AC charging: NA
DC charging: NA
0-100km/h: NA
