Twenty-nine years ago, somewhere between the death of the station wagon and the rise of the electric pickup, the RAV4 debuted as an anomaly: a three-door SUV riding atop a car platform, with all-wheel drive and a Patagonia wardrobe. At the time, SUVs were little more than body-on-frame pickup trucks in different attire, with refinement to match. They were truly brutal off-road warriors.

Today, most new SUVs take their cues from the RAV4’s trailblazing if well-mannered engineering. That means a unibody car-based platform with some light off-road capability. Once a maverick, the Toyota RAV4 is now mainstream, while such SUV icons as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco have become the outliers. And for 2026, the Toyota RAV4 has been redesigned as a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, improbably rendering it a Prius for people who want to look capable. It lets you feel adventurous without ever breaking a sweat.

The standard 2026 Toyota RAV4 hybrid generates a respectable 226 horsepower and, for the first time, can send it all to the front wheels, which makes sense if you live somewhere flat and boring. If you insist on all-wheel-drive, you’re rewarded with a whopping 10 extra horses, bringing the total to 236. Need more than that? The plug-in hybrid offers a far healthier 324 horsepower, with an electric-only range of 52 miles, so you can handle most daily driving without ever firing a piston. All-wheel drive remains standard on the plug-in hybrid because Toyota knows you’ll tell people you need it, even if you live somewhere with two seasons: summer and road construction.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is offered in core LE, XLE and Limited; sporty SE, XSE and GR Sport; and off-road-flavored Woodland. Each of the variants — core, sporty, or off-road — get their own unique proboscis, while all RAV4s get the hybrid powertrain, except for the GR Sport, which comes with the plug-in hybrid. Others get the plug-in as an option. And while the Woodland seems adventurous, it’s mostly aggressive wheel arches, off-road tires and a 0.3-inch higher ride height. It’s a similar story for the GR Sport. It’s connected to Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division in the same way your Peloton connects you to actual cycling. Engineers say the GR Sport is more of an introduction to Toyota’s GR brand, rather than a hardcore GR vehicle. But it’s not unlike making oatmeal taste interesting. Certainly, chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane had his heart in the right place. He was trying to instill the 2026 Toyota RAV4 with a bit of fun, a task about as difficult as finding a librarian who’s wild.

Driving the RAV4 remains largely uneventful, which is part of its allure. It’s not that it’s dull. It just doesn’t insist on being interesting. The steering feels light but accurate, the brakes are confident, and the suspension seems tuned by someone who understands that most of life’s adventures involve potholes, not apexes. There’s noticeable body lean while cornering, even in the GR Sport. But it’s well-controlled and predictable. It’s the kind of car that turns down the volume on the modern world.

Its chassis is a modified version of what was used before, but revised for its all-hybrid powertrain. And while it looks familiar, its wardrobe is all-new. Particularly appreciated is hood styling that makes it easy to place the vehicle on the road. It’s helped by an instrument panel that’s lower than last year, making outward visibility markedly better.

Toyota provided a pre-production unit to test drive, so interior fit and finish is hard to judge. However, the front thrones provide the requisite roominess, while the rear seats have adequate space provided front seat residents are kind to taller rear seat riders. Seats are wide and a bit flat, with modest side bolstering. Uniquely, the center console lid is dual hinged, opening towards either the driver or front-seat passenger. It also lifts entirely, and can be flipped over and secured so that you use its hard underside surface should you need it.

And there are any number of USB-C plugs, dual wireless phone charging, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.5-inch infotainment screen or an available 12.9-inch touchscreen run by updated software that makes it one of the best in the business.

You’ll never love the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited, not the way you loved that Mazda Miata, or that old Jeep Wrangler with the leaky roof. But when you’re late for work, the weather’s awful, and the world seems to be coming apart at the seams, the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited will still be there, ready to deliver you safely to wherever you need to be. And in 2026, that might be the greatest luxury of all: a car that asks for nothing, promises little, and never lets you down. Look for it in showrooms in time for winter.

2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD

Base price: To be announced

Powertrain: 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid

Horsepower: 236

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 42 mpg

Fuel required: Regular unleaded

Length/Width/Height: 181/73/67 inches

Ground clearance: 8.1 inches

Payload: 1,075 pounds

Cargo capacity: 38-70 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds

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