Automotive
There’s no doubt that Toyota has positioned itself as a leader in mainstream hybrid technology and efficiency. With that in mind, Toyota has recently pivoted in an endeavor to avoid making too many more boring vehicles, and such a new theme has found its way into the new Toyota RAV4 in the form of the RAV4 GR Sport, which I had a week to enjoy its surprisingly lively attitude.
Toyota redesigned the RAV4 for the 2026 model year and its new style and sporty flavors go the distance to shed off a long past of being boring and there’s now a little thrill in what some trims of the RAV4 offer, especially the RAV4 GR Sport. All new RAV4s are now hybrids with some having a plug-in hybrid variation such as found in my RAV4 GR Sport test vehicle. Taking what has been long proved and tested in the Prius over many decades, the new RAV4 builds off that tech and elevates it even further with the new RAV4 GR Sport, the sportiest and quickest RAV4 ever. I know saying that may not mean much to most, but the new RAV4 GR Sport plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) scoots along with authority despite its continuously variable transmission (CVT) and ends up hitting 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.2 seconds in my test. That’s with the PHEV system working in harmony with a couple of electric motors and its 2.5-liter inline-4-cylinder engine, making the RAV4 GR Sport all-wheel-drive.
Ride quality is good, and there’s a sporty edge to how well the RAV4 GR Sport remains planted without much drama, partly thanks to its sport-tuned suspension and somewhat beefy 20-inch tires with a decently sized sidewall. Not only does it look the sporty part, but it backs up the red-hot looks with proper performance, surpassing all others in its class.
Altogether, the powertrain outputs 324 horsepower. Toyota doesn’t state the torque figure but the engine’s 172 lb-ft combined with the electric motors having 201 lb-ft up front and 91 lb-ft at the rear motor I figure we’re working with almost 300 lb-ft, which is substantial for a vehicle of this class outside of the full-electric vehicle realm. Speaking of fully electric, the PHEV aspects of the new RAV4 GR Sport permit you to charge up its smallish 22.7-kWh battery pack and get an electric-only range of about 48 miles or more. Of course using the electric mode, which can be set manually through drive mode controls, the RAV4 GR Sport takes just over 8 seconds to hit 60 mph. Still, that’s good enough for most for in-town driving or even highway travel where the electric setup permits speeds just above 80mph.
As far as the system sorting out things on its own in the default hybrid drive modes there’s a lot happening behind the scenes, but it all feels seamless with hardly noticeable transitions from use of the gas engine and motors. Just know, Toyota has nearly mastered hybrid drivetrains and here things just work like they are supposed to yielding respected fuel consumption numbers even if you don’t charge up the battery.
Charging up the battery from a fully depleted state using a level 2 charger at home takes just over two and a half hours. Once it’s charged up, you have about 48 miles of electric range, or simply 48 miles added into your gas range of around 536 miles to equal a total range of 584 miles for combined city and highway driving. That’s matching the EPA estimate of 37 mpg combined, while you’ll expect to slightly best the estimate of 86 MPGe when charging up the RAV4 GR Sport. Of course, you can easily extend that range if you’re conscious of your driving system, as the system is user-friendly to squeeze out additional miles around town, as long as you’re not approaching highway speeds for long periods of time. Again, just know Toyota continues to be the best in the hybrid business.
The sporty attitude somewhat spills over into the interior of the new RAV4 GR Sport, featuring sporty seats up front with color GR embroidery, red accent stitching in the steering wheel and leather shifter boot, and aluminum sport brake and gas pedals. Toyota keeps in place a set of drive modes if you ever want to do some light off-roading in your sporty RAV4 GR Sport.
For the new redesign, the new RAV4 brings a spacious cabin that permits a decent amount of front seat adjustability but lacks a few features I would have liked to see at its price point, such as memory seats and front seat ventilation, which are both absent from my $51,335 test vehicle. Otherwise, the RAV4 GR Sport feels somewhat worth its price of admission considering the advanced PHEV drivetrain and its elevated performance level.
I do enjoy the slight update of the infotainment unit that now incorporates a new home screen but retains the other simplistic core functions that have carried this newer system, fed through a large 12.9-inch touchscreen, combined with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Responses from onscreen inputs seems quicker than I remember while the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster has some customization features including mapping displays from your smartphone.
Toyota has done well with the new RAV4 in all its many trim levels, with the RAV4 GR Sport being one that should not be overlooked if the sticker shock doesn’t turn you away. Because let’s be honest, $51K for a Toyota RAV4 is initially a hard pill to swallow as a compact crossover until you really dig into the performance edges, proven Toyota PHEV tech, and the sporty flavor that you get in such a vehicle where you can’t find such in direct competitors. Also, such a price is on par with today’s new car average, so there’s that, too.
Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice in the automotive media world for over two decades. With 20+ years of hands-on experience covering the industry, Malcolm has built a reputation for delivering honest reviews, sharp insights, and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Passionate about the evolving car culture and staying ahead of the curve, Malcolm continues to lead Automotive Addicts as a go-to destination for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
