4 WORST And 9 BEST Things About The 2026 Toyota RAV4
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0:00 – Intro
BAD
0:33 – Cabin quality
Feels pretty cheap (pre-pro stuff)
Scratchy plastics everywhere
Pano roof bubbling
Door sounds cheap and hollow
BUUUTTTT
MUCH more modern feeling
Storage everywhere, even in dash
Wireless charger AND storage pockets
Controls are PHYSICAL
It’s nicer but not as nice as the Honda, Mazda, Subie, Hyundai or Kia
A colored interior would make it feel a lot nicer
2:15 – Drive
New hybrid we’ll talk more about
eCVT
eAWD std on our LIMITED tester
FWD std
3850 lbs (+150)
Stiffer chassis mounting points and sound deadening
Underbody is move covered up
Aero and sound
Still some wind and road noise
Hybrid transition is noticeably better
Significantly less torque kick
Engine doesnt sound so thrashy
Ride is ok not amazing
Very numb and light steering
Brake pedal is stiff and not a lot of bite
Visibility is great
4:28 – Nitpicks
Attention monitor is very aggressive
Changing heated seat
Or looking at cows
No ambient light
Cabin is DARK at night
GOOD
5:10 – Flavors
NO MORE gas…some people will spazz about this
core/normal models
Woodland offroad model
GR Sport speedy model
Plug In coming later (GR Sport is PHEV only)
6:05 – Powertrain (efficiency AND power)
New 5th gen hybrid now like in the Camry
2.5 n/a 4 cylinder (w/ 3 emotors)
236 hp (was 219 hp)
Even FWD gets 226 hp
41 mpg combined (was 38)
LL 48.7
Old one in winter 41.7
0-60 in 7.5 (about the same)
7:44 – Trunk
Powered, now with close and lock
Kick gesture on Limited
37.8 cuft (.3 more)
Temp spare
Take that Honda CRV
70.4 cuft (.4 more)
CRV hybrid 76.5
8:45 – Tech
HUD (not std)
Digi cluster std on all
10.5 in infotainment (the std screen now)
12.9 in screen is the upgraded one now
New software and skin looks more Genesis
Wireless ACP & AA
360 cameras are much better
Digi rear view mirror
Wireless charger
Safety suite
TSS 4.0 std everywhere
Eyeball watcher but still makes you hold the wheel
Auto lane change
Adaptive cruise has an eco mode
10:29 – Rear seat
Feel similar size – decent, not class leading
recline
Vents
Chargers
Heated as part of option***
Pano roof std on Limited (optional elsewhere)
11:11 – Luxuries/Comfort
Limited gets unique upgraded seats
Heated & Cooled std on Limited
Auto climate concierge setting on Limited
Memory
Heated steering
12:00 – Styling
All new look
Hammerhead design headlights
Limited and woodland get fogs
XLE gets nonLED turn signal
Body colored grille feels kinda Lexus
No more blue surround front logo
New wheel options (up to 20 in on Limited)
Same wheel arches but scratchy black
A pillar and D pillar black slash detail
Black wing mirrors
Modernized rear end design
Multi-strafe LED taillights
Pearl badging
No exposed exhaust
12:58 – Towing
3500 w AWD
Was 1750 (FWD still does this)
13:15 – Price
Starts 32k
CRV hybrid starts over 35k
Cheaper than CRV
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13:56 – Odds & Ends
Center console opens side to side
Also can be taken off and flipped around
Goes red when open
Generator function?
Attention monitor function is super annoying
EV mode button
Drive mode button
But then drive modes on other side
9 speaker BL on limited
My XSE had 11 speaker
Same shifter as a Golf R
Dash cam built in
No ambient light…wack
Egg mode?
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17:01 – POV drive
