Very few things are getting less expensive these days. Just look at your grocery bill from today versus a year ago for an ideal example of how inflation is affecting the cost of goods. However, Toyota is bucking the trend. The company has released pricing for the refreshed 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, and the MSRP has actually dropped by a few thousand dollars compared to last year. The company has also added more trims to the PHEV model range.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L Inline 4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
183 HP @6000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
163 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM
Segment
Compact SUV
The RAV4 range, in general, is Toyota’s best-selling product in the United States, with 479,288 deliveries in 2025. It’s a vital offering for the automaker. However, the plug-in hybrid variant (formerly called the RAV4 Prime) is more of a niche model because, during the same period, the company moved 20,272 units of the PHEV, down 34.8% from 2024. The changes announced today might make the plug-in more popular, however.
What The 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid Costs
2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport front 3/4 angle in redJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid starts at $41,500 (before a $1,450 destination fee), versus $43,865 (plus $1,450 destination) for the 2025 model. To make the change even more impressive, the 2026 version is more powerful than last year. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors – one powering each axle – make a total of 324 horsepower, up from 302 hp for 2025. Plus, the purely electric driving range increases to as much as 52 miles, instead of 42 miles previously.
Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid Pricing (Excluding Destination Fee)
Trim Level
2026
2025
Difference
SE
$41,500
$43,865
–$2,365
Woodland
$45,300
N/A
–
XSE
$47,200
$47,735
+$535
GR Sport
$48,500
N/A
–
The new Woodland grade is a more rugged version of the RAV4 PHEV. It offers 8.5 inches of ground clearance, versus 8.1 inches from the standard models. Other upgrades include 18-inch matte metallic gray wheels with black lug nuts, Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tires, a 2-inch tow hitch receiver, LED fog lights, heated side mirrors, and a roof rack with Woodland branding. The trim offers the exclusive Urban Rock gray exterior color. The various changes reduce the electric-only driving range to 49 miles.
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A Sporty Alternative
2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport side angle in redJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
There’s also the new GR Sport version of the RAV4 PHEV that focuses on better performance on the road. The modifications include a lowered suspension that drops the ground clearance down to 7.5 inches. An aggressive body kit includes a front lip, a revised grille and bumper with functional air ducts, fender flares, a rear spoiler, and a diffuser. These models ride on 20-inch wheels with a Black Pearl finish and Dunlop Sportmaxx summer performance tires. Buyers can choose to get the GR Sport in the exclusive color combination of Supersonic Red with a Bblack roof.
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We came away impressed after driving the latest RAV4 PHEV. We clocked a GR Sport model with a 5.34-second time to 60 miles per hour, which is impressively quick for a mass-market SUV. For comparison, a non-plug-in Limited AWD model took 7.16 seconds to hit 60 mph. Using only electric power, the GR Sport hit 60 mph in a still-brisk 8.51 seconds. The first examples of the 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid begin arriving at dealers in the spring of 2026. The standard RAV4 is already for sale in showrooms.
Source: Toyota
