Quick take
- The sixth-generation RAV4 is hybrid-only — the first time Toyota's best-seller has dropped the plain gas engine entirely. Every model is an HEV or a plug-in.
- The standard hybrid gains power: 226 hp front-drive, 236 hp all-wheel-drive — both up on the old gas RAV4.
- The plug-in hybrid is the big story: around 320 hp, roughly 48–52 miles of electric-only range, and — new for this generation — DC fast charging.
- The lineup adds a Gazoo-Racing-tuned GR Sport (plug-in, AWD, real suspension work) and an updated rugged Woodland, on top of a redesigned, screen-heavy cabin.
The RAV4 has been the best-selling SUV in the United States — and, in some years, the best-selling vehicle that isn't a pickup — for a long time. That makes a full redesign a big deal on its own. But the headline for the sixth-generation car isn't the styling or the screens. It's what's missing: you can no longer buy a RAV4 with a conventional gas-only engine. Every version is now electrified, either as a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. For the model that did more than any other to make hybrids normal, going hybrid-only is less a gamble than a coronation.
The headline: no more gas-only RAV4
For most of its life the RAV4 sold a gas engine as the entry point and a hybrid as the upgrade. This generation flips that: the hybrid is the base car, and there's no non-electrified option above or below it. In practice that means the cheapest new RAV4 is also the most efficient one it has ever made — the old "save money by skipping the hybrid" math simply no longer exists, because there's nothing to skip to.
It's a bolder move than it sounds. The RAV4 is the volume product that keeps Toyota's showrooms busy; betting the whole lineup on electrified powertrains is the clearest signal yet of where the mainstream SUV is going. Toyota can make that bet because it has more hybrid-selling experience than anyone — and because the RAV4 Hybrid was already the version most buyers were choosing.
Powertrains: a stronger hybrid, a much stronger plug-in
The standard hybrid is more powerful than the engine it replaces: 226 horsepower with front-wheel drive and 236 with all-wheel drive, both up meaningfully on the outgoing gas-only RAV4. That's the version most people will buy, and it's the efficiency play — strong enough to feel modern, without asking you to plug anything in.
The plug-in hybrid is where the real jump is. It makes roughly 320 horsepower with standard all-wheel drive, and Toyota now quotes something like 48 to 52 miles of electric-only range depending on trim — enough that many owners will do their daily driving without burning gas at all. Crucially, this is also the first RAV4 plug-in to offer DC fast charging, which turns the PHEV from an overnight-only device into something you can meaningfully top up on the road.
New trims: GR Sport and Woodland
Beyond the familiar grades, two trims stand out for changing what a RAV4 can be. Here's how they break down.
GR Sport
Tuned by Toyota Gazoo Racing and offered only as the AWD plug-in. Stiffer body, retuned suspension and steering, wider summer tires, 20-inch wheels, a unique grille, spoilers and paddle shifters — the first RAV4 that's actually trying to handle.
Woodland
The outdoorsy trim returns with added ground clearance and rugged styling, available as a hybrid or a plug-in. The pick for people who actually leave the pavement, or just want the look.
LE → Limited
The volume trims carry over the familiar ladder from value to loaded — now all hybrid or plug-in, all with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 standard and a 12.3-inch digital driver's display.
Inside the cabin
The interior is the most changed part of the car after the powertrain: a wider, screen-forward dashboard, a big new central touchscreen alongside the 12.3-inch driver's display, a simplified console, and cleaner materials. Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 is standard across the range.
| Spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Generation | All-new, sixth generation |
| Powertrains | Hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) only |
| Hybrid output | 226 hp FWD / 236 hp AWD |
| Plug-in output | ~320 hp, standard AWD |
| Plug-in EV range | ~48–52 miles + DC fast charging |
| Driver assist | Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 (standard) |
| MSRP from | ~$31,900 (suggested) |
Full photo gallery
All images are official Toyota USA Newsroom press photography of the all-new RAV4 — exterior, interior, and powertrain.
Common questions
Can you still buy a gas-only RAV4?
No. The sixth-generation RAV4 is sold only as a hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) — the plain gas engine is gone.
How much electric range does the plug-in have?
Toyota quotes roughly 48–52 miles of electric-only range depending on trim, and the PHEV now supports DC fast charging for the first time.
How powerful is it?
The standard hybrid makes 226 hp (FWD) or 236 hp (AWD); the plug-in hybrid makes around 320 hp with standard all-wheel drive.
What's the GR Sport?
A performance-focused, Gazoo-Racing-tuned plug-in AWD trim with retuned suspension and steering, 20-inch wheels, spoilers and paddle shifters — the sportiest RAV4 yet.
What does it start at?
Around $31,900 (suggested MSRP) for the base hybrid, with prices climbing through the plug-in, Woodland and GR Sport grades.
The all-new RAV4 isn't a reinvention so much as a commitment: Toyota took the most popular SUV in the country and made electrification the only way to buy it. The upside is a lineup where the cheapest car is also the most efficient, a plug-in that's finally quick and fast-charge-capable, and — with GR Sport and Woodland — actual breadth at the top. For a model that spends every year at or near the top of the sales charts, going hybrid-only is Toyota planting a flag exactly where it already leads.
Disclosure. This review was independently written by DopamineKart's gear desk from Toyota's official reveal, specifications and press materials; figures are drawn from Toyota USA Newsroom and reputable automotive outlets. DopamineKart was not paid by, and did not receive a vehicle from, Toyota. Pricing is manufacturer-suggested (MSRP) and subject to change. All photography is official Toyota USA Newsroom press imagery, © Toyota, used for editorial coverage.
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