The Countdown to the Next Adventure Begins - Toyota USA Newsroom They don't tell you it's the new 6th generation RAV4 but everyone knows it is. Toyota's teaser images are now drone shots from above: Winter (or just snow) shot Suburban shot Country road shot Europe spilled a couple of extra closeup shots but from the inside. Looks like the current RAV4, just not as round. Carscoops thinks it looks Prius inside but the MID isn't no wheres near as far back. The buttons on the steering wheel does look a little like the Prius. And it looks like they are doing away with the shifter? Although that shot may be a bit off to show the shifter. As every magazine out there has assumed, the base model will probably be all hybrid and even though a couple of magazines have said it might have the new 1.5L turbo, it'll probably stick with an upgraded 2.5L based hybrid just like the Camry. Word is there might be a BEV version as well as the PHEV since revisions to the TNGA-K have full electrification. Would they use the 1.5L turbo in a platinum (power hybrid) version? Probably not as it might be a bit too buzzy. But we'll find out next Tuesday. Here's CarScoops article as well: Toyota’s All-New RAV4 Is Coming Sooner Than You Think | Carscoops
Well the shifter is actually right next to the coffee cup in that picture since they went to a shift by wire for their standard Hybrids. The knob is actually a drive mode knob, however it looks like the Woodland version of the 2026 RAV4 has a "real" (meaning non-Prius style) shifter. According to their press release this is not shift-by-wire. The 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid also keeps the real shifter. Three...Two...One: Toyota Debuts Amazing All-New RAV4 - Toyota USA Newsroom All-new, redesigned 6th generation RAV4 will be available in Core, Sport, and Rugged styles across seven grades, including a new-look Woodland and first-ever GR SPORT America’s best-selling compact SUV will now be 100% electrified, in a choice of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrains First-ever RAV4 GR SPORT, developed in partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing, with GR-tuned handling, aggressive exterior style, exhilarating PHEV powertrain with AWD, and more RAV4 Woodland grade available in HEV or PHEV with AWD standard, higher ride height, all-terrain tires, split grille, and more Debut of 6th generation PHEV powertrain with up-to 320 hp output and 20% more all-electric drive range of 50 miles (manufacturer estimated, 42 miles previously) RAV4 HEV models move to 5th generation hybrid system and boost output to 236 hp on AWD models and 226 hp on FWD models – with FWD coming to RAV4 Hybrid for the first time Launch of Toyota’s Arene software development platform, which enables Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 and a new generation of the Toyota Audio Multimedia System The 6th generation 2026 RAV4 is still about the same size as the 5th generation 2019 - 2025 RAV4 although the width on the Woodland, SE, XSE, and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV) grew about an inch (25.4 mm) wider. The GR Sport and Woodland versions also grew about almost an inch (.9 inches or 22.9 mm) in length. Same wheelbase on all variants. Unlike the new 2026 Toyota BEVs, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid kept it's J1772 charging cable connector, instead of going totally NACS J3400 (AKA Tesla). Smart since a lot of previous Prime and Plug-in Hybrid customers probably still have their level 1 and 2 J1772 charging cables. They even offer CCS1 connectors on their Woodland and XSE PHEVs for fast charging. IMHO consider this dubious at best since it still takes 30 minutes to charge a battery large enough for 50 miles of all EV range (AER) to 80% .Toyota's 2026 BEVs will also charge to 80% in 30 minutes but that is adding around 180 miles for their lower range BEVs, not the 42 in the PHEVs. What has improved is the power output. Their PHEVs went from 302 to 320 hp (238.6 kW) while Hybrid AWD went from 219 to 236 hp (176 kW). Unknown is efficiency rating except the PHEVs now have 50 miles of AER.
I was looking at those elevated buttons on either side of the upper cubby below the center vents. Offering a shift-by-wire and physical shifter for the same drive train seems silly. The FWD vs AWD cost will be interesting to see.
Ok to fill in the holes for the 6th Generation 2026 RAV4 PHEV North American announcement we go to Europe: All-new Toyota RAV4 makes worldwide debut The battery size is 22.7 kWh which is 25.4% larger than the 2025 RAV PHEV's 18.1 kWh. With a battery that size, I'll go out on a limb here and say the RAV4 PHEV will get more than 50 miles AER EPA. Well maybe not the GR Sport PHEV version which has wide 20" tires or the Woodland PHEV version which has all-terrain tires. Europe says 100 km (62 miles) of AER with WLTP. All of Europe's RAV4 PHEV get DC fast charging and they even get a FWD version of the PHEV. European specs note that the CCS DC fast charges at 50 kW. Supposedly it charges from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes so that means it'll put in 15.9 kWh in 30 minutes . I think the 11 kW L2 charger could give it a run for the money or even charge mode because DC fast chargers are a tad expensive.
Smaller capacity batteries don't lend themselves to quick charging times. Fewer cells results in faster heat build up. Then the lower gross capacity means hitting the point of charge rate slow down for battery protection sooner. The Bolt has a 50kW max rate and gain about twice the range this new Rav4 PHEV will get in those 30 minutes. Even factoring in the efficiency difference between the cars, the Bolt is getting a substantial number of miles over the Rav. More robust cooling and larger upper buffer in the battery could improve this(assuming there is space for them) for a higher price. With cheap gas, DC charging isn't really worth having on a short range PHEV. It's why Toyota and others resisted having it on PHEVs sold in North America.
Did they move to refrigerant cooling on that battery pack? IMHO: The REAL price of fast charging is faster degradation of the traction battery pack! Better thermo regulation will combat this; whereas air cooled has it's limitation - especially in hot climates.....
I think they already did that on the RAV4 when they moved the battery pack outside the cabin area. there is a WeberAuto video somewhere...
Didn't see anything about the battery cooling. I wouldn't expect Toyota to go back to air cooling though. The only plug ins they sold with air cooling were the PiP, gen4 Prius PHV, and UX EV. Both of the PHEVs were much smaller batteries, and did have fans. The UX cooled the blown air with the A/C.
Repeating what @Trollbait said and Europe verified the new battery is liquid cooled: "Its thermal management system switches automatically between coolant circuits depending on the operating conditions, keeping the battery at the ideal temperature to maintain optimum efficiency." I would add the only air cooled plug-in still offered by the Toyota family is the Lexus UX 300e sold only in Europe.
I misremembered. The WeberAuto video was for the 2024 Prius Prime PHEV battery outside the passenger compartment. They describe it as refrigerated. It also has a 12 volt heater.
You can always grab a copy of the official Toyota RAV4 Prime/ RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid Dismantling Manual. https://www.toyota-tech.eu/HYBRID/HVDM/EN/hvdm%20RAV%20PHV.pdf Gives detailed instructions on how to remove the coolant tubes.
