The arrival of the sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 is a seismic event for the world’s largest automaker. This crossover recently debuted with a refreshed design. An evolution featuring the brand’s new C-shaped headlights, body-colored grilles on certain trims, and subtle vertical lines in the rear LED lights.
Inside, it’s all updated, with a tougher dash, a floating digital cluster, and a touchscreen infotainment system. However, the real story is under the hood, or rather, the lack of combustion-only options. Just like the new Camry, the RAV4 is now an electrified-only affair, relying exclusively on Toyota’s fifth-gen Hybrid (HEV) or sixth-gen Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) systems. The mystery, until recently, was the price tag associated with this forced march toward electrification.
Toyota Motor North America has officially confirmed the starting price for the 2026 RAV4 LE trim is $33,350 (destination included). This immediately invites a dual comparison that reveals Toyota’s pricing strategy. The previous, non-hybrid 2025 RAV4 started at $31,195. The move from standard gasoline to standard hybrid has resulted in a $2,155 price increase. A “natural” jump, as the industry euphemistically calls it. The true comparison is against the previous 2025 RAV4 Hybrid, which started at $34,300. Viewed this way, the new RAV4 Hybrid is actually $950 cheaper.
How did Toyota pull off this price reduction while upgrading the platform? By cleverly making All-Wheel Drive optional on the entry-level LE trim. The new $33,350 base price applies to the Front-Wheel Drive model, while the pricier trims, including the Woodland ($41,350), XSE ($42,750), and the luxurious Limited ($44,750), come standard with AWD. The FWD models offer a combined 226 HP, while the AWD variants bump up to 236 HP.
The ultimate pricing mystery remains, however. Toyota has yet to disclose the cost of the PHEV models, including the anticipated, performance-oriented GR Sport flagship. So while Toyota has sweetened the deal by lowering the barrier to entry for its hybrid SUV, the full cost of entering the electrified RAV4 world is still a matter of speculation.
