The "all-new" 2026 Toyota RAV4 is actually more of a hard refresh

Full redesigns, a.k.a. the new "generations" you hear about every five to seven years, used to be unambiguous affairs. Why? Because for most of automotive history, the art of car-making advanced so quickly that each ensuing generation was quite obviously a breed apart, incorporating all manner of innovations from the ground up.

But it's an open secret that platforms and suspensions have been pretty well optimized for a number of years now, and that's increasingly true of powertrains, too. Software-driven technology is usually where today's major advancements can be found, or better or worse — think bigger screens, sharper graphics, more driver-assist interventions.

Given that, what are we to make of the 2026 Toyota RAV4, which Toyota describes as all-new? I mean, it's right there in the headline of the press release: "Toyota Debuts Amazing All-New RAV4."

Is Toyota just blowing smoke here? Or is the next-gen RAV4 indeed a revolutionary step forward?

The 2026 RAV4's underlying dimensions are virtually unchanged

The first clue that we're not exactly dealing with a clean-sheet redesign is the new RAV4's wheelbase length, which checks in at 105.9 inches. I'll give you one guess as to the outgoing 2025 model's wheelbase measurement.

You are so right: 105.9 inches.

How about overall length and width? Despite its clearly different exterior styling, the new RAV4 surprisingly hasn't budged there, either, at least in the standard "Core" body style that comprises the LE, XLE and Limited trims. Toyota quotes the 2026 RAV4 Core's length at 180.9 inches and its width at 73.0 inches. Check out our 2025 RAV4 specs and you'll find the exact same numbers in those rows.

Ah, but the height, you're thinking. Surely the decidedly new-looking 2026 RAV4 is a bit taller, or shorter, or something. 'Fraid not. Toyota says the RAV4 Core models are 67.0 inches tall, matching the 2025 RAV4 down to the tenth of an inch.

What we have here, then, is an unmistakably fresh design that nonetheless has the exact same wheelbase, length, width and height measurements as its predecessor.

I should note that the non-Core body styles do depart from the previous RAV4's measurements in some respects, as reflected in the table. The "Rugged" style, which maps to the Woodland trim you'll see at the Toyota dealer, is 181.8 inches long, 74.0 inches wide and 67.8 inches tall, while the "Sport" style is also 74.0 inches wide (SE, XSE and GR SPORT trims) and measures 181.8 inches long and 66.4 inches tall in the new plug-in-hybrid GR SPORT. But the other Sport trims share the Core style's length and height, and crucially, the wheelbase is 105.9 inches long no matter which 2026 RAV4 you choose.

Does that mean the new RAV4's platform is basically the same?

No, an unchanged wheelbase doesn't necessarily mean it's the same platform as before. It could be the case that Toyota simply feels a 105.9-inch wheelbase is optimal for a small gas-powered SUV. A new platform could theoretically share that measurement and little else.

But as it turns out, Toyota confirms that the new RAV4 rolls on a carryover platform in the abovementioned press release:

"Built on the Toyota New Generation Architecture-K (TNGA-K) platform, the newest RAV4 will receive structural rigidity increases due to reinforcement of the frame joints and the suspension mounting points....It also adopts a high-damping adhesive that reduces micro-vibrations and road noise."

If you look up the TNGA-K platform, you'll find that it's already in service, having underpinned the outgoing XA50 RAV4 generation from its inception in the 2019 model year.

So there you have it. The "all-new" 2026 RAV4's platform remains the same, aside from some "reinforcement" here and "high-damping adhesive" there.

Now, I quite like how the outgoing RAV4 rides and handles, so you won't hear me complaining about the persistence of TNGA-K in the new one. But if the 2026 RAV4 is truly a full redesign, you'll find no supporting evidence in the platform department. Adding unquantified stiffness and better glue at the margins is the stuff of midcycle refreshes, not generational overhauls.

Are the 2026 RAV4's powertrains new, at least?

Right, how about what's under the hood? Well, the headline news there is what's missing, namely, the workaday 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that's been getting the job done, albeit rather loudly at higher revs, since the XA50 debuted. Just like the new Camry (itself more of a refresh than a redesign), the 2026 RAV4 is now hybrid-only, although the plug-in-hybrid powertrain naturally carries over as well, whereas the Camry is only offered as a conventional hybrid.

But "carries over" is again the key phrase. There's nothing dramatically different about the 2026 RAV4's hybrid and PHEV powertrains, aside from the fact that you'll now be able to get the regular hybrid with front-wheel drive. Toyota says the 2026 RAV4 PHEV will make "up to" 320 horsepower, which is technically an 18-hp injection, but even that modest gain may be limited to the performance-themed GR SPORT trim. Notably, the PHEV gets a bigger battery that's said to yield 50 miles of electric range, as well as a faster 11-kW onboard charger — but the outgoing PHEV gives you 42 miles, so we're very much in the realm of incremental improvements.

As for the regular hybrid setup, it's rated at 226 hp with FWD and 236 hp with AWD, up from the previous RAV4 Hybrid's 219 hp, but will that be a difference you can feel? I doubt it, especially if the new RAV4 is heavier than its predecessor, which seems all but inevitable. Tellingly, Toyota has said nothing about adding lightness this time around, although no official weight figures have been released.

It's certainly a big deal that Toyota has taken away the non-hybrid engine for 2026, along with that motor's conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. That means the new RAV4 is not only hybrid-only, but also CVT-only. On the hybrid front, though, there's really nothing earth-shattering to report. The updates seem like nice-to-haves, but current RAV4 Hybrid or PHEV owners won't be scrambling to trade up, because they already have pretty much the same equipment.

MotorDonkey says

Summing up, Toyota has given us a sharper-looking 2026 RAV4 that incidentally offers a larger optional 12.9-inch touchscreen inside, while the base 10.5-inch unit matches the size of the outgoing model's upgrade option. That's cool and all, but we also get largely the same platform and powertrains this time around, with marginal enhancements that may or may not be noticeable.

Can we call that a redesign?

I'll tell you what we definitely can't call it, unless we're Toyota's marketing team: "All-new."

Why, then, does everyone seem to be parroting that claim in their reporting? Seriously, search the current news for "2026 RAV4" and try to find anyone who's calling out Toyota for being less than correct about its all-newness. You're much more likely to see something like Car and Driver's assertion on Instagram that "The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is an all-new model," just like Daddy says it is.

But now go look at how the same outlets described Tesla's Model 3 Highland (2024) and Model Y Juniper (2025) updates. Chances are you'll find plenty of skepticism about just how much had changed under the skin. Similarly, Wall Street is full of self-styled Tesla experts who are convinced that the company needs to redesign its cars more often.

From where I sit, the 2026 RAV4 is closer to the Highland Model 3 or Juniper Model Y than it is to a full redesign like, say, the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. There's nothing revolutionary in the RAV4's case. It's a similar product with some thoughtful revisions.

That's not to say you shouldn't consider the new model; on the contrary, I wouldn't be surprised if it shoots straight to the top of our compact SUV rankings once we get to drive it. After all, the outgoing RAV4 Hybrid is our top-ranked compact hybrid SUV despite its advanced age.

I'd just like us to be more clear about what "all-new" means, because it's far from the reality of the 2026 Toyota RAV4. ⛐ md