The 2027 Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States, and for good reason. It offers a spacious and practical interior, 10 trim options to choose from, and great fuel economy. The RAV4 was redesigned for the 2026 model year, dropping its non-hybrid powertrain and leaving a gas-electric setup that makes 226 horsepower standard. With all-wheel drive, the output increases to 236 horsepower.
There's also a plug-in hybrid variant available with 320 horsepower and up to 52 miles of electric range. The RAV4 Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that combine for 226 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, but if you opt for all-wheel drive, a third electric motor is added to drive the rear axle, and horsepower climbs to 236.
View Price on AmazonThe GR Sport trim is the sportiest offering, with a suspension tuned by Toyota Gazoo Racing, summer tires, and a reworked power steering system. When we drove the standard RAV4 Hybrid, we found its acceleration to be responsive and smooth, but didn't enjoy the noisy gasoline engine. The RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid feels considerably quicker, and the GR Sport model is slightly more fun to drive thanks to its tighter body control and sharper steering.
In comparison, we estimate that the RAV4 plug-in hybrid will reach 60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. The Honda CR-V Hybrid we tested tied the standard RAV4 Limited with a 7.1-second 60-mph time. Both the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid and the Subaru Forester Hybrid were considerably slower, turning in 7.6-second and 8.6-second times, respectively.
While front-wheel drive RAV4s and the all-wheel-drive LE trim can tow only 1,750 pounds, the other models all offer up to 3,500 pounds of max towing capacity. Plug-in hybrid models boast a claimed electric driving range of up to 52 miles per charge, and Toyota says the battery can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes on a DC fast charger.
The EPA rates the RAV4 Hybrid to deliver 47 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 43 mpg combined in its most efficient, front-wheel-drive configuration. All-wheel-drive models are rated as high as 46 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined. The more rugged Woodland trim is the least efficient version, at 41 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.
Source: caranddriver.com
