Toyota’s 2026 RAV4 plug-in hybrid introduces a substantially larger battery and revised powertrain, allowing many everyday journeys to be completed using electricity alone. This matters because the RAV4 is one of America’s best-selling non-pick-up vehicles, and Toyota is making electrified drivetrains standard across the new sixth-generation range while retaining the flexibility of a petrol engine for longer trips.

The plug-in model combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with three electric motors and an electronic continuously variable transmission, producing 324hp and 315lb ft in total. Its 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted beneath the cabin rather than reducing boot space, and SE and XSE versions are rated for up to 52 miles (84km) of electric-only range and 40mpg combined; prices cited start at $41,500 for the SE and $47,200 for the XSE.