# 2026 Toyota RAV4 plug-in: Big battery means daily drives are all-electric

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/2026-toyota-rav4-plug-in-big-battery-means-daily-drives-are-all-electric/
- Published: 2026-07-16T19:46:22+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-25T09:14:43+00:00
- Original publisher: Ars Technica
- Original article: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/07/2026-toyota-rav4-plug-in-review-good-but-skip-the-gr-sport/
- Topics: Software

## Key points

- New RAV4 plug-in offers up to 52 electric-only miles.
- A larger underfloor battery preserves cabin and luggage space.
- Toyota combines strong performance with hybrid long-distance flexibility.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.