If I had a dollar for every time a new software vehicle was produced designed to achieve the same levels of user experience as your average tablet or smartphone, I’d have enough money for lunch in the middle. It’s weird, but after years of hearing that same story over and over again, I still find myself firing up auto or Apple Carplay as soon as I get every new car I test drive.
When the Toyota Rav4 was launched, I heard that story again, about how they rewrote their car software to bring such an experience to available mobile devices. And I have to say, because once, they might have brought it. Toyota’s latest SUV has Voice And Touch capabilities that are not only quick and responsive but also genuinely fun to use. And thankfully, every SUV has been upgraded to match.
The rav4 has been in production for over 30 years now. This, the sixth generation, is coming hot on the heels of its predecessor becoming the world’s best-selling car by 2024. More than 1.1 million were sold when you can’t kick why you can’t kick RAV4.
The overall changes for the 2026 RAV4 are subtle, but appreciated. First, every vehicle of this SUV is a hybrid, with base models powered by a 2.5-liter wit-cylinder engine driving the front wheels, providing 226 horsepower. Those who want Wheel-Wheel Drive can add another electric motor in the back, adding more power (10 hp) and better drive for low conditions.
By 2026, the entire Rav4 lineup is a hybrid.
(Tim Stevens for Engadget)
From there, buyers can step into the updated plug-in hybrid model, which now makes 324 horses, up 22 from before. Fuel economy up as well, up to 48 mpg depending on what you choose, and now you can get up to 52 miles from the 22.7 kWh battery pack in the plug-in
And that’s a usable range. I took the RAV4 XSE Plug-in Edition for a morning drive and covered about 20 miles without straining the engine. Even on the highway the rav4 was slow but completely manageable. With that much range and fast DC Charging (50 kw maximum), it’s easy to see this as the EVS launch for many.
For better or worse, DC charging is handled by the CCS port, not the new NACS ports that many manufacturers (even Toyota) use in their EVs. The lack of any kind of off-road performance is a bummer, especially on a rugged-ish convertible, which seems to be the perfect campus powertrain.
Regardless of where you are, you’ll find that the new software runs on a 10.5-inch touchscreen on lower-end models or a 12.9-inch display on higher-end devices. The whole experience is the same, it looks bright and clear in any way, with more control with a finger on the main panel.
Toyota’s flexible software is fast and responsive, especially the voice assistant.
(Tim Stevens for Engadget)
The layout of Toyota’s software is typical, with a vertical column of Icons on the left to navigate between major components such as media or navigation, followed by the car’s cooling system, air conditioning and cooling system. All displays are captured through a series of custom panels. As you swipe from left to right, you turn different pages, which you can move around and rearrange as you like. None of this is particularly dynamic, but it is happily responsive. Swiping from page to page is quick and easy, without any annoying lag in content loading.
Answering continued on the voice assistant, the fastest I’ve ever used in a car. Just say “hey, Toyota” and ask for whatever you want. When asked about the pizza, the voice assistant listed nearby, even quoted its star rating and provided directions, all without the annoying travel prep lag common to these systems. Some of that speed may be thanks to the installation of 5G connections (provided by AT & T), but there is certainly a faster hardware operating under the skin of Linux-based software.
The integrated car navigation was also great to use, quick on route and route and features all the points of interest you could want. There is even an integrated dashcam feature that will record any events on the road, or anything else you feel like highlighting, while saving footage from the SUV’s other cameras.
Despite the quality experience with the touch screen, Toyota did not take this as an opportunity to remove all the buttons of the car. You’ll still get physical control over all the major features, including the (praise) volume knob. Everything was ready enough to make me feel compelled to reach for my phone, but still, I did it for the purpose of testing. Both of these wireless auto and apple cables are supported, not only on the main touchscreen but also able to feed information on the 12.3-inch digital gauge. That, too, is visible, with a series of information panels that navigate you through your phone’s map view.
SERRED, SPORTIER GR Sport Edition.
(Tim Stevens for Engadget)
So, even if you still love your phone, you’re covered, once again. The RAV4 has a pair of Qi Wireless Chargers, conveniently located in the center console just below the HVAC controls. You’ll also find two 45-watt USB-C ports up top, and a pair of 15-watt ports behind the rear passengers.
The new rav4 has a roomy, comfortable cabin with some nice touches, like the neoprene-like inserts on the dash that are nice to the touch. The overall interior design won’t win any awards for stunning style or an eye-catching staircase, but it’s comfortable and looks like the kind of thing that will stand up to anything you or your kids throw at it.
In terms of driving dynamics, the extra power offered by the rav4 doesn’t turn it into a rocket ship, but the phev trim in particular feels more than fast enough. There’s also a new GR Sports edition for those who want something more involved, but despite the more aggressive paintwork and the massive rear wing, it still feels like a rav4 behind the wheel. That said: It’s not the most exciting thing on the road.
But people don’t buy Rav4s to be imported, they buy them because they’re practical and comfortable and comfortable. The price, unfortunately, is one thing we don’t know about the new model, with Toyota only saying it will start somewhere in the low $30,000 range. But all the non-SUV attributes are moving forward in 2026 with improvements. Add in that advanced software, and you have an SUV that doesn’t disappoint.
