The 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR Sport is a souped-up version of the plug-in hybrid RAV4 that bravely goes where no other compact SUV dares. If we told you to picture a vehicle with 324 horsepower, a lowered suspension, a rear spoiler, and all sorts of badges for a certain manufacturer's performance division, what do you see? Chances are you aren't thinking of a plug-in hybrid, a compact SUV, or a Toyota—let alone all three.
But Toyota has thrown all sorts of spaghetti at the wall with the sixth generation of its highly popular RAV4, with a wide range of trim levels and configurations. Will this new racy derivative, dubbed the RAV4 GR Sport, stick? It's certainly the only vehicle of its ilk in the compact-SUV segment. The only models that come close are the Mazda CX-50 Turbo and the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Turbo, but neither of these offers nearly as comprehensive of a performance upgrade as the RAV4 GR Sport does.
The RAV4 GR Sport starts with the RAV4's most powerful drivetrain, the plug-in hybrid setup with an impressive 324 horsepower—no other mainstream compact SUV with an internal-combustion engine even tops 300 horses. And while the GR Sport doesn't offer any additional grunt compared with the other RAV4 PHEVs, its chassis upgrades are notable: a 0.6-inch-lower ride height, stiffer springs, a reinforcement for the rear-suspension crossmember, and different tuning for the dampers and steering.
Toyota even offers a summer-tire fitment for the 20-inch wheels, though our test car was equipped with the no-cost all-season rubber. This RAV4 got to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, just a tick ahead of the off-road-oriented RAV4 Woodland PHEV model we tested, and gripped the skidpad at 0.83 g, significantly better than the 0.78 g the Woodland managed on its all-terrain rubber.
We wish Toyota had sent us one with the grippier summer rubber to show the GR Sport's true performance potential, but we recognize that all-seasons are likely more practical for most SUV buyers. The GR Sport's tighter feel is apparent in everyday driving, as it changes direction eagerly, body motions are better controlled, and the steering feels sharp, especially in Sport mode.
Those performance numbers are even more impressive when you consider that this plug-in hybrid powertrain delivered 42 mpg in our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy test. And the GR Sport was able to travel 38 miles on electric power in our highway range test too. This is a multitalented vehicle, indeed.
Plus, we have to admit the GR treatment makes the RAV4 look cooler than it has any right to. The sporty model comes with a wider stance and flared fenders, and it's available in a natty two-tone paint combination. The spoiler may be a bit much, but hey, it's in the spirit of this trim level.
The GR Sport's interior receives the requisite faux-suede trim, red accents, and plenty of GR logos—this acronym, by the way, stands for Toyota's Gazoo Racing division—but doesn't do much to change the lackluster plastic materials we complained about in lower RAV4 trim levels. The large infotainment screen and button layout are intuitive for the most part, but we'd wish for nicer touch points in a vehicle with a $51,290 as-tested price.
Source: caranddriver.com
