Toyota’s shaking up its SUV family for 2026, and the changes run deeper than fresh paint colors. The RAV4 leads the charge with a complete redesign that ditches gas-only engines forever, while models like the Highlander get thoughtful tweaks that simplify buying decisions. Some SUVs stay mostly the same after recent redesigns, but every model gets at least a few updates worth knowing about. If you’re shopping for a Toyota SUV this year, you’ll find sharper tech, clearer trim structures, and a company that’s betting big on hybrid powertrains across the board.
- The 2026 RAV4 goes fully hybrid for the first time ever, offering seven trim levels across three design themes (Core, Sport, Rugged) with up to 320 horsepower in the new plug-in hybrid GR Sport model.
- Toyota cleaned up the Highlander lineup by making all-wheel drive standard on every gas model, dropping the base LE trim, and simplifying hybrid options to just three choices.
- Smaller updates hit the Corolla Cross (new grilles and tech), 4Runner (stabilizer disconnect option), and Sequoia (real leather on Limited trims), while the Land Cruiser and Grand Highlander carry over mostly unchanged.
RAV4 Goes All-In on Hybrids
Toyota’s sixth-generation RAV4 brings the biggest news in the SUV world for 2026. Every single model now runs on hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. You won’t find a traditional gas engine anywhere in the lineup. Base hybrid models pump out 226 horsepower in front-wheel drive and 236 horses with all-wheel drive. Both numbers beat the old gas engine’s output by a healthy margin.
Plug-in buyers get even more punch. PHEV models deliver 320 horsepower combined and offer an estimated 50 miles of pure electric range. That’s a serious jump from the outgoing plug-in’s 302 horsepower and 42-mile range. Most AWD models can now tow 3,500 pounds, up from the previous 2,500-pound limit.
Toyota split the RAV4 into three distinct personalities for 2026. Core models (LE, XLE Premium, Limited) stick to traditional RAV4 styling with body-colored grilles and clean lines. Sport grades (SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport) bring aggressive bumpers and performance tweaks. The Woodland stands alone as the rugged option with lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and outdoor-ready features.
That GR Sport model deserves extra attention. It’s the first RAV4 to wear the Gazoo Racing badge in America, and it backs up the name with retuned suspension, upgraded steering, and performance summer tires on 20-inch wheels. You can only get it as a plug-in hybrid, and it’s built for folks who want their compact SUV to handle like it actually cares about corners.
Tech Gets a Major Upgrade
Toyota’s new Arene software platform debuts in the RAV4, and it sounds boring until you realize what it enables. Every 2026 RAV4 gets Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 with improved object detection and better lane-tracing ability. This system can now spot pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles more accurately than before.
Inside you’ll find a standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that you can configure however you want. Infotainment screens come in 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch sizes depending on trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every model. Toyota also added dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, so both front passengers can pair their devices at once.
A built-in drive recorder comes standard across the lineup. Think of it as a dashcam that’s actually integrated into the vehicle instead of stuck to your windshield with suction cups.
Highlander Gets Simplified
While the RAV4 gets a full makeover with bold new styling and tech, the Toyota Highlander takes a different approach. Toyota simplified things by standardizing AWD across all gas models and tightening up the trim structure. The gas lineup now starts at XLE instead of LE, then moves through XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Hybrid buyers get an even simpler choice with just three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum.
This streamlining killed off the base LE trim entirely, along with special editions like the XLE Nightshade and Limited 25th Edition. The result? Fewer decisions and more standard capability right out of the gate, but also a higher starting price. The 2026 XLE AWD kicks off at $46,765, which is nearly $5,000 more than last year’s base LE front-driver cost.
Gas models still use the 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder making 265 horsepower with 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. Hybrid versions deliver 243 horsepower and an estimated 35 mpg combined with 3,500-pound towing limits. Both powertrains carry over from 2025 with no changes under the hood.
Corolla Cross Freshens Up
Toyota’s smallest SUV got a mid-cycle update for 2026 that focuses on style over substance. Gas and hybrid models now wear different front grilles. The hybrid gets a body-colored mesh design that looks sleeker and more modern. Gas models receive a tougher black grille with egg-crate mesh borrowed from TRD trucks.
New Cavalry Blue paint joins the color lineup, available on LE and XLE gas trims plus SE and XSE hybrids. Speaking of hybrids, they can now be ordered with a two-tone option pairing Cavalry Blue with a black roof. Fresh 18-inch wheel designs in dark gray or gloss black finishes round out the exterior updates.
Inside, Toyota reworked the center console to improve storage space and make controls easier to reach. The optional 10.5-inch touchscreen (up from 8 inches) gives you more screen real estate for maps and media. A new Portobello brown upholstery option appears on XLE trims.
Power stays put at 169 horsepower for gas models and 196 horses for hybrids. Both versions still use a CVT transmission. Gas Corolla Cross models offer front-wheel or all-wheel drive, while hybrids come standard with AWD using a rear electric motor.
4Runner, Sequoia, and Others
The 4Runner enters its second year of the current generation with minimal changes. The stabilizer disconnect system, which improves wheel articulation off-road, becomes optional on the i-Force Max hybrid Off-Road Premium trim. It was previously standard only on Trailhunter and TRD Pro models. Wave Maker blue paint joins the TRD Pro color palette.
Sequoia updates mirror what Toyota did with the Tundra pickup. TRD Pro models get that same Wave Maker blue option. Limited trims upgrade from synthetic to real leather seats in two color choices. The top Capstone model adds textured Shale gray leather. Massaging front seats become standard on 1794, Platinum, and Capstone trims.
The Grand Highlander is basically a carryover for 2026. The only change is a black badge overlay option for the Hybrid Nightshade Edition. The big three-row SUV launched for 2024 and hasn’t needed major updates yet.
Land Cruiser stays put too. Toyota brought back the nameplate for 2024 after a multi-year absence, and the 2026 model rolls on unchanged. The company added a Heritage Blue paint option for 2025, but 2026 keeps the same specs and features.
What This Means for Shoppers
Toyota’s 2026 strategy shows a company getting smarter about what buyers actually want. The RAV4’s move to hybrid-only power reflects real-world demand. Hybrid RAV4s already outsold gas models before this redesign, so ditching the gas option just eliminates confusion at the dealership.
The Highlander’s trim simplification makes sense too, even if it pushes the entry price higher. Most buyers were stepping up to XLE or higher anyway, and standard AWD removes one more decision from the process. The trade-off is paying more upfront, but you get more capability as a baseline.
Corolla Cross updates hit the right notes for a value-focused SUV. The styling refresh makes it look more upscale without adding cost to the bottom line. Starting prices remain in the mid-$20,000 range for gas models and just under $29,000 for hybrids.
The 4Runner, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser all got complete redesigns recently, so standing pat for 2026 makes sense. Toyota doesn’t need to mess with what’s working, and dealers can barely keep these models in stock anyway.
What to Watch For
The RAV4 redesign hits dealerships in December 2025 for hybrid models, with plug-in versions arriving in spring 2026. Base hybrid pricing starts at $31,900 for front-wheel drive. Plug-in pricing hasn’t been announced yet but expect it to land in the low $40,000 range based on previous years.
Highlander models arrive in November with that new $46,765 starting price for gas XLE AWD. Hybrid XLE AWD begins at $48,515. The Grand Highlander’s base LE trim now undercuts the regular Highlander by about $2,500, which creates some interesting shopping decisions for three-row buyers.
Corolla Cross gas models start at $24,635 while hybrids begin at $28,995. Both are already hitting dealerships now. The 4Runner starts at $41,570 and Sequoia pricing kicks off around $62,000 depending on trim and powertrain.