Genuine performance upgrades, including wind tunnel-tested front and rear spoilers, are coming to Toyota's most popular SUV.
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Toyota Australia will soon launch its first-ever RAV4 plug-in hybrid, topped by a Gazoo Racing (GR) Sport variant of the SUV that adds sportier styling and handling changes.
While the RAV4 GR Sport will only be available with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and plug-in hybrid system, the same powertrain is also offered on the penultimate XSE grade for Australia.
So what differentiates the top-spec GR Sport priced at $66,340 before on-road costs, from the XSE priced from $58,840?
For starters, the GR Sport is all-wheel-drive only, punching out a combined 242kW, whereas the XSE PHEV offers this as an option over the standard 200kW front-wheel-drive PHEV.
The styling of the XSE PHEV RAV4 features black accents on the front bumper, underbody, and wheel arches.
Toyota's marketing material describes the GR Sport RAV4 as "a design that combines coolness and functionality", adding a front lip and rear roof spoiler, specially-tuned suspension, revised steering, a performance damper for the chassis, and rear subframe bracing.
Toyota claims the GR Sport's front splitter and rear wing were designed through repeated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing to generate actual downforce at speed, while improving stability.
Over the XSE model, the GR Sport will add additional bracing to reduce unintended movement in the vehicle's front end. The rear subframe has also been upgraded to enhance steering feel, according to Toyota.
The Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV adds tuned suspension for further stability and control to suit its sportier claims.
Its electric power steering rack has also been tweaked, with the interior drive mode selector adding weight to the steering when switching between Normal and Sport modes.
GR Sport grades also gain wider wheels to improve roadholding, now in a 20-inch diameter with red brake calipers behind.
Deliveries of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV are due mid-year, following the regular hybrid in showrooms now.
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