AUTONEWS

Toyota RAV4 2026: the three-door restyling that will challenge the competition

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most beloved SUVs in the world, available in petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, with trim levels ranging from the basic LE version to the refined Limited. Although the fifth generation has been on the market since 2018 and received a restyling in 2021, its success shows no signs of abating.

Toyota is well aware that competition is increasingly fierce, with rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V 2026, the latter ready to debut in the TrailSport version. According to numerous rumours, leaks and prototype sightings, it is now certain that a new-generation Toyota RAV4 or at least a significant update will arrive in 2026 (Model Year 2026). The real question that enthusiasts are asking is when it will be officially unveiled.

Meanwhile, the internet is abuzz with content creators and digital designers trying to imagine what the future RAV4 will look like. Some are virtually removing the camouflage from the prototypes we’ve seen, while others are going a step further with far-fetched, futuristic concepts and renderings. Among them, the team behind the AutoYa YouTube channel recently released a game-changing CGI rendering of a 2026 Toyota RAV4 with three doors, rather than the traditional five-door configuration.

The image suggests that the SUV will have a completely redesigned front end based on Toyota's latest launches. The thin, boomerang-shaped headlights will be a direct reference to the new Camry, Prius and Crown Signia. The grille, now in a lower position, will have new elements with a three-dimensional effect, while the hood will be taller and more pointed.

This isn’t the first time AutoYa has come up with some wild ideas. The channel’s designers have imagined a 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR Sport, powered by a 2.5-liter twin-turbo engine or a plug-in hybrid powertrain that would make 500 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 ever. Now, however, they’ve come up with something entirely different: a compact RAV4 that seats 2+2, with a small rear bench behind the front seats and a range of eye-catching colors.

The reinterpretation harks back to the first two generations of the RAV4, which included a three-door variant that has been absent from the lineup for years. The idea of ​​a three-door Toyota RAV4 may seem far-fetched, but it’s not entirely absurd. Models like the Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler continue to offer three-door configurations. So could Toyota really bring back this configuration?

In recent statements, Toyota executives have said that the next RAV4 will follow the recipe for the current model's success and, in this sense, will not present any disruptions. "We have other product segments that are difficult, but the customer has spoken clearly about what they want from the RAV4: the size, the design, the level of performance, the technology. We sell almost 500,000 units per year. We don't want to change that formula," said Cooper Ericksen, head of product for North America.

Mechanically, everything indicates that the 2026 RAV4 will be born exclusively as a hybrid (as was the case with the Camry), whether conventional or plug-in. In some countries, such as Brazil, the SUV is already offered only in electrified versions. When it hits the market, the model will continue to compete directly with the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Chevrolet Equinox and, depending on the region, Chinese models such as the Haval H6 and BYD Song Plus.

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