2026 Toyota RAV4 inflicts price increases of almost 11 per cent
Plug-in hybrid GR Sport flagship tops out over $70,000 once on the roadThe News
Prices of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 will rise by up to 10.95 per cent when the sixth-generation medium SUV launches in the first half of 2026, with the new range starting north of $45,000 and eclipsing $60,000 for the first time.
The Key Details
- 2026 Toyota RAV4 priced from $45,990 plus on-road costs
- 11 variants in total: eight hybrids (down from nine), three PHEVs
- Price rises up to 10.95 per cent for seven of the eight hybrids
- Edge AWD drops five per cent
The Finer Details
The above starting price applies to the entry-level GX Hybrid FWD and marks and increase of $3730, or 8.25 per cent.
That means it will start thousands of dollars higher than its medium SUV opposition. For instance, the Mazda CX-5 currently starts at $36,740, the Mitsubishi Outlander $39,990, the Hyundai Tucson $38,350 and the Kia Sportage $38,490 (all plus on-road costs).
Clearly, Toyota thinks it’s got the brand strength with RAV4 to be priced so far above the opposition, and looking at sales, who could blame it?
To the end of October 2025, 39,519 examples have been sold in Australia – more than double its nearest rival, the CX-5.
Three new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models have been added to the top of the 2026 range, but won’t arrive until the third quarter of 2026.
They are the first PHEVs to be sold by Toyota in Australia and are expected to play a supporting role to hybrids in the new RAV4 line-up.
Their pricing tops out with the most expensive RAV4 ever to be offered locally: the $66,340 GR Sport AWD. Add on-road costs and you’re looking at a more than $70,000 spend.
All up, there are four variants priced over $60,000 where previously, the RAV4 topped out at in the high $50K bracket.
The cheapest RAV4 plug-in is the $58,840 XSE FWD, meaning Toyota is handing over a $20,000 price advantage to Chinese PHEVs such as the Geely Starray EM-i and Chery Tiggo 7 CHS.
The biggest price rise in the range comes at the top of the hybrid line-up where the XSE AWD and Cruiser FWD and AWD all climb nearly 11 per cent – the full pricing and applicable increases are detailed at the bottom of the story.
Swimming against the tide, the former flagship Edge AWD drops $3010 to be repositioned below the XSE and Cruiser.
In a range expanded from nine to 11 variants, the sole casualty is the XSE FWD, which is essentially replaced by the XSE FWD PHEV.
Among the chief justifications for the price rises is Toyota’s new Arene software, which the sixth-gen RAV4 will debut in Australia.
Supporting the infotainment system, Toyota says everything has been upgraded, including the dual digital screens, the services that are provided and the speed at which they are delivered. For the first time RAV4 also gets a head up display.
If you want a deep dive into the equipment levels of each RAV4 check out our earlier article.
Underneath the RAV4’s only partially revised skin and interior, the platform carries over, while the 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain actually drops in power from as much as 163 to 143kW.
The 2.5-litre petrol-electric PHEV system pumps out 200kW as a front-wheel-drive and 227kW as an all-wheel-drive. It comes with a 22.7kWh battery for an expected EV range of between 80 and 100km depending on the drive configuration.
The Road Ahead
Such substantial price rises are an interesting play by Toyota, which expects the new RAV4 to become Australia’s biggest-selling vehicle.
Along with being Australia’s dominant medium SUV and passing the HiLux ute as its own top-seller in 2024, Toyota expects it to even surpass the Ford Ranger, perhaps as soon as 2026.
According to Toyota sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley, ute sales have peaked and will be diluted across an increasing number of competitors, while the medium SUV segment is where the action will be.
“We have already seen a shift in consumer preferences with the RAV4 taking out the title of our best-selling vehicle last year and I believe that strength of sales has and will continue,” he said.
“With our all-new RAV4 arriving in the first half of next year we expect that shift to accelerate.”
How much does the 2026 Toyota RAV4 cost?
GX 2WD – $45,990 (+$3730)
GX AWD – $49,340 (+$4080)
GXL 2WD – $48,990 (+$3180)
GXL AWD – $52,340 (+$3530)
Edge AWD – $55,340 (-$3010)
Cruiser 2WD – $56,990 (+$5580)
XSE AWD – $58,340 (+$5755)
XSE 2WD PHEV – $58,840
Cruiser AWD – $60,340 (+$5930)
XSE AWD PHEV – $63,340
GR Sport AWD PHEV – $66,340
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Related: 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV could steal sales from EVs
Related: Which family cars have the biggest boots?
Related: 2026 Toyota RAV4 detailed for Oz
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