When the full-size Toyota Highlander gave up its gasoline engine for an all-electric future there were some who asked whether the smaller RAV4 would also go all-in on EV power. The 2026 RAV4 moved to an all-hybrid engine lineup, a step that the Highlander first did before it ditched the gasoline engine.

Toyota recently answered that question, confirming the RAV4 will continue to be available with gas engines for the forseeable future.

RAV4 is strong seller, why mess with a good thing?

This remark came during an interview Toyota hosted recently with RAV4 chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane. Futonagane has the weight of the SUV’s success on his shoulder and has played a role in helping the model reclaim its top sales spot from the Tesla Model Y.

When asked by Carsales Australia Futogane revealed  “Look, lots of things are possible, but at this point in time we’re not considering a BEV RAV4.” That means for now, the closest thing to an EV in the RAV4 lineup will be the PHEV variant. It also appears that this aversion is a nod to the bZ with the exec saying the bZ was meant to be the one to spotlight Toyota’s EV technology in an SUV package. As such, the RAV4 and bZ programs will stay separate.

Expanding its reach to consumers

The decision to keep the nameplate out of the BEV space will allow the company to focus on expanding the RAV4’s ability to appeal to a wider group of consumers. The last few generations of RAV4 were strong sellers in their own right, but they lacked depth and some of the specialized trims that rivals had.

This time around, Toyota is pushing further into the niche realm with the sporty GR model appealing to family buyers looking for more fun from their driving experience thanks to its bold styling and PHEV powertrain. The Woodland continues to appeal to budget adventurers and now gets more upgrades to help it be a better fit in that particular department.