Performance SUVs are an indisputable feature of the contemporary automobile environment, whether you like them or not. Surprisingly, however, Toyota has never truly sold an SUV despite selling a wide variety of SUVs. The sixth-generation RAV4 has changed that. Tuesday night gave us our first look at Toyota’s upcoming popular crossover, and there’s a lot to talk about, including the 2026 RAV4 GR Sport, which is an unexpected spinoff. There are two reasons why this specific RAV4 trim is intriguing. First, as previously stated, this is a sporty RAV4, which requires some getting accustomed to. Second, this car marks the North American launch of Toyota’s GR Sport lineup. Naturally, full-fat GR cars like the GR86, GR Corolla, and GR Supra are available here. However, vehicles that have a hint of enthusiast appeal usually more in their external design than in their real performance capabilities are given the GR Sport moniker abroad. The RAV4 GR Sport is intriguing because, in addition to having a meaner appearance, it should also handle more sharply than the typical RAV4. To begin with, Toyota has equipped this model with the most powerful powertrain available for the 2017 RAV4: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with two electric motors, producing 320 horsepower overall that is distributed across all four wheels. Although the GR Sport variant lacks the power of the other plug-in RAV4s, it more than makes up for it with a number of additional unique features. Furthermore, 320 horsepower is not a bad thing. First off, Gazoo Racing itself tunes the GR Sport’s suspension and power steering specifically. Additionally, it has “enhanced body rigidity,” which is admirable, though Toyota hasn’t yet disclosed the actual amount or location of the body’s reinforcement. Because the GR Sport rolls on special 20-inch wheels with higher offset, its stock summer tires (really) are wider than the rubber on regular RAV4s, so even without those adjustments, the GR Sport is virtually sure to handle better. All of that is a bit surprising for a RAV4, though I have to admit that summer tires can be a hassle on a sporty SUV like this. Instead, I would much rather have ultra-high-performance all-season tires like Continental’s DWS 06 Plus. Nevertheless, Toyota deserves praise for treating this matter seriously. The company went above and beyond to try to make this version scurry in a way that better reflects the emblem, even though it could have just applied some cosmetic GR trim and been done with it. This does not imply that the RAV4 GR Sport lacks further external attachments. In contrast to the other RAV4 variants, the GR Sport features a slightly chin spoiler and an aggressive rear wing. The piano black finish closely resembles the updated front bumper of the GR Corolla. The large front grille and tailgate both have GR emblems, and this grade also comes with the “exclusive pairing,” as Toyota puts it, of a Supersonic Red body (another GR Corolla-likeness) and a black roof. We will have to wait until closer to Toyota’s highly specified launch date of “later this year” if you’re wondering how much the RAV4 GR Sport will cost. Without a doubt, the company’s objectives might have been derailed by the current production and tariff issues. The current RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid starts at $45,615; expect it to cost far more than the $39,995 GR Corolla.
