The newly developed plug-in hybrid powertrain in the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV is the winner of this year’s AJAC Best Green Innovation award. Innovation comes in many forms – including in repeated cycles of incremental, meaningful improvement. So it is with Toyota’s 6th Generation PHEV Powertrain, which improves further on its previous technology and performance.
One improvement is the larger, lithium-ion battery, which features more cells and operates at a higher voltage. Another is the enhanced transaxle, which now boasts an integrated, upgraded power control unit, a new gear train, a smaller differential and better cooling. Meanwhile, the electric drive motor is more powerful, but also more compact than before. There is also better charging performance– DC fast charging is available – and better heat management.
The numerous, detail changes and clever refinements to the plug-in hybrid system deliver substantial, real-world benefits – including in performance, fuel consumption, electric range and towing capacity.
This powerful and efficient new plug-in hybrid powertrain will be available in the brand-new, 2026 RAV4 PHEV. Congratulations Toyota on winning AJAC’s Best Green Innovation!
