Toyota RAV4 GXL 2026 review: snapshot

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL is a mid-size SUV available in front- or all-wheel drive from $48,990 before on-road costs in 2WD guise or in AWD for $52,340.

Standard features for the GXL include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, privacy tinting, eight-way powered driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, a 10.5-inch touchscreen display for multimedia, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless smartphone charger, six-speaker audio system and five USB-C ports plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a full-size spare wheel.

2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL

A 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with series-parallel hybrid produces 143kW and 221Nm, just like in the rest of the range, and in both 2WD and AWD versions. It drives either the front or all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

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Explore the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Range

Toyota RAV4 GXL 2026 review: snapshot Toyota RAV4 GX 2026 review: snapshot

Toyota claims it uses 4.5L of petrol (now 95RON instead of 91RON minimum) per 100km of driving, the AWD 4.6L.

There’s no ANCAP rating for the RAV4 until later this year, but Toyota anticipates five stars thanks to it being what it calls the “safest RAV4 ever”.

2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL

2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL

2026 Toyota RAV4 GXL

Safety kit is extensive, with eight airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) pre-collision, emergency steering assist, full-speed active cruise control, front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane trace, automatic high beam, parking support brake and blind spot monitor all standard across the range.

Toyota’s standard five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty can be extended to seven years if you maintain your logbook servicing with Toyota, plus capped-price servicing costs just $325 per service for five years or 75,000km. Intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km.