by US Pricing Announcement
Although Toyota recently invited journalists to test the updated 2026 RAV4, including Carscoops representative Steven Rivers, the company has not yet announced how much the car will cost in the USA.
However, on the other side of the Pacific in Australia, the full list of trim levels and their prices has already been published. The significant price increase in the Australian market raises concerns that a similar increase could affect buyers in the US.
Review: 2026 Toyota RAV4 GR Sport Doesn’t Play by Hybrid Rules
In Australia, the new RAV4 will be available in 11 trim levels, which matches the number of trims for the previous generation in the US. Although the names of some models differ, the standard equipment of each version is typically similar to the corresponding models for the American market.
How Much Have Prices Increased?
In Australia, the 2026 hybrid RAV4 in the front-wheel-drive GX trim now starts at 45,990 Australian dollars, which is approximately equivalent to $30,000 USD. This is 3,730 Australian dollars more expensive than before, meaning the price has increased by almost 9%. The all-wheel-drive GX version became 9% more expensive, reaching 49,340 Australian dollars.
The higher-tier GXL models with front-wheel and all-wheel drive became more expensive by 6.9% and 7.2% respectively. Interestingly, not all models became more expensive: Toyota reduced prices for the Edge AWD and XSE AWD versions by 3,020 and 5,755 Australian dollars respectively. However, the front-wheel and all-wheel drive Cruiser trims increased in price to 56,990 and 60,340 Australian dollars, representing a price increase of approximately 10.8%.
A new model has also appeared on the Australian market — the RAV4 PHEV (plug-in hybrid). Its price starts from 58,840 Australian dollars for the front-wheel drive XSE version and reaches 66,340 Australian dollars for the flagship all-wheel drive GR Sport.
What to Expect for the US?
It is still too early to say whether Toyota will raise prices in the US similarly to the Australian market. However, if the increase ranges from 7 to 11%, American buyers might be in for an unpleasant surprise.
The current 2025 RAV4 model in the US starts from $29,800 for the base LE trim, while hybrid versions start from $32,850. If Toyota follows the pricing trend seen in Australia, the starting price for the 2026 RAV4, which will be offered exclusively as a hybrid, could approach $35,000.
Since the flagship all-wheel drive GR Sport version is new, it cannot be compared to the 2025 model. However, there are suspicions that its price will be around $50,000, placing it in the same range as models from brands like Genesis, BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz.
The price changes in Australia could be an indicator for other markets, as manufacturers often synchronize pricing policies across different regions. Given that the RAV4 is one of the most popular crossovers in the world, any price increase could significantly impact its competitiveness, especially in the context of growing competition in the hybrid car market.
