The concept of a “sporty” RAV4 sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Sure, some brave, brilliant souls have turned early RAVs into off-road machines. But that story entertains us because a RAV4 shouldn’t be out there bashing rocks, not because of its history as an enthusiast vehicle.
So when Gazoo Racing—Toyota’s in-house tuning arm—takes a swipe at the RAV4, courtesy of the new-for-2026 GR sport trim, you can call us cautiously curious; cars with a GR badge on the trunk became some of our favorites over the last decade. For instance, the GR Supra has steadily improved during its production run and become a legitimate sports car. The GR Corolla’s the last great manual hot hatch on these American shores, and the GR86 just plain rocks; it’s an instant classic.
The GR Sport’s Upgrades, Explained
Photo by: Toyota
So what does the “GR” treatment mean for the RAV4? We’re praying for something beyond a smidge of badge engineering. New info from Toyota indicates the GR sport trim was “designed with input from the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing engineering division, it takes inspiration from motorsports for a model that is an expression of driving enjoyment.”
A good start! Also indecipherable marketing-speak!
The press release notes the GR sport will prioritize handling, its suspension and power steering systems tuned by the GR engineering division. Plus Toyota promises enhanced body rigidity and summer tires on unique 20-inch wheels.
GR-Sport will be available only with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder PHEV (plug-in hybrid) powertrain and all-wheel drive, with some aesthetic touches like a fancy looking grille, front and rear wing-type spoilers and those aforementioned wheels.
“Hybrid” is generally synonymous with “boring,” but Toyota’s latest PHEV system for the RAV4 produces up to 320 combined horsepower, which should be plenty to motivate the fifth generation of Toyota’s all-important crossover.
The GR Sport’s Upgrades Continue Inside
Photo by: Toyota
The GR sport’s interior receives perforated Ultrasuede seats, trimmed with Toyota’s SofTex material and jazzed up with some colorful accents. There’ll also be some “GR” logos added to the front head rests and steering while, plus paddle shifters on the steering wheel and some aluminum pedals.
It’ll also be the only RAV4 available in Supersonic Red paint with a black roof (pictured here).
Digging into the stats a bit, we can see the GR sport rides six-tenths of an inch lower than any of the other trims, meaning a different spring is likely. It’s also another inch longer than the other trims, likely owing to that splitter treatment Toyota has promised.
A lower, longer, more-powerful and deliberately tuned RAV4? Call us curious.
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Source: Toyota
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