Chris Davies/SlashGearWrite about cars for a little while, and you get used to people asking you for your opinion on what vehicle they should buy. Write about them for a lot longer, and you'll realize nobody usually takes that advice: what they're really hoping for is validation of whatever they've already decided to buy. So, imagine my surprise when several of my friends actually went out and bought a RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, citing — at least in part — my thoughts on the matter.I'm not really concerned that the suggestion will come back to bite me, though. Sales of the 2026 RAV4 PHEV have been so brisk that Toyota is apparently struggling to meet demand. My friends had to widen their search beyond a couple hundred miles, just to find a dealership with an available allocation. And, once located, you'll be shocked to hear that there was zero wiggle-room on price. In fact, there wasn't even a spare example for them to test drive.Chris Davies/SlashGearGiven the 2026 RAV4 PHEV starts at $43,095 (including $1,595 destination) or nearly a full $10,000 more than the regular, hybrid-as-standard RAV4 — not that there's any guarantee dealers will offer those base trims anyway — you're potentially looking at a near-$50k compact crossover. That's without splashing out on the freshly-added GR SPORT trim. So the question has to be, does this plug-in hybrid really live up to the high demand?AdvertisementAdvertisementRead more: 15 Annoying Car Myths That Simply Refuse To DieHybrid for everyone is a big dealChris Davies/SlashGearLike with the most recent Camry, Toyota opted to make the sixth-generation RAV4 lineup fully electrified. The standard — read: cheaper — model pairs a 2.5-liter inline-four gas engine with an electric motor and a small battery, with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.Making electrification the default is a big deal for mass-market fare like the Camry and RAV4: they're Toyota's best-selling models, which means even a slight uptick in fuel economy averages out to a huge overall gas saving. A non-hybrid 2025 RAV4 LE, for example, was rated at 30 mpg on the EPA's combined cycle. This year's RAV4 LE Hybrid, in contrast, is rated at 42 mpg.Chris Davies/SlashGearThe RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid upgrades the electric motor and adds a considerably larger battery, with all-wheel drive as standard. The result is not only more overall power — 324 hp rather than the non-PHEV's 236 hp maximum — but up to an EPA-estimated 54 miles of electric-only range, trim depending. With gas and electric power, the base SE trim is rated at 101 MPGe.It's an easy PHEV to live withChris Davies/SlashGearHybrids have a reputation for complexity but the RAV4 does at least make living with the tech straightforward, and I think that counts for a lot. Yes, you can manually switch between EV-only and hybrid modes if you prefer, but you can also simply leave the crossover to make its own decisions. The gas engine rouses itself with minimal fuss — some auto stop/start systems in so-called luxury cars could learn a thing or two from it, quite frankly — and beyond remembering to plug it in at night, the Toyota is charmingly simple.Chris Davies/SlashGearAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires on this particular 2026 RAV4 Woodland PHEV (from $46,895 including destination) helped official EV range and overall economy dip — to 50 miles and 94 MPGe respectively — but they're still impressive numbers. Achievable, too, which can be the other half of the battle with electrification. After all, having to perpetually drive your new car like a miser is hardly endearing.The smarter choiceChris Davies/SlashGearWhere I think the new RAV4 PHEV really succeeds, though, is in how regular it all feels. Toyota's strategy of electrification being not the exception but the norm sets the benchmark; the plug-in version not only delivers that useful EV-only range, but also makes a performance argument as the most potent version of the crossover. At a time when hybrids are still seen by many as a hair-shirt, environmentally-obsessed compromise, the RAV4 PHEV's pep is a strong motivator.For most drivers looking for an affordable, well-equipped, fuel-efficient crossover, the regular RAV4 Hybrid probably fits the bill. No, it's not quite so efficient, but neither does it demand charging nor its price command the PHEV premium. And more eager drivers should probably still look to something like Mazda's CX-50. It's available as a hybrid — though not a PHEV yet — and, while not as clear an all-rounder as the Toyota, edges ahead for those demanding rewarding dynamics.Chris Davies/SlashGearFact of the matter is, though, most crossover buyers are likely more focused on economy and practicality. There, the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid is good enough to make going to the hassle of installing a 240V outlet in the garage worthwhile, and jumping through the hoops of trying to find a dealer with an actual car in stock.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.Read the original article on SlashGear.