2026 Toyota Rav4 PHEVToyotaThe 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport is the new hot hatch-ish version of Toyota’s compact SUV bestseller, reviewed here two weeks ago. I deliberately procured both the hybrid and the PHEV versions back-to-back, to better compare.What’s PHEV?For the unfamiliar, PHEV means a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle - it has a gas engine, electric motors and a larger battery than a regular hybrid, and you can plug it in at home to drive on electricity before the gas engine takes over. Toyota’s own description says it best- “a plug-in hybrid combines a gas engine with a larger externally charged battery to help maximize efficiency and range.”Does it work? And how. The first thing I noticed after taking delivery of the Rav4 PHEV was the range - over 500 miles. That was good news indeed. The base MSRP is $48,500. Total with destination is $49,950.2026 Toyota Rav4 PHEVNATHAN LEACH-PROFFERWhat does it look like?It looked like a 4,430-pound cherry lollipop in my driveway, admired by neighbors and passerby alike who had, in recent months, seen exotics in the same driveway. To be specific, the 2026 body is sharper and more upright, and the GR Sport adds 20-inch black alloy wheels with a black pearl machined finish, increased offset, GR-designed front and rear bumpers and a functional rear spoiler. You’ve also got GR-tuned steering, GR-tuned suspension, front and rear crossmember braces and summer performance tires.2026 Toyota Rav4 PHEVNATHAN LEACH-PROFFERInsideIt’s still a RAV4 first and a GR second. The GR Sport gets the richer tech and comfort treatment, including a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and available 12.9-inch multimedia touchscreen. XSE equipment listed by Toyota includes SofTex/synthetic suede-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the GR Sport builds from that upper-trim neighborhood.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor big and tall drivers, the RAV4 is generally friendly up front, but not limousine-roomy. Interior figures for the redesigned RAV4 show about 41 inches of front legroom and roughly 39 inches of front headroom, with rear legroom around 37.8 inches. Cargo room is plentiful, but not endless.Engine and motor comboThe hardware is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. The GR Sport’s 324 horsepower is up 22 hp over the previous-generation PHEV and its 22.7-kWh battery gives the GR Sport 48 miles of electric-only range, lower than some other RAV4 PHEV trims because of its wheels, tires and aero pieces.2026 Toyota Rav4 PHEVNATHAN LEACH-PROFFERHow’s the drive?Quick, hasty and satisfying, over short jaunts and round trips to the Frida theatre, 90 miles round trip. You’ll do about 5.0 seconds getting to 60 mph. Braking is fine, the steering is light and responsive, and handling is better than a RAV4 probably needs to be. There are sections of freeway in and around Los Angeles that are loud, fast and challenging. Not one near-miss. Visibility is excellent - you look over your right shoulder and you see what’s there, if anything.2026 Toyota Rav4 PHEVNATHAN LEACH-PROFFEROther cool stuff I didn’t use The latest-generation Toyota Audio Multimedia includes Drive Recorder, anall-new dashcam feature that comes standard across all RAV4 trim levels. DriveRecord can record and save video clips using the vehicle’s external cameras,including panoramic view when equipped. Drivers can record clips manually orautomatically on a continuous loop or from triggered events. The sensitivity oftriggering events, such as sudden braking or steering maneuvers, can beadjusted based on the driver’s preference. Clips can be exported using anexternal USB ash drive.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere’s more.Room for improvementSteering feel can seem artificial - disconnected from the road, and the vehicle’s body leans when you push it. The seat badges seem ever-so-low-end, like someone ironed them on.Conclusion: It’s a marvelous ride and a best-seller for all the great reasons - style, mileage, driving characteristics and Toyota-reliability.This article was originally published on Forbes.com