Toyota RAV4 Sales Are Still Going Strong
Can the replacement 2026 Toyota RAV4 live up to the hype? The new model has big shoes to fill.
Toyota RAV4 sales were excellent during 2024, famously defeating the F-150 as America’s best-selling vehicle.
However, Ford defended itself by arguing that the F-series platform outsold the entire RAV4 production. It’s an argument to have, but there’s no denying that the Japanese SUV is a preferred option in America, and it makes sense why.
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Rising costs plus an increased interest in fuel economy led people to migrate to sensible SUVs such as the RAV4. Then, there’s reliability. In RepairPal, it ranks 3rd out of 26.
Although closing reports aren’t out yet, this year has been consistent. In a down market, Toyota RAV4 sales were 1.5% more than last year. However, that’s not to say all the months were consistently out performing 2024, as this chart showcases.
Will Toyota RAV4 sales be as good in 2026?
Toyota has a big challenge in its hands. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a complete redesign. It’s going hybrid-only and this could play either way.
The market has definitely changed, after the Trump government rolled back on emissions standards. Automakers doubled efforts in producing internal combustion engines. However, that’s not to say that consumers will follow suit. There’s still interest in more fuel economy and producing less emissions.
The main challenge that Toyota has with the RAV4 is that the hybrid compact SUV segment is tough. There are plenty of options, including some bestsellers from Kia, Hyundai and Honda and new contenders such as the CX-50.
Automotive media agrees that keeping the number one rank is going to be a challenge for Toyota.
Toyota RAV4 Sales Could Be Swayed By Performance
Ironically, the fact that Toyota is launching a new RAV4 could hamper its best-seller hopes. The fifth-generation (XA50) entered the market in 2018 with solid sales, but it had maintained plenty of what made the fourth generation (XA40) great.
In this case, the new Toyota RAV4 could be a massive leap. The new generation comes with plenty of features, but still offers the typical Toyota interior: practical, but not necessarily invigorating.
Then, there’s the big elephant in the room: the hybrid-only approach, which we discussed when it came out. How will it stack up to the competition? Well, there’s one topic that not many outlets have addressed.
The North American Toyota RAV4 will come with at least 226 hp, and most commonly, 236 hp. That’s 22 hp more than the CR-V, and 5 hp more than the Hyundai Tucson.
So, yes, it’s happening. One of the Toyota RAV4’s secret weapons is performance. Who would have guessed?