Many off-road-flavored crossovers I have actually driven are an appearance plan with a gas engine beneath. The 2026 Toyota RAV 4 Timberland is one as well, however it adds a battery and a fee port to the mix. I took it with the Apple Valley desert in The golden state to test its trail-ready appearances– though that was truly the very easy part– and it’s about as much “off-roading” as many purchasers will ever before do. Its plug-in hybrid capacity is what truly establishes it apart.
The Woodland is just one of four ways to get into Toyota’s plug-in hybrid RAV 4 schedule, and it’s the one dressed up to look like it invests its weekends on a trail. Some of that is genuine. The majority of it is garnish. In either case, the PHEV powertrain below makes a stronger instance for this auto than any type of roofing system rack ever before could.
The Essentials
Toyota splits the RAV 4 PHEV into 4 grades: SE, XSE, Woodland, and GR Sporting activity, and the differences between them are smaller than the trim names suggest. The Timberland gets 49 miles of EV-only array and 94 MPGe incorporated, compared to 52 miles and 96 MPGe on the PHEV SE and XSE. Going Woodland gets you 8 5 inches of ground clearance and 20 -level approach and 24 -level departure angles, versus 8 1 inches and 19/ 23 degrees on the SE and XSE. Review that once more: half an inch of clearance and one added degree of angle for 3 miles of variety. Personally, I would certainly take the SE or XSE’s additional effectiveness over the Forest’s marginally better geometry. Besides, the fifty percent inch of additional ground clearance comes from the A/T tires, not the suspension.
The Forest establishes itself apart in its designing. Roofing system rails, fender cladding, and knobby all-terrain tires are the off-road SUV starter pack at this moment, however add the Woodland-specific front fascia and it sure looks excellent. Inside, the motif proceeds with distinctly patterned soft-touch door and dash panels completed in red-orange accents, plus SofTex-trimmed warmed seats and Woodland-branded all-weather floor mats and freight liner that became valuable; extra on that particular later on. The remainder of the cabin is standard RAV 4 PHEV: a 10 5 -inch touchscreen, a 12 3 -inch electronic gauge collection, and a design that doesn’t ask you to relearn anything. My tester can be found in the trim-exclusive Urban Rock paint, which I assume is the most effective option if you desire that A/T appearance.
Driving the RAV 4 Timberland PHEV
Toyota rates the RAV 4 PHEV’s consolidated system outcome at 324 horsepower, split between a 2 5 -liter four-cylinder, a front electric motor, and a back electric motor that deals with the electronic on-demand four-wheel drive. That’s a lot of hardware bolted to a portable crossover, leading to a large 4, 500 -extra pound visual weight. It’s about 1, 000 pounds more than this cars and truck evaluated 20 years ago, however that’s to be anticipated with PHEV technology and contemporary safety standards. The bright side is that it does not relocate like a 4, 500 -extra pound boat, however. The extra mass never ever shows up in the steering, which remains light and simple. The trip is equally as smooth, and the all-terrain tires add far less roadway noise than I anticipated. Acceleration coincides tale: the electric torque fills in right away, so it feels uncomplicated no matter just how much weight is along for the adventure.
The transition between electric and gas power is extremely smooth: no shudder, no hold-up, no minute where you feel the gas engine wake up. Paired with a strong eCVT, it makes for among one of the most refined powertrains you can ask for.
As for the Forest’s actual off-road chops: my Apple Valley desert run verified that the all-terrain tires and additional ground clearance manage loosened dust, uneven terrain, and light brush without grievance, but I never ever came close to needing genuine articulation or low-range gearing. I came to the same conclusion with the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek in 2014– with the ability of a great deal more than pavement, however not developed for anything that would leave a mark on an actual route map. Senior Editor Caleb Jacobs put it finest in his 2026 RAV 4 First Drive Testimonial : “All the Timberland has going for it in regards to off-roading is Dunlop all-terrains, a path drive mode that assists handle traction and split torque, and downhill help control that grinds and jerks like Toyota’s Crawl Control . It’s truly more concerning obtaining you to the route with a couple of motorcycle in tow instead of taking you on the path.”
Array, Charging, and Performance
Real-world EV range came within two miles of Toyota’s asserted 49 to 50 miles. For numerous proprietors, that suffices array to run totally on electrical power most days– commute, duties, institution runs– while still having a complete storage tank in reserve for the journey that unavoidably comes up. Integrated, the RAV 4 Woodland obtains about 585 miles on a complete fee and a full tank, making it a legitimately long-distance machine when you require it.
Billing rate depends totally on what you link into. Degree 1 house charging, which I had accessibility to while checking out household in the desert, is slow-moving sufficient to plan around rather than rely on– I predicted concerning 15 hours for a complete fee and only obtained concerning 60 percent overnight. At home on a Degree 2 charger, that goes down to a far more comfortable 2 5 to 3 hours, and the Timberland likewise sustains DC quick charging for a 10 – 80 percent top-off in around 35 mins when you can find one. The takeaway: this automobile desires a home Degree 2 setup to in fact deliver on the plug-in promise. Using a rapid charger throughout duties is a great way to fill the voids.
Quick Judgment
A lot of RAV 4 PHEV purchasers do not require what the Timberland adds. But if you’re really outdoorsy– or just wish to look like it– it’s an affordable box to check, as long as you’re clear-eyed that this isn’t a rock spider. My very own usage situation wound up being a fine example of what that actually appears like in practice: I threw a longboard on the roofing system rails without stressing over scratching the roof covering or trusting some flimsy aftermarket shelf, and the durable floor mats made cleaning up after sandy browse sessions really easy. That’s not off-roading, but it serves, everyday capability for anyone carrying equipment.
Zoom out from the Woodland-specific stuff, however, and the bigger factor is that the RAV 4 PHEV is special in any type of trim. That’s about 50 miles of useful EV array, virtually 600 miles amount to, and a powertrain that’s useful and brightened in regular Toyota fashion. The Timberland adds a little aesthetic flair for energetic lifestyles. Whether that taste is worth the compromises depends on what you intend to do with it– yet even if you simply want to look the part, this RAV 4 has enough equipment to back it up.
Toyota offered The Drive with a 7 -day financing of this automobile for the function of composing this testimonial.
2026 Toyota RAV 4 Timberland PHEV Specifications
| Rate (as-tested) | $ 46, 750 ($ 48, 050 |
| Powertrain | 2 5 -litre four-cylinder|irreversible magnet synchronous electric motor|22 7 -kWh lithium-ion battery|eCVT|all-wheel drive |
| Horsepower | 324 |
| Torque | 172 lb-ft @ 4, 300 rpm (engine only) |
| Seating Ability | 5 |
| Suppress Weight | 4, 500 lbs. |
| Towing Capability | 3, 500 pounds |
| Ground Clearance | 8 5 in. |
| Cargo Volume | 63 6 cubic feet (behind front row with 2nd row folded) 33 6 cubic feet (behind 2nd row) |
| Maker Estimated Gas Economic Situation | 42 mpg city|35 mpg freeway|38 mpg combined |
| Rating | 8/ 10 |
Quick Take
The Forest is more of a clothing than an off-roader, however the plug-in powertrain below makes it one of the most usable crossovers you can purchase.
