While it’s exciting to see the 2026 Toyota RAV4 finally hit the street, it might face a few delays. Toyota dealerships are preparing for potential hits as they wait for this redesigned hybrid SUV to arrive. But what’s the problem? 

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 could face delays 

Fans have been waiting for the 2026 Toyota RAV4 generation to arrive for years, but they might be on standby for a few more months. This is the first major update for the RAV4 since the model was last redesigned in 2019. 

However, dealerships are bracing for a rough start as the new hybrid SUV faces potential delays. Toyota is still working to wrap up things with the 2025 model. 

Toyota builds the RAV4 in plants in Japan, one in  Kentucky, and one in Canada. Each of the factories needs to be renovated to build the updated model. 

Additionally, Toyota is staggering the changeover to the new model across its four plants to avoid a total production freeze. Production won’t be firing on all cylinders for months, resulting in low inventory levels. 

It doesn’t help that this SUV is sold globally. The 2026 RAV4 is available in 180 countries! It’s the most popular SUV in America, Japan, Canada, Australia, and many other countries. In fact, it’s the best-selling car in the world. This SUV officially beats the Ford F-150. 

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is expected to reach American dealerships by the end of 2025. Then the plug-in hybrid variant will arrive later. 

Don’t forget that the Toyota RAV4 is hybrid-only. The traditional internal combustion engine is gone. The 2026 RAV4 has a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with two electric motors to generate 226 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque.