Why Is Toyota Showing a V-8 Engine In a 2026 RAV4 Video?

Right off the bat, it’s highly unlikely that Toyota will shoehorn a V-8 engine into the new RAV4. The compact crossover was engineered with four-cylinder engines as the foundation of its full hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Doubling the cylinder count in a vehicle focused on efficiency doesn’t make much sense. But that raises the question: why does the official video of the plug-in hybrid version clearly feature an eight-cylinder engine?

The first explanation that comes to mind is that a V-8 is more recognizable to the average consumer than other engine types. We suspect the V-12 from the second-generation Century would’ve served the same illustrative purpose, but the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter unit is old by now. Toyota discontinued its first and only V-12 nearly a decade ago.

Assuming this isn’t what Toyota had in mind with the video explainer, the enthusiast in us likes to think it’s a subtle way of teasing a new large-displacement engine. Numerous reports suggest the upcoming LFR will feature a twin-turbo V-8 for a road-legal supercar, twinned with Toyota’s future GT GR3 race car. While not a direct successor to the LFA and its naturally aspirated V-10, a new performance model powered by a V-8 would be a welcome break from the current sea of four-cylinder SUVs.

If Toyota and Lexus are indeed developing a new V-8, it’s unlikely they’d limit its use to just one vehicle. High-end models like the Crown, Century, and LS might also receive this engine in a plug-in hybrid configuration, helping spread development costs through economies of scale. Since the LFR will ultimately be a niche product, integrating the engine into premium PHEVs would make economic sense. After all, Lexus recently told us the LS is sticking around.

That said, we might be getting ahead of ourselves. Toyota could play with viewer expectations by showcasing a V-8 to grab attention. If so, it’s working. The fine print at the end reads: “This video is prepared for explaining the vehicle functions. The functions shown may differ from those of the actual vehicle. Function names may differ depending on the region, vehicle model, and grade.”

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Source: Toyota

First spotted by The Drive, the V-8 appears at the 0:12 mark in a nearly five-minute video. It’s worth noting that although the footage features the RAV4, its title doesn’t mention the vehicle by name. Instead, it’s generically titled: “6th Generation 2.5L Plug-in Hybrid System.” From this, we can infer that the 2026 RAV4 introduces an upgraded PHEV setup coming to other models.

Across its five previous generations, the popular crossover was primarily offered with four-cylinder gas and diesel engines. However, the third-gen model sold between 2005 and 2016 got a larger 3.5-liter V-6 in certain markets. It also received a purely electric variant, much like the first generation.

While we’re not getting too excited just yet about the possibility of a new V-8, we’re still holding out hope for a big engine in the midst of this downsizing era. Toyota’s boss Koji Sato recently said, “A car is not a car if it’s not fun.” A big V-8 would certainly bring excitement and also please Chairman Akio Toyoda, who prefers “the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine.”