Toyota’s most outdoorsy RAV4 now sits higher for real, not just in the brochure. For 2027, the RAV4 Woodland gets new springs, new shocks and new jounce bumpers, and the result is 9.1 inches of ground clearance. Toyota first announced the change from Plano, Texas, on November 5, 2026.
That is a full inch more than the 8.1 inches of the other regular RAV4 grades. It turns the Woodland from a dress-up package into something with a mechanical difference you can measure with a tape.
The 2027 update also brings a faster-charging plug-in hybrid and a new off-road mode menu. Here is what changed, what it costs and when it reaches dealers.
What changed under the RAV4 Woodland
According to the Toyota release, the Woodland’s suspension is revised with new springs, shocks and jounce bumpers. Jounce bumpers are the rubber stops that cushion the suspension at the end of its travel. As a result, the parts together lift ground clearance to 9.1 inches.
By comparison, the other non-GR SPORT grades sit at 8.1 inches. In contrast, the sporty GR SPORT goes the other way, with 7.5 inches of clearance. Toyota also redesigned the Woodland’s all-weather floor and cargo mats, which makes sense on a trim meant to get muddy.
The rest of the kit carries over as standard. Every Woodland gets electronic on-demand all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, raised roof rails with cross bars and a tow hitch receiver. It also rides on 18-inch matte metallic gray alloy wheels and wears Rigid Industries LED fog lights.
Inside, there are SofTex seats and a 120-volt, 1,500-watt outlet in the cargo area. A Panoramic View Monitor with Multi-Terrain Monitor helps you see what’s around the nose on a trail.
Hybrid or plug-in, the choice stays
Under the hood, buyers still get a choice, because the RAV4 Woodland comes with either powertrain. The hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system, rated at 229 net combined horsepower with all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid uses Toyota’s sixth-generation system with 321 total system horsepower and standard all-wheel drive.
The plug-in Woodland is rated for 46 miles of electric range. That is down from 49 miles, Motor1 reported. For comparison, the SE plug-in leads the lineup at 52 miles.
The Woodland gives up a little fuel economy to the regular grades, though. Toyota rates the Woodland hybrid at 40 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined. The Woodland plug-in hybrid comes in at 38 city, 35 highway and 37 combined.
Faster charging for every plug-in RAV4
Even so, the bigger news for plug-in owners is charging. Every 2027 RAV4 plug-in hybrid now has a NACS port with Level 3 DC fast-charging capability. Toyota also moved the charge port to the driver’s side.
In addition, the onboard AC charger is upgraded to 11 kW on all plug-in grades. That matters for home charging, because a stronger onboard charger can make better use of a Level 2 wall unit. Toyota did not give a DC charging rate in the release.
Other 2027 RAV4 changes
All-wheel-drive models now get Multi-Terrain Select with Rock & Dirt and Mud & Sand modes. It replaces the old Trail mode instead of adding to it. Snow mode, meanwhile, moves to the drive mode switch.
Every grade also gains a washer for the backup camera, a small fix that helps on dirty roads. Toyota has stretched the Remote Connect trial from one year to five years as well.
The lineup runs LE, XLE Premium, Limited, SE, XSE, Woodland and GR SPORT. This is the second model year of the sixth-generation RAV4, according to autoevolution.
Prices and when it goes on sale
Prices went up a little. The hybrid RAV4 starts at $32,300 for the LE with front-wheel drive, and the plug-in hybrid starts at $42,100 for the SE. Both figures exclude destination, processing and handling fees.
By comparison, the 2026 prices were $31,900 and $41,500, autoevolution reported. Specifically, Kelley Blue Book said the Woodland trims rise by $755. Motor1 put the hybrid Woodland at $40,655 including the $1,595 destination charge.
Is it worth it? Motor1 called the Woodland “a clear step up from cosmetic badges and decals” but added that none of it turns the RAV4 into a rock crawler. That seems fair to us. Still, an extra inch under the floor is a real gain on a rutted forest road.
Hybrid models reach dealers later in 2026, Toyota says, and plug-in hybrids follow in early 2027. Toyota also covers the hybrid battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles, and that coverage is transferable.
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