2025 Ford Expedition vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2025 Ford Expedition was a testament to the form-over-function design ethos, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more attractive aesthetic. Its slab sides and rectilinear silhouette ensured ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, making it clear that this vehicle was designed for transporting people comfortably. Despite its functional focus, the Expedition featured stylish elements like horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim. The blacked-out pillars added a wraparound look to the glass, while a distinct character line ran from the headlights to the taillights. The rear showcased a two-tone paint job, thanks to a black tailgate, and introduced a split-gate design for added convenience. Available in four trim levels—Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch—the Expedition offered two lengths, with the MAX version providing significantly more cargo space. The King Ranch trim boasted luxurious Del Rio leather seating, while the entry-level Active trim impressed with its ActiveX synthetic leather upholstery and standard features like tri-zone automatic climate control and a 24-inch panoramic driver information display. The interior's minimalist design, highlighted by the futuristic displays, added to the Expedition's appeal.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, available in the Rugged Woodland trim and three Sport grades (SE, XSE, and GR Sport), maintained the same footprint as its predecessor but featured buffer bumpers for added length. The RAV4 embraced a boxy, truck-like presence with squared-off design elements, consistent with Toyota's new SUVs. The Woodland trim emphasized its ruggedness with a wide front fascia, solid panels replacing fog lights, and chunky all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels. The Sport trims, including the GR Sport inspired by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, showcased gloss black accents, red brake calipers, and a wide mesh grille. The charge port location varied by trim, and the interior featured accents like red stitching on the GR Sport's black upholstery. All trims came with a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch or available 12.9-inch touchscreen. The RAV4 PHEV's interior offered clever storage solutions, although it fell short of larger rivals in passenger space. The cargo area, reduced by the PHEV's powertrain, provided 33.6 cubic feet, expandable to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Tremor trim featured a high-output version, boosting power to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, also available on the Platinum trim. Despite its 5,794-pound curb weight, the Expedition's powertrain excelled on highways, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension handled rough terrain with ease. The Tremor trim, replacing the Timberline, offered increased ground clearance and improved off-road capabilities with 33-inch all-terrain tires, skid plates, and an electronic locking rear axle. However, the Expedition's fuel economy was a downside, with 4WD models rated at 15/22/18 mpg. In contrast, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban offered a diesel engine with better fuel efficiency.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack. The PHEV's power increased to 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. All-wheel drive was standard, with a front motor rated at 203 hp and 201 lb-ft of torque. The RAV4 PHEV excelled in EV mode for quiet city driving, while Auto mode delivered a 0-60 mph time in the low five seconds. The Hybrid and Charge modes optimized battery usage and recharging. The GR Sport trim, with its lower ground clearance and performance tires, offered enhanced handling on challenging terrain. Despite its 4,500-pound weight, the RAV4 PHEV maintained a spirited ride, thanks to a strengthened chassis and improved suspension.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in towing capacity, with a maximum of 9,600 pounds, surpassing the Chevrolet Tahoe's 8,400 pounds. Inside, the Expedition offered ample cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet behind the third row in the standard model, expanding to 36.1 cubic feet in the Expedition MAX. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided 108.5 cubic feet, while the MAX offered 123.1 cubic feet. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads on the steering wheel and touchscreen-based climate controls, which some users found high-tech but potentially cumbersome.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's interior retained the dimensions of the previous generation, with clever storage solutions like a dashboard shelf and a wireless device charger. The base SE trim included conveniences like a power driver's seat and heated front seats, while higher trims offered synthetic leather upholstery and ventilated seats. The RAV4 PHEV's passenger space was adequate, with 37.8 inches of rear legroom, but it fell short of larger rivals. The cargo area, reduced by the PHEV's powertrain, provided 33.6 cubic feet, expandable to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Ford Expedition featured a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering ample space for Google Maps projection and customizable widgets. The 13.2-inch touchscreen, powered by a Google-based operating system, included Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play store. However, the Ford Connectivity Package, required for full functionality, came with a subscription cost after the first year.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid boasted a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen on top trims. The touchscreen featured customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and voice assistant capabilities. The RAV4 PHEV also included a built-in dash cam for recording exterior camera footage.

The 2025 Ford Expedition came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features like a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts were also standard. BlueCruise 1.4, available on select trims, offered hands-free driving capabilities with a subscription cost after a 90-day trial.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, with enhanced camera and radar detection for improved responsiveness. The suite included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors. A surround-view camera system was available on higher trims, aiding in off-roading and parking.