Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available exclusively in the Sport design in Canada, with trims including the SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport. The GR Sport trim, inspired by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division, featured a more aggressive look with a bold grille, rear diffuser, and red brake calipers visible through 20-inch black alloy wheels. The RAV4 maintained its boxy, truck-like presence with squared-off lines and bulging fenders, reminiscent of Toyota’s other SUVs. Inside, the RAV4 offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a choice between a 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch touchscreen, with a streamlined design and improved user interface. The GR Sport trim added sporty touches like red stitching on black upholstery and a low-profile shift-by-wire setup.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E stood out with its Mustang-inspired design, featuring a familiar grille insert and squinting headlights. Its SUV-coupe-like profile was accentuated by a sloped roofline, while the rear showcased a roof spoiler and Mustang’s signature sequential three-bar taillights. The Mach-E offered various trims, including the sporty GT and Rally, with options like dual hood stripes and dish-style wheels. Inside, the Mach-E featured synthetic leather with contrast stitching, ambient lighting, and sport seats with bolstering in the GT and Rally trims. The Rally trim added unique touches like aluminum pedals and “Mach-E Rally” logos, enhancing its sporty appeal.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kWh battery pack. This combination delivered a total of 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The PHEV offered an estimated electric range of 80 kilometres, with all-wheel drive as standard. The RAV4’s powertrain included a large front motor rated at 203 hp and a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. In EV mode, the RAV4 excelled in quiet cruising, while Auto mode provided a satisfying power band with a 0-100 km/h time in the low five seconds. The GR Sport trim offered enhanced handling with a lower ride height and beefier suspension components, providing a sportier driving experience.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a dual-motor AWD setup and a 73-kWh battery pack, delivering 325 horsepower and 380 kilometres of range. The Mach-E GT boasted 480 hp and 451 km of range, while the Rally trim offered 410 km. The Premium model tested featured dual motors and an extended-range battery, providing 370 hp, 500 lb-ft of torque, and 483 km of range. The Mach-E’s electric motors delivered immediate torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in under five seconds. The GT trim offered a Performance Upgrade with 700 lb-ft of torque, achieving a 0-96 km/h time in just 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E’s handling was agile, with a rear-drive bias and electronic torque vectoring, though the ride could be improved, particularly in the rear.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained its dimensions from the previous generation, offering clever storage solutions like a dashboard shelf and a wireless device charger. The interior featured comfortable seating for four, with 960 millimetres of rear legroom, though five passengers would be a squeeze. The cargo area offered 951 litres of space, expandable to 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded. The GR Sport and XSE trims included ventilated seats to combat the stickiness of the SofTex upholstery on hot days.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E provided a spacious interior, thanks to its longer wheelbase. It offered good headroom and legroom in both rows, though fitting three across in the second row was tight. The Mach-E’s cargo space was 841 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,691 litres with the seats folded. An optional 135-litre front trunk added secure storage. The Mach-E’s sporty design limited its cargo capacity compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch option on top trims. The touchscreen offered customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota’s new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times. The Voice Assistant responded to a range of prompts, and the system allowed for locating chargers along routes.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E borrowed from Tesla with its 15.5-inch portrait-style touchscreen, running Sync 4A software. The system included a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, though it lacked a hood. The touchscreen offered over-the-air updates and included features like a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, real-time navigation, and a voice assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a wireless charging pad and two 110-volt power outlets as options.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a safe exit alert. The system’s enhancements improved detection and responsiveness, though crash-testing results were pending.

The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ suite, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and more. The optional BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist system offered Level 2 autonomy on mapped highways. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.