Quick Facts:
- Product: 2027 Toyota RAV4 Woodland, hybrid and plug-in.
- Ground clearance: 9.1 inches, against 8.1 inches on other grades except the GR SPORT.
- Drivetrain: Standard electronic on-demand all-wheel drive.
- Hybrid mileage: 40 city, 35 highway and 38 combined mpg.
- Plug-in: 321 total system horsepower and 46 miles of electric range.
- Arrival: Hybrids later in 2026, plug-ins in early 2027.
- Starting prices: $32,300 for the LE hybrid and $42,100 for the SE plug-in, before destination fees.
- Best for: Crossover drivers who use forest roads and camp access tracks.
 5 min read
In This Article
Overview
Rough forest roads punish low crossovers, and the 2027 RAV4 Woodland answers with one more inch of daylight under the body. According to Toyota’s Nov. 5 release, Woodland grades now get new springs, shocks and jounce bumpers. As a result, ground clearance rises to 9.1 inches.
Every other RAV4 grade except the GR SPORT sits at 8.1 inches, so the Woodland stands a full inch above its siblings. The GR SPORT, however, rides lowest at 7.5 inches. Toyota also redesigned the Woodland all-weather floor and cargo mats for 2027.
You choose between a hybrid and a plug-in, and both come with all-wheel drive. Hybrid versions start arriving at US dealers later in 2026, while plug-in versions follow in early 2027. The Woodland name also appears on the Toyota Woodland concepts we covered recently.
Trail Gear Standard on the Woodland
Toyota’s Woodland grade brings more than a taller stance. Standard equipment includes all-terrain tires, roof rails with cross bars, a tow hitch receiver and 18-inch matte metallic gray alloy wheels. Rigid Industries LED fog lights, a Panoramic View Monitor with Multi-Terrain Monitor and SofTex-trimmed seats also round out the list.
Toyota’s Woodland list also includes a 120V/1500W AC outlet in the cargo area. For tires, our post on the BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A+ covers one all-terrain option for crossovers.
Because the Woodland rides on all-terrain tires, an inflation kit earns space in the cargo area. A VIAIR 88P portable compressor, a JACO RapidFlow tire deflator and an AstroAI digital tire pressure gauge make a simple kit. Together they let you air down at the trailhead and air up before the highway.
Air-down gear for the trailhead
VIAIR 88P 00088 12V Portable Air Compressor Kit for Car and Truck T…
JACO RapidFlow Tire Deflator with Gauge (0-60 PSI) | Rapid 4x4 Off …
What Changed on the RAV4 Woodland
The headline change is hardware, not a badge. Since Toyota fitted new springs, shocks and jounce bumpers, rated clearance rises to 9.1 inches.
Clearance matters especially between the wheels, where rocks, ruts and the raised center of a dirt road scrape the underbody. One inch does not make this a rock crawler, but it changes which ruts you cross without a scrape.
I have owned five Jeeps, and I still rank tires and a patient right foot ahead of clearance. Even so, an extra inch helps most on rutted forest roads.
AWD models also receive Multi-Terrain Select with Rock & Dirt and Mud & Sand modes. It replaces the old Trail mode. Snow mode now sits on the drive mode select switch beside Normal, Eco, Sport and Custom.
Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid: Mileage and Range
The hybrid Woodland uses Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. AWD hybrids make 229 net combined horsepower. Toyota rates the Woodland at 40 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined.
The plug-in version uses a sixth-generation system, also built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Toyota also quotes 321 total system horsepower. Ratings are 38 city, 35 highway and 37 combined, plus 46 miles of electric range.
For 2027, every plug-in RAV4 gets a driver’s-side NACS port with DC fast charging and an 11-kW onboard charger. The plug-in especially suits you if your weekday drives stay short. You cover them on electricity and keep the gas engine for long trips to the trailhead.
RAV4 Woodland vs. Other AWD Hybrid Grades
Against the other AWD hybrids, the Woodland trades mileage for height. Toyota rates the LE and SE AWD at 42 mpg combined. XLE Premium AWD models get 41, and XSE and Limited AWD models get 40. As a result, the Woodland sits two to four mpg below the other AWD grades.
In return, you get the only RAV4 rated for 9.1 inches of clearance, plus standard all-terrain tires and a hitch receiver. The other grades list 8.1 inches, apart from the GR SPORT at 7.5.
Toyota took a similar approach with the Grand Highlander Woodland, which our earlier post describes as a half-inch lift for 2027. The RAV4 gets the bigger bump of the two.
What This Means for You
Choose the Woodland if your routes include graded forest roads, ruts or camp access tracks. On pavement-only routes, another AWD grade saves two to four mpg in hybrid form. Instead, choose by road surface, not by looks.
This is an all-wheel-drive crossover with a hitch receiver, not a low-range 4×4. Read our AWD vs 4WD guide before you plan an obstacle route.
Timing and price need patience. Toyota’s release gives starting prices of $32,300 for the LE hybrid and $42,100 for the SE plug-in, before destination fees. It lists no Woodland price, so the cost stays unknown until dealers post it. Hybrids arrive first, and plug-ins follow in early 2027.
Clearance helps you avoid trouble. It does not get you out of it. A pair of MAXTRAX MKII recovery boards, a METOWARE tow strap recovery kit and a Rhino USA folding shovel cover sand, mud and snow. Those are the surfaces the Multi-Terrain Select and Snow modes target.
Recovery gear for sand, mud and snow
METOWARE Heavy Duty Tow Strap Recovery Kit with D Ring Shackle
Final Thoughts
The 2027 RAV4 Woodland matters for one reason. It adds real height to a grade already built with all-terrain tires and a hitch receiver. One inch is modest, and Toyota’s release claims nothing more, but it gives the Woodland more room on ordinary forest roads.
Two reservations apply. Toyota’s release lists no Woodland price, and mileage drops a few mpg against the other AWD grades. Neither is a deal breaker, yet the missing price argues for waiting before you commit.
If you drive an older RAV4, watch the dealer lots and test drive a Woodland on a rough road before you decide. The hybrid suits drivers without home charging, while the plug-in suits drivers with short weekday trips and a place to charge. Either way, pack an inflation kit and recovery boards, because height never replaces a way to get unstuck. Pick the grade for your roads, and drive the rest of the way to camp with less worry about the underbody.
FAQ
How much ground clearance does the 2027 RAV4 Woodland have?
Toyota rates the 2027 RAV4 Woodland at 9.1 inches. Other grades except the GR SPORT list 8.1 inches, and the GR SPORT lists 7.5 inches.
Does the Woodland come as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid?
Yes. Toyota offers both with standard electronic on-demand all-wheel drive. The plug-in version carries 321 total system horsepower and a rated 46 miles of electric range.
When does the 2027 RAV4 Woodland arrive at dealers?
Toyota expects hybrid models at US dealerships later in 2026. Plug-in models follow in early 2027.
What gas mileage does the RAV4 Woodland get?
The AWD hybrid Woodland is rated at 40 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined. Plug-in versions are rated at 38 city, 35 highway and 37 combined.
How much does the 2027 RAV4 Woodland cost?
Toyota’s Nov. 5 release lists no Woodland price. It gives starting prices of $32,300 for the LE hybrid and $42,100 for the SE plug-in, before destination fees.
Does the Woodland have a tow hitch?
Yes. A tow hitch receiver is standard on the Woodland grade, according to Toyota. However, Toyota’s release does not list a towing capacity.