The discussion emerged shortly after Toyota unveiled the sixth-generation RAV4 alongside a new GR Sport variant. While the GR Sport introduces sharper tuning and increased output compared to previous versions, Toyota says there is still room to push the model further.
The current RAV4 GR Sport already represents a significant shift for the nameplate. With a plug-in hybrid setup producing 320 horsepower, it is the most powerful RAV4 Toyota has released so far. The model also benefits from chassis revisions developed by the Gazoo Racing division, including retuned suspension and revised steering systems.
Still, Toyota engineers acknowledge that the platform could support an even more aggressive configuration. RAV4 chief engineer Yoshinori Futonagane confirmed that a larger engine would physically fit inside the crossover’s engine bay.
Toyota Confirms a 2.4-Liter Turbo Engine Could Fit Inside the RAV4
Speaking to Australia’s Drive, Yoshinori Futonagane said Toyota could install its turbocharged 2.4-liter engine into the RAV4 if the company decided to pursue the idea. “We could actually fit a 2.4-liter turbo in that engine compartment,” Futonagane told the publication.
Toyota already uses the T24A-FTS turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in several Lexus and Toyota-related models. According to Motor1, the engine produces 275 horsepower in the Lexus RX350. In the RX 500h hybrid configuration, output rises to 366 horsepower when paired with Toyota’s electrified system.
The current RAV4 GR Sport, despite its performance positioning, relies on a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 320 horsepower. Toyota says the model also features suspension and steering tuning developed by the GR engineering division.
Autoblog reported that the existing GR Sport can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in approximately 5.8 seconds. The publication also noted that Toyota widened the track and revised the chassis setup to improve stability while maintaining the SUV’s everyday practicality.
Toyota Says Market Demand Would Determine a Future GR RAV4
Despite confirming that the engine could fit, Toyota insists there are no official plans for a full GR-branded RAV4 at this stage. Futonagane explained that Toyota currently views the GR Sport as sufficiently capable for most buyers. “If people started making a noise and saying, ‘Yeah, we want a 2.4-liter turbo’, it might end up on the agenda,” he said.
The engineer also pointed to internal business considerations rather than technical barriers. “The only bits that are missing is a corporate appreciation of the market demand and the potential wow factor,” he added.
Toyota’s hesitation centers on whether enough customers would be interested in a high-performance family SUV capable of competing with models such as the Volkswagen Tiguan R. For now, the company appears focused on the GR Sport as a more balanced offering for mainstream buyers.
The current version combines performance-oriented updates with practical design elements, including 20-inch wheels and GR styling details, while retaining the everyday usability associated with the RAV4 nameplate.
Toyota Is Already Preparing a New Generation of Performance Engines
Another factor influencing Toyota’s decision is the company’s future engine strategy. Toyota is developing a new family of 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder combustion engines intended for upcoming GR models.
The automaker has not indicated that the existing turbocharged 2.4-liter engine would be used in a future GR RAV4. Autoblog noted that the 2.4-liter unit is approaching the end of its lifecycle as Toyota transitions toward its next modular engine family.
Toyota’s upcoming 2.0-liter engine project could eventually support outputs reaching as high as 600 horsepower in certain applications. Toyota has not linked those figures directly to the RAV4.
For now, the company maintains that the current GR Sport represents the extent of the RAV4 lineup’s performance expansion, even as executives openly acknowledge that more powerful versions remain technically achievable.
