Toyota Plans More GR Sport Models, but Which Cars Might They Be?

 

The new 2026 Toyota RAV4 is Toyota's first use of the GR Sport label in the United States, but it will not be the last. At the launch of the new RAV4, we spoke with Cooper Ericksen, Toyota's senior vice president of product, regarding the future of the GR Sport moniker, and he promised us that additional GR Sport vehicles will be available in our market in the near future.

First and foremost, Ericksen emphasized that this sporty trim is not on par with full-fledged GR cars like the GR Corolla hot hatchback. "It has true GR suspension tuning and handling and styling, but the powertrain is [the same as] the most powerful powertrain for that vehicle," according to Ericksen. The GR Sport employs the RAV4's 320-hp plug-in hybrid system.

Ericksen highlighted that for a Toyota car to earn the GR Sport designation, it must have enough power to live up to the label. "If we don't have enough engine performance, the last thing we want to do is dilute the GR name and make it into a sticker package," Ericksen told the crowd. "We'll definitely have a few of them on the roster. "It won't be much."

This got us wondering about what models may come next in the GR Sport lineup. Toyota produces GR Sport variants of several cars worldwide, including the Corolla Cross and the Hilux truck. However, because these variants primarily focus on exterior enhancements, they may not align with Ericksen's goal for GR Sport versions sold in the United States. Instead, we believe the Camry family sedan and Prius hybrid hatchback are the most likely options from Toyota's current U.S. portfolio.

While discussing the GR Sport vehicles, Ericksen cited the previous-generation Camry TRD as a successful example of a performance version of the mid-sized sedan. The present Camry Hybrid only produces 232 horsepower, which Ericksen believes is insufficient to justify a GR Sport variant, but there have been whispers of a more powerful plug-in hybrid Camry for some time, which may earn the badge.

Toyota previously demonstrated a GR-modified concept version of the Prius at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. A hypothetical Prius GR Sport would likely not be as extreme-looking as this one-off, which had a lowered suspension, an aggressive stance with wide tires, and a wing, but Toyota appears to be receptive to the concept. Like the RAV4, any hypothetical GR Sport version would most likely employ the Prius' more powerful plug-in hybrid engine option, which generates 220 horsepower and accelerates the Prius PHEV to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds in our tests.

Of course, there are several vehicles equipped with the optional Hybrid Max powertrain. While neither the family-oriented Grand Highlander three-row SUV nor the luxury Crown sedan are too sporty, both offer upwards of 360 horsepower, which we believe is sufficient to warrant the GR Sport treatment. We're looking forward to seeing where Toyota takes this new trim line as the GR family grows.

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