Is The RAV4 Getting Back Its V6?

(2021 RAV4 Hybrid Performance Plug-In Pictured)

Ear-to-the-ground, leaked hints, and market experts are murmuring of the beloved V6 returning to the RAV4's engine bay after being sworn off by Toyota, and expected never to return. But like a modern remake of an 80's movie, it's emerging with mixed feedback.

The pieces point to two setups: one is a naturally aspirated 3.5 Liter V6 and the other is a TRD with a 1" lift and a 3.5 Liter Turbo V6 with an estimated 350 and 401 horsepower, respectively.

It may be hard to believe a Toyota would ever get a turbo, but taking the TRD name means it won't be a Lexus, it'll be the reliable and kinda-noisy family SUV.

Toyota has often shied away from the bloodbath that is the performance SUV market, but now they're ready to step back into the ring. Why? According to the rumors, clap-back from the release of their "too little too late" performance plug-in Hybrid may have convinced the ol' Toyo engineers to take a page out of their own old book and disregard miles per gallon in leiu of adding two cylinders. As James Pumphrey would say, "More Powa Baby!"

How certain is this? While people are reacting mostly well to any news of the souped-up RAV4, there's been no internal confirmation or press release yet.

...Thoughts?