Professionals: One thing-for-everyone variants; sturdy gas financial system; to be had plug-in hybrid; reliability and resale price
Cons: Unrefined powertrains; not more bodily infotainment buttons; much less sumptuous than opponents
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 now unearths itself as an elder statesman within the compact SUV phase as maximum opponents have now been totally redesigned because it underwent its personal radical makeover for ’19. The Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-50 constitute specifically fierce demanding situations, and certainly, it’s arduouser to suggest the RAV4 at the present time. We nonetheless do, even though, since its unrivaled number of trim ranges, distinctive gas financial system and long-term possession possibilities upload as much as a small SUV that are meant to make sense to a large number of patrons.
Let’s discuss that selection somewhat, which if truth be told will increase for 2023 as Toyota in the end noticed have compatibility to offer hybrid seekers an outdoorsy solution to the gas-only Journey and TRD Off-Highway: the brand new Wooded area Version. Mainly, the RAV4 now provides 3 rugged trim point alternatives whilst the CR-V and Nissan Rogue, for instance, be offering none. And amongst opponents that do be offering such trims, the RAV4’s constitute extra of a real practical improve than maximum. Stepping into a far other course, there also are sportier trim ranges, particularly for the RAV4 Hybrid and plug-in hybrid RAV4 Top, and extra conventional LE, XLE and Restricted guises for many who are simply fantastic and not using a area of interest. Merely put, there’s one thing for everybody.
Everybody will wish to submit with some hiccups, even though. The gas-only and hybrid powertrains are much less subtle than the ones of opponents regardless of providing compelling energy and gas financial system. Toyota’s infotainment gadget additionally stays a love-it-or-hate-it proposition – they is also new for 2023, however they’ve traded “unsightly and sluggish however practical” for “beautiful and fast however irritating.” Mainly, not anything deal-breaking in keeping with se, nevertheless it makes for a harder selection between the RAV4 and the ones more recent, very spectacular opponents.
Inside & Generation | Passenger & Shipment House | Efficiency & Gas Economic system
What it is love to pressure | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Protection Options
What is new for 2023?
Each and every 2023 RAV4 features an up to date infotainment gadget, together with a brand new 10.5-inch touchscreen on best trim ranges. A 12.3-inch electronic tool panel is now usual at the Restricted and Top XSE, and non-compulsory on TRD Off-Highway and Hybrid XSE. The RAV4 Hybrid Wooded area Version additionally debuts for 2023, giving the Hybrid its first off-road-oriented trim point (the Journey and TRD Professional were and can proceed to be gas-only). Pictured above, the Wooded area features a TRD-tuned suspension with coil springs, bump stops and twin-tube shocks supposed for extra of an off-road focal point. Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are introduced over from the TRD Off-Highway and wrap round bronze-colored wheels. Raised black roof rails and go bars, a 120-volt inverter and all-weather ground mats whole the out of doors journey necessities, whilst particular black badging provides to the modestly distinctive glance.
What are the RAV4 inner and in-car era like?
Inside fabrics are acceptably moderate for the RAV4’s compact crossover elegance, and significantly better than previous generations. Are compatible and end are superb. That mentioned, the RAV4 by no means achieves the near-luxury vibe of its opponents’ best trim ranges. Authentic leather-based isn’t to be had, and the SofTex vinyl that comes on up-level fashions is not a powerful replace. This would indubitably be an issue on pricier trim ranges, particularly the Top that may way $50,000 with choices. Nonetheless, we adore the usage of colourful trim items that differentiate the more than a few fashions, who prefer them to unconvincing faux picket or steel trim of rival SUVs. And when you are going for a extra top rate vibe, the Toyota Venza is principally only a fancier RAV4 Hybrid. And the new Lexus NX is a fancier step past that.
In-car garage is healthier than maximum with massive and flexible cupholders, an simply accessed spot to retailer and fee your telephone, an under-armrest bin and distinctive cabinets constructed into the sprint. Within the shipment space, the ground is double sided (one carpet, one easy-to-clean plastic) and the shipment duvet may also be hidden away under it. Nor is integrated with the RAV4 Top, however we do like that it supplies a place for the bulky transportable fee twine: it cleverly may also be wrapped round a foam doughnut throughout the spare tire. Generally a plug-in car hotels to a small briefcase-like bag that takes up shipment house.
A brand new all-digital tool panel (under proper) debuts on best trim ranges for 2023, which catches the RAV4 up with lots of the phase. The tech interface may be new for 2023, nevertheless it’s stays a combined bag. The excellent news is that it seems to be way more trendy, has extra state of the art options, and reacts some distance faster to person inputs – all problems that plagued the outgoing gadget. The displays also are larger, with the bottom touchscreen rising to eight inches and the among the finest rising to ten.5. The dangerous information is they’re now not accompanied by way of the to hand bodily menu buttons that made the outgoing gadget so user-friendly (the radio controls have been additionally some distance higher). Stepping into between Toyota’s controls and the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interfaces are specifically anxious with out the outdated house button or no less than menu buttons completely docked at the display screen. How you are feeling about any of this may increasingly in large part rely on how you utilize a automobile’s tech interface, however both means, we expect the techniques of maximum opponents stay awesome.
How large is the RAV4?
As of late’s RAV4 isn’t rather as utilitarian because the boxier final technology, with headroom specifically perhaps being somewhat tight when equipped with a sunroof. Rear seat legroom may be solely midpack for the phase, with the CR-V, Tucson and Sportage specifically besting it. We additionally discovered each the CR-V and Subaru Forester fairly higher when it got here to becoming kid seats. That mentioned, we’re speaking about levels of “actually large and sensible” right here. Complete-sized adults and rear-facing kid seats will haven’t any drawback becoming, and when you’re looking for family-friendly transportation, it’s arduous to consider being disillusioned by way of the RAV4’s passenger house. It’s simply that you simply could possibly to find somewhat extra in one thing else.
It is a equivalent state of affairs with shipment capability. Shipment quantity of 37.5 cubic ft with the again seats raised or 69.8 cubic ft with them folded is greater and higher than maximum compact crossovers (together with the brand new Honda CR-V), but in addition not up to the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. We showed this cargo-carrying pecking order in our baggage assessments of all of them (plus a comparability of the RAV4 and the last-generation CR-V). One necessary factor to notice: the RAV4 and Sportage hybrids come with spare tires. The CR-V and Tucson hybrids don’t, so whilst all the above have principally the similar shipment capability numbers as their gas-only opposite numbers, there’s if truth be told a key distinction. Now, the RAV4 Top does lose its spare tire and a few shipment house as smartly since its ground is upper, however we doubt you’d realize the ensuing distinction.
We might even be remiss if we did not point out the RAV4’s plentiful flooring clearance, particularly within the Journey and TRD Off-Highway trim ranges, which contributes to it being some of the extra succesful compact SUVs off the crushed trail. Handiest the Subaru Forester, and particularly its new Barren region type, and Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk have larger clearance than the off-road-oriented RAV4s. Even the bottom RAV4 — the XSE Hybrid — nonetheless clears 8 inches, which is healthier than maximum.
What are the RAV4 gas financial system and function specifications?
The usual RAV4 powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder excellent for 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That is above moderate for the phase, however acceleration does not wow, with a run from 0-60 mph taking an estimated 8.1 seconds.
An eight-speed computerized transmission and front-wheel pressure are usual, whilst two all-wheel-drive techniques are non-compulsory relying on trim point. The primary is a elementary reactive gadget that sends energy to the rear wheels within the match of slippage, while the second one to be had at the Journey, TRD Off-Highway and Restricted trim ranges extra actively sends energy round, together with between the rear wheels to support rainy climate traction in addition to dry avenue dealing with. It additionally comprises off-road car settings for “Dust & Sand,” “Rock & Filth” and “Snow.”
Gas financial system with front-wheel pressure is 27 mpg town, 35 mpg freeway and 30 mpg mixed. Choosing some of the all-wheel-drive techniques knocks down the freeway and mixed numbers by way of 1 or 2 mpg. No large deal, actually. That incorporates the TRD Professional and its all-terrain tires – we even controlled 31.3 mpg all the way through a 700-mile avenue commute within the TRD Off-Highway.
The RAV4 Hybrid will get a distinct 2.5-liter engine in conjunction with 3 electrical motors that mix to supply up 219 horsepower. The electrical motor on the rear successfully provides the Hybrid usual all-wheel pressure. Its 0-60 estimate is 7.8 seconds, which means the Hybrid is not just a extra fuel-efficient selection, however a better efficiency one too (albeit slightly). Gas financial system stands at 40 mpg town, 38 mpg freeway and 40 mpg mixed for all trim ranges however the Wooded area, which will get knocked right down to a still-exceptional 38/35/37 because of its all-terrain tires.
After all, there may be the brand new RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid that has extra tough motors and a better capability battery pack. When absolutely charged, it yields 302 general gadget horsepower, a 0-60 time of five.8 seconds and an EPA-estimated vary of 42 miles (greater than maximum different PHEVs). Will have to you exhaust the all-electric vary, it principally operates just like the common hybrid and returns equivalent gas financial system. So, the extra you utilize its all-electric vary, the extra effective it’s.
What is the RAV4 love to pressure?
The RAV4 is not the uninteresting, nameless crossover it as soon as used to be. It won’t interact like a Mazda CX-50, however there’s nonetheless a fervour to its turn-in and a commendable poise thru corners with out sacrificing experience high quality. The dealing with capacity and steerage really feel of the more than a few fashions additionally is not huge, even though the sport-tuned SE/XSE Hybrid (pictured above) and Top fashions are indubitably more proficient at tackling a winding mountain avenue. Even the TRD Off-Highway and new Wooded area Version are succesful handlers, even if their all-terrain tires do create a large number of avenue noise.
Truly, the most important distinction comes right down to powertrain selection. The bottom four-cylinder seems to be excellent on paper, however in follow, it is simply appropriate for the phase and we discovered it somewhat loud and buzzy. The Hybrid if truth be told improves this, because it provides that preliminary kick of electrical energy to clean issues out. Nonetheless, extended acceleration unearths the everyday Toyota hybrid drone that you simply don’t get within the Hyundai/Kia or Honda techniques. In the long run, either one of those engines are about offering excellent gas financial system and not using a penalty for drivability (there is no throttle lag or bizarre transmission programming, for example). They be triumphant, but when you wish to have extra refinement or guts, you will have to glance in different places.
Now, “in different places” may rather well be the RAV4 Top. It has 302 horsepower when the battery is absolutely charged and its acceleration is a robust and provoking as its 0-60 time of five.8 seconds would point out. It in actuality looks like an electrical automobile. Then again, that adjustments when that all-electric vary is exhausted. Acceleration is going from inspiring to unremarkable. So, whether or not you might be speaking efficiency or gas financial system, it is best to stay the Top charged.
What different Toyota RAV4 opinions can I learn?
2021 Toyota RAV4 Top First Power
Our particular evaluate of the Top displays {that a} plug-in hybrid powertrain makes for a greater RAV4, however a RAV4 additionally makes for a greater plug-in hybrid. It has a distinct tech interface and tool panel now, however our impressions stay extensively the similar.
2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Highway Overview
We pressure (and sail!) essentially the most off-roady model of the RAV4 on a 700-mile avenue commute to western Canada. Regardless that it seems to be fairly other now and has a distinct tech interface, our general conclusions stay the similar.
2020 Toyota RAV4 Inside Overview
We dive deep into the RAV4’s inner garage, high quality and era. Because the era has now been changed, be happy to skip the ones bits.
Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V Shipment Capability Comparability Take a look at
We all know the numbers say the CR-V is somewhat larger, however we put the numbers to the take a look at with precise baggage.
Automobile seat comparability take a look at: Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester vs (last-gen) Honda CR-V
A deep dive comparability of the distance and simplicity of set up supplied by way of the RAV4 and 3 key opponents for kid seats.
2019 Toyota RAV4 First Power Overview | Undoubtedly no longer taking part in it secure
A complete have a look at the entire adjustments passed through for the present RAV4 technology, together with information about its design and engineering.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Journey Drivers’ Notes Overview | Extra personality, extra capacity
Our evaluate of the off-road-oriented Journey trim point, which boasts further flooring clearance and chunky excellent seems to be that we favor over the usual model.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Drivers’ Notes Overview | A wallflower not more
Our Fast Spin evaluate of the RAV4 Hybrid, which we discovered may be very great to pressure regardless of its supposed function because the fuel-sipping choice.
What’s the 2023 Toyota RAV4 value?
The RAV4 provides patrons essentially the most numerous array of alternatives within the compact SUV phase. Slightly than only a conventional trim point construction the place every trim point has extra characteristic content material, the RAV4 supplies other seems to be and ability units. Particularly, the rest with “SE” within the title has a sport-tuned suspension and steerage, and has racier seems to be with a whole lot of cool black trim. The Journey, Wooded area and TRD Professional are extra rugged and supposed for out of doors adventures. Anything else with “LE” is extra of a conventional selection with regards to glance and suspension/steerage music, whilst the Restricted is essentially the most sumptuous a RAV4 can get (even though it’s admittedly much less sumptuous than the similar trims of opponents).
You’ll discover a breakdown of every trim point’s options, specifications and native pricing right here at Autoblog for the gas-only RAV4, right here for the RAV4 Hybrid and right here for the RAV4 Top. Sure, it’s anxious that we don’t put all of them at the similar web page. Sorry.
All costs under come with the $1,335 vacation spot fee. The RAV4 Top can also be eligible for state-level rebates or tax credit.
RAV4
LE: $29,310
XLE: $30,820
XLE Top rate: $33,710
Restricted: $36,280
Journey: $35,505 (above left)
TRD Off-Highway: $38,930 (above proper)
All-wheel pressure is a $1,400 choice on all however the Journey and TRD Off-Highway, which integrated it as usual.
RAV4 Hybrid
LE: $32,060
XLE: $33,570
SE: $34,755 (pictured above left)
XLE Top rate: $36,460
XSE: $37,720
Restricted: $40,365
Wooded area: $34,860 (pictured above proper)
All-wheel pressure is usual on all Hybrid trim ranges.
RAV4 Top (under)
SE: $43,675
XSE: $47,545
All-wheel pressure is usual on each trim ranges.
What are the RAV4 protection scores and motive force help options?
Each and every RAV4 comes usual with ahead collision caution and automated emergency braking with pedestrian and bike owner detection, emergency steerage lend a hand, lane-departure caution and lane-keeping lend a hand, computerized prime beams, and adaptive cruise regulate. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic caution techniques are non-compulsory at the LE trim point and usual on all others. A rear cross-traffic computerized braking gadget is usual at the Restricted and non-compulsory on all trims however the LE.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Protection Management gave the RAV4 5 out of 5 stars for general and facet crash coverage, and 4 stars for frontal. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Protection named the RAV4 a Most sensible Protection Pick out for its “Excellent” scores in all crash assessments however the two latest, extra stringent IIHS crash take a look at the place it were given a second-best “Applicable.” Its “Excellent” headlight score and best marks for its collision prevention tech rounded out its credentials for the award.
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