2023 Toyota RAV4
Overview
There are good reasons why the RAV4 is a perennial bestseller for Toyota—it’s a practical and efficient SUV that appeals to your common sense. The 2023 RAV4 continues the tradition, with a cargo-friendly interior, an attractive base price, and sensible road manners. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder drives the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is somewhat poky, but fuel economy is good. A hybrid and a plug-in-hybrid powertrain are also available, but we review those models separately. The RAV4’s rugged looks allow it to look at home among 4Runners and Tacomas, but even the most capable TRD Off-Road model isn’t going to make it to the same remote locales as those more rugged off-roaders. The RAV4 is at its best when it’s tackling more suburban tasks, such as daily commuting and trips to the home improvement store. Toyota includes a host of driver-assistance tech and desirable infotainment features as standard, which helps bolster the RAV4’s value relative to its rivals.
What’s New for 2023?
This year, Toyota has swapped out the RAV4’s infotainment system for a more modern one with larger display screens. An 8.0-inch display replaces last year’s standard 7.0-inch unit on LE, XLE, XLE Premium, and Adventure trims; Limited and TRD Off-Road models get a larger 10.5-inch display. Toyota’s latest software interface is both prettier and more intuitive than the outgoing system, and it’s capable of over-the-air updates and provides wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7.0-inch display in the gauge cluster is now standard, while a 12.3-inch one is optional on XLE Premium and TRD Off-Road models and is standard on the Limited.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
LE
$29,000 (est)
XLE
$30,000 (est)
$33,000 (est)
Adventure
$35,000 (est)
Limited
$37,000 (est)
TRD Off Road
$39,000 (est)
It’s hard for us to resist the cool new TRD Off-Road, but we’d practice restraint and choose the mid-range XLE Premium. It provides plenty of standard equipment that the LE and XLE don’t offer, such as 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Toyota makes its suite of driver-assistance features standard across the lineup, so there’s not much reason to go with a pricier trim—unless, of course, you really want ventilated seats.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2023 RAV4 uses a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive remains standard, but Toyota now offers a choice of all-wheel-drive systems, dependent on trim. The Adventure model we drove was equipped with an all-wheel-drive system that can disconnect the rear axle when needed to improve fuel economy. At our test track, the RAV4 proved to be quicker than its predecessor: We recorded a 60-mph time of 8.0 seconds with the 2019 model and 8.3 seconds with the 2018. The dutiful four-cylinder can be noisy, especially during highway-passing attempts, and the transmission on our test vehicle seemed to stumble when called upon for a downshift. The RAV4 Hybrid—reviewed separately—snapped off an even quicker 7.4-second 60-mph time in our hands. The RAV4 feels solid and stable when cruising the interstate and holds its own when pitched into a twisty section of road, but it doesn’t inspire the same confidence as our segment favorite, the Mazda CX-5.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The RAV4 earned class-competitive fuel-economy estimates from the EPA. Front-wheel-drive RAV4s can manage up to an estimated 35 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive Adventure delivered 32 mpg for us on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, 1 mpg shy of the EPA’s estimated rating for that trim. That’s a fairly good result for the class, but the RAV4 was outdone in that test by the Volkswagen Tiguan, which returned 33 mpg. For more information about the RAV4’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the RAV4 prioritizes ergonomics and cubby storage. A useful shelf spans the dash and complements the large center console. The version we tested featured a mix of soft-touch surfaces and nice plastics. The base trim, called LE, is quite spartan and comes with cloth seats, a plasticky steering wheel, and single-zone manual climate control. On the next-step-up XLE, Toyota throws in a few perks, but there’s much more to like on the XLE Premium, including faux-leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a stitched and padded dashboard and center-console armrest. The RAV4’s rear seats are easy to stow, and they fold to a nearly flat position, opening up the cabin for cargo. We fit 10 of our carry-on suitcases behind the rear seat and 22 with it folded. The Nissan Rogue matched the RAV4 here, but the Subaru Forester beat it by one in each metric.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
Lower trims come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but the Limited and the TRD Off-Road get a 10.5-inch display. The infotainment system includes a 4G LTE mobile hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. A JBL premium audio system, navigation, and a wireless charging pad for a smartphone are optional. Most models come with a separate 7.0-inch display in the gauge cluster, but a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge display is optional on the XLE Premium and TRD Off-Road and is standard on the Limited.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The RAV4 lineup boasts an array of standard driver assists. Buyers also can add blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert, but those features cost extra on the base model. For more information about the RAV4’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Toyota’s warranties toe the industry line with three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years for the powertrain. All models come with two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance—a rarity in this segment.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $37,155/$42,822
Options: TRD Off-Road Technology package, $1950; premium audio, $1620; TRD Off-Road Weather package, $1015; running board, $549; door sill protector, $199; door edge guard, $140; mudguard, $129; blackout emblem overlays, $65
ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in3, 2487 cm3
Power: 203 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/11.1-in disc
Tires: Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail 01A
225/60R-18 100H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.9 in
Length: 181.5 in
Width: 73.4 in
Height: 70.0 in
Passenger Volume: 99 ft3
Cargo Volume: 37 ft3
Curb Weight: 3724 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.6 sec @ 87 mph
100 mph: 23.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5-60 mph: 9.1 sec
Top Gear, 30-50 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Gear, 50-70 mph: 6.2 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 119 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 185 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.76 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 25 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 30 mpg
Highway Range: 430 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 28/25/32 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
