2023 Toyota RAV4 Latest News
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. The RAV4's rugged looks allow it to look at home among 4 Runners 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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. The RAV4's rugged looks allow it to look at home among 4 Runners 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.
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 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 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.
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.