2023 Toyota RAV4

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.

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.

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

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com