There’s no denying the Toyota RAV4 is a market leader and an absolute beast in the industry. It’s the bestselling SUV in America, has routinely been the bestselling SUV worldwide, and has been one of the overall top-selling passenger vehicles worldwide for many years now. Toyota knows this, hence why you have more options than ever for the RAV4.
This can make shopping for a 2023 Toyota RAV4 a bit intimidating since there are so many different options to choose from, but I’m here to take you through the lineup and look at some of the highlights.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4
We’ll start off with the standard RAV4 model and its conventional 2.5L I-4 engine, delivering 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. This model can get up to an estimated 27 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway, which is great, but the other models we’ll look at blow that away—particularly in the city. There are six different trims available for the standard RAV4, so let’s briefly check out each one…
Toyota RAV4 LE
The LE is the starting model for the RAV4, so if you’re on a tight budget or you simply don’t care much about luxuries, this is the way to go. It comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and much more. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available but not standard on the LE, and this model has an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with a 7.0-inch instrument display.
Toyota RAV4 XLE
Moving up from the starting trim, we have the XLE, which includes a number of upgrades such as dual-zone automatic climate control and a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert; these are both available for the LE but not standard. While the LE has manually-adjustable seating, the XLE comes with an eight-way power driver’s seat, with heated front seats available for added comfort in cold weather.
Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium
You get more comfort and convenience features if you go with the XLE Premium, which includes SofTex-trimmed seating with a power driver’s seat. The XLE Premium has additional soft-touch materials inside for a more luxurious overall feel, and you get a Smart Key system for the front doors and power liftgate to make accessing the cargo area easier. It also has a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, as well as a power tilt/slide moonroof.
Toyota RAV4 Adventure
Although not an off-road beast, the Adventure model does give you improved performance in rough conditions thanks to the Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD standard. It has 19-inch wheels and integrated LED fog lights, making it perfect for dealing with rough weather and anything your daily drive throws at you. Inside, the Adventure’s SofTex-trimmed seats feature unique orange accents and stitching, plus you get a storage net and a power outlet in the cargo area.
Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road
The TRD Off-Road model features the same AWD system as the Adventure but adds a TRD-tuned suspension for improved performance in rough and uneven conditions. This model features 18-inch wheels wrapped in Falken all-terrain tires, which are great but not necessary if you’re looking for a compact crossover model for your daily commute. The TRD Off-Road model features a gorgeous 10.5-inch infotainment display inside; otherwise, it has a lot of features that are excessive for routine driving.
Toyota RAV4 Limited
The pinnacle model for the RAV4—the Limited—has pretty much everything you could want, including SofTex-trimmed seating with a power driver and front passenger seat, plus heated and ventilated front seats, with heated rear seats available. Blue ambient lighting inside gives the Limited a unique and sophisticated feel, while you get to enjoy a massive 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display for the driver and a 10.5-inch infotainment screen with a JBL 11-speaker sound system to really elevate your commute.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
If you want better fuel economy than you can get with the standard models, then the RAV4 Hybrid could be perfect for you. These models come with a 2.5L I-4 Hybrid engine that delivers 219 hp; more importantly, it provides an estimated 41 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway of fuel efficiency. This significantly boosts urban mileage, so it’s a fantastic choice if you drive a lot on city streets.
The RAV Hybrid model shares many of its trim levels with the standard version, giving you essentially the same features and experience between them. The LE is the starting option, with the XLE building on that, the XLE Premium improving things further, and the Limited giving you the pinnacle experience. There are also a few trims for the Hybrid model that you won’t find on the standard RAV4, with some unique features and options…
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition
You can think of this as the RAV4 Hybrid’s answer to the standard TRD Off-Road model; the Woodland Edition comes with electronic on-demand AWD, like the other Hybrid trims, but features 18-inch wheels wrapped in the Falken all-terrain tires. It also has exclusive Woodland all-weather floor mats and cargo liners, as well as a power outlet in the cargo area, making it a good option if you want a RAV4 Hybrid for camping; otherwise, these features might be more than you need.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE
Slotted below the Limited trim, the SE is a great choice for interesting features like fabric seats with unique sporty blue stitching. Heated front seats are available, but not standard, plus you get a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever in the SE. If you’re looking for something different from other models—or if blue is your favorite color—then this is a great choice.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE
You get some improved features in the Hybrid XSE, though it’s still just below the Limited in terms of overall options. The XSE has a gorgeous two-tone exterior with a Midnight Black Metallic roof and several body colors, including Cavalry Blue, Wind Chill Pearl, and Silver Sky Metallic. This model has a sport-tuned suspension for a nice ride and great interior features like heated front seats with blue stitching, blue ambient illumination, a 10.5-inch infotainment system, and an available 12.3-inch driver display.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime
One of the most impressive options available—if it works for you—is the RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) featuring a 2.5L I-4 plug-in hybrid engine that delivers 302 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. This model gets an estimated 94 MPGe of equivalent fuel efficiency, with up to 42 miles of all-electric range. If your living situation makes plugging your vehicle in difficult, then this probably isn’t a great choice; otherwise, it’s a very compelling option available in two trim levels…
Toyota RAV4 Prime SE
The Prime SE features fabric-trimmed seating with sporty red stitching; the front seats are heated, and the driver’s is eight-way power-adjustable. You’ll get a digital speedometer with a 7.0-inch driver display, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. It’s a great place to start that’s perfect for a wide range of drivers.
Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
If you want more from your PHEV model, then the RAV4 Prime XSE includes numerous upgrades like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, SofTex-trimmed seats with sporty red stitching, and available heated and ventilated front seats. You get a wireless smartphone charging dock along with the 10.5-inch infotainment display and 11-speaker JBL sound system for an exceptional driving experience.
Which RAV4 Trim Best Suits You?
As you can see, there’s something for everyone across the RAV4 lineup. While I can’t tell you which is perfect for you, we’ve had a good look at what each of them brings to the road; ultimately, you’ll need to consider what you need in a vehicle, your typical driving habits, and the sorts of features that you find essential.
You can’t go wrong with any RAV4 model, really, but your choice will directly impact your experience behind the wheel. Start with the engine that will best meet your needs, and then consider the interior features that are most important to you; this will make it easy to narrow down these options and choose the rugged crossover that you’ll look forward to driving daily.
