2023 Toyota RAV4

Toyota's RAV4 competes in one of the most highly contested classes around and faces off against other top-selling compact crossover SUVs such as the newly redesigned Honda CR-V and the class-leading Mazda CX-5 and CX-50. Despite fierce competition, the RAV4 remains one of the best-selling cars on US soil and offers an outstanding balance of practicality, safety, and performance. The 2023 RAV4 base model retains its naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine, which produces 203 horsepower, but Toyota offers a range of hybrid options that produce up to 300 horses and deliver excellent fuel economy. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite adds superior driver assistance tech, and for 2023, Toyota replaces the infotainment displays with upgraded units. Competition might be fierce, but the aging RAV4 is fighting back to stay on top of the sales charts.

The price of the Toyota RAV4 is not low, but nor is it overly expensive. Things start off with the gas-fed LE, which has a base price of $27,575. From there, the price steadily climbs through the XLE, XLE Premium, and Limited, which cost $29,085, $31,975, and $35,880, respectively. Each of these trims offers alternate specs in the form of an all-wheel drivetrain for $1,400. Each is also available with a hybrid powertrain. In the case of the LE, that will add $2,650 to the price.

The new Hybrid SE has no gasoline variant, and comes in at $32,920. It's followed by the Hybrid Woodland Edition at $33,025, the Hybrid XLE Premium at $34,625, the Hybrid XSE at $35,885, and the Hybrid Limited at $38,530. The remaining trims are the more off-road-focused variants and come standard with AWD. The Adventure is the cheaper of the two at $33,770, while the TRD Off-Road is the priciest of all the gasoline options, with a starting cost of $37,195. The RAV4 Prime PHEV comes in SE and XSE trims, priced at $41,590 and $45,460 respectively.

These prices are MSRP and do not include tax, registration, licensing, or Toyota's $1,335 destination charge.

The RAV4's roots have always been firmly planted in the city, and that's where it's at its best. Its steering is light, making this SUV easy to navigate in tight city streets. We did find that this light steering doesn't have sufficient heft on the highway and can be somewhat vague, which is why road-test reviews of the Toyota RAV4's competitors generally agree that they are more fun to drive than the Toyota - especially the Mazdas. The RAV4 doesn't feel sporty in fast driving but will maintain its composure, even when pushed hard. If it's on-road dynamics you're after, the Mazda CX-5 is a better bet. The off-road-focused models have TRD-tuned suspension, but it doesn't noticeably affect on-road comfort and performs surprisingly well when going off the beaten path, especially when mated to the hybrid powertrain with 302 hp. Don't overestimate the RAV4's off-road abilities though; the off-road accouterments are mostly window dressing. We found the braking system light to the touch and easy to modulate.

The RAV4 continues to be one of the best-selling cars in America, and with good reason, this crossover SUV does most things well. From the outside, it's a good-looking car, and the infotainment upgrade goes a long way toward making this car's interior feel relatively fresh and current, despite its age. Under the hood, the base engine can feel a bit coarse and breathless, but the hybrid versions pick up the slack nicely. Build quality is good, and as a practical family car, this SUV won't disappoint; there's lots of passenger and cargo space on offer. On the road, this car offers a satisfactory drive, but we should make it clear that this is a city-loving machine and not exactly a grand tourer or off-road machine. There are other, more specialized competitors that do both better. Value for money is good, but cheaper rivals offer just as much in terms of tech and features. When it comes to the RAV4, some of your hard-earned dollars are going to the brand name and resale value instead of added features and core value - and this is all many people are looking for.

If you ever want to take your SUV off-road, you'll want the TRD Off-Road trim. However, the Off-Road is pretty pricey, so we'd suggest sticking with the more reasonable Adventure for the AWD capability and increased towing capacity, but less of the hardcore off-road aggression. It possesses most of the capability of the range and a fair number of the features available to the RAV4. It also gets all-wheel drive as standard. If you plan on sticking around town, one of the hybrids would be your best bet. The XLE Premium Hybrid is a good middle ground that delivers great value for money. If you go for the off-roader setup, the Toyota RAV4 will cost you just over $35k without extras, while a middle-ground hybrid will set you back just under $36k.