2023 Toyota RAV4: A Trim Comparison
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 doesn’t change much from the past couple of years. And that’s a good call by Toyota!
RAV4 Trim Lineup
After a complete redesign for the 2019 model year, the ruggedly designed RAV4 has been selling like hotcakes. It’s the fourth best-selling vehicle in America (the first 3 are trucks). Even the hybrid version is the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the country (besting Toyota’s famed Prius). Now let’s get into the details of the 12 trim levels.
LE
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE has a price comparable to many four-wheel-drive sedans, with a starting MSRP of $27,575. Due to the fact that the SUV is relatively small, it isn’t equipped with a massive engine as you’d find in a full-size SUV similar to the Chevy Escalade. Drivers will find a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder, 203-hp engine, which can get up to 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
Some basic standard features with the LE include cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, a rearview camera, 17-inch steel wheels and LED headlights.
The exterior has a uniquely bisected C-pillar which makes it stand out from some other SUVs on the market. On the inside, the infotainment system features an 8-inch touch-screen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free phone capability, Bluetooth connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and six speakers. Finally, the RAV4 LE also includes a 7-inch digital gauge cluster with an analog tachometer and Toyota virtual assistant.
The safety features for the RAV4 LE include the Toyota Safety Sense package—which is standard in nearly all their vehicles. It includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts with steering assist, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. You also get a suite of safety features designed to aid braking, traction, and stability.
An all-wheel-drive (AWD) version is available for $28,975, though it reduces your fuel economy. That’s not a huge price premium so opting for AWD is a pretty good deal.
LE Hybrid
Along with the traditional gasoline engine-version RAV4, Toyota also updated the hybrid electric versions of this compact crossover. The least expensive hybrid offering, the 2023 Toyota LE Hybrid, has a starting MSRP of $30,225. All hybrid RAV4 trims automatically include Electronic On-Demand AWD. The combined output on this trim is 219-hp, and it can get up to 41 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway.
Those combined fuel ratings make the RAV4 LE Hybrid the third-most fuel-efficient SUV on that market that you don’t have to plug in! (The Lexus UX Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid beat it by a single mpg.) Ultimately, the bump in price isn’t just for a hybrid engine, it’s for an AWD powertrain that has more horsepower. That’s $2,500 well spent, in our eyes.
XLE
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE is a step up from the previous trim. With a starting MSRP of $29,085, it comes with a lot more features. Some of the features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and two more USB ports.
Additional safety features are rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.
XLE Hybrid
There is also a 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid with a starting MSRP of $31,735. The hybrid-electric engine makes it possible to get up to 41 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway without plugging it in to charge. Those numbers might not sound great compared to a Prius, but it’s impressive for any SUV. Like all RAV4 hybrid models, an electronic on-demand smart AWD system is the standard powertrain.
Hybrid Woodland Edition
The Woodland Edition starts at $33,025, and makes your car better built for your outdoor adventures with the inclusion of rubberized floor mats, raised roof rails, LED fog lights, and TRD-tuned suspension. This limited-edition trim also features bronze-colored 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires.
Hybrid SE
The Hybrid SE trim starts at $32,920, but it’s basically the same as the XLE but with blue interior accents, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels.
XLE Premium
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium trim starts at $31,975. As soon as passengers enter this trim, they’ll notice the addition of the SofTex-trimmed interior. SofTex is a synthetic leather material that is easy to clean and resistant to liquids. Also standard with this trim is a power liftgate, a moonroof, LED fog lights, and 19-inch wheels.
In the RAV4 XLE premium, there is also an option to upgrade your infotainment system to a 10.5-inch touchscreen and your audio system to an 11-speaker stereo. Other options include wireless device charging, digital rearview mirror with an integrated camera display, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
XLE Premium Hybrid
Because the hybrid model has been selling so well, Toyota added a RAV4 XLE Premium Hybrid trim that hasn’t been around in previous years. Like the other Hybrid models, it has a standard AWD powertrain. The wheels are 18-in on this model, instead of the 19-in wheels on the non-hybrid to help maintain high fuel economy numbers.
Otherwise, things are pretty similar compared to the standard gasoline RAV4 XLE Premium trim: a standard power tilt/slide moonroof and SofTex-trimmed seats that are power-adjustable and have memory settings. The starting MSRP is $34,625.
Adventure
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Adventure trim has a starting MSRP of $33,770. This trim comes standard with AWD, as it’s designed for someone who wants to take their RAV4 onto more rugged terrain. The RAV4 Adventure is immediately noticeable by its different front grille that more resembles a Toyota 4Runner. The interior also features a unique orange accent throughout the cabin.
This is also the first trim to offer a two-tone exterior color scheme. An optional white accent roof can be paired with 3 of the 4 color options. The RAV4 Adventure comes with a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds thanks to the Tow Prep package—which is a huge step up from 1,500 pounds with the other trims. This trim also comes with a higher ride height, 19-inch alloy wheels, black headlight bezels, and fog light surround components.
TRD Off-Road
If you really want to head off the beaten path, the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road trim is the one you want. Toyota applies the TRD Off-Road branding to factory performance-enhanced models featuring specially tuned suspensions, all-terrain tires, and TRD-exclusive styling features.
Some of the main cosmetic differences between the RAV4 TRD Off-Road and RAV4 Aventure are the inserts and (cosmetic) trims: black and gray compared to the silvers on the Adventure. Also, the TRD Off-Road has a standard moonroof that was absent from the Adventure trim. You can also upgrade to a wireless phone charger on this trim, something you can’t do on the RAV4 Adventure. The MSRP starts at $37,195.
Hybrid XSE
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid is a hybrid-specific trim. For a starting MSRP of $35,885, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid is the best option for people who still want a sporty feel to their crossover SUV but also want the fuel efficiency of a hybrid. Also, the exterior features a standard two-tone design of a black roof and a choice between four colors for the body paint. Heated front seats are also standard on this trim, and there is blue accent stitching.
It also has a 10.5-inch touch screen and heated front seats.
Limited
The RAV4 Limited FWD version has a price of $35,880 and includes most of the features of the XLE Premium trim. It also includes additional features like front and rear parking sonar. This warns you if you get too close to other objects when parking. Buyers also find different tires from previous trims and chrome outside door handles. Front seats are heated and ventilated, and there’s a power-adjustable front passenger seat.
Other added luxury features include a 10.5-inch touch screen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, an 11-speaker audio system, and ambient interior lighting.
Limited Hybrid
Like on other trims with a hybrid offering, nothing much changes much in terms of features between the RAV4 Limited and the RAV4 Limited Hybrid. The hybrid fuel economy remains the same at 41 in the city and 38 on the highway. Once again, the hybrid features an electronic AWD as the standard powertrain for $38,530.
In terms of features, it adds much of the same as the gasoline version of the Limited.
Prime SE
Next is the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The “Prime” badge is Toyota’s branding for plug-in hybrid models; there’s a Prime version of the Prius, for example. If you need a refresher on hybrid vs. plug-in hybrid, we’ve got one. But the short of it is that a plug-in hybrid can travel a specific distance on electricity alone. Traditional hybrids can’t do that.
The base plug-in trim, the RAV4 Prime SE starts at $41,590. It comes standard with an 8-in. multimedia display, 18-inch wheels, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This plug-in version is actually the most powerful RAV4, with a combined output of 302 horsepower. With its large battery, it can travel an EPA estimated 42 miles on electric power alone before the gas engine kicks in. That’s the most of any plug-in on the market!
Prime XSE
The Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE starts at $45,465, and ups the ante. This more luxurious version of the plug-in hybrid comes with standard SofTex-trimmed seating, a 10.25-inch multimedia display, larger 19-inch wheels, and a standard two-tone exterior paint scheme. Black is the only available roof color. Additionally, the interior features red accent stitching around the cabin, such as down the center console and on the seats. All of this still comes with the stellar mpg ratings of the Prime SE.
(Image via Facebook)
