Skip to main content

Many of us don’t want the same SUV as the folks down the street. Toyota knows this, too, and for 2023 it’s making several special editions of its SUVs to boost sales. It’s not a new trick, but these three special editions could make your regular Toyota SUV stand out in a crowd.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition

A blue 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is driving off-road.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition | Toyota

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of the hottest-selling SUVs on the market today. But, Toyota is recognizing that the off-road segment is one of the hottest, growing, segments of the SUV world. And, who doesn’t like a bit of off-road ability in their SUV? The bonus with this version, however, is that it’s a hybrid, which means its gets Toyota’s clever all-wheel drive system.

The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is only available in black, blue or white, and comes with bronze colored wheels. The TRD team tuned the suspension to smooth out trails and rough pavement, and added coil springs that are tuned for off-road duty with unique valving. It also gets Falken off-road tires, different mud guards, and mats.

The 2023 Toyota Venza Nightshade

2023 Toyota Venza Nightshade in red
2023 Toyota Venza Nightshade edition | Toyota

The 2023 Toyota Venza comes only as a hybrid, which means it gets up to 39 mpg combined. To make the Venza, Toyota took a RAV4 and added a svelte, swoopy, body and a luxury interior. It’s like a RAV4 in a Very Wang dress, but trimmed in SofTex and leather.

The Nightshade edition, however, takes that premium look and amps it up a bit. The Nighshade adds a new front grille, black rocker panels, mirrors and handles, as well as smoked chrome moldings. It also gets a black shark fin antenna, exclusive 19-inch wheels, and special LED fog lamps. The Nightshade package comes in black, a white pearl, or dark red colors only.

4Runner 40th Anniversary

Front half of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary
2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary | Toyota

The current Toyota 4Runner has been with us since 2008, and it’s due for an update. Many believe that the 2023, and the 40th Anniversary Edition, will be the swan song for this ultra-capable SUV. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 4Runner nameplate, you can order it in cool retro paint schemes. The 40th Anniversary Edition comes in black, red, or white, trimmed with yellow and orange stickers.

Toyota will only make 4,040 versions of this special edition 4Runner. It also adds 17-inch wheels, a heritage grille, and some extra badging. But this is more than just an appearance package. Every 40th Anniversary is four-wheel drive only and gets some TRD exclusives, while every 4Runner gets a 270-horsepower V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Related

How Much Does the 2023 Toyota 4Runner Anniversary Edition Cost?

Best in Trucks & SUVs
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.