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There’s not much of a reason to change the RAV4. For the last several years the RAV4 has been Toyota’s best-selling vehicle, by a long shot, and it’s easy to see why. The RAV4 combines a lot of the stuff that people want in an SUV, like good power, good space, and good looks. But what is Toyota adding to the RAV4 for 2023?

What is different in the 2023 RAV4?

A blue 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid small SUV is parked.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Toyota

For 2023, the RAV4 won’t change much, but it will get a few upgrades. For 2023, all RAV4s will now get the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota’s latest version of Safety Sense, 2.5, will also be standard. Upper-level trims will come with a bigger screen, too. Expect the 2023 version to show up at dealerships soon. It makes sense that Toyota wouldn’t mess with a best seller.

The off-road Woodland Edition will also return for Hybrid models, which is the first hybrid to get the off-road treatment, according to Car and Driver. The trim that was launched in 2022 adds special wheels with all-terrain tires, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a 1230-volt inverter. The Woodland also has special cargo mats, roof rails, and mud guards. You can order it in Midnight Black Metallic, Cavalry Blue or Ice Cap white colors.

What stays the same for the 2023 RAV4?

The rest of the RAV4 will stay the same. That’s not a surprise because the RAV4 is the best-selling SUV. It comes in three versions, the $27,575 gas version, $30,225 Hybrid version and a plug-in hybrid called the Prime for $41,500. The current generation of RAV4 came out in 2019. It comes in several flavors, from the base LE to the luxurious Limited and a special TRD Off-Road version. Hybrid and Prime trims have all-wheel drive standard.

What are some RAV4 alternatives?

A white 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander compact crossover SUV parked on a brick road outside a brick storefront
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander | Mitsubishi Motors

The five-passenger SUV compact SUV segment is the hottest market in car business, and as the top dog the RAV4 does have a target on its liftgate. But the Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson are some of the RAV4’s toughest competitors. All have base prices a little bit lower than the RAV4’s. But they don’t have the power of the RAV4.

All of the competitors in this segment, though, are eager to dethrone the RAV4 and offer options that the RAV4 doesn’t. The Outlander, for example, has a third row and seats seven. The Forester offers all-wheel drive standard. The Tucson packs a lot of value with a lower price. The CR-V is all new for 2023, and it has updated styling that will look fresh longer.

Related

Should You Buy a 2022 Toyota RAV4, or Wait for the New 2023 RAV4?

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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.