The current generation of the world’s best-selling crossover has been around since 2018 and if we look at the sales records, it’s only getting more and more popular every year. However, that doesn’t mean that we won’t be seeing changes in the near future. According to the latest reports, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is about to receive a mid-cycle update. At this point, the officials are still quiet but many see this as a certain thing, especially if we consider that the biggest rival, Honda CR-V, is coming completely new for the next year.
We presume that most of this update will be about the styling. We presume that the Japanese manufacturer could offer a couple of new things at the front end, while other areas of the vehicle could come with smaller updates as well. Other than that, we expect to see a few additions to the list of standard equipment, while the engine lineup will probably remain the same.
The refreshed 2023 Toyota RAV4 should arrive sometime in the second half of 2022.
2023 Toyota RAV4 Design
When it comes to base design characteristics, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 will continue in the same way. You may count on the same layout, which has been around since 2018, and which offers a good balance between economy, practicality and comfort. On the other hand, we might see a couple of styling updates.
The current model still looks pretty good, so we presume that the styling changes will be subtle. The overall appearance will remain the same, but we believe we could see a few revisions at the front, in areas like grille, bumper, headlights etc. The rest of the vehicle probably won’t change too much, though we could see updates like new wheels, color options and similar things.
Also, some sources speculate about seeing a TRD Pro version of the 2023 Toyota RAV4, which would come with a couple of off-road upgrades.
Interior
On the inside, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 probably won’t feature bigger changes. The dashboard may come with a few revisions, but most of it will remain the same. Simply, the current cabin still looks pretty good and more importantly, it features nice materials and pretty good overall build quality. Still, we would like to see some improvements regarding sound insulation.
Of course, the overall cabin layout will remain the same and this means you may count on the same amount of passenger and cargo space. This SUV accommodates five adult passengers pretty easily and both rows are quite comfortable and spacious. The cargo area offers around 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row, while the total cargo volume goes up to nearly 70 cubic feet, which is above-average for the segment.
Features
Of course, novelties in this aspect are always possible. This update may bring a couple of new standard features, especially in terms of tech goodies. A bigger infotainment screen is one of the things that come to mind, as well as a couple of more advanced tech goodies.
Still, it’s important to say that the current model is already pretty impressive in these aspects. It comes standard with goodies like a 7-inch touch screen, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, a USB port, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Also, the Safety Sense 2.0 is standard and includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and lane trace assist.
When it comes to upgrades, some of the highlights are dual-zone climate control, digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless device charging, an 11-speaker JBL sound system, four additional USB ports etc.
2023 Toyota RAV4 Engines
As we already mentioned, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 will continue with the same powertrain options on the offer. Base models will continue with a 2.5-liter inline-four, which is good for 203 horsepower. It comes in pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission and besides decent driving dynamics, it also offers pretty good fuel economy – 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
The hybrid model uses the same gasoline engine but gets help from electric motors, so the total output goes up to 220 horsepower. It uses a CVT gearbox, while the fuel economy goes around 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Finally, there is the RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid version with 302 horsepower. Besides pretty impressive acceleration, you may also count on 42 miles of the all-electric range.
2023 Toyota RAV4 Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Toyota RAV4 will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. When it comes to the price, base models should go around 28.000 dollars. Key competitors are models like Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester etc.