2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE: Test Drive

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE: Test Drive


2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE in Silver Sky Steel

Consumer Guide Automotive 2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE AWD

Magnificence: Compact Crossover

Passenger capability: 5

Colour: Silver Sky Steel

CG Document Card
Room and Reassurance B+
Energy and Efficiency A
Are compatible and End B+
Gasoline Financial system A
Price B
Document-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver reviews. All grades are as opposed to alternative cars in the similar magnificence. Price grade is for explicit scale down point evaluated, and won’t mirror Client Information’s impressions of all the type lineup.
Weighty & Imposing Reassurance
Weighty Man B-
Imposing Man B-
Weighty & Imposing relief scores are for entrance seats solely. “Big” score in accordance with male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score in accordance with 6’6″-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specifications 302-horsepower, 2.5-liter
Engine Kind 4-cylinder, plug-in hybrid
Transmission CVT Automated
Power Wheels AWD

Miles pushed: 101

Actual-world gas economic system: 36.2 mpg

Riding combine: 65% town, 35% freeway

EPA-estimated gas economic system: 94 MPGe/38 mpg (town/freeway blended)

EPA-estimated EV area: 42 miles

Gasoline sort: Regular fuel really helpful

Bottom value: $46,210 (now not together with $1335 destination charge)

Choices:  Climate Bundle ($375), Top rate Bundle ($2585), carpet mats ($309), wheel locks ($65), roof-rack pass bars ($315), fog-light accents ($100)

Worth as examined: $51,294

 

Fast Hits

The stunning: Important energy, environment friendly operation

The nice: Calm and stylish cabin, easy infotainment-control device

The now not so just right: Expensive in comparison to alternative RAV4s, a decent have compatibility for the obese & imposing

 

Tom Appel:

In the event you’ve been searching for a plug-in hybrid automobile, there’s a just right anticipation you’ve discovered that the Toyota RAV4 Top is tricky to return via. This isn’t unexpected, as Toyota’s compact plug-in crossover is (spoiler alert) a tremendous automobile, and one who asks modest in change for its energy and potency. Right here’s some just right information: The RAV4 Top provide turns out to have loosened up. Extra on that during a pace…

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE

A modest background at the Top: Toyota’s very-popular RAV4 is obtainable with 3 powertrains, each and every of which falls right into a relatively well-defined value and function magnificence. “Standard” RAV4s are powered via Toyota’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Within the RAV, the two.5 is just right for 203 horsepower. Non-plug-in Hybrid variations of the RAV4 mix the aforementioned 4-cylinder engine with two electrical motors for 219 internet horsepower. Finaly, the RAV4 Top associates what is basically the Hybrid drivetrain with an 18-kWh battery. The Top device is rated at 302 internet horsepower, and permits for an EPA estimated 42 miles of electric-only gas-free operation. Observe that each one RAV4s assemble importance of a CVT computerized transmission, and that Hybrid and Top fashions come solely with AWD.

Past same old and Hybrid RAV4s are introduced in seven scale down ranges each and every, the Top comes solely in high-zoot SE (creation round $45,000), and near-luxury XSE ($49,000).

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE

Client Information contemporary spent a presen in the back of the wheel of a 2023 RAV4 Top XSE with the feature-packed Top rate Bundle in Silver Sky Steel. Together with a couple of alternative choices and the vacation spot fee, our verify RAV4 got here to $51,294. That is about all you’ll spend on a RAV4.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox: First Look

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE

Despite the fact that the RAV4 can glance a modest pedestrian in decrease scale down ranges, the Top comes solely in top rate scale down ranges, and sports activities a decidedly upscale cabin in consequence. Our verify automobile’s lightless leather-based upholstery was once completed with contrasting pink sewing, and the soft-touch sprint and door scale down was once punctuated with a incline dose of shining metal-finish accents. The whole glance is considered one of sporty, blank, potency. Additionally, the rubber edged climate-control knobs had a hefty, considerable really feel lacking from many in-cabin management programs at the moment.

One ding at the RAV4 is that the front-row seating department is likely one of the stingiest within the magnificence in relation to dimension. Despite the fact that we’ve got awarded the RAV4 “Big & Tall” honors, it’s cramped for greater family in comparison to in style area opponents together with the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. Past our 6-foot, 5-inch tester discovered headroom restricted, our greatest driving force discovered that the RAV’s vast middle console snip into seating dimension. In the event you’re outdoor the statistical norm size-wise, earlier than positive and snatch an extra-long verify power and spot how properly you have compatibility. That stated, rear-seat passenger dimension is borderline beneficiant, and can simply accommodate maximum people for even prolonged drives.

Toyota’s touchscreen infotainment device works properly and is simple to decipher at a look. Contact inputs sign up promptly, and display icons are immense and simple to learn. We’re glad to file that weather purposes are nonetheless manipulated by the use of actual buttons and knobs situated under the touchscreen. Their operation may be easy and logical.

Despite the fact that ostensibly a automobile designed to be environment friendly, the RAV4 Top has earned fawning celebrate for its straight-line acceleration. Toyota quotes a 0-60 mph age of simply 5.7 seconds, time in style buff-book magazines put the determine even less than that. Suffice it to mention that the RAV4 Top scoots clear of a cancel mild with important vigor, and makes simple paintings of passing and merging. Moreover, the interaction of the fuel and electrical motors is most commonly seamless, one thing which can’t be stated some alternative plug-in hybrid cars.

2025 Toyota Crown Signia: 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE

On a complete fee, our verify Top travelled about 40 miles earlier than the fuel engine kicked, which is inline with the EPA’s area estimate. Observe that if acquire a RAV4 Top and select to not set up a level-2 charger, absolutely replenishing your RAV’s battery will snatch about 15 hours the use of a regular house wall outlet.

Observe that the Top in reality delivers moderately decrease fuel-economy numbers than the traditional RAV4 Hybrid when working on fuel. It is because of this that plugging on your RAV4 Top is essential to extracting its complete price. If you can’t decide to steadily plugging on your Top, we strongly counsel choosing the skillful RAV4 Hybrid rather, it, too, will walk simple at the gasoline, and value lower than the Top, as properly.

At the street the RAV4 Top rides properly, and is impressively calmness at velocity. Dealing with by no means exceeds our “adequate” score on the other hand, because the Top feels competent in corners and on on-ramps, however doesn’t ask over playful engagement. Frankly, it’s now not particularly amusing to power on curvy roads, regardless of all of the to be had energy. If it have been our determination, the Top would experience more impregnable, extra direct-feeling steerage, and no more incline in competitive cornering. That stated, we suspect the RAV4 Top chassis is tuned precisely the way in which maximum shoppers would need it to be.

Observe that our analysis is of a 2023 RAV4 Top. Save for pricing, very modest has modified for 2024, so our impressions of the Top mirror the cars on a lot now. And talking of the ones cars on a lot now…we’re discovering that time consumers are nonetheless ordering their Primes, stock is in any case catching up with call for, and that it’s conceivable to seek out an instance at your native broker—although it is probably not the precise colour/scale down point you’re on the lookout for. If now not, form instances have reportedly i’m sick, too.

In the event you’re now not particularly obese or imposing, and also you guarantee to plug your plug-in hybrid in, the RAV4 Top has the makings a tremendous, environment friendly, fast, small-family crossover with upscale cabin trimmings, and hearty dose of long-trip relief.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid SE: Test Drive

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE
2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE

Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast

Follow Tom on Twitter

2023 Toyota RAV4 Top XSE Gallery

Click on under for enlarged pictures

2023 Lexus NX 450h+: Guest Drive

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast Episode 214: Tesla Abandons $25,000 Model, Jill Drives the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Talking to the EVP of SUV Startup Ineos



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *