Is The "Best Selling SUV" Also "The Best SUV?" | 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review 

Alex, Were you in Trail Mode for your dirt road driving?

Correct, new RAV4 is likely for MY 2025. I surmise the new Camry will get launched first an year before, similar to what happened in 2018 (Camry) vs 2019 (RAV4).

@@vik_red 24 Camry is already here.

I'm worried how price will depreciate if I buy a RAV4 right before a possible 2024 refresh. What say you guys? Will I lose more than a year's average depreciation?

@@seventyfive7597 No chance.

Do you have air conditioning out there? Hot weather is on the way.

@@rightlanehog3151 sure do. The climate is generally mild year round on the island, but A/C definitely helps on the occasional hot spell.

Canadians seem to get screwed on everything

what the heck do you need a fuel miser on Vancouver Island? You can't drive too much?

Same here. I have a 21 XLE hybrid in NYC and average a solid 39mpg.

I expect those with tax write offs piled on their tax write offs could justify the prices.

Here in Dallas Texas, even the 2023 Corolla LE gasoline sedans have dealer markups, it's ridiculous!

We can always combat that we can wait. They have to move vehicles. Look at the vehicles on dealers lot for longer than 60 days.

Until people stop paying the markup, the markup will stick around

@@oncontinualevolution9966 Toyota has the lowest inventory levels in the industry. Meanwhile Stellantis/Chrysler/Jeep has a massive oversupply.

We came to the same conclusion. Cancelled our ID4 and Ioniq 5 pre-orders, and decided to play it safe with the RAV4 Hybrid.

Curious to learn more details of your decision process from you as I am in a similar situation, leaning maybe more towards an EV..model Y (likely used one..)

⁠any prime XSE with PP OTD Total beyond $57-8k USD is a ripoff. Hybrid XSE with advanced tech for $47k OTD is 10k difference which buys you 6-7 years gas in the hybrid

I think we as a country are getting closer to full EV capability but the infastructure isnt quite all there yet. I believe going hybrid until every car brand gets a solid EV out and we get the infastructure to properly charge anywhere will be the key point

Awesome info. As someone who does 90% hwy driving this helps immensely

Just bought my 2023 RAV 4 Hybrid XSE a little over a week ago; only getting around 36-37mpg with roughly your mix of HW/city. Any suggestions for improvement? I typically (so far) run it primarily in "normal" mode; only use "sport" sparingly for say passing. One caveat I switched the Michelin tires it came with to Michelin Cross Climate 2; (better in the snow--as in Ohio winters). I have however read that they may reduce mpg by maybe 3-4mpg. Of course I have only bought gas so far once, filling tank up from about just below the half way mark with Shell regular. Maybe the dealer only filled it up with cheap quicky-mart type gas?

@@ZeyphodZeyphodbesides the tires, I don’t think you’re past your break-in period either. Congrats and good luck.

I concur.

My 2021 Venza never runs the battery down to less than about 20 percent. The gas engine insists on charging the battery.

I re-watched Alex's Toyoya RAV4 Hybrid towing a 2000lb trailer up a grade last night. Alex regularly remarked (to paraphrase), "the (hybrid) battery is still showing 40% charge" in the context of him traveling uphill for some time with the 2000lb trailer. "There is more available power IF I put my foot into the pedal as the hybrid traction battery is always there", etc. Now, I did review some older comments on the internet that were in Gen 2 Prius Forums and spoke of the hybrid battery being depleted under the case of a high hill climb. My familiarity is with 2017 & 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrids and both those models have the NiMH battery with me personally logging about 130,000km in the 2017. My prior commute about 2 years ago was 1.75 hours one-way to work at least once/week and I had lots of experience where the Camry Hybrid was under load traveling steep grades. Like the others have commented I never experienced a time when the hybrid traction battery was low; usually it would stay around the 40% range. I can only surmise that such is the way Toyota designed their newer generation hybrid vehicles; the hybrid battery will be continually recharged by an amount equal to or exceeding load on the hybrid battery because they just don't fall to zero!

👏👏

Thanks for sharing

It's not a great vehicle. Not even a middling or passable vehicle. Worse than average. Had one as a rental for a week and DESPISED it. Would never recommend buying one.

We have five in our family. We just sold our garbage Grand Caravan and got a Rogue! Half the gas usage and amazing ride! Mini vans are a poor choice for most.

@@cw4623 could you please elaborate whats wrong with it? Im considering one, thanks

If I got a family I would no doubt go for a Toyota Hybrid Sienna/Highlander minus a couple of mpg when compare to the rav4 hybrid but I'm all for it plus it's AWD too

The Venza suffers in the cargo area more than in passenger accommodation. It is certainly a very worthy alternative. It remains to be seen if the Venza's Lithium batteries have the same lifespan as the Nickel batteries in the humble RAV4.

@@rightlanehog3151 lithium batteries are no good at all for the Canadian cold weather. I had a 2018 Honda Insight with the lithium batteries & my dash lit up like a Christmas tree when the temp fell to -25C & stayed that way for at least an hour of driving. My Rav4 XSE hybrid with the nickel metal hydride batteries doesn't have that problem at all.

​@@henryhonda8408 Wife has a venza and I got the Rav both hybrids no issues in the winter

@@MoneyMaking861 I'm not sure where you are but I'm way up here in northern Ontario where we have very long brutal winters.

But the poor folks up in Timmins & Kapuskasing have even longer winters so maybe I shouldn't complain lol

#4 behind even the Crown Platinum

It was the leg room and the road noise that killed it for me. Ended up with an Outback, which is more comfortable in my opinion, and while it has less road noise, it has some noticeable wind noise that I don't love... But over all, happy with the Outback. Hopefully it'll be as reliable as I was used to with Toyotas. It's fun to try something different (I've been a huge Toyota-Only fan for a long time). We'll see what Toyota and Subaru (and others) are offering hopefully a decade or so from now.

The next step is to take it for a drive! -Travis

Wow good points! Did you ever thank of buying it sooner?

​@verynick Honestly, no. It was the first time that I had ever purchased a vehicle at the end of the lease period. This was due to the low mileage and the lack of availability of an updated replacement model. This was during the pandemic.

Your rav4 is a lot better than the new one. More spacious, more trunk space, nicer interior and a smoother engine and transmission. Not to mention the 4 cylinder in yours is oddly refined and sounds great at high rpm’s. It doesn’t buzz like a corolla engine

I doubt that.

Do you have Suzuki? They have the same car and maybe better inventory.

@@MrRaitzi We do not have Suzuki over here anymore.

They would have to rethink where Toyota puts of the hybrid battery. It’s underneath the backseats

They are at nearly 40% of volume compared to 15% in 2019 so they are ramping things up rather quickly.

RAV is likely less expensive long term

Have you looked at the Venza? A neighbor of mine has one and she loves it. She had a RAV4 hybrid previously and prefers the Venza.

Check out Tucson as well. Bit more refined and quiet than rav4, but mpg may not be quite as good. Seats in rav4 are a bit firmer, which is more comfortable for me, but some may prefer the softer tucson seats. The sportage seats are more on the firm side, but sound system is awful if that’s meaningful to you. If I found Tucson seats more comfortable (and they are, but too soft for me), Tucson would be my pick for overall refinement and int/ext design.

Bur not as reliable long term...

It’s basically a rav4 hybrid with more weight

On my 2021 Venza road surface is very influential. On a smooth road, very quiet. On a rough surface (chip sealed) unpleasantly noisy. I have supplied Ecopia tires. Maybe Pirelli tires would fix that?

I concur wholeheartedly! The new Land Cruiser and GX are two of the ew TNGA designs with abundant front and second row space.

Aerodynamic is important for rv4, not so much for land cruiser.

During the LC reveal there was a small boxy car in the background. That could be the Light Cruiser or Compact Cruiser or w.e. Toyota is going to call it.

Good point. Also some practical advantages of LED's are faster response time and much longer life, neither of which are critical for turn signals. LED turn signals are also "crisper", and some people might like the natural fade-in and fade-out effect of incandescent bulbs (some LED turn signals even mimic that via dimming).

Most of it has to do with the T1/T2 suppliers who are often laggards when it comes to upgrading tech when there's no perceived advantage. Most buyers don't calculate bulb turnover costs in cost of ownership. Only the acronym LED might hit some keyword for some buyers. The rapid blink rate for LEDs really should be a selling point for emergency situations since it's hard to miss a LED strobbing at 180Hz.

No it won’t 😂. Honda will always be king. Toyota can’t topple Honda in any category

I just put cross climate 2 tires on my 2016 altima today lol.

CRV is a nice family car, but it has one of the worst performing AWD systems ever, you should watch some tests. It barely even spins the rear wheels.

@keponen331 It's not an offroad vehicle, nor is it meant to be. On dirt roads and paved ones, traction is excellent regardless of weather conditions.

@@Wised1000 doesnt have to be an off road vehicle to have good AWD, just look at Audi and Subaru

@keponen331 It will do exactly the same tricks any AWD that is not meant for offroading snow, ice and mud.

Hi Holly, in this review Alex says at different pints that the hybrid model is better than the non-hybrid, except for the fact that the job-hybrid has a mechanical and better all wheel drive while the hybrid’s is non-mechanical. It’s powered by the electric engine to the rear wheels. It works differently. Also, the wheels are different between the two models. In every other way, the hybrid is better.

sorry but there is no way a 6 speed auto is smoother than an ECVT

@@bitbat9 agreed, but a 6-speed doesn't have a CVT's uber-annoying drone. I'd be all over the Hyundai or Kia instead for the ability to select gears, particularly in hilly or slippery conditions...

​​@@mattclark1278I just can't trust korens cars just yet! But they are getting very good

u can, but u have to install a resistor to prevent hyperflashing, just be careful where u mount the resistors they can get very hot, should be mounted to metal. It's much easier in the front of the car where metal is plentiful but for the tail lights there is much less mounting spots. I'm sure u can even find some places that sell wiring harness for ease of installation and even anti-hyperflashing LED bulbs with built in resistors, but I don't know how good those are.

The main thing is the light pattern which might not be quite right with LED replacements

They sell many kits

I think the device he uses may not be accurate Do you think an Apple Watch is an accurate way to measure sound? Because in my v6 Camry, I’ve gotten 63-64db cabin noise at 70mph using my watch. That’s notably quieter than Alex’s score of the same car where he got 71dB

The difference between 68 and 74dB is huge. I believe for every 10dB sound is perceived to have doubled. I don’t know the device he uses or the consistency, but certainly it would make sense if all vehicles were within such a range given the numerous variables and conditions at play.

I drive a 2021 Venza with the Ecopia tires and the road noise is unpleasant. More attention to this aspect would be helpful.

68-74db is quite a large difference. It’s not a linear relationship

Of course you mean reliability :)

Look up what “liability” means.

Every car is a liability unless it is a collectors item. My 1996 Avalon was a liability when it came to the expense of replacing the leaking steering rack and GM made radiator. My Prius V was a huge liability when the inverter went at 86K miles, car wouldn't start.

They don't even have a hybrid! lol

Toyota all the way, it's extremely reliable and has been around a lot longer than Kia/Hyundai's system

1) Toyota 2) Lexus

It is a hair quieter

How quiet? If it’s 73db no way. That makes my v6 Toyota quieter

@@naveenthemachine 6 will be quieter and smoother than 4.

@@gosman949 what’s odd is that the older 4 cylinder in the rav4 is a lot smoother than the current one

That would be because there are more vehicles continually being added to the world fleet, its all a function of supply and demand.

The bz4x looks as dated as the rav4

lol@@naveenthemachine

I guess I really don't understand a buying decision based on a screen... maybe cuz my concerns are reliability, safety and not items that have nothing to do with transportation...

That is a great question. As a long time small boat user, I am surprised a boat/trailer combination that can be towed with the RAV4 Hybrid's 1,750 tow rating requires the tow vehicle's rear axle to be submerged. Whenever I can I avoid sinking the trailer's axle under water.

@@rightlanehog3151" Whenever I can I avoid sinking the trailer's axle under water." you mean car axle?

The rear motor is sealed so this shouldn’t be a problem as long as the body is above water

@@robertduklus6555 Both. My boat is light enough that the whole trailer does not need to be submerged. I am trying to save the wheel bearings on the trailer and car. The winch can handle the task of pulling the boat out of the water.

@@AAutoBuyersGuide I told you to borrow a boat and trailer to demonstrate the RAV4 Hybrid's towing prowess. 😉

Rav9 in this case refers to Mazda having a CX9 which is much roomier than a CX5. Think about it.

He has an entire video about that comparison.

tuscon/sportage are very competitive in some ways better than rav4

Wrong. The competition is far superior to the rav4 The only car the rav4 ties with is the Chevy equinox

Gotta love these comments from people that never owned a Rav4 hybrid........ it's truly hilarious 😂😂😂

@@henryhonda8408 got love comments from people that have never driven the far superior competition. Only sheeps buy a rav4. Most people who look at Toyotas don’t know other cars exist

@@naveenthemachine obviously you don't know me. 😂😂😂 I've owned mostly Hondas all my life & they were great! Loved them all except maybe my 1999 Civic! My Rav4 XSE hybrid is my first Toyota and its blown me away........ best vehicle I've ever owned by far!

Yes, their Hybrid rhetoric is getting pretty thin with the chronic shortage of supply coupled with dealership mendacity.

This way and that way? What are you talking about?

@@watchreport This is the way.

@@chibbyylol Yes sir Mando, lol!

Went which way? LOL

@@AAutoBuyersGuide The right of way of course

Your crv drives better than the rav4 while still being smoother

@@naveenthemachine I felt the CRV ride/suspension was softer over rough gravel roads and light offroading. I also felt the throttle response was smoother going up hills. The Toyata seemed to like to downshift earlier and stay in the lower gear longer. Made the enginve rev higher. I'm sure it was operating for max efficiency, but it felt uncomfortably high for me. Purely subjective, and I probably wouldn't have even noticed it if I didn't have familaiarity with the CRV to compare it to. It still annoyed me though.

I am surprised to learn rental fleets can get their hands on RAV4 Hybrids when so many consumers are left on waiting lists.

@@rightlanehog3151 Me too, AND it was a free upgrade. I just smiled and took the keys.

That’s a thing of the past You want interior design materials nvh control go with the competition

I like the Venza but it has less room to stretch than a RAV4.

The venza is a bad option imo. I’d go for a Santa Fe instead

I believe Alex is a native Texan.

Never buy a daily driver car as an investment 😊

Not sure about that. Longo Toyota has 16 RAV4s in stock and 9 of them are hybrids. A national search yields similar results. Around 6,500 gasoline only RAV4s are in inventory according to cars . com and 4,666 hybrids. If you're looking for a specific model you should search nearby Toyota dealers.