The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Has 1 Major Downside
Updated: 6/6/23
It’s hard even to write that something is wrong with the 2023 Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 nameplate is directly linked to rugged, good times. However, Consumer Reports polled RAV4 owners and found that many were not satisfied with their purchase. What’s wrong with the RAV4? Let’s get into it.
Is the 2023 Toyota RAV4 a good car?
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 comes highly recommended by Consumer Reports. However, there is one thing holding it back. Not all owners are happy with their purchase. While the reasoning for this could be subjective in many cases, the fact remains if a car makes people unhappy, that’s a problem. Edmunds also polled owners; the praise and complaints remain pretty consistent. While there is no shortage of five-star reviews, there are also plenty of negative ones complaining that the RAV4 is “uncomfortable,” “too expensive,” and one reviewer recommended for potential buyers to “stay away from this tin box.”
Of the 11 small SUVs in the RAV4’s category, it landed nearly at the bottom in customer satisfaction. While most drivers found it comfortable and had a positive driving experience, the value is what most owners felt dissatisfied with.
How does Consumer Reports rate customer satisfaction?
“Consumer Reports’ Annual Owner Satisfaction Survey can improve the chances of finding a compatible car match. How? Our survey data reveals whether all things considered, owners would buy the same car again. The answer to that question is what determines our owner-satisfaction rating, which is a powerful piece of intel because it predicts how well a particular model will satisfy other owners.”
Again, this is subjective stuff. The problem is people have to be happy with their purchase in order to have a successful product. If buyers feel their car costs too much, then they aren’t likely to purchase it again or recommend the car to others. In a way, this is the only metric that really matters.
Overall, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is still a great SUV
The RAV4 has long been one of the most capable compact SUVs on the market. Toyota’s reliability, paired with the compact size, killer fuel economy, and off-road chops, made the RAV4 an instant classic.
However, Toyota SUVs and trucks have continued to get more expensive over the years without always offering much newness in return. I have a feeling that this is what most of the dissatisfied owners may have been upset about.
With a starting price of $27,975 and range-topping $39,030, many people feel as though the Toyota RAV4 isn’t nice enough to cost this much. Consumer Reports noted in its review that while the small SUV is sound, the interior is “bland, bordering on cheap, thanks to a wealth of hard plastic trim, particularly compared to peers such as the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.”
I guess with car prices these days if paying too much is going to make you unhappy, then you have no chance of enjoying any car purchase, new or used. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 is still a great SUV, but prices are killing the good times.
