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Buying a new SUV or crossover can be challenging. One of the most popular vehicles to buy is the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Thanks to its reliability, safety, and excellent standard features, the RAV4 is a common choice among buyers. However, did you know that it’s actually better when it costs less? Buying the most affordable versions of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is the way to go. Here are three reasons the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is better cheaper.

1. 2023 Toyota RAV4 has one engine

Reasons the 2023 toyota rav4 is better cheaper.
2022 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

First, a reason the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is better cheaper is that there’s only one engine. Every version of the popular SUV comes with a four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Creating 203 horsepower, the setup is standard across the board for all RAV4 models. One of the primary reasons buyers opt for higher trims is usually a more potent engine. Since there isn’t one of those to worry about, save your money and stick with one of the more affordable RAV4 trims.

In addition, all-wheel drive is an option for any trim level. Although the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims have standard AWD, the standard front-wheel drive trims can get it for a little extra cost. Still, buyers save money by getting a lower trim with optional AWD than buying a higher trim. The TRD Off-Road model, for example, costs nearly $40,000.

2. Standard safety features

A white 2023 Toyota RAV4 is driving through the water.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota

Another reason many buyers opt for higher trims is safety features. Luckily, Toyota doesn’t hide most of its essential safety functions behind the paywall of higher trim levels. For example, the base LE trim costs $28,910 and has the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety features. It includes forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, a lane-keeping system, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader.

No other significant safety or driver assist features are included with a higher trim. As a result, buyers are just as safe in a base model or another affordable RAV4 trim as they would be in a fully-loaded one. Safety is the most vital thing when buying a vehicle, especially a family SUV like the Toyota RAV4.

3. Experts recommend a cheaper RAV4 trim

The final reason the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is better cheaper is that experts recommend one of the cheaper trims. The lineup has six trims ranging about $10,000 in total. However, the bottom-three models only span $5,000 and offer nearly all of the most essential equipment.

Car and Driver recommend the XLE Premium model. “It provides plenty of standard equipment that the LE and XLE don’t offer, such as 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob,” the publication explained.

Next, the experts at Edmunds recommend the same RAV4 trim level. “In addition to all of the features found in the supporting LE and XLE models, you get some desirable updates that include a power liftgate, a sunroof and simulated leather upholstery.” Clearly, the most critical features are standard with the bottom three trims, so why would you go any higher?

2023 Toyota RAV4: Better cheaper

In conclusion, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is better cheaper. Reasons include a single engine that doesn’t get any better by paying more money, standard safety features included with every trim, and experts’ most-recommended model being the third cheapest in the lineup. For these reasons, any of the bottom-three RAV4 trims is the best option, making the popular Toyota SUV better cheaper.

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