Rear view of 2022 Toyota RAV4 Off Road in white driving on a road

Should You Buy a 2022 Toyota RAV4, or Wait for the New 2023 RAV4?

Should you snap up a 2022 Toyota RAV4 before the 2023 Toyota RAV4 hits showrooms? Only if you want a bigger touchscreen.

by Dan Mayfield

Published on June 18, 2022 1:08 pm

2 min read

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 is on its way to dealers this fall. Are the updates worth waiting for? If you absolutely need a larger touchscreen or intend to grab the new off-road Woodland edition, a 2022 Toyota RAV4 SUV may be what you need. Dealers are getting ready for new models and, traditionally, this is the season to get a good deal on a current-year vehicle. Though RAV4s are selling at a premium now.

Consumer Reports recommends the 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 RAV4 is more than just Toyota’s best-selling SUV, it is the world’s best-selling SUV. We’re not surprised that Toyota doesn’t want to mess too much with that success for 2023. The last big update for the RAV4 came for the 2021 model year after a complete redesign in 2018. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 is a five-seat SUV that comes in gas, hybrid, and plug-in variants. Consumer Reports recommends the RAV4 for its reliability and overall competence. It competes with SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage.

J.D. Power’s last rating of the RAV4 scored it average to above average.

Standard safety packages are new in the 2023 RAV4

Driver's side rear angle view of 2022 Toyota RAV4 XSE with Cavalry Blue color option — Cavalry Blue 2022 Toyota RAV4 XSE | Toyota

The big news is that the 2023 Toyota RAV4 will come standard with the latest version of Toyota Safety Sense, which includes pre-collision braking and pedestrian detection, as well as emergency steering assist. The system also has dynamic radar cruise control and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2023 RAV4 will get new touchscreens

2022 Toyota RAV4 Off Road Interior | Joe Santos, MotorBiscuit

The other big news is that all RAV4s will get updates to the infotainment system. The new 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system is standard on lower trim levels. Higher trim levels, like the Adventure and Hybrid SE, will get the 12.3-inch screen. An additional 7-inch Multi-Information Display screen is also now standard on LE/Hybrid LE, XLE/Hybrid XLE, and Hybrid SE grades.

The 2023 RAV4 can be equipped for soft-roading with the new RAV4 Woodland Edition. The Woodland is the first hybrid off-road special edition SUV for Toyota. It uses Toyota’s clever all-wheel-drive system that simply adds an electric motor in the back.

How much will the 2023 RAV4 cost?

2023 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition off-roading — 2023 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition | Toyota

Toyota hasn’t said how much the new standard features will add to the price of the 2023 RAV 4. But we’re expecting a slight increase over the 2022 Toyota RAV4 prices. Today, the 2022 starts at $26,975 for the base LE trim. The RAV4 Prime XSE package, which comes with almost every available RAV4 option, is $43,625.

Toyota RAV4 gas, Hybrid, and Prime; what’s the difference?

The RAV4 Prime is the plug-in hybrid version.

The RAV4 comes in three different versions. You can order a gas-powered version with a 203-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. The hybrid version has a 176-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric hybrid powertrain that makes a combined 209 horsepower.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a different model and an entirely different driving experience. The RAV4 Prime has 302 horsepower and can keep up with a lot of sports cars. It’s the plug-in version of the Toyota RAV4 and can go up to 42 miles on battery power alone. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, an extra available 9-inch multimedia touchscreen, a Heads-Up Display, and more. The prime was released for 2021 and hasn’t really changed much since.

Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.