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Isn’t the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid one of the best SUVs you can buy? It certainly has a good reputation. It’s reliable, rugged, and efficient. But that might not be enough. Rivals are gaining on the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid pretty quickly. 

Is the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid worth buying? 

2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid value
2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Toyota

Yes, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of the most popular options to consider. It has a quiet interior, comfortable ride quality, plenty of space, and can be paired with the TRD Off-Road trim for extra capability. 

But according to U.S.News, the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid is in fourth place. It has a score of 8.2 out of 10. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson came in first place with 8.7 points, then the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid and 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid scored 8.3. 

U.S.News rankings are based on an average score formulated based on reviews from respected automotive critics that are found in newspapers, magazines, and online. 

Each vehicle is judged based on comfort, ride quality, interior quality, cargo space, passenger space, tech, safety ratings, the fuel economy, reliability rankings, towing capacity, and capabilities. 

The RAV4 ranks highly for its reliability ranking, fuel economy, composed ride, responsive handling, user-friendly tech, spacious interior, interior quality, and a long list of standard safety features. But U.S.News reports that it has a lot of wind and road noise. 

Why do rivals outrank the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid? 

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has the second-best fuel economy in the segment. It gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway. The 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 43 mpg in the city and up to 43 mpg in the city. 

Interestingly, the top raking 2023 Hyundai Tucson only gets an EPA-estimated 38 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway. 

But it ranks highly for having superb cargo and passenger space, brisk acceleration, composed handling, a smooth ride, and an upscale interior. But the cons list that it has a subpar fuel economy compared to rivals and no volume knob. 

The Tuscon Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack to generate 226 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds. 

With the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors that generate 219 hp and can reach 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds. 

Does the RAV4 Hybrid have nice features? 

Front angle view of blue 2023 Ford Maverick crossover SUV
2023 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provides 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and up to 69.8 cubes in total. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson has 38.7 cubes behind the backseat and up to 80.0 cubic feet overall. 

Also, the RAV4 Hybrid interior has a strong build quality and plenty of comfort with innovative storage solutions. It comes with an 8.0-inch infotianment system and a 7.0-digital gauge cluster. Plus, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. 

So while the RAV4 Hybrid is well-rounded with tons of value, comfort, and an athletic attitude, it lacks passenger space compared to rivals. It may not be as refined either, but at least it can be equipped with above-average off-roading capabilities.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.