2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition Review: An Efficient Exploration Companion

Contrary to popular belief, the top love-it-or-hate-it buzzword of our era isn't found in everyday news media, doesn't revolve around any age-based disagreements, and sure as heck doesn't have anything to do with being politically correct. No, it's actually found in off-road culture: Overlanding. Whether you choose to roll your eyes at the term or throw a big chunk of your paycheck at it, you can't deny its prevalence. Plus, anything that motivates folks to take to the trails, breathe in some fresh air, and sleep under the stars is a good thing.

While larger body-on-frame truck chassis like the Toyota 4Runner, Chevy Colorado, Jeep Wrangler, or a non-leaky Land Rover (rare) are great candidates for this activity, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition with all-wheel drive as standard ought to be considered as well. At least for milder trails where the aforementioned vehicles are a bit too overkill and not worth the mid-to-high-teens fuel economy—which, let's face it, is a situation I bet more people find themselves in than they care to admit.

This muscular-looking hybrid's powertrain allows significantly higher mid-30s mpg, and therefore it has great range. It also comes standard with capable tires, above-average suspension, and is quite roomy and cargo-friendly inside. A roof rack is standard, too, though I wouldn't throw a heavy rooftop tent on there without replacing it with something more focused.

Or, it could be the top choice for someone who wants trail-ready potential but is really more concerned about reaching a local campsite or mountain bike trail. No matter the application, it's a thrifty, stilted-up crossover that's worthy of your consideration.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition Specs

• Base price (Premium as tested): $33,025 ($34,360)

• Powertrain: 2.5-liter four-cylinder | permanent magnet synchronous motor | continuously variable automatic transmission | all-wheel drive

• Horsepower: 219

• Torque: 252 lb-ft

• Curb weight: 3,775 pounds

• Seating capacity: 5

• Cargo volume: 37.5 cubic feet behind second row | 69.8 cubic feet behind first row

• Tow Capacity: 1,750 lbs.

• EPA fuel economy: 38 mpg city | 35 highway | 37 combined

• Quick take: A thrifty method for traversing off the beaten path.

• Score: 8/10

The Basics

The most apparent difference between the Woodland Edition and most other RAV4s are its handsome, 19-inch flow-formed bronze wheels sporting 225/60/18 all-terrain tires. They really set it apart from the rest, and when mixed with blacked-out badging, prominent mudguards, a higher-than-average ride height, and dual exhaust tips (that's right, on a hybrid), it's an all-around handsome package.

The 2023 RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is a sort of TRD Off-Road-lite, meaning it has some substantial unpaved-road-ready kit, though largely mirrors the Hybrid XLE trim everywhere else. Inside, its cloth seats join together with harder plastics, faux dash stitching, and an eight-inch touchscreen to create a value-minded environment but a comfortable and well-laid-out one at that. Its infotainment is quick to get used to and includes Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto that connect wirelessly with ease. It's also a very spacious cabin that fit my six-foot-three, broad-shouldered stature quite well both up front and in the back.

Dropping the rear seats to expand cargo room was a breeze, and with the Woodland Edition, you get thick rubber floor mats for every square inch of floor space. These mats were by far my favorite interior item—they have special Woodland branding, seem quite durable, and aid in providing a grippy surface for cargo to sit on. I packed up the hatch with two big bins containing quart and gallon jugs of waste engine oil, and between not wanting to stain the upholstery, as well as ensuring nothing would potentially slide around at the wrong moment, they fulfilled this two-birds-with-one-stone duty well.

Driving the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition

The RAV4 Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter, naturally aspirated inline-four and permanent magnet synchronous motor, which team up to provide a combined 219 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. It also sports electric all-wheel drive—in between the rear wheels is where the electric motor lives, independent of the front drivetrain—and a CVT transaxle, which operated in a very smooth and gear-driven-like, non-CVT fashion. It'll haul its 3,775-pound self to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, which isn't terrible for a crossover like this, but the powertrain quickly ran out of steam during 60-plus mph left-lane passes.

Sadly, I wasn't able to experience this RAV4's off-road-ready equipment off the beaten path. Its TRD dampers possess internal rebound springs which aid in a more comfortable-yet-controlled ride while its off-road-centric springs and bump stops ensure confidence under hard shock compression—all characteristics one wants when pitching and diving over large bumps, whoops, and washboard surfaces out on the trail.