2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling cues from the Tacoma pickup, featuring a trapezoidal grille and upright fascia that gave it a rugged look, popular among midsized SUVs. However, its side profile introduced a swooping character line over the rear wheel arch, reminiscent of the Toyota Supra and Sienna, which added unnecessary visual weight. The rear echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall design felt disjointed compared to more cohesive competitors like the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander Hybrid's asymmetrical dash was less jarring, with a metallic styling element creating a storage tray and a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen for reduced driver distraction. The Bronze Edition featured unique 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric upholstery with a triangle motif, which seemed impractical for families due to its tendency to attract dirt. Other trims offered more conventional materials, with genuine leather available only on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 maintained the design introduced in 2019, with the Trail trim featuring a two-part face, blacked-out wheels, and faux skid plates. Despite its rugged appearance, it was more of a style statement than an off-road performer. Inside, the Trail trim added orange accents, while the RAV4's interior remained fairly basic, with a frameless rearview mirror adding a touch of premium feel. The RAV4 offered fabric upholstery on LE and XLE trims, with synthetic leather on the XLE Premium package. The Limited trim featured heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats with memory settings. The RAV4's interior was practical, with ample storage options, but its back seat was narrower than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive, with an electric motor powering the rear axle for additional traction. It accelerated to 100 km/h in just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as needed. The CVT's lack of gear shifts resulted in an uninspired drone during acceleration, especially on hills. The Highlander Hybrid offered a soft ride quality, with a suspension that smoothed over bumps while maintaining adequate cornering confidence. The cabin remained quiet on highways, except when the engine was pushed.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims, with a Snow drive mode included. While the RAV4's acceleration was unobjectionable, it lacked excitement, and the engine noise was noticeable, though not as loud as the Subaru Forester's. The RAV4 Trail trim had 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and shared the same suspension setup as other RAV4s, offering a comfortable ride but not excelling in off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with ample adjustments, though the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned. Storage options were plentiful, with trays, a centre armrest bin, and large door pockets. The second-row seats provided generous head- and legroom, with sliding and reclining captain's chairs for added comfort. A second-row bench was available, increasing passenger capacity to eight. The third-row seat was less accommodating, suitable for children or short trips. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seats folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed. Higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five, with 958 mm of front headroom and 1,001 mm in the rear. Legroom measured 1,039 mm in the front and 960 mm in the back, with the back seat narrower than competitors. The RAV4 offered practical storage options, including a shelf above the glove compartment and large door pockets. Cargo space was 1,059 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,977 litres with the seats folded, placing it ahead of some competitors but behind the Honda CR-V.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch option on top trims. The system was responsive, with logical menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging on higher trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were available on Limited and Platinum trims.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard and a 10.5-inch screen on the Limited trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with voice command and connected services. The Trail trim had a base six-speaker stereo, while the Limited trim featured an 11-speaker JBL audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version on the Limited trim.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems required some fine-tuning for smoother operation.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features like lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It featured the TSS 2.5 suite of driver-assistance systems, including Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with top scores in crash-testing.