Tested: Three Hearty 2023 Toyotas, Small, Medium And Large

Three fine Toyotas arrived here at headquarters, one after the other, for driving, tire-kicking, note-taking and reporting. Each, naturally, had their charms and demerits. Here they are, reviewed, in brief.

2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime PHEV

The best reason I can find for recommending the 2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime is that at least four people I know bought a Rav4 in the mid-to-late 00s and all four are still on the road, one of them with 200,000 miles, and these people are not particularly nice to their rides, either. The Rav4 isn’t necessarily a style maven, although the Prime trim I drove was quite good-looking with its black body accents. It’s a reliable, solid SUV that drives like an electric and is one of the most highly recommended autos in its price and trim.

What’s new for 2023

Toyota introduced a hardy hybrid Woodland Edition for this year, delivering a TRD suspension kit, a roof rack, bronze-colored wheels, mudflaps, black exterior badging and and custom-designed all-season floor mats with the Woodland Edition logo. All trims arrive with Toyota’s next-generation infotainment interface which includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as over-the-air update capability.

How’s the drive?

Its main selling points are its quickness, its smooth and powerful flavor, especially when compared to others of similar price and style, and its driving dynamics. Its interior, too, is clean, with everything laid out where you can find it. You have 40 miles of EV range before the system kicks over to gasoline, which makes your work commute particularly economical. The RAV4 Prime motivates via a 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine coupled with dual electric motors, making a total of 302 horsepower, a healthy number indeed for its size. It’s got an 18.1-kWh battery pack and comes standard with all-wheel drive system.

Read more about trims, pricing, safety and warranty here.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S

The Corolla Cross arm of Toyota has done itself a huge favor by upping the horsepower from the all-gas Corolla Cross’s feeble 169 horsepower to the 2023 hybrid’s 196. The set up is a three-motor one, pairing a 150-hp Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four engine with three electric motors: two up front making 111 horsepower and a 40-hp motor on the rear axle, with the added benefit of giving you all-wheel-drive. There’s a small lithium-ion battery under the rear seats, and front-axle torque delivers a continuously variable automatic transmission, so you’re all set.

What’s new for 2023?

Available in S, SE, and XSE trims, each includes a sports-tuned suspension which isn’t overly sporty – you will not slam your boy around the curves or otherwise McQueen it up. It’s a tad snug room-wise, but visibility is good. Toyota Audio Multimedia comes with, and, coupled with an 8-inch screen, is easy to use and works well. The drive is pleasant if not spectacular, you’re not going to win any races, but this version of the Cross is the best I’ve driven.

Read more about trims, pricing, safety and warranty here.

2023 Toyota Highlander

It beats Hyundai, Kia and (maybe) Honda in good looks. It’ll seat 8. It feels solid to drive, a big plus when you’re buying an SUV for the sturdiness. It’s also more expensive than much of its brethren, but you get what you pay for. Its safety record, too, is one of the best in the business. And you want cup holders? You got ‘em! All new Highlanders arrive with eight cup holders and six bottle holders. It’s the family-friendly SUV of 2023.

What’s new?

Toyota’s done away with the old 6-cylinder in favor of a 4-cylinder with a turbo, producing a somewhat labored flavor, though it does save the bit of gas. You can expect mileage to be over 30 MPG, depending on your foot and terrain. Also, a hands-free power liftgate is yours this year on the XLE and XSE trims as well as 12.3-inch screens on the top trims. It’s a relaxing drive with no surprises in acceleration, braking or handling, and visibility is good. They’ve updated the infotainment system so it’s the same as Lexus and high-end Toyota models, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and the upgraded one 12.3 inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with.

Read more about options, trims, warranty and safety here.