The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodlands Edition is more of everything. It gets the RAV4's most powerful traditional hybrid engine and a host of visual and equipment upgrades to make it look tough on the trails.
Toyota will only sell the RAV4 Hybrid Woodlands Edition in Midnight Black, Cavalry Blue or Ice Cap exterior colors. It comes standard with Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, black roof rack cross bars for a cargo carrier and a 120-volt inverter.
Setting it apart from other RAV4s, the special model has bronze-colored wheels, custom all-weather floor and cargo mats, black badges and mud guards, and black chrome exhaust tips.
As for performance parts, the Woodlands RAV4 gets a Toyota Racing Division-tuned suspension, which will smooth out rough trails, according to Toyota. The springs too are tuned for off-road to control wheel travel, and new shocks help control the body over larger hill and holes.
The Woodlands features the RAV4 Hybrid powertrain meaning a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powering the front wheels and an electric motor adding power to the rear wheels when necessary. When not necessary, the front wheels do all the work, leading to a combined average fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon (mpg).
Paired with a continuously variable transmission, the engine in the RAV4 Woodlands delivers 176 horsepower and 163 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. Including power from the electric motor brings the total horsepower figure up to 219.
Inside, the Woodlands features the usual RAV4 cup holders, storage trays, side nets for cargo and 60/40 folding rear seats. Ford 2023 all Rav4s will get the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with over-the-air updates, a Connected Service Drive Connect trial with access to Intelligent Assistant (like Alexa), Cloud Navigation and Destination Assist, which gives access to a live person to get directions.
Three months of satellite radio is also standard, which can be integrated with Apple Music and Wi-Fi for a cost. An 8-inch touchscreen is standard but TRD, upgraded Hybrid and Prime (and this Woodland) models now come with a 10.5-inch display. Top models are available with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and all get a 7-inch driver display.
Toyota Safety Sense remains standard with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, emergency steering assist, lane centering and automatic high beams. Options on the 2023 RAV4 include blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, bird's eye view camera, rear cross traffic braking and sonar parking sensors.
The new outdoorsy Woodlands trim feels like an answer to the Subaru Outback and Forester Wilderness models, and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands. These vehicles don't have the capability of a Jeep Wrangler or full-size Bronco, but are adept in off-road situations, barring something like rock crawling.
Toyota doesn't have a price for the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid Woodlands Edition, but the current Hybrid starts at $29,575 with the Rav4 Prime coming in at $40,300. In unison with the arrival of the model at dealerships this fall, Toyota will be donating $500,000 to the National Environmental Education Foundation, which improves accessibility to public lands.
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