2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender outsold the Land Rover Discovery significantly, by more than four to one. Despite their similar size and price, customers veered towards the Defender due to its distinctive boxy design, reminiscent of the old LR4. Ever since the Defender debuted in 2020, consumers largely ignored the Discovery. The Defender's design maintained a consistent theme, focusing on well-defined corners. Its square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and abruptly chopped tail projected a classic truck look. Elements not cut at 90 degrees were at steep angles, such as the windshield and lower front bumper.

The Defender incorporated tasteful nods to the original 1980s model, including dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylight windows on the roof’s sides, and a signature body-color square. Every model sported a full-size spare wheel on the hatch, reminiscent of a barn door design. Its accessory packages included ladders, roof racks, a snorkel, and mud flaps. The X trim added a two-tone hood, larger wheels, and full blackouts in the V8. Available in three body styles—90, 110, and 130—the Defender provided unparalleled choice. Inside, the Defender emphasized function and durability. Despite optional Windsor leather, the interior comprised primarily moisture-wicking rubbers and stain-resistant plastics, with a six-inch metal dash bar, exposed screws, and simple air vents, maintaining a rugged yet unique feel against luxurious Range Rovers. The Defender’s build quality was excellent and uncompromising, reflecting hardcore character, yet its premium cars felt considerably more upscale.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4, offered in six trim levels, from the affordable RAV4 LE to the well-equipped RAV4 Limited, adhered to the design introduced in 2019. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims distinguished themselves with a two-part face. Testing the Adventure trim revealed an aggressive grille with a centrally positioned Toyota badge, blacked-out wheels, and faux skid plates. The trim added striking black cladding and orange interior accents, signifying adventure in aesthetics more than actual capability. The center console featured practical yet basic orange accents, and premium touches like a frameless rearview mirror added a sense of refinement. The LE and XLE trims came with fabric seats, scaling up to synthetic leather (SofTex) in XLE Premium, and the top trim featured heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats.

In the 2023 Land Rover Defender, off-road capabilities were unparalleled. Testing in 2020 proved its superb grip, wheel articulation, and clearance. The Defender's air suspension allowed it to navigate almost any terrain. However, most owners did not fully utilize the Terrain Response 2 system or appreciate the differential locking capabilities. On-road behavior, however, revealed the Defender's limitations. Its drivetrain friction and drag were noticeable, resulting in speed loss downhill. The vehicle exhibited excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. Braking felt uneasy with long pedal travel. Despite similarities to the Range Rover in trail capabilities, the Defender lacked on-pavement finesse, paralleling the Toyota 4Runner more than a luxury SUV.

The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines redeemed the Defender. The V8, with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, provided exhilarating acceleration, comparable to a V8 Jaguar F-Type. Less potent but still effective, the mild-hybrid inline-six offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, with a fuel economy budget-friendlier than the base four-cylinder. The four-cylinder engine, producing 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, felt underpowered for extensive highway use. The six-cylinder offered marginally better efficiency, 18 mpg city and 23 highway, versus the four-cylinder's 17/20 mpg. Despite poor ratings (14/19 mpg) for the V8, it remained a favorite for enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with FWD, with AWD standard for Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims and optional on others, adding Snow Mode. Hybrids possessed exclusive AWD setups. The RAV4's single gas engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, delivered 203 hp and 184 lb-ft, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While preferable over CVT, acceleration was unremarkable. Noise levels, while better than a Subaru, weren't silent. The Adventure trim fell short of its TRD Off-Road sibling, which featured more purposeful off-road modifications with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. The Adventure's 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and standard suspension setup didn't support robust off-roading.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled in both off-road performance and daily usability. Unmatched in seating configurations, it accommodated up to six in the two-door Defender 90 with a jump seat or eight in the extended-length Defender 130 with a third row. Passengers in the third row enjoyed amenities like a separate moonroof, air vents, cupholders, USB ports, and armrests. The Defender 130 boasted 77 cubic feet of cargo space with folded rows, but only 14 cubic feet otherwise. The 90 and 110 provided 16/58 and 34/79 cubic feet respectively. Folding the optional third row in the 110 yielded 69 cubic feet. The Defender catered to active lifestyles with options like metal roof racks and various rugged accessories.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was designed to offer practicality within a more compact footprint, seating five. It provided 37.7 inches of front headroom and 39.5 inches rear, slightly less for driver and passenger but more in the back seats compared to competitors. Front legroom stood at 41 inches, with 37.8 inches for the second row, comparable to the CR-V up front but lagging behind both the CR-V and Forester in the rear. Trunk storage was versatile, featuring a shelf alongside the glove compartment and generous door pockets. The RAV4’s cargo capacity was substantial at 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with rear seats down, bettering the Mazda CX-5 but falling short of the Honda CR-V.

Land Rover's 2023 Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems with the reliable Pivi Pro software. The standard 10-inch and optional 11.4-inch screens were quick to operate and came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice assistance, and navigation. The base Defender 110 had manual fabric seats and a basic stereo, with higher trims introducing 12-way heated power seats, leather upholstery, and a Meridian stereo. More advanced features like adaptive cruise control, head-up display, air suspension, and rearview camera displays were available in higher trims.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 received a noteworthy tech upgrade with a new infotainment system. An 8.0-inch touchscreen was standard, growing to a 10.5-inch display on Limited and TRD Off-Road trims, all supporting OTA updates and wireless smartphone integration. The Adventure trim tested came with the 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL audio system, costing an additional $3,490. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch display available on the Limited trim and optionally on the TRD Off-Road but not on the other trims.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had yet to undergo U.S. crash testing but excelled in Euro NCAP evaluations, securing five stars. Equipped with six airbags (notably omitting front knee and rear side thorax airbags), it offered standard driver-assistance features like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The Defender also boasted advanced parking aids, a 360-degree camera, and customizable alerts, though it lacked a self-steering highway assistant.

The entire 2023 Toyota RAV4 lineup included comprehensive safety features such as lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, LED high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring became standard starting with the XLE trim. Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 added Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, operational at below 20 mph. The RAV4 earned top IIHS ratings, achieving a Top Safety Pick+ award for 2023, continuing the model's strong safety record.