2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, ranging from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with off-road-oriented trims like the Adventure and TRD Off-Road in between. The design remained consistent with the 2019 model, especially in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which featured a distinctive two-part face. The Adventure trim, which we tested, had a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and additional black cladding around the wheel arches, giving it a rugged appearance. However, it was more about looks than actual off-road capability. Inside, the Adventure trim added orange accents, including a stripe on the seats and contrast stitching, along with a frameless rearview mirror that added a touch of premium feel to an otherwise basic interior.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, albeit outdated, design from its last major redesign in 2010. The boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a rugged and stable appearance, essential for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model we reviewed featured underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a beefy tubular roof rack, enhancing its off-road credentials. Inside, the 4Runner showed its age with old-school styling and outdated technology, including an analog instrument panel and a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. The interior had a lot of hard plastic, but cushioned panels on commonly touched surfaces provided some comfort. Despite its dated design, the 4Runner's layout was easy to use, and it offered excellent outward visibility, crucial for off-road driving.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which were all-wheel-drive (AWD) by default. All trims could be upgraded to AWD, adding a Snow Mode. The RAV4 had a single engine choice for its gas-powered models: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the transmission was preferable to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), it didn't excel in acceleration. The RAV4 Adventure trim had 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and a standard suspension setup, while the TRD Off-Road trim featured 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, on the other hand, was powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, which lagged behind the ten-speed in the Ford Bronco and the eight-speed in the Jeep Wrangler. The TRD Pro model came standard with four-wheel drive (4WD) and a two-speed transfer case, while other trims offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) with 4WD as an option. On-road performance was sluggish, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a noisy engine. The soft suspension, while great for off-roading, resulted in significant body roll and floatiness on paved roads. However, the 4Runner remained composed under hard braking, and its tall tire sidewalls helped absorb larger road imperfections.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 37.7 inches of headroom in the front row and 39.5 inches in the back seats with the moonroof. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the second row. The RAV4 provided ample storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack among competitors.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior design looked dated, but its layout was user-friendly, with large climate-control dials and protruding driveline levers. The front seats offered plenty of space, though the steering wheel didn't telescope far enough for taller drivers. The second row provided ample legroom but limited headroom for taller passengers due to the elevated rear bench height. The 4Runner offered 47.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 89.7 cubic feet with the seats stowed. However, the process of folding the seats was cumbersome, and there were no remote seat releases in the cargo area. The 4Runner also featured a sliding glass rear window and a hitch receiver with a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 received a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard and a 10.5-inch touchscreen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air (OTA) updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. Our RAV4 Adventure tester had the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model came with a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, but road noise often obscured the sound quality. Additional terrain controls in the headliner console were labeled with pictograms, requiring a thorough read of the owner's manual to understand their functions. The system included Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, along with differential controls for off-road driving.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it four out of five stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars in rollover evaluations. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests but "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The TRD Pro and Limited trims added a surround-view camera system, with the Limited also featuring front and rear parking sensors.