10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Toyota RAV4 Can’t Bypass Land Rover Defender’s Defenses
The perennially popular Toyota RAV4 in 2022 remained the bestselling vehicle in the nation that wasn’t a pickup truck, but competition in the white-hot compact SUV market shows no sign of cooling off anytime soon. For the 2023 model year, the RAV4 works to keep itself fresh in the field with updated exterior styling, a new infotainment setup, an additional trim option and reconfigured pricing.
Related: 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review: Good on Gas, Bad on Noise
In one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past month, we run down what’s new with the RAV4 — and what it’ll cost you. The RAV4 Hybrid and Prime plug-in hybrid variants get revised front-end styling, while availability of the rugged, outdoorsy Woodland Edition is now available on the hybrid. All models get an upgraded standard 8-inch multimedia system or optional 10.5-inch unit, while a new 7-inch digital gauge cluster comes standard, with a 12.3-inch display available. Pricing for gas-only models starts at $29,310, the hybrid at just over $32,000 and the Prime’s two trim levels range from $43,675 to $47,545.
For full details on the 2023 Toyota RAV4, follow the link below to the No. 10 news story from the month of March.
If you’re shopping for an SUV on the other end of the spending spectrum, you’ll want to check out the eighth-place finisher on our monthly countdown of most read articles for Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman’s comprehensive critique of the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130. The big news there is that the 130’s got back — 13.5 more inches than the Defender 110 and 30 more inches than the Defender 90, to be exact — hence, the ability to put more junk in the trunk when you’re not using that more accommodating (if still cozy) standard third row of seats. That extended length’ll cost ya, though, in addition to the premium you’re already paying for the posh privilege of that Land Rover luxury and unlikely-to-be-used off-road ability, with prices ranging from around $70,000 up past 100 grand.
“For this price, though, you can get a lot of competing luxury SUVs that offer far more space, if not quite the same level of off-road style, ability or, let’s be honest, cachet — which is a big reason why a lot of folks who’ll never use the Defender’s off-road systems buy one anyway,” Bragman writes in his review.
For our full take on the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130, follow the link below to the No. 8 article of the month.
Beyond that, we got headlines on the Ford Maverick, Honda Pilot and much more — including our refreshed buying guide telling you everything you need to know when shopping for an electric vehicle — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past month:
1. What Are the Best Used Cars for $10,000?
2. Our Long-Term 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid Is Gone, But We Still Love It
3. What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide
4. Is the 2023 Honda Pilot a Good SUV? 5 Pros and 3 Cons
5. What Are the Best Used Cars for $15,000?
6. Which SUVs, Minivans and Sedans Have the Most Cargo Space?
7. Auto Loan Rates Are Surging: What’s a Good Rate Right Now?
8. 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 Review: Long and Loving It
9. What’s the Best New-Car Deal for March 2023?
10. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Gets New Infotainment System, Hybrid Heads for the Woodland
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