Toyota RAV4 vs iCAUR V23

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l
VS
iCAUR V23 in South Africa

iCAUR V23

2WD Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 100 kW 🔧 180 Nm ⛽ Not applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota RAV4 vs iCAUR V23: the short answer

RAV4 and V23 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

V23 starts ZAR 90,100 cheaper RAV4 from ZAR 610,000 · V23 from ZAR 519,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification RAV4 V23
Maximum Power RAV4137 kW @ 6000 rpm V23100 kW
Maximum Torque RAV4221 Nm V23180 Nm
Engine Size RAV42500 cc V23Not applicable — battery electric vehicle
Combined Fuel Economy RAV421.3 km/l V23Not applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l
Ground Clearance RAV4186 mm V23190 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

RAV4

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

V23

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

V23

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec RAV4 V23
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026 South African May 2026 local specification sheet for the current V23 generation.
Facelift History Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives -
Facelift Launched Since Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives -
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification -
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Published
Segment SUV Electric SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1725-1740 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec RAV4 V23
Length 4645 mm 4220 mm
Width 1880 mm 1915 mm
Height 1680 mm 1845 mm
Wheelbase 2690 mm 2735 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 186 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 165 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l Not applicable — battery electric vehicle
Boot/Cargo Space 732 l 372 L rear seats up; 994 L with rear seats folded
Kerb Weight 1560 kg 1550–1850 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2230 kg 2085 kg
Payload Capacity 460 kg 350–650 kg
Towing Capacity 1000 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.9 m
Front Headroom 991 mm 1020 mm
Rear Headroom 947 mm 990 mm
Front Legroom 1031 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 882 mm 970 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This RAV4 and V23 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: RAV4 56 vs V23 41.

Efficiency index: RAV4 84 vs V23 99.

Safety-equipment index: RAV4 94 vs V23 93.

Practicality index: RAV4 68 vs V23 60.

Ownership-cover index: RAV4 not separately scored vs V23 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

RAV4 leads by 4 points

RAV4 and V23 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 74% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

RAV4

74% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 84
Safety 94
Practicality 68
Leads by 4 points
71
#2

V23

67% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 99 Check Performance 41
Performance 41
Efficiency 99
Safety 93
Practicality 60
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance RAV4 +15 Efficiency V23 +15 Safety RAV4 +1 Practicality RAV4 +8

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

RAV4

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 68/100

V23

Performance 41/100
Efficiency 99/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 60/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota RAV4 leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 71 pts for V23

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, RAV4 leads. However, V23 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

RAV4 vs V23 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.