The Toyota RAV4 has received a number of updates in its home country of Japan. Looks-wise, it still keeps the previous Japanese version’s design, though what’s new leans more towards on-board tech and features.
The updated 2023 Toyota RAV4 for the Japanese market
One of the most noteworthy additions to the 2023 Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) RAV4 is the updated Toyota Safety Sense driver-assist safety kit. For 2023, the said model now gets a Junction Automatic Emergency Braking system. This pre-collision system enables the vehicle to detect if other cars are turning in at intersections. It can also determine if a pedestrian is crossing the road in the midst of a turn.
All trims for the Japanese market also received updates to their infotainment systems. These come in the form of a software update, the “Hey Toyota” voice activated assistant, and a cloud-based navigation system. Moreover, USB-C ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard on all RAV4 trims in Japan.
Inside the updated JDM RAV4
The screens that are present on the JDM RAV4 were also improved as well. Specifically, they did away with the older eight-inch head unit in favor of a larger 10.5-inch touchscreen. This uses Toyota’s new “T-Connect'' software, and it gets WiFi hotspot functionality as well. The digital gauge cluster has likewise been bumped up to a much larger 12.-3-inch display.
As mentioned, the styling of the 2023 RAV4 for Japan remains unchanged. A new “offroad package” however is now available and it provides a matte and blacked-out front fascia for a more SUV-like look. New two-tone colors, Attitude Black Mica and Urban Khaki, were also added.
The updated JDM RAV4 with the "offroad" package
Other than those, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 for the Japanese market carries over the previous version’s mechanical bits. It is still available in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, and it offers a 2.0-liter gasoline engine as well as a 2.5-liter hybrid.
Will we get these updates in the Philippine market as well? Stay tuned here on the Philippines’ largest automotive portal for more updates.