Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sportage’s standard Downhill Brake Control allow you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Sportage and the Rav4 Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rav4 Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 32 points higher than the Rav4 Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Rav4 Hybrid isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (237 vs. 219) than the Rav4 Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (240 vs. 219) than the Rav4 Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Sportage has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 Hybrid (16.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage SX Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Hybrid:

The Sportage stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Hybrid (245/45R19 vs. 225/65R17).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE/Limited’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage SX Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Rav4 Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Rav4 Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.

The Sportage is 4.5 inches shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has .5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Hybrid.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (2000 vs. 1750 pounds).

The Sportage’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 Hybrid LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Rav4 Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Sportage has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Rav4 Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XLE/XSE/Limited.

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $105 to $1300 less than the Rav4 Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: