Compare the2022 Hyundai NexoVS 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime

The Nexo’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Nexo and the Rav4 Prime 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Nexo its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rav4 Prime is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

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

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Nexo 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Prime. Any repair needed on the motor, fuel cell, batteries, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Prime ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Nexo’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Rav4 Prime’s (7 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 13th.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Nexo higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Rav4 Prime (7). This means the Nexo produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rav4 Prime every 15,000 miles.

For better traction, the Nexo Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Prime (245/45R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The Nexo Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Prime XSE’s 55 series tires.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nexo’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Rav4 Prime (109.8 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Hyundai Nexo may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Prime.

The Nexo has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 Prime (101.3 vs. 98.9).

The Nexo has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 5.8 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Prime.

The Nexo uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 Prime uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Nexo’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Rav4 Prime’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Nexo has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Rav4 Prime XSE/Limited offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

The Nexo Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an automated parking system.