Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Prime have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Kona Electric doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Toyota Rav4 Prime has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Rav4 Prime has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona Electric only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona Electric has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 49 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Rav4 Prime’s reliability 54 points higher than the Kona Electric.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (302 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric’s electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Hyundai Kona Electric:

	Rav4 Prime	Kona Electric
Zero to 30 MPH	2 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	9 sec	10.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.5 sec	16.5 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.8 sec	3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.7 MPH	95.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Rav4 Prime’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 622 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Kona Electric’s range is only 258 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 47 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 9 hours and 15 minutes.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Rav4 Prime’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

	Rav4 Prime	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

The Rav4 Prime’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Prime stops much shorter than the Kona Electric:

	Rav4 Prime	Kona Electric
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 Prime has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (225/60R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (235/55R19 vs. 215/55R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Prime SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric. The Rav4 Prime XSE has standard 19-inch wheels.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kona Electric; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4 Prime’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (105.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Prime is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Kona Electric.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Kona Electric Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Prime XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kona Electric Limited (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Prime has 6.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona Electric (98.9 vs. 92.4).

The Rav4 Prime has 1 inch more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Prime’s rear seats recline. The Kona Electric’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona Electric with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Prime. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rav4 Prime has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or, optionally on the Rav4 Prime XSE, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Rav4 Prime has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona Electric has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Prime uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Rav4 Prime XSE, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rav4 Prime’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona Electric’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Prime the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 Prime has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Kona Electric only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Rav4 Prime’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona Electric SE/SEL’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4 Prime’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Kona Electric’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Kona Electric have standard heated front seats. The Rav4 Prime also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

The Rav4 Prime’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 Prime has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Kona Electric isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Hyundai Kona by over six to one during 2022.