Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

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 ID.4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Prime. But it costs extra on the ID.4.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the ID.4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Rav4 Prime’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

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 27 points higher than the ID.4.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 23rd.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (302 vs. 201) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor. The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 7 more horsepower (302 vs. 295) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motor:

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 ID.4’s range is only 209 to 275 miles, after which

The Toyota Rav4 Prime has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

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 ID.4; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Prime is .6 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ID.4.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the ID.4 Pro pulls only .82 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 ID.4 Pro (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the ID.4 (8 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the ID.4 (8.2 vs. 6.8 inches).

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ID.4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 Prime has .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Prime’s rear seats recline. The ID.4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ID.4 with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 30.3 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the ID.4 with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 64.2 cubic feet).

The Rav4 Prime’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the ID.4’s (2500 vs. 2200 pounds).

The Rav4 Prime has a much higher standard payload capacity than the ID.4 (1295 vs. 959 lbs.).

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 ID.4 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Rav4 Prime has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Prime XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The ID.4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 ID.4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen ID.4 isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volkswagen ID.4 by over 19 to one during 2022.