Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

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 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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.

The Rav4 Prime has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Niro Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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.

The Toyota Rav4 Prime weighs 899 to 964 pounds more than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

The Rav4 Prime’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Prime for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

There are over 59 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 122 more horsepower (302 vs. 180) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles, up to 10% further than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid‘s -mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

The Rav4 Prime has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (14.5 vs. 9.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Rav4 Prime’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Prime stops shorter than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the Rav4 Prime has larger standard tires than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (225/60R18 vs. 205/60R16). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (235/55R19 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Prime SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid; 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 .9 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX pulls only .80 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (8 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (8.2 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Rav4 Prime has 8.9 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Prime’s rear seats recline. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 54.6 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Rav4 Prime has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Rav4 Prime’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Niro by almost 14 to one during 2022.