Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2022 Kia Niro EV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
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 Kia Niro EV 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 EV 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 Niro EV doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Rav4 Prime has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro EV 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 EV 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.

The Rav4 Prime has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro EV doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Niro EV 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.

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 EV has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Rav4 Prime’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro EV 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 EV.

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.

Reliability

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.

Engine

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Kia Niro EV:

	Rav4 Prime	Niro EV
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14 sec	17.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.6 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	93 MPH
Top Speed	117 MPH	108 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 Niro EV’s range is only 239 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 60 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge using a conventional 110-volt outlet can take up to 59 hours.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Rav4 Prime	Niro EV
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 Niro EV are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 Prime has larger standard tires than the Niro EV (225/60R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro EV (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 Niro EV. 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 Niro EV; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Prime is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Niro EV.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Niro EV EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro EV (8 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Niro EV (8.2 vs. 6.1 inches).

Chassis

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 Niro EV doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Prime has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Niro EV (98.9 vs. 96.6).

The Rav4 Prime has .6 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro EV.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro EV with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro EV with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 53 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Prime easier. The Rav4 Prime’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Niro EV’s liftover is 29 inches.

The Rav4 Prime’s cargo area is larger than the Niro EV’s in almost every dimension:

	Rav4 Prime	Niro EV
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.2”/73.4”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	59”	48.2”
Min Width	39.4”	41”
Height	33.2”	36”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Prime. The Niro EV 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 Niro EV doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Rav4 Prime has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro EV 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 EV 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 Niro EV 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 Niro EV 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 Niro EV’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 Niro EV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 Prime’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro EV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Rav4 Prime’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro EV’s 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 EV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Niro EV 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 Niro EV.

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 Niro EV doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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 EV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

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

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

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