Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4VS 2023 Jeep Renegade

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 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 Jeep Renegade doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Rav4 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 Renegade 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 Limited/TRD Off-Road offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Renegade 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.

The Rav4’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 Renegade doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Rav4 and the Renegade 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Jeep Renegade:

	Rav4	Renegade
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	207
Neck Stress	306 lbs.	332 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	284	363
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	340/190 lbs.	290/322 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Jeep Renegade:

	Rav4	Renegade
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	161
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	161 lbs.
Hip Force	246 lbs.	328 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	146	286
Spine Acceleration	49 G’s	73 G’s
Hip Force	508 lbs.	1157 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	314
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Renegade:

	Rav4	Renegade
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	120	128
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1249 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.85 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	446 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	982 lbs.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 is 2% to 7.3% less likely to roll over than the Renegade.

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 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Renegade last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

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’s reliability 33 points higher than the Renegade.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep 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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (203 vs. 177) than the Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Jeep Renegade:

	Rav4	Renegade
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.6 MPH	78.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Renegade:

			MPG
Rav4
	FWD	XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		LE/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/33 hwy
		Adventure/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
		TRD Off-Road 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
Renegade
	AWD	1.3 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		Trailhawk 1.3 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Renegade requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Renegade (14.5 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Renegade:

	Rav4	Renegade
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger standard tires than the Renegade (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R17).

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Renegade (105.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Renegade.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .84 G’s, while the Renegade Latitude pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 Adventure executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Renegade Trailhawk (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Renegade (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the Rav4 has standard flush composite headlights. The Renegade has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 has 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Renegade.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Renegade with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Renegade with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 50.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 easier. The Rav4’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Renegade’s liftover is 30.2 inches.

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the Renegade’s in every dimension:

	Rav4	Renegade
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/73.4”	28.9”/59”
Max Width	59”	40.1”
Min Width	39.4”	37.6”
Height	36.6”	33.7”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rav4 (except LE) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or, optionally on the Rav4 Limited, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Renegade doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Renegade is limited to 2000 pounds. The Rav4 4WD offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

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

The Rav4’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 Renegade’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 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 Renegade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Renegade doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Renegade’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Renegade’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Rav4 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Renegade only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Both the Rav4 and the Renegade offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Renegade.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 (except LE/XLE/Adventure) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Renegade doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Renegade doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited/TRD Off-Road offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Renegade doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Renegade doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rav4 is less expensive to operate than the Renegade because typical repairs cost much less on the Rav4 than the Renegade, including $58 less for a water pump, $255 less for a muffler, $127 less for front brake pads, $232 less for a starter and $363 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Renegade isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Jeep Renegade by almost 15 to one during 2022.