Compare the2024 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2023 Kia Niro

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

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

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE/Limited offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro 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 Hybrid and the Niro 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid weighs 443 to 729 pounds more than the Kia Niro. 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 Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been tested, yet.

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (219 vs. 139) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro:

The Rav4 Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Niro can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Rav4 Hybrid has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (14.5 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 Hybrid 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 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The Rav4 Hybrid stops shorter than the Niro:

For better traction, the Rav4 Hybrid has larger tires than the Niro (225/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro.

The Rav4 Hybrid 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; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Rav4 Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Niro’s (61% to 39%). This gives the Rav4 Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Hybrid has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro (8.1 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Rav4 Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Rav4 Hybrid 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.

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

The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 22.8 cubic feet). The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 63.7 cubic feet).

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

The Rav4 Hybrid has a 1750 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Hybrid uses the Enhanced 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 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 Hybrid’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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Niro SX’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Hybrid 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 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro’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 Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Niro doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Hybrid Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Niro doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 Hybrid Woodland has a 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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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

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