Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 2025 Dodge Hornet

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 Dodge Hornet doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Rav4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Hornet 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.

Both the Rav4 and Hornet offer Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Rav4 (except LE) has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Rav4 and the Hornet 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 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. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Hornet.

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 38 points higher than the Hornet.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Dodge is ranked 21st.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Hornet running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Rav4 has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 13.5 gallons).

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Hornet:

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Hornet (105.9 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Hornet.

The Rav4 4WD handles at .81 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Hornet GT (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (8.4 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Hornet GT (8.6 vs. 8 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

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

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the Hornet GT:

The Rav4 has .7 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

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

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Hornet with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 27 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 54.7 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 Hornet’s liftover is 31.8 inches.

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

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

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Both the Rav4 and the Hornet 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 Hornet.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 will cost $215 to $1200 less than the Hornet over a five-year period.

The Rav4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 will retain 60.29% to 62.45% of its original price after five years, while the Hornet only retains 51.34% to 51.35%.

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

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost 47 to one during 2023.