Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Hyundai Nexo

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In 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 Hyundai Nexo 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 Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Nexo doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Nexo doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Rav4 Plug-In 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 Nexo 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 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Nexo doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Nexo have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Plug-In 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. Hyundai only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Nexo.

There are over 47 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 141 more horsepower (302 vs. 161) than the Nexo’s electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Nexo:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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 Nexo’s range is only 354 to 380 miles, after which it can only refill at a pressurized hydrogen station, presently only available in 55 retail locations in the United States.

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Nexo are solid, not vented.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Nexo.

The Rav4 Plug-In 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 Nexo; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Nexo’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Nexo (8 vs. 6.4 inches), allowing the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.8 inches higher than on the Nexo (8.2 vs. 6.4 inches).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 3 inches shorter than the Nexo, making the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has .3 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nexo.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Nexo with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nexo with its rear seat folded (63.2 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Nexo’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Nexo’s in almost every dimension:

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Nexo has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Plug-In 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 Nexo doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Hyundai doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Nexo.

When two different drivers share the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Nexo doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Nexo doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rav4 Plug-In 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 Nexo’s standard 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 Plug-In 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 Nexo can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Nexo doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Nexo have standard heated front seats. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Nexo.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Hyundai Nexo by almost 1805 to one during 2023.