Compare the2025 Kia Niro EVVS 2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Niro EV’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Niro EV has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE, and isn't offered on other Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid models.

The Niro EV’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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Niro EV and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 front parking sensors.

The Niro EV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro EV 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro EV gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity (126 city/101 hwy vs. 105 city/84 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Niro EV gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine (126 city/101 hwy MPGe vs. 40 city/36 hwy).

The Niro EV can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 253 miles. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 42 miles.

The Niro EV stops much shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

The Niro EV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s standard 60 series tires.

The Niro EV has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Niro EV has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Niro EV’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (107.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Niro EV Wave handles at .87 G’s, while the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Niro EV’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Niro EV’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Niro EV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Niro EV is 6.9 inches shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid, making the Niro EV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro EV has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom and 5 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Niro EV has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 63.2 cubic feet).

The Niro EV uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Niro EV Wave’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Niro EV’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the Niro EV Wave is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Kia Niro EV and Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Niro EV offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro EV has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers wireless charging.

The Niro EV Wave’s Smart Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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