by Anthony Fongaro - Photos via Toyota & Kia - 11/14/2024
Take a look at the compact SUV market and you’ll find vehicles from almost all manufacturers. These vehicles are extremely popular due to their size, features, and cost. All automakers have their take on compact SUVs, including Toyota and Kia. The RAV4 and Sportage take different approaches to what the consumer wants. In this instance, it’s the RAV4 TRD Off-Road and the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige. While the RAV4 is a hybrid, the Sportage is in an off-road X-Pro trim. Let’s take a look at these two popular SUVs and see how well they do against each other.
Looking at the exterior, the Toyota RAV4 has a more chunky and rugged look. This TRD Off-Road version came in Army Green paint with body cladding and 18-inch black TRD wheels. Toyota includes the $1,015 TRD Off-Road Package which adds upgraded suspension with red coil springs and off-road-tuned-shocks. Both the RAV4 and Kia Sportage come with LED lights front and rear and a powered tailgate. Meanwhile, the Sportage is more curvy. There's a more premium look to the Sportage, especially in Shadow Matte Gray paint and its unique 18-inch alloy wheels. Toyota last redesigned the RAV4 in 2019 and Kia redesigned the Sportage in 2023, giving the Sportage an advantage in its modern design language.
Inside either one are powered and heated front seats, steering wheel controls for the media and safety systems, and digital instrument clusters. The RAV4 had a black interior with red stitching and the Sportage had a Carmine Red interior package as standard. Climate controls are easier to use in the RAV4 since they’re all physical buttons and switches, but the array in the Sportage isn’t too difficult to use. Both have wireless Android Auto and Apple Auto, with the RAV4 utilizing a 10.4-inch touchscreen and the Sportage utilizing a 12.3-inch touchscreen. A wireless charger is standard for the Sportage and part of a $640 TRD Off-Road Technology Package.
Ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel are standard for the Sportage and part of a $1,015 TRD Off-Road Weather Package. A great JBL sound system is included in Toyota’s $1,390 TRD Off-Road Premium Audio Package. Equally good is Kia’s standard Harman/Kardon sound system. Both vehicles have great room throughout their cabins and trunks. The one odd thing about the Kia is its large knob for the transmission selector compared to a regular gear lever for the RAV4. Once again, the updates for the Kia bring it ahead of the Toyota.
As I said, the RAV4 is available as a hybrid. In its normal layout, the RAV4 comes with a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 204 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. With an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive, the RAV4 accelerates from 0-60 MPH in a slightly lethargic 8.3 seconds. Kia’s Sportage Hybrid comes with a 1.6-liter inline-four engine and two AC motors, creating 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. With a six-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive, the Sportage Hybrid accelerates from 0-60 MPH almost a second quicker, at 7.4 seconds. If we look at a hybrid RAV4, acceleration times are the same. Both SUVs provide smooth acceleration and simple-to-use controls. The more upscale feel of the Sportage Hybrid makes commuting more enjoyable. Cornering is almost the same for both; nothing exciting but they can take corners at a decent rate. As a non-hybrid, 32 MPG for the RAV4 is quite good. The Sportage Hybrid returned more than 38 MPG.
In terms of safety, both SUVs come with blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and emergency braking. The base price of this 2024 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road is $38,000 and increases to $44,000 with options. The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige has no options, for a total price of around $40,000. Even if this were a comparison of the RAV4 Hybrid and Sportage Hybrid, the Sportage Hybrid would be my choice. It has a nicer interior, more updated looks, and better value for your money. That’s not to say that the RAV4 is bad. Indeed, it is quite a good compact crossover with many redeeming qualities. Its more boxy and chunky looks can resonate better than the curves of the Sportage. Both SUVs are great at their intended purposes but if I had to choose, I would go with the Sportage Hybrid.
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