Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Rav4 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 Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Sportage Hybrid, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Sportage Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	1.8 sec	1.7 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Sportage Hybrid has not been tested.

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 Sportage Hybrid 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Sportage Hybrid.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Sportage Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Sportage Hybrid
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	284	307
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Compression	95 lbs.	115 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Sportage Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	162 lbs.
Hip Force	246 lbs.	247 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	508 lbs.	581 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Hybrid is 1.4% less likely to roll over than the Sportage Hybrid.

Warranty

The Rav4 Hybrid’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage Hybrid 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 Sportage Hybrid.

There are over 55 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.

Reliability

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 Hybrid’s reliability 36 points higher than the Sportage Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is faster than the Kia Sportage Hybrid:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Sportage Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.4 sec	7.5 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Hybrid gets better mileage than the Sportage Hybrid:

			MPG
Rav4 Hybrid
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/38 hwy
		Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/35 hwy
Sportage Hybrid
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/36 hwy

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

Transmission

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 Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 Hybrid stops shorter than the Sportage Hybrid:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Sportage Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	156 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Sportage Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

Chassis

The Rav4 Hybrid is 3.5 inches shorter than the Sportage Hybrid, making the Rav4 Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Hybrid has .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

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 Sportage Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sportage Hybrid EX/X-Line/SX-Prestige’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 Sportage Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4 Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sportage Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4 Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sportage Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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 Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Sportage Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid retains 69.92% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 50.2% resale value of the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $4624.289787 in depreciation.

Recommendations

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

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Sportage by almost three to one during 2024.

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