World of Wheels

Why We Think Toyota RAV4 Surpasses Kia Sportage

The 2023 Kia Sportage and the 2023 Toyota RAV4 are both decent picks to buy, but there are several significant advantages that allow us to say the Toyota SUV is a more reasonable choice overall.

Compared to the new Kia Sportage, the new Toyota RAV4 has better maneuverability, performance, off-road ability, towing, and gasoline mileage. Let’s see why.

Maneuverability

The Sportage is slightly larger in size (longer and with a broader wheelbase), so it is less maneuverable through traffic, curves and corners, during parking and backing up. The RAV4’s turning circle is tighter: 36.1 vs. 38.6 feet.

Performance

Generally, the Toyota vehicle surpasses the Kia in power.

The RAV4 is equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder making 203 horsepower as standard. A hybrid model packs 219 hp and a plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime – 308 hp.

The Sportage’s base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers 187 hp, a hybrid version – 226 hp, and a PHEV – 261 hp.

Off-Road Ability

Both models offer off-road versions. The Toyota RAV4 has a rugged TRD Off-Road variant, as well as the Adventure and Wilderness Edition packages. 

The Kia Sportage’s off-road portfolio is less pretentious, so to say, and includes the X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims.

A higher ground clearance of the RAV4 of up to 8.6 inches compared to 7.9 inches of the Sportage speaks for itself.

Towing

3,500 pounds of the RAV4 versus 2,500 pounds of the Sportage

Mileage

The Toyota SUV’s fuel economy figures are 30 mpg combined for the gas-powered model and 40 mpg for a hybrid. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid boasts 94 MPGe in electric-only mode and 38 mpg in hybrid mode.

The corresponding figures for the Kia SUV are 28 mpg (gasoline model), 43 mpg (hybrid), and 84 MPGe / 35 mpg (PHEV) in the combined cycle.

Besides, the RAV4 Prime has a larger electric driving range of 42 miles vs the Sportage PHEV’s 34 miles.

Pricing

The 2023 Kia Sportage pricing ranges from $27,285 to $44,285

Kia has just announced the U.S. prices for the plug-in hybrid Sportage: X-Line AWD trim level costs $39,785, X-Line Prestige AWD is $44,285. This model (pictured) is on sale now.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 will be available this fall, its pricing is still unannounced. Expect it will be slightly more than the 2022 model which costs between $28,310 and $44,840. The plug-in hybrid 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE starts at $41,515, and a plusher XSE trim costs $44,840.

All prices include a destination fee.

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