Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4VS 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV

The Toyota Rav4 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 PHEV doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Rav4 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 PHEV 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.

Both the Rav4 and the Sportage PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Rav4’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage PHEV runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 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 PHEV.

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’s warranty.

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.

The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (324 vs. 261) than the Sportage PHEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Rav4 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Sportage PHEV doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Rav4 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 PHEV doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

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 Sportage PHEV are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sportage PHEV’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 XSE has standard 20-inch wheels. The Sportage PHEV’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Rav4 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 Sportage PHEV; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Sportage PHEV’s (36.9 feet vs. 38.6 feet). The Rav4 GR Sport’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Sportage PHEV’s (37.3 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Woodland has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage PHEV (8.5 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Kia Sportage PHEV.

The Rav4 is 3.4 inches shorter than the Sportage PHEV, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 has .5 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage PHEV.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sportage PHEV with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 34.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage PHEV with its rear seat folded (70.4 vs. 65.5 cubic feet).

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage PHEV is limited to 2000 pounds. The Rav4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Rav4 Limited/XSE Plug-In Hybrid 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 Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rav4’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 PHEV’s 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 the driver can close all of them 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 PHEV can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sportage PHEV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Kia Sportage PHEV by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 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 PHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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