Compare the2026 Kia SportageVS 2025 Toyota Rav4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Sportage and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 all wheel drive, 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 Kia Sportage is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24.5%	29.3%
Neck Stress	263 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	14 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	48/154 lbs.	400/388 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30.9%	37.4%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	258 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	292/203 lbs.	340/190 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Sportage is much safer than the Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	70	83
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	146
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	49 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	270	299
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	480 lbs.	835 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Injury Criterion	116	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	669 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

The Kia Sportage has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rav4 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4. 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 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Rav4’s standard 100-amp alternator and largest (optional) 130-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (6 out of 10) than the Toyota Rav4 (5 to 6). This means the Sportage produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rav4 every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.1 inches

The Sportage stops shorter than the Rav4:

	Sportage	Rav4
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Rav4 (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

Suspension and Handling

The Sportage 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 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Rav4 (108.5 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the Rav4 4WD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Limited (27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sportage X-Pro Prestige is quieter than the Rav4 4WD:

	Sportage	Rav4
At idle	37 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Sportage has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (102 vs. 98.9).

The Sportage has .1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 5.7 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Rav4 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 37.6 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 69.8 cubic feet).

Towing

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Sportage (except LX/EX)’s standard Easy Access Function 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 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sportage has a standard Smart Key that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Rav4 XLE/Limited offers a Smart Key System.

The Sportage’s standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Rav4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage with available tilt-down mirrors 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’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Kia Sportage and Toyota Rav4 offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Sportage offers optional 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’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its June 2023 issue and they ranked the Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige three places higher than the Toyota Rav4 4WD.

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