2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was built on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a size increase over its 2022 predecessor. It was 7.1 inches longer with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, enhancing rear-seat legroom. The new model was also about an inch taller and half an inch wider. The Sportage Hybrid featured a bold design with angular LED headlights and "boomerang" LED daytime running lights, creating a distinctive front end. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, flanked by large air vents, and offered a minimalist, elegant look. However, the SynTex artificial leather upholstery felt somewhat cheap, despite Kia's promotion of it as an "animal-free" alternative.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 maintained the design introduced in 2019, with the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims featuring a two-part face. The Adventure trim had a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and faux skid plates, but lacked true off-road capability. Inside, orange accents added flair to the otherwise basic interior. The RAV4 offered a frameless rearview mirror and various storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment. The RAV4's interior was more rugged compared to the Sportage Hybrid's elegant design, with a focus on practicality and functionality.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX trim offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige trims were all-wheel drive only. The powertrain delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. The Sportage Hybrid had a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, 500 pounds less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the RAV4's acceleration was not particularly exciting, it was adequate for everyday driving. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims featured all-wheel drive as standard, with the TRD Off-Road offering enhanced off-road capabilities. The RAV4's suspension provided a comfortable ride, but the engine noise was noticeable, especially during hard acceleration.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids but less for second-row passengers. The Sportage Hybrid featured a dual-level cargo floor, offering 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior design included clever storage solutions, such as a rotary shift knob and adjustable cupholders.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 provided 37.7 inches of front headroom and 39.5 inches in the rear, with 41 inches of front legroom and 37.8 inches in the second row. The RAV4's cargo space measured 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The RAV4 offered practical storage options, including a shelf above the glove compartment and generous door pockets. The interior design focused on functionality, with a lever-style gear shifter and side-by-side cupholders.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige featured a panoramic display combining the touchscreen with a digital instrument cluster. The Sportage Hybrid included touch controls and analog knobs for audio and climate adjustments, as well as multiple USB-C ports and optional wireless phone charging.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, while the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims received a 10.5-inch screen. The system supported over-the-air updates and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Adventure trim featured an upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on higher trims.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety features included forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of testing.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features such as lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. The RAV4 was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.