Compare the2025 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona Electric has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE, and isn't offered on other Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid models.

The Kona Electric’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kona Electric and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 and available around view monitors.

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 Kona Electric is much safer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

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 Hyundai Kona Electric is safer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

The Hyundai Kona Electric has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 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 a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

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

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. 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 Plug-In Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona Electric’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine:

The Kona Electric can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 200 to 261 miles. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 42 miles.

The Kona Electric stops much shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:

The Kona Electric N-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s 55 series tires.

The Kona Electric has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Kona Electric has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona Electric has 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Kona Electric Limited handles at .79 G’s, while the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Kona Electric’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 650 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Kona Electric is 9.4 inches shorter than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom and 4.7 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid.

The Kona Electric has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 63.2 cubic feet).

The Kona Electric Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Rav4 has never been chosen.