Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota Rav4: Here’s The Difference

Published January 17, 2022
in Model Info

When it comes to powerful, effective, and attractive SUVs, the Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota RAV 4 might be two of the most popular options, aside from the Honda CR-V. Both of these models have some high-tech features, a relatively recent design, and plenty of advantages that help them stand out from the general SUV market.

But which model is right for you? Comparing the Hyundai Tucson vs. the Toyota RAV4 directly is one of the best ways to figure out which model is right for you.

We’ll take a look at the key differences between these two SUVs, including their performance and handling, internal cabin features and space, and any other key differences that might make it easier to decide which vehicle will be best for you.

Let’s dive in.

Price

When it comes to price, car fans and people who watch the vehicle market might be surprised to know that the RAV 4 is just a little more expensive than the Hyundai Tucson despite the Tucson’s more recent redesign.

The price difference between these two vehicles isn’t huge, about a $1k difference at each trim level, and both vehicles are still well within market standard pricing across the board. However, since the Tucson has more recent changes and more updates, it’s interesting that the consistently popular RAV 4 still has a higher MSRP.

We’ll be looking at whether the RAV 4 has earned that higher price point for the rest of the article.

That said, it’s worth noting that both of these vehicles are priced slightly on the lower end of an SUV, partially because both can be classed as crossover SUVs and are a little more affordable than larger options.

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Driving Performance and Power

Driving performance and the power of the engine and transmission are incredibly important when it comes to both of these vehicles. Power and performance determine how well the Tucson or RAV4 holds up on the road.

Both of these vehicles have a 2.5-liter engine, but the RAV 4 has slightly improved horsepower despite the otherwise similar design. The Tucson offers 187 hp, but the RAV 4 wins with 203 hp.

Of course, that’s not enough of a difference to make a huge difference in driving performance. Neither of these vehicles is going to push you back in your seat with the force of their acceleration. But the RAV 4 does offer just a little more power and slightly faster acceleration.

You’d think that with the increased hp of the RAV 4, it would have lower fuel efficiency. In this case, that isn’t true. The RAV 4 actually manages to have a slightly more efficient design than the Tucson, but the difference (30mpg vs. 29mpg) isn’t very significant at the pump.

Over the life of the vehicle, you’ll probably save money on gas with a RAV 4, but the savings aren’t very significant.

The RAV 4 also has a much more rugged design and is a better option if you’re looking to go off-roading or want more flexibility on different kinds of terrain or in different situations.

But the Tucson does perform a little better, in terms of handling and maneuverability, on traditional pavement. That said, the Tucson just isn’t as effective an off-roading vehicle as the RAV 4.

Features, Comfort, And Safety

When it comes to features, comfort, and safety, there aren’t as many clear advantages or disadvantages for either vehicle Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota RAV 4.

The Tucson offers a lot more cargo space than the Toyota RAV 4, slightly more than 10 cubic feet at 80.4 cubic feet compared with 69.8 cubic feet in the RAV 4.

The Tucson also has a lot more room in the cabin, including headroom legroom and even just space on the seats. If having a comfortable set of seats is important for your next vehicle, the Tucson is probably the better choice.

However, while both vehicles offer a similar set of safety features, the RAV 4 has more of them than the Tucson.

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Things like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition mean that the RAV 4 has a lot more automated safety features. The Tucson relies on active drivers a little more but offers a fair amount of other safety options that are less automated but still fairly effective as long as you’re awake and engaged.

Style

The style of a vehicle is probably the least important aspect of your vehicle, but it’s still worth considering if you’re looking for a new vehicle to drive.

In this category, we’re going to give a clear win to the Tucson in Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota RAV 4.

That’s because the Toyota RAV 4 is designed to be more of a rugged SUV and doesn’t really care about the style of the vehicle as much as its function.

That means that the Hyundai Tucson’s sleeker modern design is clearly the more stylish of the two options. If you’re looking for an SUV that looks good in addition to offering good performance, the Tucson will probably come out on top.

However, the RAV 4 does get a few points for looking like a functional, rugged SUV. It’s not stylish, but it still has a look that will almost certainly appeal to some consumers.

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Which Is The Better SUV Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota RAV4?

If you’re looking for a great SUV, both the Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota RAV 4 probably belong in the running. The Tucson’s more modern and sleek designs look great and offers pretty good performance overall. The RAV 4’s rugged design speaks to the kind of performance it offers and the kind of high-use drivers it’s best for.

Overall, between these two, we’re going to have to say the RAV 4 is probably the better vehicle for a wider range of consumers. It’s slightly more expensive, but not unreasonably so when you consider its higher hp, better fuel efficiency, greater versatility and maneuverability on different terrains, and more and better adaptive safety features.

That said, this is a pretty close comparison, and the Hyundai Tucson is still going to be the better option for a good number of consumers.

When it comes to Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota RAV 4 there’s no slam dunk winner, but that’s because both of these vehicles are pretty good options.

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