2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Toyota RAV4 View Inventory

2023 Kia Sportage Overview

Breaking down the 2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Toyota RAV4 is an intriguing comparison for any consumers researching compact crossovers as these are among the most popular options in the class. The RAV4 has been one of the best-selling crossovers for a long time now, and Toyota is one of only a few automakers that can call its crossover an SUV and actually mean it. The Sportage is one of the segment’s great success stories. Kia had to take market share from some heavy hitters while Kia was rebranding itself as an automotive company that could deliver far more than just value. This 2023 comparison is also particularly interesting as Kia is launching an all-new fifth Sportage generation.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Sportage's Overview

Exterior - Kia Dealer serving Centennial CO

In terms of form factor, the 2023 Kia Sportage and 2023 Toyota RAV4 are quite similar. These are both four-door compact crossover SUVs with a rear liftgate. The Sportage has an 8.3-inch ground clearance, a 108.5-inch wheelbase and a 183.5-inch length, which is about 15.3 feet. The RAV4 has an 8.6-inch ground clearance, a 105.9-inch wheelbase and a 181.5-inch length. The RAV4 has a rugged aesthetic, which is perhaps among the most recognizable in the class. Kia, on the other hand, offers that option but also offers a more upscale aesthetic, which is something many consumers prefer. In both cases, 17-inch alloy wheels are standard and 18- and 19-inch wheels are available. Roof rails are also standard for the two models, and both automakers provide a range of exterior customization options.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Sportage's Exterior

Interior - 2023 Kia Sportage in Centennial CO

There are many similarities when comparing the 2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Toyota RAV4 cabins, but there are three points in particular that stand out in favor of the Kia model. The first is the 3.5 additional inches of legroom that the 2023 Kia Sportage provides in the rear seat. This is the difference between comfortably accommodating adults and your vehicle not being suitable for long drives. You may suspect that Toyota uses that space in the cargo area, but the Sportage cargo space is larger by 2 cubic feet on paper and feels even bigger than that in practice. There is also the matter of material quality, which is just higher in the Sportage at the lower trim levels and only really becomes comparable higher up.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Sportage's Interior
Kia Sportage Mechanical specs

Kia and Toyota take a similar approach in that most trim levels include front-wheel drive and offer all-wheel drive as an option. It’s the off-road models that include all-wheel drive. In the case of the 2023 Kia Sportage available at Arapahoe Kia, those models are the X-Line AWD, X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige. For the 2023 Toyota RAV4, the off-road models are the Adventure and TRD Off-Road. The models are very similar in terms of performance as both automakers opt for a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and pair it with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia and Toyota both also include terrain management systems with their off-road models, so be sure to test-drive those if off-roading interests you.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Sportage's Mechanical
Technology - 2023 Kia Sportage dealer

An 8-inch infotainment touch screen is standard for both the Sportage and RAV4, and that is one of the changes for the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Toyota also gives the option of a 10.5-inch screen, but at Arapahoe Kia, we offer you a 12.3-inch display instead. Kia offers the more robust suite of driver-assistance technologies. One criticism we have is that Kia does not include adaptive cruise control with that base package, and Toyota does. On the other hand, Kia includes front and rear parking sensors and driver attention monitoring, which Toyota does not. At the higher end of the trim lineup, Kia includes many advanced technologies that Toyota doesn’t, including a camera-based blind-spot monitor.

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If you have any questions that we didn’t cover in our comparison of the 2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Toyota RAV4, feel free to call, email or click the live chat button on the Arapahoe Kia website. Our team is glad to answer questions, discuss brand incentives, provide custom quotes and much more.

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