Compare the2024 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Toyota Rav4 Prime has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Rav4 Prime has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Kona Electric 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.

There are over 47 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 169 more horsepower (302 vs. 133) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (302 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited’s standard electric motor.

The Rav4 Prime’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 622 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Kona Electric’s range is only 200 to 261 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 45 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 6 hours and 5 minutes.

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

	Rav4 Prime	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

The Rav4 Prime’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Rav4 Prime has larger standard tires than the Kona Electric (225/60R18 vs. 215/60R17). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kona Electric (235/55R19 vs. 215/60R17).

The Rav4 Prime XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Prime SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric. The Rav4 Prime XSE has standard 19-inch wheels.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kona Electric; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4 Prime’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (105.9 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (8 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the Kona Electric (8.2 vs. 5.9 inches).

The Rav4 Prime has 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona Electric with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 63.7 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Prime. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Prime uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Rav4 Prime XSE, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rav4 Prime’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona Electric Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Prime the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 Prime’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kona Electric’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4 Prime’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kona Electric’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Rav4 Prime has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/Limited. The Rav4 Prime also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 Prime has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Prime as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Hyundai Kona by over five to one during 2023.