2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform, offering North American buyers a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front design featured Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, these lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported LED-illuminated toothy taillights, contributing to its standout design among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with higher-end models featuring premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, and higher trims offering leather-trimmed seats and a spacious, uncluttered dashboard design.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, redesigned in 2019, adopted a more substantial and blocky appearance, with a trapezoidal grille inspired by Toyota's truck line. This design choice added a sense of heft, complemented by beveled and angled bodywork framing the headlights. While initially distinctive, this styling approach was later mirrored by competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50. The RAV4 Hybrid's interior continued the angular theme with a multi-tiered dashboard featuring beveled cutouts for visual interest. The layout was typical for vehicles of its time, with an infotainment touchscreen atop the dash and physical buttons and knobs for primary controls. Materials quality was average for its class, with some hard plastics but lightly padded surfaces where needed. The base model's urethane steering wheel felt downmarket, but higher trims offered a leather-wrapped option. Overall, the RAV4 Hybrid's build quality was solid, with no noticeable creaks or squeaks during rough road conditions.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, providing adequate but uninspiring performance. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid variant used a six-speed transmission. The hybrid powertrain delivered a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful and enjoyable to drive. The Tucson Hybrid outperformed competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in terms of power. All-wheel drive was standard on the hybrid and optional on ICE models, with the AWD system performing well in off-road testing. The Tucson Hybrid was notably more fuel-efficient, with a combined fuel consumption rating of 6.4 L/100 km, compared to the ICE model's 8.2 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor/generator, producing a combined 219 horsepower. It accelerated to 100 km/h in approximately 7.5 seconds, making it quicker than the standard RAV4 but slightly slower than the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime. The RAV4 Hybrid's brakes operated smoothly, with regenerative braking charging the hybrid battery during initial pedal strokes. The suspension provided a comfortable ride over moderate bumps and potholes, delivering confident cornering without being sporty. The RAV4 Hybrid's driving dynamics were competent but unremarkable, similar to its rivals in the compact hybrid SUV class.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, competing with popular models like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings for the driver's seat available. The Tucson's new platform provided more passenger and cargo space, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four, with a 1,095-litre cargo space comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided ample space for front passengers, while the rear seats comfortably accommodated average-sized adults. Although rear headroom was slightly more than the Honda CR-V or Kia Sportage, legroom was a bit less. The rear seat cushions were set low, potentially causing discomfort for taller passengers on long trips. The RAV4 Hybrid offered 1,059 litres of cargo space, only slightly less than the non-hybrid version. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, but shorter individuals might find it challenging to reach them. The RAV4 excelled in interior storage, with a wide dashboard shelf, a phone tray for wireless charging, large cupholders, and a spacious centre armrest bin. Dual-zone climate control was standard on all trims except the base Hybrid LE.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a robust set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was positioned in front of the driver. The Preferred trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, which included climate control and radio/media functionality. While the touchpoints were responsive, the lack of physical differences made it challenging to find the right button without taking eyes off the road.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid introduced a new multimedia infotainment system with modern graphics and logically arranged menus. Most trims featured an 8.0-inch display, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.5-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an optional wireless charging pad. The system supported over-the-air updates and included a Wi-Fi hotspot and remote vehicle monitoring. The top RAV4 Hybrid trim featured a fully digital instrument panel. A six-speaker audio system was standard, with an 11-speaker JBL audio system available on the XSE and Limited trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, and rear occupant alert. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 5-year/100,000-kilometre limited warranty for the Tucson.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. In Canada, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Limited trim added parking proximity sensors and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control provided smooth throttle and brake inputs, with no false alarms from the safety systems.