2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, a staple in the crossover SUV market, continued to build on its legacy of practicality and reliability. Initially launched in 1996 as a compact alternative to larger SUVs, the RAV4 quickly gained popularity among young buyers, leading to a wave of similar models from competitors. Over the years, the RAV4 evolved, growing in size and sophistication, and by 2022, it had become a mature and leading crossover SUV in sales, particularly in Canada. The exterior design of the 2022 RAV4 was in line with contemporary crossover aesthetics, featuring angular wheel arches and crisp lines that contrasted with the body’s organic shapes. The front end, with its expressive headlights and distinctive grille, gave the RAV4 a playful yet aggressive look, while Toyota’s renowned fit and finish elevated the overall quality feel.

Inside, the RAV4 offered a well-thought-out interior with a layered dashboard featuring contrasting textures and colours. The centre stack was straightforward, with a touchscreen interface positioned for minimal driver distraction. Unique design elements, such as a circuit-board-inspired geometric pattern, tied the cabin together, appearing in various interior components, including the cloth seat inserts and dash pieces. The 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels on the test vehicle further emphasized the RAV4’s attention to detail. Overall, the 2022 RAV4 provided a comfortable and practical interior space, making it a popular choice among a wide range of drivers.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a modernist and reductive design philosophy, focusing on clean and simple lines. While this approach might not appeal to those seeking flashy luxury SUVs, the Range Rover Sport offered subtle elegance with options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle, in Eiger Grey with silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, combined with aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere.

Land Rover offered the Range Rover Sport in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the limited SV Edition One. The test vehicle, a U.S.-spec Dynamic SE, featured heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other premium features, pushing the MSRP beyond $120,000. The Range Rover Sport’s design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights. The SUV boasted excellent aerodynamics and a luxurious, high-tech interior with sustainable materials like Ultrafabrics. However, the standout feature was the Windsor leather upholstery, known for its smoothness and intoxicating fragrance.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrain options, catering to a variety of driving preferences. The gasoline-only model, tested for this review, featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with Toyota direct injection and variable valve timing, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the RAV4 provided a smooth and responsive driving experience. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all but the base model. Fuel economy for the gasoline model ranged from 8.8 to 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.8 to 7.4 on the highway, and 7.9 to 8.5 combined, depending on the drivetrain.

The RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre engine with an electric motor, delivering 217 combined net horsepower and impressive fuel economy ratings of 5.8 L/100 km city, 6.3 highway, and 6.0 combined. The RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid, offered 302 horsepower and could run up to 68 kilometres on electricity alone, with a combined efficiency rating of 2.5 Le/100 km. The Prime’s fuel consumption in hybrid mode was 5.7 L/100 km city, 6.4 highway, and 6.0 combined. The RAV4’s handling was car-like, with a four-wheel independent suspension and dynamic torque vectoring for improved cornering. The gasoline AWD models featured a fuel-saving rear-driveline disconnect for highway cruising.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver engagement, offering a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant, exclusive to the Autobiography trim, delivered 434 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 was available in the sold-out SV Edition One. The Range Rover Sport’s inline-six engine provided ample power, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds, and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. The SUV had a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms.

Fuel economy for the Range Rover Sport was not officially published, but the test vehicle averaged 10.5 L/100 km on the evaluation route and 9.4 L/100 km on a suburban highway drive. The Range Rover Sport featured a new vehicle architecture with increased torsional stiffness and an adaptive damping air suspension for improved ride comfort and handling. The SUV also included Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, and roll stability control. However, the Range Rover Sport’s handling fell short of sport-tuned competitors, feeling tall and heavy with less engaging steering. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled, with advanced suspension and technology for tackling challenging terrain.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, while still classified as a small SUV, offered impressive cargo capacity. With 1,059 litres of luggage space behind the second row and up to 1,977 litres with the seats folded flat, the RAV4 provided ample room for various needs. The SUV had a payload capacity of 499 to 511 kilograms, depending on the configuration. Towing capacity varied by model, with the Trail and TRD Off-Road models rated to tow up to 1,588 kilograms. Inside, the RAV4 was spacious and comfortable for four adults, with a fifth seat available in a pinch. The front seats offered generous legroom, hip room, shoulder room, and headroom, while the XLE grade added features like dual-zone climate control and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Storage options included cupholders, bottle holders, a roomy glove compartment, and covered storage beneath the centre armrest.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, providing a tall and airy feel for the driver. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats offered 20-way power adjustments with heating and ventilation. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle that forced a slouched posture. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle included a full-size spare, limiting underfloor storage, but Land Rover provided a contraption to secure smaller items and netted pockets for additional storage.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came equipped with a range of technology features, starting with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, six-speaker audio, and smartphone integration through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims offered a 9-inch touchscreen with an 11-speaker JBL audio system, navigation, and Safety Connect. The RAV4 Prime featured additional tech, including five USB ports, auxiliary power outlets, and ambient illumination. Top trims also offered a wireless charging pad, bird’s-eye view camera system, and a head-up display.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and an Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless charging pad was also included, though it was challenging to access.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 was equipped with Toyota’s Star Safety System, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, and more. The RAV4 also featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with driver-assist systems like pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure alert. The RAV4 was an IIHS Top Safety Pick and received a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included numerous safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The SUV also had a surround-view camera system and Wade Sensing for off-road water crossings. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were less satisfactory, with slow responses and poor performance on highway curves.