2020 Kia Sportage vs. 2020 Toyota RAV4

There are several things Byron families should consider when deciding between a Sportage or RAV4, including the exterior, power and performance, interior, and safety features. 

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 is in its second year of a redesign, gaining several new improvements including a more powerful engine, bolder styling, and additional safety features. These changes boosted the RAV4's popularity, and it's still one of the best-selling SUVs in America. However, when compared to other vehicles in the SUV family, it routinely falls short of class leaders, including the 2020 Kia Sportage. 

The 2020 Sportage brings with it an impressive amount of standard features, with the second-level S trim offering the most choices for available package upgrades. The EX trim combines many of the standard and available features of the first two trim levels, while the top SX Turbo trim has nearly all features coming standard. Taking time to research each of these compact SUVs carefully will make help make choosing between the RAV4 or Sportage easier and leave you confident in your decision. 

Do so here at Tom Kadlec Kia in Rochester, MN.

Sportage vs. RAV4: Exterior

Both these vehicles are five-passenger compact SUVs with a variety of standard and available exterior features:

2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 RAV4 comes with six trim levels: the LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. The base LE trim comes with LED headlights, power door mirrors, and a roof rack that can hold up to 176 pounds. The XLE trim brings with it several convenience features, including keyless entry and push-button start. The XLE Premium adds bigger wheels, a sunroof, a slightly raised suspension, and a power liftgate. 

The Adventure delivers special styling flourishes along with additional equipment, including unique wheels, taller roof rails, fender flares, hill descent control, and selectable terrain drive modes. 

The TRD Off-Road trim pushes the Adventure's features list even further with an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, unique black trim elements, a power liftgate, and a sunroof. Finally, the Limited trim continues to build onto the XLE Premium's equipment by adding chrome exterior trim. 

2020 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Kia Sportage has four trim levels: the LX, S, EX and SX Turbo. The base LX trim of the 2020 Kia Sportage features 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights, and automatic headlights. The S trim builds off the base level by adding 18-inch wheels, exterior styling enhancements, fog lights, power-folding and heated mirrors, and roof rails. 

The EX trim mixes and matches features from the first two trims, while the top SX Turbo level adds 19-inch wheels, larger front brakes, upgraded instrumentation, dual exhaust tips, a sport-tuned suspension, and a more powerful engine. 

RAV4 vs. Sportage: Power and Performance

Both of these compact SUVs offer impressive power and performance, towing, and fuel-efficient features:

2020 Toyota RAV4

Every 2020 Toyota RAV4 trim level features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive comes standard with all trim levels except for the Adventure and the TRD Off-Road, which come with all-wheel drive.

The Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited trims also feature a torque-vectoring feature that allows the vehicle to shift power distribution between the rear wheels, enhancing traction when driving on snowy or dirt roads. 

The 2020 RAV4 comes with a 14.5-gallon fuel tank and gets 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. It has a minimum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.

2020 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Kia Sportage offers drivers two engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque that comes standard with the LX, S, and EX trims. Those looking for more power will enjoy the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque that comes with the SX Turbo trim. 

Front-wheel drive is standard with all trim levels, and all-wheel drive is an available option, although it does slightly drop the output to 237 horsepower. Both engines pair with a six-speed automatic transmission. 

The 2020 Sportage comes with a 16.4-gallon fuel tank, getting a fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. It has a minimum towing capacity of 1,653 pounds.

Sportage vs. RAV4: Interior

The Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4 both offer spacious interiors, including several technological and comfort features ideal for daily commutes or weekend getaways:

2020 Toyota RAV4

The RAV4's base LE level comes standard with a 7-inch touch screen interface with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility and a six-speaker sound system. Add a power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitoring with the XLE trim and SofTex simulated leather upholstery at the XLE Premium level. 

Gain an 8-inch touch screen at the Adventure level and unique interior trim at the TRD Off-Road level before upgrading to heated front seats, a navigation system, a virtual rearview mirror, and a premium 11-speaker JBL audio system at the Limited level. 

2020 Kia Sportage

The base LX trim of the 2020 Kia Sportage comes packed with standard features including a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, selectable driving modes, reclining 60/40 split-folding rear seats, an 8-inch touch screen display, a six-speaker sound system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, a driver information display, a height-adjustable driver's seat, and the Kia Uvo infotainment system.

Move to the S trim and add a Sofino simulated-leather upholstery and a flat-bottom steering wheel with wheel-mounted paddle shifters or a black interior trim, a rear USB port, and a leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel. 

RAV4 vs. Sportage: Safety Features

Both Toyota and Kia understand the importance of keeping drivers, passengers, and families safe while riding in their vehicles:

2020 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 technology safety bundle comes standard with all 2020 RAV4 trim levels, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, lane trace assist, forward pre-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.

2020 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Kia Sportage includes several standard safety features including a driver attention monitor, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, a rearview camera, pre-collision warning, and a braking system with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

Choosing between the Sportage or RAV4 isn't an easy choice or one to take lightly.

Visit Tom Kadlec Kia today to schedule a test drive and see why the 2020 Kia Sportage should be your next vehicle.

Would you rather shop online? No worries: Explore our inventory on our website and make your choice from our express store. We'll deliver to your doorstep.

Sportage vehicle picture and Sportage interior dash picture via Kia Dot Com, RAV4 vehicle picture via Toyota.