Both the Toyota RAV4 and the Hyundai Tucson are strong competitors in the fiercely competitive small SUV market. For several years, the RAV4 has been the best-selling vehicle in its class, and it appears that Hyundai’s engineers and product strategists spent a lot of time studying the RAV4’s many advantages. The RAV4 and the Tucson compete against each other in the lineup. There are plug-in hybrid (PHEV), hybrid, and regular petrol versions available for both SUVs.
The previous generation Tucson was undersized for its class and had a relatively unassuming appearance. Hyundai’s current generation successfully addresses both of those shortcomings. The RAV4 and the newest Hyundai Tucson are only an inch apart in length and height, and the Tucson has a greater passenger capacity than the RAV4. Customers will discover that the RAV4 and Tucson offer plenty of cargo space in addition to comfortable seating for five people.
On the highway, the Tucson and RAV4 both excel thanks to their accurate handling and comfortable ride. Although the Tucson can go off-road to some extent, it doesn’t provide customers with off-road variants that are as good as the Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Woodland Edition models of the RAV4.
The Tucson and RAV4 stand out in a crowded category of copycat cars because to their distinctive styling, extensive feature set, and reliable performance. Each SUV’s hybrid variants dazzle with their agile drivetrains and excellent fuel efficiency, and the plug-in hybrids may be the finest in their respective classes. Their expensive pricing is a drawback.
The Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 ought to be on the shopping lists of anybody who are seriously contemplating a compact SUV. Leading the segment is the Toyota RAV4. The Hyundai Tucson is a rising competitor that can match its competition model for model. They are compared here.
Cost and Worth
The front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) trim levels of the conventionally powered 2024 Hyundai Tucson are SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited. Four trim levels are available for the Tucson Hybrid as well: Blue, SEL Convenience, N Line, and Hybrid. For the plug-in hybrid variant, Hyundai offers only two trim levels: SEL and Limited.
The base SE, which starts at $28,875 (with the $1,375 transportation cost), has an 8-inch touchscreen, several safety features that come standard, remote keyless entry, and variable intermittent windscreen wipers. Starts at $31,025 and a great mid-range option is the SEL. The mainstream assortment is completed by the high-end Limited ($38,135), while the popular blackout style is offered by the XRT ($35,700).
The Tucson SUVs with hybrid drives range in price from the base Blue (33,950) to the Limited (41,090). The top-of-the-line Limited costs $46,825 at launch, while the plug-in hybrid SEL starts at $40,100.
One of the most well-liked cars in the nation and a market leader for small SUVs is the 2024 Toyota RAV4. Customers can choose from a large selection of standard, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle types. It can serve a variety of audiences because to its various cuts.
There are FWD and AWD options for the traditionally powered LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Limited, Adventure, and TRD Off-Road; Adventure and TRD Off-Road are only available with AWD.
AWD is available on the LE, XLE, XLE Premium, SE, XSE, Limited, and Woodland Edition trim levels of the RAV4 Hybrid. Regarding the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime, only AWD SE and XSE versions are available.
The FWD LE and AWD LE models of the 2024 RAV4 start at $30,025 and $31,425 respectively. The starting price of the AWD Limited is $39,730, which is at the top of the standard lineup. For a hybrid, the LE costs $33,075 while the Limited costs $41,380. Starting at $45,040 for the SE model, the RAV4 Prime goes up to $48,910 for the XSE version. There is a $1,350 destination and handling fee for every 2024 Toyota RAV4.
Dependability and Excellence
Based on owner-reported issues reported during the third year of ownership, the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) did not place the Hyundai Tucson among the top three models in the Compact SUV sector. Additionally, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which analyses issues owners encounter in the first ninety days of ownership, the Tucson does not place among the top three models in its class.
The following roadside assistance, scheduled maintenance, and warranty coverage are available for the 2024 Hyundai Tucson:
- Normal warranty: 60,000 miles or five years
- Engine guarantee: ten years or one hundred thousand kilometres
- Warranty for electric/hybrid system: ten years or 100,000 miles
- Five years of roadside support with unlimited mileage
- Free scheduled maintenance for three years or thirty thousand miles
- In the 2024 VDS, the Toyota RAV4 is ranked third in the Compact SUV class; but, in the 2023 IQS, it is not listed among the top three cars in the same class.
The following roadside assistance, scheduled maintenance, and warranty coverage are available for the 2024 Toyota RAV4:
- Standard coverage is 36 months or 36 000 miles.
- Engine guarantee: five years or sixty thousand miles
- Warranty for hybrid/electric system: 10 years or 150,000 miles
- Two years of unrestricted mileage and roadside support
- Maintenance on schedule: every two years or 25,000 miles
Efficiency and Performance
Conventional versions of the 2024 Hyundai Tucson are available with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that may drive the front wheels or all four. A 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and an electric motor work together to produce 226 horsepower in the hybrid version. The plug-in hybrid uses the same engine in conjunction with a more powerful electric motor to increase this to 261 horsepower.
The fundamental engine offers a respectably good level of performance. Even yet, the Tucson’s more powerful hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains really make it shine. Compared to their conventional counterparts, the Tucson hybrids have more horsepower and instant torque, making them more manoeuvrable. They also have strong braking capabilities despite their heavier weight.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the standard Tucson has an estimated combined mileage of 28 mpg. The standard Hybrid Blue, in contrast, achieves 38 combined mpg. With an estimated combined fuel economy of 37 mpg, the Hybrid SEL and Limited trail somewhat. With a combined rating of 80 MPGe, the Tucson PHEV is ranked highest. It will provide 33 miles of electric-only range, according to the EPA.
The Toyota RAV4 portfolio for 2024 offers a range of performance and fuel efficiency levels across its plug-in hybrid, conventional, and hybrid models. With its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, the conventionally powered RAV4 offers excellent performance.
The RAV4 Hybrid generates 219 horsepower when combining the same 2.5-liter petrol engine with an electric motor. With 302 horsepower, the RAV4 Prime’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain has the maximum output of any vehicle in the lineup. With a stated 5.5 seconds to accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour, it is the hot rod of the group.
The 2024 RAV4 series has varying levels of fuel efficiency. Apart from its acceleration capabilities, the RAV4 Prime also stands out for being the most fuel-efficient vehicle, attaining an astounding MPGe rating of 94 when operating in plug-in mode and 38 mpg combined when in hybrid mode. According to the EPA, it can travel up to 42 miles on electricity alone.
The combined EPA estimates for the RAV4 Hybrids are 39 mpg. In the meantime, the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models get an EPA-rated 28 mpg combined, while the conventionally powered FWD and AWD RAV4 LE achieves 30 mpg combined.
Driving assistance and safety
2024 Woodland Edition Hybrid Toyota RAV4
Under the SmartSense brand, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson is equipped with a number of standard active safety systems; more safety technology is offered. Lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist identification are examples of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
A standard feature of every 2024 Tucson is enhanced safety technology, which is optional on many rival models. The list consists of haptic steering wheel input, a driver monitoring system, a safe-exit system, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assistance. The higher-end Limited models come equipped with navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and a standard surround-view camera.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet assessed the crashworthiness of the 2024 Hyundai Tucson as of this writing. On the other hand, the substantially identical 2023 Tucson received the best possible 5-star rating for total crash safety. The 2024 Tucson has been designated as a Top Safety Pick for the 2024 calendar year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
All 2024 Toyota RAV4 models come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which is a full set of ADAS technology. This incorporates adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping aid, lane centering assistance, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam headlights, and a forward-collision warning system with pedestrian detection.
While these features are optional on the base model, higher trims come equipped with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a rear cross-traffic braking system as standard. On the majority of trims, front and rear parking assistance with automated braking is standard. Additionally, Toyota offers automated emergency steering, which lowers the possibility of lane departure.
The NHTSA gave the 2024 Toyota RAV4’s conventional and hybrid models the highest 5-star ratings. But as of this writing, the NHTSA has not yet given the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime a rating. In the meantime, the 2024 RAV4 was recognised as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for the year 2023. As of this writing, nevertheless, the Institute has not yet received that award for 2024.
Digital and Infotainment
Hyundai Tucson in 2024
With the Tucson series, Hyundai has led the segment in offering big infotainment displays. The Hyundai Tucson’s top-tier system in 2024 has a 10.25-inch touchscreen; touchscreens in lower trim levels are 8 inches. The large 10.25-inch screen of the Tucson offers more detailed navigation map views and split-screen capabilities, enabling the presentation of multiple screens at once.
Throughout the 2024 Tucson line, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The 8-inch touchscreen system comes with wireless versions of those smartphone mirroring devices that also offer Qi wireless charging. Sadly, the larger touchscreen unit does not support wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Certain 2024 Tucson trim levels come with an 8-speaker Bose audio system as standard, while the N Line and Limited offer it as an option. Hyundai incorporates two USB ports into every Tucson 2024, and all trim levels other than the SE get second-row USB ports. During testing, the infotainment system performed responsively, especially when voice controls were used.
For the majority of model levels, Toyota outfits the 2024 RAV4 with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This user-friendly, simple-to-operate system includes Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.
Higher-tier models like the TRD Off-Road and Hybrid XSE offer comparable amenities along with a larger 10.5-inch display. Additionally, the upgraded system has Intelligent Assistant, which allows voice commands to be used for navigating, finding areas of interest, modifying audio settings, and controlling the temperature within the vehicle.
The luxurious 2024 Toyota RAV4 models provide an amazing 11-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier, offering top-notch audio performance, for individuals who are serious about sound quality. To ensure connectivity while travelling, all 2024 RAV4s come with a one-month trial membership to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Cosy and Practical
2024 Woodland Edition Hybrid Toyota RAV4
The Hyundai Tucson has grown considerably in size in the most recent generation, going from being among the smallest to the largest in its class. It has a higher capacity for passengers than the Toyota RAV4. It can comfortably fit a family of four or even five people and offers adults in all models plenty of head- and legroom in the back.
The 2024 Hyundai Tucson has exceptionally roomy cargo capacity behind the second-row seats—among the best in its class. Additionally, the crossover provides a comfortable ride, and its thoughtfully built seats improve the whole experience—especially on long road journeys.
Let’s get down to the numbers: the 2024 Tucson has slightly greater luggage room than the RAV4, at 38.7 cubic feet. The usable volume increases to an amazing 74.8 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded down, providing more flexibility for cargo demands.
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 offers options to meet a variety of budgets by customising its interior elements, which vary from basic and affordable to opulent. Practicality is given priority in the base RAV4 LE, which features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, several storage spaces, including a lower dashboard shelf, and cloth-covered seats with 6-way driver and 4-way front passenger adjustments.
The interior gradually shifts towards better-quality materials and more comfort and convenience amenities as one moves up the trim hierarchy. Upper-class models add to the ambience with heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat with memory and lumbar support, and synthetic leather upholstery. Premium features including a panoramic sunroof, heated back seats, and heated and ventilated front seats are available on the top tier.
While the 2024 RAV4’s passenger volume of 98.9 cubic feet is large, it is not as roomy as the Tucson’s. Behind the second-row seats, the rear cargo area offers 37.6 cubic feet of room, which increases to 69.8 cubic feet when the rear seatback is folded down.
