Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs Kia Seltos

When the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was redesigned in 2019, it underwent a significant transformation, shedding its softer crossover styling for a more substantial and blocky appearance. The trapezoidal grille, adapted from Toyota’s truck line, added a sense of heft, complemented by beveled and angled bodywork framing the headlights. Although this restyling was groundbreaking at its inception, many competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 had adopted similar styling cues over the ensuing years.

Inside, the angular theme continued with a multi-tiered dashboard featuring beveled cutouts to add visual interest to an otherwise plain surface. The basic layout was typical for vehicles of the era, with an infotainment touchscreen atop the dash and a satisfactory amount of physical buttons and knobs for primary feature control. Materials quality was about average for the class and price, featuring hard plastics with lightly padded surfaces in high-contact areas. However, the base model and the new Woodland trim opted for a urethane steering wheel and center armrest, which felt rubbery and cheap. Fortunately, higher trims offered a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The build quality was strong, with no creaks or squeaks when driving over rough pavement.

The 2024 Kia Seltos, having undergone a mid-cycle refresh, boasted subtle yet effective changes in its exterior. The updated headlight and grille designs, along with a light strip connecting the smaller taillights, gave the Seltos a fresh and modern look. The new “Pluton Blue” paint color added a sharp aesthetic to our test model.

Inside, the Seltos offered two new interior colors: “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green,” with our test model sporting the standard black interior. The most noticeable improvement was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, comprising a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

Different trims such as LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX each offered varying levels of equipment and features. Upgrades ranged from alloy wheels and cloth upholstery in the base LX, to heated side mirrors and a larger infotainment screen in the S trim, to a power driver’s seat and wireless charging pad in the EX trim. The X-Line featured unique styling tweaks, while the SX trim offered premium amenities like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bose stereo system, and optional SX Sunroof Package for an elevated experience.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor/generator, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. An additional electric motor on the rear axle provided all-wheel drive (AWD). This setup produced a combined 219 horsepower, propelling the RAV4 Hybrid to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. The hybrid powertrain was about half a second quicker than the standard RAV4, while the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime reached 60 mph in an impressive 5.5 seconds.

The braking system operated seamlessly, with initial pedal strokes engaging regenerative braking and more aggressive stops actuating the physical brakes. The suspension smoothed out moderate bumps and potholes, while providing confident cornering without being sporty. Overall, the RAV4 Hybrid offered a calm and effortless driving experience, similar to its rivals.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), offering both all-wheel drive (AWD) and front-wheel drive (FWD) options depending on the trim. The X-Line and SX trims came equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The improved horsepower made a noticeable difference, especially during acceleration.

Under hard acceleration, the turbocharged engine exhibited some whining, but Kia worked on reducing engine and road noise. Despite a slight turbo lag at lower speeds, switching to Sport mode improved the responsiveness. With well-weighted steering and minimal body roll through hard corners, the Seltos managed various road surfaces effectively, from highways to curving back roads. The brakes felt touchy initially but settled down over time.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered ample front seat space for larger passengers, while the rear seats accommodated average-sized adults comfortably. The rear headroom surpassed that of the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage slightly, although rear legroom was marginally less. With the rear seatbacks folded, the RAV4 Hybrid provided 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space, only slightly less than the non-hybrid RAV4. This was comparable to the Honda CR-V's 39.5 cubic feet and the Kia Sportage's 39.3 cubic feet. Interior storage was robust, featuring a wide shelf for the front passenger, a phone tray in front of the center console, large cupholders, and a spacious center armrest bin.

The 2024 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo capacity, offering up to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. The SX trim's optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience. The Seltos boasted an upright seating position, offering solid driver visibility and good rear legroom. Despite its subcompact SUV size, it accommodated taller occupants comfortably in both front and rear seats. The front seating area featured decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies for both front and rear passengers. The front center console had an open tray for keys, wallets, and phones, while the SX trim included a removable cargo cover for additional storage flexibility.

For 2023, the RAV4 Hybrid received a much-improved infotainment system with modern, sharp graphics and logically arranged menus. The standard 8.0-inch display on most trim levels could be upgraded to a 10.5-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the optional wireless charging pad was not always available. The system supported over-the-air updates and included a Wi-Fi hotspot with remote monitoring and control. The top RAV4 Hybrid trim featured a fully digital instrument panel and an 11-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered a consistent digital interface across its trim levels, with screen sizes varying by trim. The base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and touchscreen. Both systems supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite the trend towards fewer physical controls, the Seltos retained tactile controls for volume, tuning, and climate adjustments. The SX trim featured an upgraded eight-speaker Bose stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone-based access.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received high safety ratings, earning five out of five stars for overall and side crash protection from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. It came standard with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic sign reader. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, parking sensors, and optional surround-view camera and digital rearview mirror.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came equipped with a suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. The S trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The SX trim included advanced features like smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, highway driving assist, and additional forward collision warning capabilities.