Toyota RAV4 vs Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, was inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The 2019 refresh carried over to 2021, making previously optional features standard. Inside, the Renegade had a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, offering trims like Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with unique features.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, launched in North America in 1996, evolved from a "cute-ute" to a mature crossover SUV. The latest iteration of a 2019 redesign, the RAV4 featured angular wheel arches, crisp lines, and expressive headlights, creating a playful yet aggressive look. Inside, the RAV4 had a layered dash with contrasting textures and colors, a touchscreen interface, and distinctive design cues like a geometric pattern tying the cabin together.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a nine-speed automatic transmission with FWD or available 4WD. The Renegade had a solid ride quality, good maneuverability, and a terrain management system with various drive modes. The Trailhawk trim, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and off-road suspension, was the most capable off-road.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 had three powertrains. The gasoline model used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD or AWD. The RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor for 217 hp and an eCVT, achieving 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid had a 2.5-liter engine, an 18.1-kWh battery, and 302 hp, with AWD and an eCVT, offering 42 miles of electric range and 94 MPGe. The RAV4 had car-like handling, MacPherson struts, multi-link suspension, and AWD models with Multi-Terrain Select and dynamic torque vectoring.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom and good front legroom, with suitable rear seats for adults. The Renegade had various storage solutions and a foldable front passenger seat for added space.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, classified as a small SUV, offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. It had a payload capacity of 1,050-1,230 pounds and towing capacities ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 pounds, depending on the model. Inside, the RAV4 was roomy and comfortable for four, with plenty of storage options and cupholders throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens featured the Uconnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 had a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, six-speaker audio, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL audio system with navigation. The RAV4 Prime featured five USB ports, auxiliary power outlets, blue ambient illumination, a wireless charging pad, a bird’s-eye view camera, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 included Toyota’s Star Safety System, LATCH anchors, child-guard locks, Safety Connect, and eight airbags. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard, with features like a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, lane-tracing assist, and road sign assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist. The RAV4 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.