2026 Kia Sportage vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
On the public data alone the RAV4 edges it 4–0.
| 2026 Kia Sportage | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Compact SUV | Compact SUV |
| Powertrains | Plug-in hybrid, Hybrid, Gas | Hybrid |
| Best combined mpg | 42 | 43 |
| Safety Signal | 92 | 100 |
| NHTSA recalls | 1 | 0 |
| Critical recalls | 0 | 0 |
| Owner complaints | 32 | 28 |
| NHTSA overall stars | 5 | — |
| Starting MSRP | $28,790 | — |
2026 Kia Sportage
The 2026 Kia Sportage is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sportage Hybrid FWD, is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. NHTSA lists
A2026 Toyota RAV4
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RAV4, is EPA-rated at 43 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year
Recalls at a glance
Sportage
Electrical System
highProblem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
RAV4
No recalls on file.
Green cells mark the better value on that row. Complaint counts scale with sales volume; treat them as a pattern signal, not a verdict. Sources: EPA, NHTSA.