Honda CR-V vs. Kia Sportage vs. Toyota RAV4 | Compact Hybrid SUV Comparison Test

Summary

In this comprehensive review, the Kia Sportage Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid are tested for their performance as compact hybrid SUVs. The focus is on fuel economy, technology, driving experience, and family-friendly features. The Kia Sportage Hybrid emerges as the top-rated SUV, excelling in interior comfort, cargo space, and overall value, while the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid lags behind due to its dated interior and lower refinement.

Takeaways

• 🏁 The video features a comparison of three compact hybrid SUVs: Kia Sportage Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
• 🌟 Kia Sportage Hybrid is the reigning two-time Edmunds top-rated SUV award winner, outperforming all SUVs, not just compact hybrids.
• 🚀 Honda CR-V Hybrid scored the highest in driving with an 8.5, offering a slightly different hybrid system and better ride quality.
• 🌿 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, despite having the lowest driving score, excels in fuel economy, achieving 47.4 MPG in the test.
• 💺 Kia Sportage Hybrid offers a modern and stylish interior with excellent ergonomics and comfortable seating for both front and back passengers.
• 📱 Technology and safety features are comparable across all three vehicles, with each offering adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitors.
• 🔗 Honda CR-V Hybrid stands out for its wireless connectivity options for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a feature not available in the other two models.
• 🧳 Kia Sportage Hybrid wins in cargo and storage, fitting 12 out of the test boxes, showcasing its flexible interior storage space.
• 💰 The video emphasizes value for money, with Kia Sportage Hybrid being a strong contender due to its well-rounded performance and reasonable price.
• 🏆 The overall conclusion is that Kia Sportage Hybrid is the top choice among the three, excelling in multiple categories and offering great value.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script discussing compact hybrid SUVs?

The main focus of the video script is to determine which compact hybrid SUV is the best by evaluating their fuel economy, technology, family-friendly features, and overall performance in various categories.

Why did the script decide against a drag race to determine the best compact hybrid SUV?

The script decided against a drag race because it was concluded that all people care about is MPG (miles per gallon), which is a more relevant factor for hybrid SUVs.

What method did the script use to test the fuel economy of the compact hybrid SUVs?

The script used a real-world fuel economy loop, driving the vehicles nose to tail to ensure they experienced the same traffic conditions, speeds, and distances, and then filled them up at the same gas pump for an accurate comparison.

Which three compact hybrid SUVs were included in the script's test?

The three compact hybrid SUVs included in the test were the Kia Sportage Hybrid, the Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Why was the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid not included in the test despite being the second-highest rated compact hybrid SUV for Edmunds?

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid was not included because it shares a lot with the Kia Sportage Hybrid, including the same powertrain and platform, and many of the same features. The findings for the Sportage Hybrid would apply to the Tucson Hybrid as well.

How does the Edmunds rating system work for vehicles?

The Edmunds rating system works by rating vehicles on over 30 different individual data points which are then compiled into several main categories to provide an overall score and a snapshot of the vehicle's performance.

What are the main categories the script covers to evaluate the compact hybrid SUVs?

The main categories covered in the script are interior and comfort, technology including safety technology, fuel economy, driving experience, and cargo and storage.

Which compact hybrid SUV had the highest driving score and why?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid had the highest driving score with an 8.5 due to its solid performance, slightly better pickup at lower speeds, and quieter cabin compared to the other vehicles.

What was the outcome of the fuel economy test among the three compact hybrid SUVs?

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid had the best fuel economy with 47.4 MPG on the test route, beating both the Kia Sportage Hybrid and the Honda CR-V.

How does the script address the cost of fuel for driving 5,000 miles in each of the compact hybrid SUVs?

The script calculates the cost for fuel over 5,000 miles for each vehicle, showing that the Kia costs about $85 more than the Toyota, but highlights the additional value in terms of interior quality, driving experience, and technology that the Kia offers.

Which compact hybrid SUV ranked first in the interior and comfort category and why?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid ranked first in the interior and comfort category due to its modern and stylish interior, good ergonomics, physical controls for commonly used items, and a comfortable back seat with a lot of recline.

How did the technology category evaluation play out among the three compact hybrid SUVs?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid and the Honda CR-V tied for the top spot in the technology category due to their in-cabin technology offerings, while the Toyota RAV4 fell slightly behind, mainly due to the smaller screen and the need to pay extra for an upgrade.

What was the determining factor for the cargo and storage category winner?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid won the cargo and storage category due to its flexible interior storage space and the ability to fit one more box than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in its cargo area.

Who was the overall winner according to the script and why?

The Kia Sportage Hybrid was the overall winner because it performed well in every category, offering a strong all-around vehicle with great value, modern features, and a stylish interior.

Outlines

00:00

🏁 Introduction to the Compact Hybrid SUV Test

The script opens with Brian Wong introducing a comparison test of three compact hybrid SUVs: the Kia Sportage Hybrid, the Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Initially, a drag race is humorously suggested but dismissed in favor of a focus on MPG and real-world fuel economy testing. The goal is to evaluate the best technology and family-friendly features to assist viewers in making an informed purchase decision. The test route is designed to simulate real-world driving conditions to provide a fair assessment of fuel economy. The absence of the second-highest rated compact hybrid SUV, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, is explained due to its similarities with the Kia Sportage Hybrid, sharing the same powertrain and platform.

05:00

🚗 Driving Experience and Fuel Economy Test

The script discusses the driving experience of the three SUVs, highlighting the unique hybrid system of the Honda CR-V, which primarily operates as a series hybrid, using the gas engine as a generator. The CR-V is praised for its driving score and solid performance. In contrast, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid receives the lowest driving score due to the noise and coarseness of its engine when it kicks in. The fuel economy test results show the Toyota with the best MPG at 47.4, followed by the Kia and Honda. The real-world implications of these results are discussed, with a cost comparison for driving 5,000 miles in each vehicle, revealing a minimal difference in running costs.

10:02

💺 Interior Comfort and Technology Evaluation

The script compares the interior and comfort aspects of the three SUVs, with the Kia Sportage Hybrid taking the lead due to its modern and stylish interior, ergonomic design, and comfortable back seat. The Honda CR-V follows closely with a slightly less comfortable front seat but better materials and real metal knobs. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is last, with a dated interior, less comfortable front seats, and a lack of back seat recline. In terms of technology, including safety features, all three vehicles are well-equipped, but the Honda and Kia tie for the top spot due to the CR-V's wireless connectivity options, despite its smaller screen, and the Sportage's larger screen but lack of wireless connectivity.

15:04

📦 Cargo and Storage Capacity Test

The final part of the script focuses on cargo and storage capacity. The Kia Sportage Hybrid is again highlighted for its flexible interior storage and wins the cargo test by fitting 12 boxes compared to 11 for the Toyota and Honda. The Honda and Toyota are tied in this category, with the Honda noted for fitting the same number of boxes but lacking some of the flexible storage solutions present in the Kia. The script concludes with a summary of the overall rankings, placing the Toyota at the bottom, the Honda in the middle, and the Kia Sportage Hybrid at the top as the clear winner in its segment, offering the best value and performance across all tested categories.

Keywords

💡Compact Hybrid SUVs

Compact Hybrid SUVs are smaller sport utility vehicles that combine the features of SUVs with the fuel efficiency of hybrid technology. In the video, these vehicles are the main focus, with the Kia Sportage Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid being compared. They are central to the theme of the video, which is to determine the best compact hybrid SUV based on various criteria such as MPG, technology, and family-friendly features.

💡MPG (Miles Per Gallon)

MPG is a unit of measurement used to express the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, indicating how many miles a vehicle can travel per gallon of fuel. It is a key consideration for consumers interested in hybrid vehicles, as highlighted in the script. The video emphasizes the importance of MPG in evaluating the three compact hybrid SUVs, with a real-world fuel economy loop test conducted to determine which vehicle offers the best fuel efficiency.

💡Technology

Technology in the context of the video refers to the advanced features and systems integrated into the vehicles, including infotainment, safety systems, and connectivity options. The script discusses the technology present in each of the SUVs, such as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the Honda CR-V, and the large digital gauge cluster and touchscreen in the Kia Sportage Hybrid, which are significant for modern car buyers.

💡Fuel Economy Loop

A fuel economy loop is a specific route or set of conditions designed to test and measure the fuel efficiency of a vehicle under real-world driving scenarios. In the script, the hosts drive the three SUVs on a long fuel economy loop to assess their MPG in a fair and consistent manner, emphasizing the importance of this test for evaluating the vehicles' performance.

💡Edmunds

Edmunds is a well-known car review and research platform that provides consumers with information to make informed car buying decisions. In the video, the hosts refer to Edmunds' ratings for the compact hybrid SUVs, indicating that the Kia Sportage Hybrid is the top-rated compact hybrid SUV on the platform, which adds credibility to the comparison and the final recommendations.

💡Hybrid Powertrain

A hybrid powertrain is a system that combines an internal combustion engine with an electric propulsion system, allowing a vehicle to switch between or use both power sources. The script mentions that all three SUVs have hybrid powertrains, which provide adequate day-to-day power while maximizing fuel efficiency, a key feature for the vehicles being compared.

💡Interior and Comfort

Interior and comfort refer to the design, materials, and overall experience of the vehicle's cabin, including seating, ergonomics, and storage. The video script discusses these aspects in detail when comparing the SUVs, noting that the Kia Sportage Hybrid has a modern and stylish interior, while the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's interior feels dated in comparison.

💡Cargo and Storage

Cargo and storage pertain to the space available in a vehicle for carrying goods and personal items. The script includes a practical test of the cargo areas of the SUVs by loading them with boxes to see which vehicle can fit the most, highlighting the Kia Sportage Hybrid's flexible interior storage space and its ability to fit 12 boxes compared to the 11 boxes fit by the other two SUVs.

💡Safety Technology

Safety technology encompasses the various features and systems designed to prevent accidents or mitigate their effects, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. The video script mentions that all three SUVs are well-equipped with safety technology, which is an important consideration for consumers, especially those shopping for family vehicles.

💡Value

Value in the context of the video refers to the cost-effectiveness and overall worth of a vehicle in relation to its features, performance, and price. The script discusses the value proposition of each SUV, noting that the Honda CR-V, while solid, may not offer the best value compared to the Kia Sportage Hybrid, which is praised for its strong performance across categories and reasonable pricing.

Highlights

A comparison of three compact hybrid SUVs: Kia Sportage Hybrid, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The focus is on MPG, technology, and family-friendly features for an informed buying decision.

A real-world fuel economy loop is used to test the vehicles at reasonable speeds.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid share the same powertrain and platform.

Edmunds' rating system considers over 30 different data points for each vehicle.

Categories for evaluation include interior and comfort, technology, fuel economy, driving experience, and cargo/storage.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has the lowest driving score due to a noisy and coarse engine.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid has the highest driving score with a solid and quiet ride.

Fuel economy results show the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid leading with 47.4 MPG.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid offers a modern and stylish interior with a reasonable price.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid features wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid has the best screen setup but lacks wireless smartphone connectivity.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's technology falls behind due to a smaller screen and the need for an upgrade package.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid wins in cargo and storage with a flexible interior and practical cargo area.

The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 tie in cargo capacity, but the Kia Sportage Hybrid fits one more box.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid is the top-rated SUV overall by Edmunds for its all-around performance and value.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is expected to be redesigned next year, potentially improving its ranking.

Transcripts

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[TOPPLING]

BRIAN WONG: Oh, yeah!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Those are three compact hybrid SUVs.

And to tell you which one is the best,

we're going to have a drag race.

[RECORD SCRATCHES]

SPEAKER 2: No, we're not.

All people care about is MPG.

BRIAN WONG: All people care about is MPG, OK.

[BEEPS]

And to tell you which one's the best,

we're going to drive them at a reasonable speed

on a real-world fuel economy loop.

And then we're going to tell you which

one has the best technology and the most

family-friendly features, so you can make an informed buying

decision.

SPEAKER 2: Perfect.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BEEPS]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

OK, you are joining us in motion here on a long fuel economy loop

because we think that if you're shopping

for one of these compact hybrid SUVs,

that it would be fair to say that fuel economy is

an important number for you.

We've got three compact hybrid SUVs on the route with us today.

They are the Kia Sportage Hybrid, the Honda CR-V,

and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Now, between these three vehicles,

we have the top-rated compact hybrid SUV for Edmunds.

We have the third-highest rated compact hybrid SUV for Edmunds.

And then we have the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid here because y'all buy

a lot of RAV4s.

Now, naturally, you might be asking yourself,

what happened to the second-highest rated

compact hybrid SUV and why isn't that here.

Well, that's because that's the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

And fundamentally, it shares a lot

with the Kia Sportage Hybrid.

The two have the same powertrain.

They ran on the same platform and many of the same features.

So anything that we say about the Sportage Hybrid,

you can pretty much assume to be true about the Tucson Hybrid.

It's just got slightly different styling and packaging, but very

similar vehicles.

Now, these vehicles don't just have overall ratings.

When an Edmunds editor goes to rate a vehicle, self included,

we actually have to rate them on over 30

different individual data points.

And those get compiled into several main categories.

So while the overall score is a great snapshot for the vehicle,

every car shopper is going to have different needs.

So what we're going to do today is we're going to dive deeper

on some of these categories, and then you'll

be able to see which of these vehicles

might be the best fit for your unique set of preferences.

Today, the categories we're going to cover

are interior and comfort, technology,

including safety technology, fuel economy, how they drive,

and finally, cargo and storage.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So because fuel economy is so important

for these hybrid vehicles, we're going

to do that test in a bit of a special way for you today.

We have all three vehicles out here on the road.

We're going to drive them nose to tail,

so they're driving in the exact same traffic

conditions, the exact same speeds

and covering the exact same distance.

And then once we get back, we're even

going to fill them up at the exact same gas pump

to give you the most accurate picture that we can

of their fuel economy.

And you'll be able to compare them

against each other in equal conditions.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

We'll start things off here in the Sportage Hybrid,

and that's the natural place for us

to start because this vehicle is actually

our reigning two-time Edmunds top-rated SUV award winner.

And that's not just compacts.

That's not just hybrids.

That's all SUVs.

The Sportage hybrid is just a fantastic all-around vehicle.

It has a modern and stylish interior,

plenty of cargo room, great features,

and it does all of this at a very reasonable price, something

that we can't say about too many vehicles these days.

Is it the sexiest choice?

LIL JON: Yeah!

BRIAN WONG: Probably not.

LIL JON: What?

BRIAN WONG: But it is so good all around that it really

has earned this distinction.

And we've been proud to give it our award for the past two

years.

[VEHICLE ACCELERATING]

In how it drives category, the Kia

is going to come in second with an 8.0.

You're going to hear me say this a lot about all three

of these vehicles today, the way they drive, pretty inoffensive.

Now they're not the most exciting things on the road.

If we were to do a U-drags--

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[VEHICLES ACCELERATING]

--it might not be all that exciting

because it would take them a little bit of time

to make it down the quarter mile.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[VEHICLES ACCELERATING]

But that doesn't mean that these three hybrid powertrains

don't provide enough day-to-day power, because they all do.

But the nice thing about the Sportage Hybrid

is that even in its eco driving mode, the one that we're

using now, it still has plenty of pep

to get you around the city.

And you can use it to try to maximize your fuel

economy without feeling unsafe and without feeling

like you don't have enough power to execute merges or passes.

It's adequate to good.

And that's kind of all, you need in this class.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So now we are in the Honda CR-V Hybrid,

and this actually had the highest driving

score of these three vehicles at an 8.5.

Now, what makes a Honda unique is

that it's got a slightly different hybrid system

than the other two vehicles.

Most of the time, this actually operates as what's

called a series hybrid.

So the electric motors are doing all the powering of the vehicle,

and the gas engine just works as a generator

to help power those electric motors.

Now, that doesn't seem to have hurt

how it drives because, again, highest driving score

in this group.

And that's because, again, not super

exciting from behind the wheel, but very solid.

It feels like it has a bit more pickup than the Sportage Hybrid

at lower speed situations.

And I would say that the ride quality is also a hair better

the cabin quieter as well.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

And that brings us to our third and final vehicle

in this test, the RAV4 Hybrid.

And in this case, last ends up being

least because this has the lowest overall rating, but also

the lowest driving score.

Now, like I said earlier, it's not like an offensive to drive.

It's not a bad driving vehicle.

Toyota has a lot of experience with these hybrid systems,

more than any other automaker.

So the power delivery is actually quite good

and quite even at low speeds.

But the problem is that when this gas engine does kick on,

it does so very loudly.

So it kind of likes to hang using electric power

as much as possible.

And that means that when the gas engine kicks on,

it needs to do so with a bit more impetus.

So it actually comes in at what sounds like between 2,000

and 3,000 RPM.

But at that engine speed, this engine

sounds very coarse, very grainy.

And what ends up happening is that even though the vehicle

itself is probably not much worse to drive

than the other two, it just feels

that way because of how noisy and how the whole powertrain

is at times.

[SLOW MOTION IMITATING ENGINE ROAR]

It just lacks a bit of refinement

compared to the other two vehicles we have here today.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So we're back from our long mileage drive.

We've crunched all the numbers, and here are the results.

The Toyota turned out to be the clear class of this field

when it comes to fuel economy.

It got 47.4 MPG on our route, and that easily

beat both the Kia and the Honda.

Now, one thing that I think helped

all three of these vehicles achieve such good results was

the fact that our loop was run at lower speeds,

more akin to city speeds, thanks to some signature LA traffic.

And all these hybrids are more efficient on the city

than on the highway.

One of the things that I like to do with these fuel economy

results is figure out what they actually

mean for you if you're driving these vehicles

in the real world.

So let's assume that we were driving 5,000 miles in each

of these vehicles.

We can actually calculate the cost for that 5,000 miles

for fuel.

And as you can see, there's not a really big difference

between these vehicles.

The Kia only costs about $85 more to run over 5,000 miles

than the Toyota does.

And its interior is so much nicer.

It drives so much better.

It's got so much better technology.

That's a price that I'd probably pay.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

For this section.

We've combined the interior and comfort categories

into one score.

Coming in first place in this section

is the Kia Sportage, followed closely by the Honda CR-V

with the Toyota RAV4 bringing up the rear.

First place in this category is the Kia.

And just from looking at it, it's kind of easy to see why.

This is a much more contemporary, modern feeling

interior than what you're going to get

in either the Honda or the Toyota, both of which

feel very dated in comparison.

Now, things that we like about this interior, the ergonomics

are fantastic.

Even though the screen might look like it's far away,

I can actually easily reach it from my driving position

without having to lean forward, something

that's kind of hard sometimes on these very wide, modern screens.

Other things that we like, physical controls for commonly

used items, so heated and ventilated seats

can both be turned on right here.

The one thing that you might not like too much,

though, is this little bar right here.

This actually houses both the climate controls and some

of the controls for the screen.

You flip them back and forth just by pressing

this little button here.

It's not too bad.

You do get used to it pretty quickly.

But again, I think a button would be easier

for some of those things.

Also, things that we like, the back seat, pretty comfortable,

even for adult passengers.

And it has a lot of recline.

So you can even take a nap back there while you're on the road.

It's easy to get comfortable.

Things that we don't like about this interior, number one for me

would be the piano black plastic.

Now, I personally don't think that it looks very good.

You might like the shiny stuff, but the real problem

is, is that Kia sort of coded this whole center console

area in piano black.

And what that means is if the sun is in the wrong spot when

you're driving, it'll actually come right down here, bounce up

and hit you right in the face.

Not what you want when you're trying to pilot a vehicle.

It's also, you get a lot of fingerprints on it

and stuff like that.

I understand that piano black might look shiny,

but in reality it's kind of dull.

In second place, in this category, we have the CR-V.

And it came in behind the Kia by just the slimmest of margins.

And it does that for a couple of different reasons.

Number one is I don't think that these front seats are

quite as comfortable as the one in the Sportage.

You do have this nice contrast stitching

and that sort of speaks to the overall quality

of this interior.

I'd say that the materials are actually a step above the Kia

because these are actually real metal knobs

and things like that.

But what I don't particularly like

is how the front here is all black.

And this is not just a thing that Honda is doing.

This is more of an industry-wide thing.

But when you make all of these different trim pieces,

black in different shades of black,

it just sort of feels like interior

designed by Darth Vader.

And you just lose a lot of the detail

because it's just this void.

And it doesn't really matter how nicely it's

styled if it has no contrast to it.

Back seat in the CR-V, like in the Kia, and the same as

it's going to be in the Toyota.

Pretty roomy.

Big enough for adult passengers.

Easily comfortable for a long trip.

And if you're a young family with even two kids,

plenty of room for car seats as well.

LIL JON: What?

BRIAN WONG: Bringing up the rear, we have the Toyota RAV4.

And if you can look at it, you can just kind of tell why.

The RAV4 hasn't been redesigned in a very long time compared

to the other two vehicles.

And as such, things just feel a lot more dated in here.

The materials aren't particularly good.

Now, I should mention that we have a lower trim level here

than we have the other two vehicles,

so it's not going to be as nice, from a materials and features

perspective.

But even considering that, the front's

not quite as comfortable.

The ergonomics aren't quite as good.

And in the back seat you don't even get recline.

So that's why the Toyota brings up the rear.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Our next category is technology, and that would also

include safety technology.

In this category, coming in first are the Kia and the Honda,

with the Toyota not far behind.

Now, all of these three are on pretty much equal footing

when it comes to safety technology.

All the vehicles that we have here today

have things like adaptive cruise control,

lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, all that good stuff.

So with this category is really going to come down to

is in-cabin technology.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The Honda and the Kia tie for the top spot in this category.

And I know what you're thinking.

You're looking at this dinky screen here in the Honda,

and yes, this is the largest screen you can get in the CR-V.

And how can this possibly be tied with the Kia and its much

larger screen?

The answer comes in connectivity.

Now wireless, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

come on this vehicle, but not in the Sportage

and really not in any vehicles that Kia offers.

So if you want to have smartphone connectivity

without plugging your phone in, you're

going to have to go with the Honda in this test.

Here in the Kia, you get absolutely the best screen setup

out of the bunch.

As you can see, a very large digital gauge cluster here

and a very large touchscreen next to it.

Once again, the really only thing holding this system back

is the lack of wireless connectivity for Android

Auto and Apple CarPlay.

And the fact that if you need to plug

your phone in with those things, you're

going to need a USB-A cable to do so.

So don't recycle all of those.

Hold on to a couple for the car maybe,

if you're going to go with the Kia.

There are some technology features here that

are worth highlighting, though.

One would be the surround view camera.

Very clear.

It takes up a lot of the screen, and it's very easy

to see any objects that are around the vehicle.

And the second thing, which is cool, but kind of a novelty,

is that you can actually use these buttons on the remote

here to back the Sportage out of a parking space

without even being in it.

Now, on the Toyota, where it falls

just a bit behind the other two on technology, but not by much.

We do like this new Toyota Infotainment System

that they've had for a few years now.

It comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

integration and is generally pretty snappy.

Now, the thing that does bother me, though, about the RAV4

is this screen.

And it's not that it's small because both the Honda and Kia

also offer smaller screens on their lower trim level.

This is the XLE premium trim of the RAV4 Hybrid, which is

sort of their mid-grade trim.

And the comparable trims in both the Sportage and CR-V

are going to offer you that larger

screen as standard equipment on those trims.

But here, you're going to have to pay at least $2,500

for an options package if you want to upgrade to the larger

screen.

And really, there's nothing that feels premium about that at all.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Our next category is cargo and storage.

And in this one, the Kia, once again,

comes out on top, with the other two tied right behind it.

And a big reason for this is that the Kia has a very flexible

interior storage space.

That bin between the two front passengers

has cup holders that can actually fold away,

opening up a large storage bin that's

nice for small items like phones or small bags.

Honorable mention also goes to the RAV4,

which has a handy small item cargo shelf above the glove box.

[RUSTLES]

Neat.

An idea that's so good that other vehicles are now

starting to copy it.

But it's not just interior storage that's important,

of course, in these SUVs.

A big part of it will also come down to this cargo area.

Now, on paper, there's not a ton to separate these cargo areas.

If you look at their total cargo capacity behind the second row,

you'll notice that the numbers are pretty scrunched together.

In fact, there's only a 0.2ft difference between the Kia

and the Honda back there, so those numbers don't really tell

you much when it comes to cargo capacity.

But what does is something more practical.

so that's why we have this nice big pile of boxes up here.

And we're going to see how many of them fit

in each of those cargo areas.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[RUSTLES]

[BEEPS]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BEEPING]

So we've loaded up each of these cargo areas with these boxes

to see how many they could fit.

The Toyota fit 11.

The Honda also fit 11.

But the Kia here, it fit 12, making it our winner.

And yeah, I guess the Kia wins again,

and I'm getting kind of bored of saying that.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

All right.

So let's bring all those scores back up again.

And again, if you are a shopper who

has a priority for one of these particular categories,

that's why these scores are here,

to help you make a good decision.

But if we're speaking more generally

about the overall place of these three vehicles in our rankings,

throughout our testing, their place has become pretty clear.

And it starts with a Toyota, unfortunately,

down at the bottom.

Now, this is not really a surprise.

This is the oldest vehicle here, and it's actually

due for a redesign probably next year.

So if we were to do this test again a year from now,

the Toyota might have a better showing,

as it's able to modernize and update, especially its interior.

Up next, we have the Honda CR-V, which

has always been a pretty solid entrant in this class.

No change here.

We still like plenty of things about the CR-V.

The problem is, is that it can't really compete well on value.

It is a bit more expensive than the other vehicles here.

And you paid a lot, but you don't maybe

get the same level of interior refinement

or features for money that you're

going to get with the clear class of this segment.

And of course, our Edmunds top-rated SUV overall winner,

the Kia Sportage Hybrid.

Now the Sportage Hybrid, once again,

proved that it's a really strong all-around vehicle.

It did well in every single category, pretty much.

And it's still probably one of the best values in this class

or any class for that matter.

And the Kia, once again, really, really strong

showing this vehicle.

We'd be happy to recommend it to pretty much anyone

shopping in this class.

Thanks for watching.

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[BEEPS]

Yes!

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Look at what I have created.

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Oh, yeah!

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Dream.

They look good.