Whether you’re a single dog owner or married with a couple of kids, you’re likely to enjoy the size and convenience of driving a compact SUV. These right-sized crossover SUVs are the biggest sellers nationwide, save for full-size pickup trucks.
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is fresh off a redesign and now offers impressive passenger space for this class. And just like the 2022 Toyota RAV4, the Tucson now offers the choice of a base 4-cylinder engine, a gas-electric hybrid version, or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.
If you’re shopping for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid compact SUV, the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson are top contenders in this class. Here’s a 2022 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2022 Toyota RAV4 comparison to help with your research.
Price and Value
2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT
Consumers researching the 2022 Hyundai Tucson will find that it ranges in price from $25,500 to $42,700, not including the $1,245 destination charge. Within that range, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid starts at $29,350, while the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid starts at $34,900. Keep in mind that the 2022 Tucson PHEV qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit. The plug-in hybrid Tucson might cost you less than the regular hybrid, depending on how you equip it.
The non-hybrid Hyundai Tucson has a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and comes in SE, SEL, N Line, XRT, and Limited trim levels. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is a $1,500 option.
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid use a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine combined with a front electric drive motor and a battery pack; the PHEV has a larger battery pack. All hybrid Hyundai Tucsons have AWD as standard. The standard Tucson Hybrid comes in Blue, SEL, and Limited trim levels. The 2022 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid comes in just SEL and Limited trim.
Hyundai offers Blue Link connected services on all Tucson trims, except the SE. Important features like automatic collision notification, live emergency assistance, and rapid access to roadside services are free for the first three years. Your 3-year trial also includes remote locking, remote engine start, and geofencing settings for less experienced drivers.
There’s no Wi-Fi hotspot on the Tucson, but Hyundai offers Digital Key access, allowing multiple family members to access and drive the SUV using their smartphones (and Near Field Communication).
Hyundai offers complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles that you own a 2022 Tucson.
Shoppers researching the 2022 Toyota RAV4 will find that this compact SUV ranges in price from $26,525 to $43,125, not including the $1,215 destination charge. The hybrid RAV4 starts at $29,075, and the plug-in hybrid Toyota RAV4 Prime starts at $39,800. As on the Hyundai, a federal tax credit on the Toyota RAV4 Prime subtracts $7,500 from the total cost.
The standard Toyota RAV4 has a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and comes in LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited trim levels. The LE, XLE, and Limited trim levels have standard FWD with AWD as a $1,400 option. The remaining trims are exclusively AWD.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid also have standard AWD. Both versions combine a 4-cylinder engine with front and rear electric drive motors and a battery pack. The RAV4 Prime has a larger battery pack and a significantly more potent electric motor. The RAV4 Hybrid comes in LE, XLE, SE, XLE Premium, XSE, and Limited trim levels, while the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime comes in SE and XSE trim.
With Toyota Connected Services, every 2022 RAV4 comes with a 1-year trial subscription to Safety Connect, which includes automatic collision notification, live emergency assistance, and rapid access to roadside assistance. You also get a 3-month introductory trial for the RAV4’s Wi-Fi hotspot. Most RAV4s also include one year of remote locking and engine starting. The upper trim levels (XSE, TRD Off-Road, and Limited) offer one year of live concierge services.
Scheduled maintenance is on the house for the first 2 years or 25,000 miles that you own Toyota’s compact SUV.
Advantage: Hyundai Tucson
Reliability and Quality
2022 Toyota RAV4 XSE
Redesigned for 2022, the current Tucson represents an all-new generation of Hyundai’s compact SUV. The new Hyundai Tucson ranks third among Compact SUVs in the J.D. Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The previous-generation 2021 model ranks second among Compact SUVs in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study (IQS).
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Hybrid system warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Hybrid battery warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 5 years and unlimited miles
The Toyota RAV4 does not rank among the top three Compact SUV models in either the 2022 VDS or the 2021 IQS.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid system warranty: 8 years or 100,000 miles
- Hybrid battery warranty: 10 years or 150,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 2 years or 25,000 miles
Advantage: Hyundai Tucson
Performance and Efficiency
2022 Hyundai Tucson
The base engine for the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard.
The optional AWD system includes a Snow mode. All-wheel-drive Hyundai Tucsons have 8.3 inches of ground clearance (7.1 inches on FWD models). A properly equipped Tucson has a 2,000-pound tow rating.
Tucson Hybrid and Tucson Plug-in models use a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 180 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque. On the regular hybrid, the engine joins forces with a 59-hp front electric drive motor that draws power from a small battery pack. Total system power is 226 hp.
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid has a 90-hp electric motor running off a significantly larger 13.8-kWh battery pack. Total system power is 261 hp. The 2022 Tucson PHEV has a standard 7.2-kilowatt onboard charger that Hyundai says can restore full charge in under 2 hours if you have access to a 240-volt, Level 2 charging station. Hyundai’s hybrid SUVs use a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the FWD 2022 Hyundai Tucson with a conventional gasoline engine at 29 mpg in combined city and highway driving. All-wheel-drive Tucsons rate 26 mpg. The 2022 Tucson Hybrid rates 38 mpg combined in Blue trim and 37 mpg in the other trims. With its heavier battery pack, the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid rates 35 mpg but compensates wit
h its EPA-rated 33 miles of all-electric range.
The standard engine for the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder rated at 203 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard.
The available AWD system has selectable terrain modes. The RAV4 Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited AWD models have a more advanced AWD system with torque-vectoring capability that can transfer engine torque between the rear wheels to improve grip on slippery surfaces. Ground clearance ranges from 8.1-8.6 inches, depending on the trim level. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road has all-terrain tires and a revised suspension.
A properly equipped 2022 Toyota RAV4 in Adventure or TRD Off-Road trim can tow 3,500 pounds.
The 2022 RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime use a hybrid-specific version of the 2.5-liter engine. On the regular hybrid, it’s rated at 176 hp and 163 pound-feet of torque. With the aid of 118-hp front and 54-hp rear electric drive motors, the hybrid RAV4’s combined horsepower is 219. Instead of a conventional transmission, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses an electric CVT (eCVT) to blend its gasoline and electric power sources.
Although AWD is standard on the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, it’s different from the setup on non-hybrid RAV4s: There’s no physical driveshaft, so the rear wheels only receive torque from the rear electric motor.
All this applies to the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime, though it has a much larger 18.1-kWh battery pack and an upgraded 179-hp front electric drive motor. The gas engine makes 177 hp and 165 pound-feet of torque on the PHEV. Total system power is 302 hp.
The 2022 RAV4 Prime comes with a standard 3.3-kW onboard charger that, according to Hyundai, will restore the battery pack to a full charge in 4.5 hours at a Level 2 charging station. The XSE’s optional 6.6-kW charger cuts that to 2.5 hours.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 rates 30 mpg in combined driving with the base gas engine and FWD. With AWD, the RAV4 rates 28-30 mpg combined. Expect lower mileage with the TRD Off-Road model due to its all-terrain tires.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the fuel economy leader with its 40-mpg combined rating. The heavier Toyota RAV4 Prime rates 38 mpg and provides an EPA-rated 42 miles of electric range.
Advantage: Neither
The advantage goes to Toyota for a base-engine SUV, while consumers shopping for a traditional hybrid will find the Tucson Hybrid’s performance more lively. Among PHEVs, the stunningly quick RAV4 Prime offers more pure electric range.
Safety and Driving Assistance
2022 Toyota RAV4 SE Hybrid
All 2022 Hyundai Tucsons come with the Hyundai SmartSense package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). You get a forward-collision warning (FCW) system with automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning (LDW), lane-keeping assistance (LKA), and lane-centering assistance.
Stepping up to the SEL provides a blind-spot warning (BSW) system with rear cross-traffic warning, an upgraded FCW system with cyclist and intersection detection (prevents ill-advised turns into oncoming vehicles), rear low-speed automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
Also included at this level are Safe Exit Assist (prevents rear occupants from stepping out into traffic) and a rear-seat reminder system.
All 2022 Tucson Limited models come with Highway Driving Assist (HDA), which ranks among the most sophisticated forms of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving assistance currently available. With HDA active, the Tucson uses its forward-facing radar and camera, along with data from the navigation system, to keep the vehicle centered in its lane while maintaining an appropriate following distance.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not published crash-test ratings on the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the 2022 Tucson a Top Safety Pick+, the Institute’s highest accolade for safety.
Every 2022 Toyota RAV4 comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), matching Hyundai’s standard ADAS package. A BSW system with rear cross-traffic warning is optional on LE trims and standard on all other RAV4 trim levels.
All RAV4s have a Level 2 traffic jam assist (TJA) system as standard equipment. It’s not as capable as Hyundai’s HDA but includes traffic sign recognition. The RAV4’s higher trims can be equipped with low-speed front and rear automatic braking systems.
The NHTSA rated the 2022 Toyota RAV4 a full 5 stars for overall safety (4 stars for frontal-impact crash safety). As of this writing, the IIHS had not published full crash-test ratings for the 2022 Toyota RAV4. The 2022 RAV4 Prime rates Good for small-overlap, frontal-offset crashes affecting the passenger side.
Advantage: Hyundai Tucson
Infotainment and Technology
2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid
Most 2022 Hyundai Tucsons come with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment interface. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration are standard with this display. Limited trims upgrade to a 10.25-inch infotainment display with factory navigation, but you’ll need to connect a cable to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The Tucson SE comes with two USB ports (front seat). All other 2022 Tucsons have two more in the back seat. A wireless smartphone charging pad is optional, starting on the SEL and Blue trims.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 comes with three different infotainment screen sizes. The lower RAV4 trims have a 7-inch display, while the RAV4 Prime SE has an 8-inch display. Higher-trim Toyota RAV4s have a 9-inch display. All versions have wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto regardless of screen size. Factory navigation is available with the 9-inch display.
The base LE comes with only one USB port. All other 2022 Toyota RAV4s have six USB ports. You can get a wireless charging pad on the higher trims.
Advantage: Hyundai Tucson
Comfort and Utility
2022 Toyota RAV4 SE Hybrid
Although compact SUVs usually emphasize function and convenience, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson’s sweeping dashboard and beautifully lit controls are enjoyable on an aesthetic level as well.
Supportive front seats provide long-haul comfort, although shorter-stature drivers might find it more challenging to see over the hood than in some other compact SUVs. No one will complain about legroom in the back seat, though, and taller parents needing to install rear-facing car seats will be equally happy. Step up to SEL trim at a minimum to get rear air-conditioning vents.
Most Hyundai Tucsons have a 38.7-cubic-foot cargo area. Folding the rear seats opens up 74.8 cubic feet (74.5 in the regular Tucson Hybrid). The larger battery pack in the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid reduces the cargo-bay capacity to 31.9 cubic feet. The maximum cargo capacity in the Tucson PHEV is 66.3 cubic feet.
You can get a power liftgate with hands-free capability
as an option on the Tucson SEL and Tucson Hybrid Blue trim levels. It’s standard on the higher trims.
Compared to the Hyundai, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is not particularly fashionable, but its classic Toyota design elements will age well, and its interior materials are higher quality than in past RAV4s. Major controls are large and easy to use.
You’ll probably like the RAV4’s front seats, and the rear seats should be spacious enough for most families. The LE trim does not have rear air-conditioning vents, but all other RAV4s do. You can’t get leather seats in the Toyota RAV4, but the vegan-friendly SofTex effectively simulates the real thing.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offers less overall cargo capacity than the Tucson. In the standard RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid, you’ll find 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row. Folding the rear seats provides a maximum of 69.8 cubic feet. The RAV4 Prime has a 33.5-cubic-foot cargo area, but the seats-down capacity is still 69.8 cubic feet—more than the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid. A power liftgate is available on most trims. Hands-free access is available on the RAV4 Limited and RAV4 Prime XSE.
Advantage: Neither
Your decision will come down to personal preferences.
