- The Toyota RAV4 is the most popular in the Nigerian car market regarding compact SUVs.
- Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V has consistently been a strong competitor of the RAV4.
- Aside from the Honda CR-V, other SUVs compete favourably with the Toyota RAV4.
If you are in the market for a brand new SUV in 2024 and cannot afford the Toyota RAV4, there’s no need to worry because there are many other vehicles that comfortably compete with the Toyota RAV4 you can buy aside from the CR-V.
Here are four other worthy competitors if you are looking for an RAV4 alternative that’s not the Honda CR-V.
- The 2023 Kia Sportage
The 2023 Kia Sportage has a general sporty and smooth shape but the front-end features are wild vertical LED lights and a wide mouth with a horizontal bar to separate the grill. The Kia Sportage is an excellent Toyota RAV4 alternative regarding price. The price of the Sportage starts at N27 million and provides more than enough features for this price. Its base 2.5L four-cylinder engine produces 187 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque slightly lower than the Toyota RAV4’s engine—but offers plenty of power for highway and city driving.
The Kia Sportage also provides a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 lbs. Seating is just as comfortable, with room for five passengers and up to 60 cubic feet of cargo space.
- The 2023 Mazda CX-5
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 is one SUV that comes equipped with several standard features. Apart from the vehicle’s features, it also has other amazing characteristics that make it stand out within the category of compact crossover SUVs. For the 2023 model, the CX-5 gained a new exterior colour of Rhodium White paint. The 2023 CX-5 still has plenty of benefits to consider over other SUVs structured more for off-roading strengths.
The 2023 CX-5 comes with 8 different trims. The CX-5 2.5 S is one of the base trims but with plenty of comfort and convenience features. Adding to that, the 2.5 S Select adds plush simulated leather upholstery, tinted windows, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, heated front seats, rear air conditioning vents, rear USB ports, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dark-tinted rear window privacy glass.
The higher trim levels offer features like paddle shifters, a sunroof, adaptive headlights, a larger driver information display, ventilated seats, a power liftgate, parking sensors, a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera, and a wireless phone charging pad.
The Mazda CX-5 is another perfect alternative to the Toyota RAV4. It stands out with attractive features and upscale interiors. Although the base model starts at $26,700, the CX-5 provides a substantial amount of power with its 187 horsepower 2.5L four-cylinder engine and up to 250 lb-ft of torque.
However, a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine is also available and produces 250 horsepower, an impressive figure that outmatches the Toyota RAV4’s power output. The SUV also offers exceptional seating and cargo space, with enough for five passengers and up to 59.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
- The 2023 Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is not only Nissan’s most popular vehicle, but it’s also one of the compact SUV segment’s hottest crossovers. The 2023 Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger small SUV sold in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum.
All are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine (201 horsepower, 225 lb-ft of torque) mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims.
The new Nissan Rogue was last redesigned for the 2020 model year and provides a smart Toyota RAV4 alternative with an affordable starting price of N29 million. All the models of the Nissan Rogue come with a turbocharged 1.5L DOHC 12-valve Variable Compression Turbo 3-cylinder engine that provides up to 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and up to 225 lb-ft of torque.
The roomy interior offers comfortable seating for five passengers and up to 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space—much more than the Toyota RAV4.
- The 2023 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is another SUV that consistently performs well in reliability studies and has a good safety record. It also has a reputation for being easy to maintain and having a long lifespan.
The Subaru Forester is a reliable and practical SUV that has low maintenance costs. It has a spacious cabin, excellent visibility, and good safety ratings. The Forester comes with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower and gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined.
While the CR-V and the RAV4 might seem overpriced to what they offer, the Subaru is an alternative. It has a starting price of N28 million and provides a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, which is slightly lower than the Toyota RAV4’s engine but still more than enough for highway and city driving.
It offers a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 lbs and provides roomy seating for five passengers with up to 74.2 cubic feet of cargo space. Despite its lower power output, the Forester delivers excellent fuel economy with 26 city mpg and 33 highway mpg ratings.
Conclusion
These are the top four SUVs that have been proven to be a good alternative to the Toyota RAV4. They might not meet every feature the RAV4 has to offer. But they certainly match up in a lot of other areas.
