2019 Medium SUV Comparison Test

carsales.com.au hosts a mid-size family SUV comparison annually, and almost every year one of the four models assembled here takes home first prize.

These really are the best examples of a very highly regarded segment.

Along with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-TRAIL, the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 are the best-selling five-seat SUVs in Australia. We’ve elected to test the latter four based on their past performance in comparison and standalone road testing.

As we said: The best of the best.

For our 2019 Medium SUV Comparison Test we’ve assembled high-grade, petrol-powered, all-wheel drive variants. All are fitted with automatic transmissions. The quartet of competitors on test are separated by just $4530 and offer similar after-sales support, interior accommodation, safety and connectivity.

In other words, it’s a very close comparison.

From Hyundai we have the Tucson Highlander at $46,500 (plus on-road costs). Like all except the Toyota RAV4 it is offered with a choice of petrol or diesel engines. Powering this particular Hyundai Tucson is the (130kW/265Nm) 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.

Like the Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sportage hails from South Korea. Tested here in GT-Line grade it’s powered by a (135kW/237Nm) 2.4-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine and drives four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage GT-Line is priced from $44,790 (plus ORCs).

Mazda offers petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel versions of the CX-5. Here, we test the newest variant with the (170kW/420Nm) 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Japanese-built Mazda CX-5 is slightly dearer than its Korean-built rivals and is priced from $49,170 (plus ORCs).

The most recent arrival here is the Toyota RAV4. It’s the only SUV on test to be equipped with a continuously variable transmission and is priced from $44,640 (plus ORCs) in Hybrid Cruiser form. The RAV4 on test features all-wheel drive and a (163kW/202Nm combined system power) 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric driveline.

On the warranty front, the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee, but the Kia Sportage offers an unbeatable seven-year/unlimited-kilometre deal.

Conversely, Kia only offers included roadside assistance for 12 months, whereas Mazda and Toyota continue to provide roadside assistance right through the warranty period. Hyundai offers break-down assistance for up to ten years in conjunction with its capped-price servicing program.

Turbocharged petrol Hyundai and Mazda models require servicing every 12 months/10,000km (whichever comes first), while the naturally-aspirated petrol Kia and petrol-electric hybrid Toyota are pegged at 12 months/15,000km.

Over a five-year period, basic servicing costs total $1585 for the Tucson, $1972 for the Sportage, $1678 for the CX-5 and $1050 for the RAV4. That's a broad range no matter how you look at it.

According to redbook.com.au, resale value averages see the Hyundai Tucson retain 45.3 per cent of its new price when sold privately after five years. The Kia Sportage holds 50.5 per cent, the Mazda CX-5 58.2 per cent and Toyota RAV4 49.0 per cent when assessed against the same measure.

Measurement also plays a part inside the cabin. Medium SUVs are shopped on their spaciousness, both in the front and back seats, and in the cargo compartment.

Against the tape it’s the CX-5 and RAV4 that jointly offer the most front-seat headroom, the RAV4 also providing the most generous front-seat legroom and the Tucson the widest front seat when measured from door to door (shoulder-room).

In the back seat it’s the RAV4 that delivers the most head and legroom. Measuring the distance between the doors we find the Toyota is also the widest back here.

Where ergonomics are concerned it’s a tough call. The Toyota stands tall for driver-seat and steering column adjustability, and is the more comfortable to sit in over longer distances.

All of our medium SUVs include a reversing camera and parking sensors to assist the driver when parking, but it’s the Toyota RAV4 delivers by far the best field of vision.

All four SUVs also include flexible rear seating with 60:40 split-fold functionality offered in the Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. The Mazda CX-5 is the only SUV on test to offer 40:20:40 adaptability. All feature a remote-opening electric tailgate.

Boot space sees the Hyundai Tucson offer 488 litres in five-seat mode, the Kia Sportage 466 litres, the Mazda CX-5 442 litres, and the Toyota RAV4 a whopping 542 litres.

The Hyundai and Kia offer the widest cargo area and the most width between the wheel arches. The Toyota has the deepest boot (the distance from the tailgate to the backseat) and shares measurements with the Mazda for the equal tallest cargo bay.

But the devil is in the detail inside the cabins: The Kia Sportage drew forth favourable comment for its easy-to-use toggle switches and rear-seat air vents; the Hyundai Tucson’s more shapely seats and rear-seat ventilation outlets were likewise a bonus for family drivers undertaking longer trips.

Our interior experts admired the Mazda CX-5 for its rear-seat heaters and tech-savvy rear-seat armrest (with USB outlets and device storage inside), and said the Toyota RAV4 offered the best overall feel of roominess, the best view out and a “near ideal” cargo bay floor height.

Feature-packed doesn’t even begin to describe the four Medium SUVs on test. From their electrically-adjusted leather upholstery (with memory function on the Mazda and Toyota) to their keyless entry and start, automatic lights and wipers, plus their dual-zone climate control systems, these family-haulers really have it all.

The CX-5, RAV4, Sportage and Tucson all feature heated seats in the front row, the CX-5 adding heating in the outboard positions of the second row. CX-5, Sportage, and Tucson also include ventilated seats up front, but only the Hyundai and Mazda feature a heated steering wheel.

Both the Hyundai and the Kia feature a panoramic glass roof that services the first and second rows, Mazda and Toyota sticking to a front-seat sunroof.

On the infotainment front we find an 8.0-inch colour screen in the Toyota, Hyundai and Kia, the Mazda using a smaller 7.0-inch array. All bar the Toyota RAV4 feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but all have Bluetooth connectivity and all offer proprietary satellite navigation.

Wireless (inductive) device charging is offered in all four vehicles.

Each of the SUVs includes a brand-name digital audio system and additional speakers when viewed against lower-tier model variants.

For Hyundai it’s a 10-speaker Infinity sound system while for Kia it’s an eight-speaker unit from JBL. Mazda offers 10-speaker BOSE premium sound in the CX-5 Akera while Toyota also uses a nine-speaker JBL system in the RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid. The RAV4’s audio system is the pick of the bunch.

All four vehicles offer adaptive cruise control at this level, although the Kia alone can park itself. The Mazda is the only SUV on test to include head-up display as part of the standard feature list.

In addition to the expected electronic chassis controls (anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, etc.), the high-grade SUV variants on test benefit from the full gamut of driver assistance technologies now available at this price point.

For all four vehicles that means autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, electric park brake with brake hold function, forward collision warning, high-beam assist, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and tyre pressure monitoring.

All also include a touch-free tailgate, a reversing camera (with guidelines) and parking sensors front and rear. Four-wheel drive lock (centre differential lock) is offered across the Hyundai, Kia and Toyota, the Korean twins also featuring switchable hill descent control.

All of the family-friendly SUVs gathered here include child locks on the rear doors and an isolation switch for the rear power windows. Top-tether child-seat anchor points are fitted in all three rear seat positions for all four vehicles, as are ISOFIX child-seat anchors in the outboard rear seats.

All the vehicles on test feature lap-sash (three-point) seatbelts in all five seating positions.

Driver, front-seat passenger, side and full-length curtain airbags are fitted to all of the SUVs tested. The Toyota RAV4 adds an additional airbag for the driver’s knee.

Although all of the SUVs here are listed as receiving a five-star ANCAP rating, it’s important to understand that not all ratings are equal. Time-stamping means a car tested by ANCAP five years ago will not be measured to the more stringent standards of a test conducted in 2019. These factors have been considered as part of our overall scoring.

We urge you to click on the link provided – or visit the ANCAP website – to better understand the differences as they apply to your next car.

While the Hyundai Tucson had ranked as a favourite previously, the suspension set-up now feels a little loose and slower to recover than some of the other competitors gathered for this test. The steering is a lively match, however, and gives the Tucson a level of confidence in corners that’s easy to engage with.

Power delivery is unexpectedly better than the numbers would have you believe in the Tucson. It’s a car that can hold its own in the company assembled, the gearing a tidy match with the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine; even if there’s some lag from a standing start.

The twin-under-the-skin Kia Sportage is an altogether different machine. The lazy 2.4-litre multipoint engine is disappointing in this company, and is both harsh and slow to build power. There’s significant road and mechanical noise in the cabin and the interaction with the primary controls (steering wheel, pedals and gearshift) is generationally behind the other three cars on test.

In terms of ride and handling, though, the Sportage manages a decent job of things. It’s a locally-tuned suspension set-up that is relatively nimble and quick to respond to steering inputs. Ride suffers slightly as a result, a little harshness felt back through the wheel when tackling multiple short, sharp bumps – especially mid-corner.

Mazda’s CX-5 has long been a favourite at the carsales.com.au office, and the most recent update is no exception. The CX-5’s powerful turbocharged engine offers much more torque than the others on test, and pulls cleanly from a standing start and during roll-on acceleration manoeuvres (such as overtaking).

The chassis sits flatly through corners but is slightly firm on the ride front. It means the CX-5 handles crisply, and with a level of accuracy not found in its competitors, but with a light passenger load can feel a little brusque.

Finding the Goldilocks moment between confident road manners and a calm ride was the new Toyota RAV4. Our judges praised the RAV4’s ability to soak up lumps and bumps while at the same time handling all but the most demanding corners with aplomb.

The petrol-electric hybrid engine proved zippy off the line in suburban running, but the continuously variable transmission lacked the refinement and quick-thinking action of its automatic rivals on the open road. It made the RAV4 feel bigger and heavier than it really is, and dulled performance a touch when asked to really get-up-and-go.

That said, the fuel economy figure speaks for itself (see specifications below).

Our four family SUVs rode on an interesting blend of wheels and tyres with most favouring a 19-inch wheel – an important consideration when it comes time to replace your tyres.

The Hyundai and Kia are fitted with identical Hankook Kinergy GT tyres in a 245/45 profile. The Mazda wears Toyo Proxes rubber measuring 225/55. The Toyota RAV4 is the only vehicle here to feature an 18-inch wheel, and runs Bridgestone Alenzas tyres in a 225/60 profile.

In spite of their similar body, wheelbase and tyre size, it’s interesting to note that all four vehicles boast the same 11.0m turning circle.

Both Hyundai and Kia offer a full-size matching alloy spare wheel at this price point, while the Mazda and Toyota each make do with a space saver spare.

Strangely, the four vehicles on test get progressively heavier as you move through the manufacturers alphabetically. For the Hyundai it’s 1627kg, the Kia is 1642kg, the Mazda 1720kg and the Toyota 1745kg (in part heavier because of its hybrid system batteries).

Towing sees the Mazda leap ahead with a braked tow capacity of 2000kg. Hyundai is next with 1600kg while Kia and Toyota both offer a 1500kg rating.

As you’ve no-doubt gathered, this comparison saw our four medium SUVs assessed against five criteria we felt were most important to family buyers. For clarification, they are: Cabin Ergonomics and Safety; Pricing and Running Costs; Cabin Technology and Connectivity; Cargo Provisions; and On-Road and Driveline Performance.

The weighted scoring applied 20 points to each category for a possible total of 100 points.
For Cabin Ergonomics and Safety the hands-down win went to the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 scored 17.0 points from a possible 20, clearly ahead of the Mazda CX-5’s 11.5 points and the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage which drew on 11.0.

Staying up front, but looking at Cabin Technology and Connectivity, it was the Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4 that tied for the win on 15.5 points. The Toyota offered more functionality, in spite of the omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Kia Sportage was simplest to use.

The Hyundai Tucson ranked a close second with 15.0 points, and was let down mainly by audio system quality, while the Mazda CX-5 ranked last by reason of its infotainment and trip computer menus being harder to navigate than the other three.

The Toyota RAV4 also topped the Cargo Provisions part of our test. With the largest, more flexible cargo area here the RAV4 scored 14.5 points from a possible 20, nudging out the Mazda CX-5 with 14.0 points. Hyundai’s Tucson scored third place here with 13.5 points while the Kia Sportage took the wooden spoon on 13.0.

Running costs are an obvious issue for any budget-conscious family buyer. Although close, there were fine-print differences here that saw the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 (on 14.5 points) take a shared one-point win over the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 (with 13.5 points each).

Finally, the issue of feel behind the wheel and on-road confidence levelled the playing field with the Mazda CX-5 taking the win. Scoring 18.0 points from a possible 20, the Mazda stepped ahead of the second-place Toyota RAV4 (16.0 points), Hyundai Tucson (11.0) and Kia Sportage (8.0).

Differences in fluidity and design age were clearly present on test, although the RAV4’s continuously variable transmission didn’t earn praise as highly as the Mazda’s smooth six-speed automatic.

If you’re quick with the calculator you’ll see it’s the Kia Sportage that takes fourth place this time around. Scoring 62.5 points from a possible 100, the Sportage shows its age against the rivals – including the almost equally dated Hyundai Tucson which placed third with 64.0 points.

Mazda’s overhaul of the CX-5 seems to have saved its bacon. More powerful turbocharged engine aside, the Mazda’s after-sales support and cabin flexibility saw it climb ahead of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, amassing 71.0 points to take second place.

This brings us to our winner: the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid. Scoring 76.5 from a possible 100 points the RAV4 earned plaudits for its outstanding cabin comfort and space, sound ergonomics, value for money and high level of standard in-cabin technologies. It might lack the outright road manners of the Mazda CX-5, but is by every other measure the better – and more modern – mid-sized family SUV.

Yes, the new Toyota RAV4 is the best of the best, and a deserved winner of the 2019 carsales Medium SUV Comparison. It brings a little more of everything to the mid-size SUV segment. It’s more efficient and more refined, and boasts an admirable combination of passenger and cargo space that should appeal to buyers wanting a capable, family-friendly SUV.

How much does the 2019 Hyundai Tucson Highlander cost?
Price: $46,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 130kW/265Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.9L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 178g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2015)

How much does the 2019 Kia Sportage GT-Line cost?
Price: $44,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Output: 135kW/237Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined); 10.1L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 199g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2016)

How much does the Mazda CX-5 Akera cost?
Price: $49,170 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 170kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined); 9.7L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 191g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017)

How much does the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid cost?
Price: $44,640 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid
Output: 163kW/202Nm (combined)
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 4.8L/100km (ADR Combined); 6.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 109g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2019)