Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid v Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid 2024 comparison

To say the RAV4 is a sales success is selling the achievement very short.

To put things into perspective, Toyota’s offering is such a fan favourite that it accounts for 25 per cent of the mid-size SUV market – which is arguably one of the most hotly contested segments in Australia. To make the achievement all the more remarkable, the Toyota RAV4 line-up is now hybrid only.

Thankfully, horror stories of wait times pushing out to years have subsided post peak COVID, with customers now anticipating their delivery within four months on average. Demand for Hyundai hybrids are strong, too, but running appreciably shorter delivery periods.

Getting behind the wheel of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid will set you back $58,360 before on-road costs (ORCs). If you don’t want the top-tier variant, the range starts with the front-wheel drive GX for $42,260 before ORCs.

Hyundai’s premium push is clear, and the brand strategy has encompassed the recently updated 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid. The price now matches the aspiration, with the range-topping variant tested coming in at $61,100.

Some buyers will baulk at the Hyundai costing more – and especially over $60,000, which is the threshold at which the Tucson is competing with prestige rivals, according to VFACTS. However, both the Tucson and the RAV4 flagships are in good company. For example, the likes of the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander offer hybrid solutions for around the same spend.

A key factor in the overall purchase could be resale values. And on that front, Toyotas are generally unbeatable in Australia. Having said that, Hyundais retain value well, too.

Being the top dog of their respective line-ups, neither medium SUV will leave you wanting for specification.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid gains unique plastic body cladding, LEDs all-round, LED daytime running lights (DRLs), attractive 19-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof and rear spoiler.

Inside you’re greeted with Toyota’s ‘Softex’ faux leather. It lives up to the name by being soft to touch and it’s easily forgiven for not being real cowhide. The orange accents, as well as the orange stitching on the seats, doors and dashboard tend to polarise opinion.

The driver gains an eight-way electronically adjustable seat, while the passenger must do it manually – which is a bit cruel at this price point. However, both front pews are heated and ventilated.

Dual-zone climate control and a powered tailgate are standard, but you miss out on a head-up display. There are six exterior paint colours to choose from, premium hues incurring an extra $675.

Opting for the full-spec 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line means body-coloured cladding, subtle changes to the front bumper with redesigned DRLs, LED head and tail-lights, a dual exhaust tip and distinctive 19-inch alloys.

Inside, the cabin is swathed in suede, synthetic leather and piano black. There are numerous N badges to remind you that this is the most expensive variant, and the red stitching adds a sporty feel.

Both front seats are power adjustable (10-way for the driver with two memory settings) as well as heated and cooled. The steering wheel gains heating and the outer pews in the back are also heated. There’s dual-zone climate control, an electronic tailgate and a 12-inch head-up display.

White is the only no-cost colour, with premium paint adding $595 or $1000 for the new matte tone.

The RAV4 is covered by Toyota’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the engine and driveline coverage is extended to seven years. A rare advantage for both cars is that you’re not tied to Toyota or Hyundai dealerships to retain your warranty - although both brands recommend keeping them tied to dealerships.

Speaking of dealership visits, servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and your first five scheduled checkups are capped at $260 apiece. However, roadside assistance will hit your hip pocket to the tune of $99 per year. This is nothing new from Toyota, but worth noting.

The Hyundai is also covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with eight-year/160,000km protection for the high-voltage battery. One year of premium roadside assistance is included at no extra cost.

Servicing is on the shorter side, with Hyundai stating you need to return to one of its dealerships every 12 months or 10,000-15,000km. The price for the first five visits comes to $2040.

Both the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson can point to a five-star ANCAP safety rating (2019 and 2021 respectively.

Seven airbags are fitted to each of the pair, but the RAV4 offers a knee airbag instead of the Tucson’s front centre airbag – the latter is now an ANCAP requirement.

Highlights of the active safety kit on both medium SUVs extend to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera and high beam assist.

The Tucson adds a navigation-based smart cruise control, crosswind stability control and projector-beam LED headlights with active blanking so you don’t blind other motorists.

Hyundai has listened to the abundant feedback that must have been louder than the incessant bongs and chimes from the speed-related safety systems. Instead of an ejector-seat button, which is what you wished for previously, there’s a mute button on the steering wheel.

Simply hold the button down and peace resumes despite the speed changing ahead. You must repeat the process on every start-up and the warnings remain, but they’re visual cues instead of being annoyingly audible. A slightly overzealous lane keeping function is the sole safety-related bugbear remaining.

Both the RAV4 and Tucson are equipped with dual ISOFIX points and three rear top-tether points for child seats.

Pretty much the best tech the two manufacturers can muster is rolled out in each respective model.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid utilises a 10.5-inch colour touch-screen for the infotainment. It’s positioned high within the dash for easy access and it runs a physical volume knob. However, the graphics lack the sophistication of the Hyundai’s and the operating system itself is slower to respond to inputs.

The infotainment supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, only the former can be used without a cable. There’s a handy wireless phone charger as well as USB-A and USB-C ports with an accompanying 12V socket.

Native sat-nav, Bluetooth and DAB+ digital radio are standard, while audio is taken care of via a nine-speaker JBL system. The instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch digital screen with three separate and configurable menu screens showcasing various datapoints.

A cool addition to the RAV4 is the option for a live camera feed within the rear-vision mirror. It works a treat at night and lights the view behind you in greater detail than the traditional mirror can. Be mindful that items appear closer than they are in this mode.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line dazzles with its dual 12.3-inch screens, one for infotainment and one for the digital instrument cluster. Aesthetically, it looks like one pane of glass.

The new operating systems offer sleek graphics, too, while the menus are easier and more effective to navigate than in the RAV4. Connectivity is managed well, with effortless pairing by means of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Other tech inclusions include integrated sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, a wireless charge pad and various USB-C ports for charging devices. The Bose audio system also packs more punch than the Toyota’s JBL version, with better quality sound to boot.

Both can perform over the air updates, and SOS emergency assistance is provided. Toyota’s smartphone app is called Connected Services while Hyundai’s is branded Bluelink. However, it pays to check your security and who can access your data before agreeing to the process.

Hybrid isn’t a new concept at Aichi, Japan. In fact, the technology has been around now for almost three decades, so it’s no wonder the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid has it down pat.

The familiar Atkinson-cycle 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine provides the front wheels with 131kW and 221Nm via a stepped-ratio Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Electric motors – an 88kW/202Nm unit on the front axle and a 40kW/121Nm version at the rear – supplement the torque from the petrol engine for the E-Four on-demand all-wheel drive system.

The electric motors are supplied power from a diminutive 1.5kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack that, like the Hyundai, is recharged via the combustion engine and regenerative braking. A third electric motor starts the combustion engine for the recharging process.

Oddly, Toyota doesn’t quote an overall combined torque figure, but the total system power output comes to 163kW. That’s enough to shift the 1760kg body along with ease, with the RAV4 feeling eager from a standstill and at speed.

You can perk up the throttle mapping by selecting Sport mode, with the four-cylinder engine and e-motors working together to provide propulsion. You can drive on the electric motors alone, but it’s only for short periods and at lower speeds. It’s a useful function in traffic jams.

The transition from pure electric to a joint effort with internal combustion is imperceptible by feel, but not by ear. Given the use of a CVT, engine revs usually run high under heavy acceleration and there’s an audible penalty to pay inside the cabin.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line takes a slightly different approach to arrive at roughly the same result. It’s powertrain is also used in the Santa Fe, with the combustion engine displacing 1.6 litres. This turbo-petrol unit produces 132kW and 264Nm, and pairs with an e-motor (37.4kW/264Nm) that draws its power from a 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery pack housed beneath the rear seats.

Combined outputs amount to a healthy 172kW and 367Nm. Unlike the RAV4, the Tucson uses a single electric motor, mounted at the rear and providing all-wheel drive traction on demand. A conventional six-speed automatic completes the driveline hardware.

On-road, the 1775kg Tucson feels the perkier of the two. While it doesn’t have a selectable EV mode like the RAV4, the Hyundai can run without the turbo-petrol engine running at speeds up to about 70km/h.

The aural experience isn’t perfect, nor is the transition from full EV to combined power sources. However, the soundtrack is more refined than the RAV4’s – and especially so when compared with the Tucson’s discontinued diesel.

Interestingly, when in Sport mode, the steering wheel-mounted paddles allow for manual shifting of the smooth six-speed automatic. Yet, in Normal and Eco modes they switch to being controls for the strength of the regenerative braking.

There’s also a Baby mode. Yes, you read that right. The clever tech’s purpose is to refine the driving experience and limit disturbing movements via the traction control and electric motor so that Bubby can enjoy their snooze in the back.

This area is likely to be a deciding factor between the two. And, spoiler alert, both hybrid medium SUVs returned an identical fuel-consumption figure of 6.6L/100km after completing the same test route.

That’s a fair chunk higher than the official statistic for the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid, 4.8L/100km. Like all manufacturer testing, that official figure is gleaned from a rolling road and not truly representative of actual economy.

Official consumption for the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium Hybrid is 5.3L/100km. That result is closer to its target. Both cars can run on cheaper 91 RON fuel (the Tucson accepts E10), with the RAV4 drinking from a 55-litre tank and the Tucson a 52-litre tank.

For most buyers, the real benefit will be the fact you don’t need to change how you use either to gain the efficiency benefits – there’s zero requirement to plug into a charger. However, you do ultimately need a lighter right foot in both SUVs to keep the internal combustion engines dormant.

The simple answer: Better than expected. Both have risen from humble beginnings and grown into much more mature versions of their respective previous-generation models.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid has ride comfort at the forefront of the experience. It dispatches any city lumps, bumps and potholes with aplomb and is comfortable at speed.

While the RAV4 falls short of being engaging behind the wheel, given there’s some body roll and a slight lack of rebound finesse with the dampers, it isn’t out of sorts in terms of dynamics.

The steering is appropriately weighted and, like the Tucson, the brake pedal behaves normally despite the regenerative braking.

Although the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid is a solid performer on-road, don’t get too carried away with the ‘N’ in the model name.

Hyundai’s localised chassis tuning has been a hallmark of the brand, but sadly the program has been largely axed Down Under. However, the Tucson isn’t without Australian fettling altogether, with the sensitivity and torque delivery of the electric motor gaining attention.

Still, that means the suspension uses a global set-up, not one tailored to Aussie roads. The result is a ride quality that errs on the firm side but it’s never harsh or tiresome. The damping is also more resolved than the RAV4’s tune, meaning the Tucson is harder to fluster and settles faster over speed bumps and through undulations. It’s a more positive-feeling experience.

No that you’re ever likely to take either off-road, but the RAV4 has the better ground clearance – 195mm versus 181mm for the Tucson, while the Hyundai offers 400kg more braked towing capacity at 1900kg.

Purchase either of this pair and you won’t be disappointed, especially if family duties are high on the list of priorities.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid is a succession of ergonomic wins, from the oversized controls to a general rule of physical buttons over touch-screens. There’s little to take your eyes off the road for long periods of time, as you can perform various tasks by feel.

Rear-seat occupants benefit from air vents and USB-C outlets, while overall head and legroom is generous given the tall wagon body style. With the 60:40-split folding rear seats upright, cargo capacity totals 580 litres, and 1690 litres with the seats folded flat. The dual-level boot floor hides a space-saver spare.

Style is subjective, but inside is where the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid draws ahead. Inside the Tucson, you feel special thanks to the classy design and the perception of better build quality and materials.

The Tucson takes a more contemporary approach than the RAV4 by streamlining its HVAC and audio dials in a sleek capacitive screen. It’s an aesthetic win that doesn’t come with too many practical drawbacks, although it isn’t as fool proof as the Toyota’s set-up.

Back-seat occupants are afforded generous legroom given Aussie Tucsons sit on a longer wheelbase than models sold in other markets. Headroom is good, but not as abundant as in the RAV4, due to the Tucson’s full-length glass roof. Yet it does allow much-needed light into the cabin. Like the RAV4, there are rear air vents and USB-C ports in the Tucson also. The rear bench reclines further and operates with less effort in the Tucson.

Cargo capacity comes in at 582 litres with the 60:40-split folding rear seats in place, expanding to 1903 litres with them stowed – the process made simpler by quick releases located in the boot. The two-tiered floor provides a flat surface for loading and conceals a space-save spare.

In isolation, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid proves to be a more than capable package. It is certainly a very easy medium SUV to recommend, especially when you factor in the strong reputation of the company behind it.

Now that supply is catching up with the immense demand, the RAV4 is likely to be Australia’s highest-selling vehicle in 2024. However, with an all-hybrid line-up, it’s hard not to assume that a large portion of those sales will be company-related fleets looking to reduce consumption and emissions without taking the full EV plunge.

Popularity can’t buy a win here, though. That accolade goes to the Tucson by a small, but meaningful margin.

Yes, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid pushes boundaries in terms of pricing for the Korean powerhouse. Yet the precedent is there; Aussie buyers will pay more for high-value variants. More than $60k for the price of admission doesn’t seem like a step too far.

Mixing practicality and quality for the cabin with an innovative and frugal hybrid powertrain is a recipe for success. By its very presence, the Tucson is a purchase spurred by want and desire rather than mere necessity.

In many ways the range-topping Tucson doesn’t just topple Toyota’s RAV4 – it hints at Hyundai’s plan to tackle European rivals in the segment.

2024 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid at a glance:
Price: $58,360 before on-roads costs
Available: Now
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol/electric
Output: 131kW/221Nm (electric motors: 88kW/202Nm front; 40kW/121Nm rear)
Combined Output: 163kW
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Fuel: 4.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 109g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP, 2019)

2024 Hyundai Tucson Premium N Line Hybrid at a glance:
Price: $61,100 before on-road costs
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol/electric
Output: 132kW/264Nm (electric motor: 37.4kW/264Nm)
Combined Output: 172kW/367Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 121g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five star (ANCAP, 2021)

Related: Hyundai declares war on the best-selling RAV4
Related: How an SUV could top the Aussie sales charts for the first time
Related: Best Mid-Size SUV 2024
Related: Will anyone buy a $60K-plus Hyundai Tucson?