Car dealerships near Santa Ana particularly Toyota of Orange can’t take a break from the number of customers enquiring about SUV and crossover vehicles. As a matter of fact, these vehicles are so popular nowadays that car manufacturers have to produce several models in these segments so they can remain competitive in the market.
It is probably a fair statement from customers who visit used cars serving Santa Ana that the American car market has been taken over by Japanese vehicles. Obviously, the most well-known Japanese carmaker at the car dealerships near Santa Ana has to be Toyota.
This is partly due to the fact that Toyota took a serious approach when it came down to developing sedans, trucks, hybrids, SUVs, and we have even heard that they are working on piloted flying cars too!
When dealing with SUVs, Toyota has acquired a good chunk of the market share due to two of its models, and those are the Rav4 and the Highlander. Both vehicles attract different types of buyers at car dealerships near Santa Ana because of the two cars’ capabilities.
This is why there is a dilemma for buyers to choose between the two vehicles. At the end of the day, you want to know which SUV is the right one for you, correct? Let’s take a look at the vehicles’ most significant differences to help you choose the most suitable SUV – the Rav4 or the Highlander?
Where Do The Vehicles Rank?
When you are considering the car’s SUV category for the market, the car dealerships near Santa Ana say that the Rav4 is a crossover while the Highlander is a midsize SUV. Normally, these classifications buckle down to the platform on which the vehicle is based. An SUV usually has a body on frame platform while a crossover, just like the RAV4, uses a unibody platform.
In a nutshell, this means the body and frame of the vehicle are produced out of a single piece of metal. Nowadays, Toyota has various crossovers in the market, such s the C-HR and Venza. There has also been a rumor going around the car manufacturer has been seen testing a new Yaris-based crossover!
What Are Their Passenger And Cargo Capabilities?
Fundamentally, the right SUV for you may boil down to its passenger and cargo capabilities. particularly if you have a large family. The RAV4 is suitable for a group, but five passengers are your limit.
On the opposite side of the coin, the Highlander can easily cater for seven to eight passengers, but this all depends on the seat configurations. At the same time, the vehicles’ cargo capacity is typically determined by its size. This is why the 2020 Highlander can carry a maximum cargo of 84.3 cubic feet whereas the 2020 RAV4 has a maximum cargo of 69.8 cubic feet.
What Are The Vehicles’ Towing Abilities?
As mentioned before, the best reason to purchase an SUV is for the vehicle’s towing capabilities. The 2020 Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when the car is equipped correctly.
Therefore, the Highlander is suitable to tow a few jet skis and even a small boat, but you can forget about the camper trailer. In contrast, Toyota claims that the 2021 RAV4 has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.
What About Engine Performance?
The RAV4 as well as the Highlander use a standard engine throughout all their trims. However, these engines begin to become different when it comes to their capabilities. For insurance, the 2021 RAV4 uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Plus, the 2020 Highlander uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates up to 295 horsepower at t 6,600 rpm and 263 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm.
What Trims Are Available?
When it comes to trim options, this is what sets the total cost of your new vehicle. The 2021 RAV4 at its basic trim of LE has a starting price of $26, 000. This cost goes up as you make your way through the crossover’s eleven other trims.
Amid all of them, there is the TRD trim, which allows the RAV4 to be prepared for off-roading action. This trim is equipped with a TRD-tuned front suspension with a stabilizer bar and a multi-link rear suspension plus other goodies. In spite of this, the Highlander has nine available trims for its 2020 model. The prices start from $34,000 to $40,000.
What’s The Fuel Efficiency?
You can’t ignore the fact that the cost of fuel is rising, and it is always handy to have a vehicle that is designed to not only be powerful but also fuel-efficient.
The 2020 Rav4, EPA estimates are 32 mpg on the highway, but this depends on the trim and whether you are driving a vehicle that has all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive. While the 2020 Highlander has an EPA rating of between 27 mpg to 29 mpg on the highway.
Do Both Vehicles Offer Hybrid Performance?
The two vehicles are available in hybrid models, so just because you think of hybrid it does not necessarily mean you are going to get stuck with a Prius. Toyota has come a long way with their hybrid offerings. Nowadays, car manufacturers are facing fierce competition, and have to release hybrid models of their most popular models. For Toyota, it did not waste any time releasing hybrid trims for the RAV4 and the Highlander.
For the 2020 RAv4 hybrid trims, Toyota uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 40-kW electric motor that generates a combined 219 horsepower. While the 2020 Highlander has a powertrain that is a 2.5-liter engine and electric motor that delivers a combined 243 horsepower.
What Are the Safety And Test Results?
RAV4 and Highlander usually get good safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In fact, the 2020 RAV4 model is considered to be its top safety pick. Also, the 2020 Highlander received a good crashworthiness rating.