Kia Sportage vs Nissan Qashqai vs Toyota RAV4
Can the Nissan Qashqai be knocked off the top spot by the new Kia Sportage or the revised Toyota RAV4?...


Our Verdict
All three of these SUVs have at least one thing going for them, but the Qashqai remains the best all-rounder. It’s not perfect, but it ticks all the boxes that are highly valued by buyers in this class.
It’s well equipped, strikes a fine compromise between handling poise and ride comfort and is considerably quieter than any rival at this price. On top of that, it’s competitively priced if you’re buying on PCP finance, and is the cheapest of the trio for company car drivers.
Second place goes to the Sportage, thanks to its cheap private ownership costs and relatively generous equipment list. It’s a shame the engine isn’t smoother and the ride more pliant, but the Sportage is decent enough to drive in other respects and should prove easy to live with. For private buyers the peace of mind provided by its industry-leading seven-year warranty is another big draw, even if those unimpressive CO2 emissions will put off quite a few company car drivers.
The RAV4’s biggest sin is its woeful refinement; if there was only one thing we could change it would be to fit a quieter engine with less vibration. The running costs are also a touch high, and you’ll need to spend close to £1000 to get the equipment that comes as standard on the others. Yes, the RAV4 is larger and more practical than both rivals we’ve lined it up against here, but if you really need the extra space there are better alternatives, including the excellent Mazda CX-5.
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1st – Nissan Qashqai
For Well-resolved ride and handling; superb refinement; classy interior; lots of standard kit
Against More expensive than Kia to buy; comparatively short warranty
Verdict Still the best small SUV on the market
Read the full Nissan Qashqai review
2nd – Kia Sportage
For Great value private buy; smart and practical interior
Against High CO2 emissions; noisy engine; choppy ride
Verdict Makes sense if you're a private buyer
Read the full Kia Sportage review
3rd – Toyota RAV4
For Most spacious; strongest engine; decent discounts
Against So-so interior; sloppy handling; too noisy
Verdict Hard to recommend in light of the competition
Read the full Toyota RAV 4 review
Specifications: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 110 N-Connecta
Engine size 1.5-litre diesel
List price £23,810
Target Price £21,969
Power 109bhp
Torque 192lb ft
0-62mph 11.5sec
Top speed 113mph
Fuel economy 54.7mpg (True MPG)
CO2 emissions 103g/km
Specifications: Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 114 2
Engine size 1.7-litre diesel
Price from £22,050
Target Price £20,927
Power 114bhp
Torque 207lb ft
0-62mph 11.8sec
Top speed 109mph
Fuel economy 50.1mpg (True MPG)
CO2 emissions 119g/km
Specifications Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D Active
Engine size 2.0-litre diesel
List price £23,695
Target Price £21,232
Power 141bhp
Torque 236lb ft
0-62mph 10.6sec
Top speed 121mph
Fuel economy 50.5mpg (True MPG)
CO2 emissions 123g/km