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Dodge Hornet vs Toyota RAV4

2025 Dodge Hornet vs 2025 Toyota RAV4 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Dodge Hornet

2025 Dodge Hornet

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS5 – 2Dodge Hornet wins 5 of 7 categories
Toyota RAV4

2025 Toyota RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota RAV4 is more fuel-efficient: 39 vs 29 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $600 a year less in fuel for the Toyota RAV4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota RAV4 is the bigger car, about 2 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Dodge Hornet has had fewer recall campaigns (8 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2025 Dodge Hornet is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.3L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 178 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,527 lb (GT 4dr SUV).

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,490 lb (AWD Le / Xle 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 Hornet and the 2022 RAV4 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2024 Hornet and the 2019 RAV4.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
1.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

29 MPG
Best combined MPG
39 MPG
29 city
City / highway MPG (best)
41 city
$2,300
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,700

Performance & space

268 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
203 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
178.3 in
Length
180.7 in
72.4 in
Width
72.8 in
63.8 in
Height
66.9 in
3,527 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,369 lb

Safety & reliability

–
NHTSA overall rating
★★★★★
12
Driver-assist features standard
8
3
Recalls (2025)
4
8
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
2
Owner complaints (latest year)
106

Interest

4,948
Wikipedia views, 30 days
45,921

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2022
2024
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Dodge Hornet if…

  • You want more power (up to 268 vs 203 hp)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (8 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (39 vs 29 MPG)

Pros & cons of each

2025 Dodge Hornet

  • Strong performanceUp to 268 hp, versus about 190 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • Plug-in hybrid version availableOffered as a plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2025 Toyota RAV4

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 39 MPG combined — 52% better than the average 2025 small SUV (25.6 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • Many owner complaints106 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 29 for similar models — most often about the electrical system.

Full 2025 Dodge Hornet specs →Full 2025 Toyota RAV4 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →