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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.

Honda Vezel (Non-Hybrid)

Reliable non-hybrid 1.5L petrol crossover featuring 170–185 mm ground clearance, Magic Seats, zero dual-clutch maintenance risks, and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

Best value

Toyota RAV4

Modern TNGA platform entry offering supreme utility options, 200 mm ground clearance, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD, and 21.0 km/L hybrid efficiency.

Highest rated

Mitsubishi RVR

Versatile compact crossover featuring 195 mm ground clearance, MIVEC reliability, and sub-2,000 cc tax savings.

Honda Vezel (Non-Hybrid)Toyota RAV4Mitsubishi RVR

Mandai score

7.5/10

9/10

6/10

Typical price

KSh 2,150,000

KSh 4,800,000

KSh 2,100,000

Years

2017-2023

2019-2023

2017-2023

Body type

–

Mid-size SUV

Compact Hatchbacks

Fuel

Petrol

Petrol, Hybrid

Petrol

Transmission

Automatic, CVT

Automatic

Doors

Fuel and running cost

Trim

Fuel consumption

14.5 km/L6.9 L/100km combined · about 725 km a tank

15.2 km/L6.6 L/100km combined · about 836 km a tank

15.2 km/L6.6 L/100km combined · about 958 km a tank

Running cost

KSh 1,565 / 100 kmKSh 16 a km · KSh 15,652 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,493 / 100 kmKSh 15 a km · KSh 14,932 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length

4,330 mm (RU1) / 4,330 mm (RV3)

4,600 mm (Adventure: 4,610 mm)

4,365 mm

Width

1,770 mm (RU1) / 1,790 mm (RV3)

1,855 mm (Adventure: 1,865 mm)

1,770 mm

Height

1,605 mm (RU1) / 1,590 mm (RV3)

1,685 mm

1,630 mm

Wheelbase

2,610 mm

2,690 mm

2,670 mm

Ground clearance

170 mm (1st Gen) / 185 mm (2nd Gen)

200 mm

195 mm

Boot space

404 L (1,020 L with Magic Seats folded flat)

580 L (1,690 L folded)

419 L (1,219 L with rear seats folded)

Kerb weight

1,190 kg (RU1) / 1,250 kg (RV3)

1,570 kg (1,680 kg Hybrid)

1,370 kg

Seats

Specifications

Engine

1.5L L15B NA i-VTEC / 1.5L L15C Turbo (Touring) / 1.5L L15Z DOHC (RV3)

2.0L M20A-FKS Dynamic Force / 2.5L A25A-FXS Hybrid

1.8L 4J10 MIVEC SOHC 16-Valve Inline-4

Power

131 hp (RU1 NA) / 172 hp (Touring Turbo) / 118 hp (RV3 NA)

171 hp (2.0L) / 222 hp combined (2.5L Hybrid E-Four)

139 hp @ 6,000 rpm

Torque

155 Nm @ 4,600 rpm (NA) / 220 Nm @ 1,700–5,500 rpm (Touring Turbo)

207 Nm (2.0L) / 221 Nm (2.5L Hybrid)

172 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or Real-Time AWD

Front-Wheel Drive / Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD / E-Four

Front-Wheel Drive or 4WD (2WD / 4WD Auto / 4WD Lock)

0–100 km/h

9.8 sec (RU1 NA) / 7.9 sec (Touring Turbo) / 10.5 sec (RV3)

8.1 sec (2.5L Hybrid) / 9.5 sec (2.0L)

10.5 sec

Top speed

185 km/h – 200 km/h

200 km/h

188 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined

14.5 km/L (1.5L NA L15B) / 13.5 km/L (1.5T Touring) / 15.0 km/L (1.5L NA L15Z 2nd Gen)

15.2 km/L (2.0L Petrol) / 21.0 km/L (2.5L Hybrid)

15.2 km/L (1.8L FWD) / 13.8 km/L (2.0L 4WD)

City

12.0 km/L (1.5L NA L15B) / 11.0 km/L (1.5T Touring) / 12.5 km/L (1.5L NA L15Z)

12.8 km/L (2.0L Petrol) / 20.0 km/L (2.5L Hybrid)

12.8 km/L (1.8L FWD) / 11.2 km/L (2.0L 4WD)

Highway

16.5 km/L (1.5L NA L15B) / 15.5 km/L (1.5T Touring) / 17.0 km/L (1.5L NA L15Z)

17.5 km/L (2.0L Petrol) / 22.0 km/L (2.5L Hybrid)

17.5 km/L (1.8L FWD) / 16.0 km/L (2.0L 4WD)

Tank size

50 L (1st Gen RU1) / 40 L (2nd Gen RV3)

55 L

63 L (FWD) / 60 L (4WD)

CO₂ emissions

132 g/km (1.5L NA) / 145 g/km (1.5T Touring)

138 g/km (2.0L) / 102 g/km (Hybrid)

152 g/km

At a glance

Model

Honda Vezel Non-Hybrid (RU1/RU2 & RV3/RV4 Series)

Toyota RAV4 (XA50 Series)

Mitsubishi RVR (GA4W Series)

Production years

2017–2023

2019–2023

2017–2023

Body type

5-Door Compact Crossover SUV

5-Door Compact Utility Crossover

5-Door Compact Crossover SUV

Seating capacity

5 seats

Fuel types

Petrol (NA i-VTEC & VTEC Turbo)

Petrol (Dynamic Force), Full Hybrid (THS-II)

Petrol (MIVEC)

Engine sizes

1,496 cc (1.5L L15B / L15C / L15Z)

1,986 cc (2.0L M20A-FKS) / 2,487 cc (2.5L A25A-FXS Hybrid)

1,798 cc (1.8L) / 1,998 cc (2.0L)

Transmission

CVT Automatic with 7-Speed Paddle Shifters

Direct Shift-CVT / e-CVT

INVECS-III 6-Speed Sport Mode CVT

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or Real-Time AWD (RU2/RV4)

FWD or Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD / E-Four

FWD or Electronically Controlled 4WD

Ground clearance

170 mm (RU1/RU2) / 185 mm (RV3/RV4 2nd Gen)

200 mm

195 mm

Source market

Japan (JDM RHD Spec)

Japan / UK (RHD)

Japan (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good

Zero hybrid battery or i-DCD dual-clutch repair worries: Conventional CVT + NA engine provides bulletproof long-term reliability.
Sub-1,500 cc KRA import duty advantage: 1,496 cc engine qualifies for lower tax valuation baseline.
High 170–185 mm ground clearance: Easily clears estate speed bumps, deep potholes, and rough upcountry murram tracks.
Magic Seats versatility: Rear seat cushions fold upward (tall mode) or fold completely flat for massive cargo space.

Modern TNGA platform entry: Superior chassis rigidity, sharp handling, and excellent ride refinement on local roads.
Sub-2,500 cc KRA duty advantage: All 2.0L Petrol and 2.5L Hybrid variants qualify for the lower 25% excise tax bracket.
High 200 mm ground clearance: Easily clears deep potholes, tall speed bumps, and rough upcountry estate roads.
21.0 km/L hybrid efficiency: Exceptional fuel savings in heavy Nairobi bumper-to-bumper traffic jams.

High 195 mm ground clearance: Easily navigates steep urban speed bumps, deep potholes, and unpaved estate tracks.
Sub-2,000 cc customs tax advantage: Qualifies for KRA 25% excise duty rate to deliver affordable landed costs.
Electronically controlled 4WD selector: On-demand 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock modes provide strong wet-weather grip.
Durable MIVEC powertrain: Simple, naturally aspirated engine design ensures low maintenance overhead.

What’s not so good

Modest low-end torque on 1.5L NA petrol: Requires higher revs when ascending steep highway inclines under full passenger load.
Slightly higher fuel consumption than hybrid model (13.5–15.5 km/L vs 20+ km/L hybrid).

High KRA CRSP customs valuation: Substantial import duty investment compared to earlier 4th-gen RAV4 models.
Wind noise at high highway speeds: Minor cabin wind rustle around side mirrors over 120 km/h.

CVT responsiveness under load: INVECS-III transmission revs high during steep upcountry climbs.
Firm rear suspension tuning: Can feel bouncy over corrugated gravel roads when unladen.