Compare the2022 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2022 BMW X5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota 4Runner are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 4Runner are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 4Runner has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the 4Runner and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the BMW X5:

	4Runner	X5
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Compression	54 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	488/468 lbs.	636/584 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the BMW X5:

	4Runner	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	72
Hip Force	233 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	381 lbs.	584 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the 4Runner 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4Runner’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4Runner’s reliability 35 points higher than the X5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The 4Runner has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 (23 vs. 21.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Tires and Wheels

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the 4Runner’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the X5’s (37.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.6 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Toyota 4Runner may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The 4Runner is 4.1 inches shorter than the X5, making the 4Runner easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Toyota 4Runner amounts to more than styling. The 4Runner has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .36 Cd. That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the 4Runner get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 4Runner’s middle row seats recline. The X5’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

	4Runner	X5
Third Seat Folded	46.3 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	47.2 cubic feet	33.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	89.7 cubic feet	72.3 cubic feet

The 4Runner 5-Passenger’s optional sliding cargo floor is capable of supporting 440 pounds, to make loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The X5 doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The 4Runner’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in almost every dimension:

	4Runner	X5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/66.3”	40.7”/70”
Max Width	57.7”	49”
Min Width	42.4”	44”
Height	39.5”	31.5”

The 4Runner’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Payload

The 4Runner has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1625 vs. 1014 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1700 vs. 1030 lbs.).

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the 4Runner’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The 4Runner has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the 4Runner owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 4Runner will cost $2145 to $4830 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

The 4Runner will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4Runner will retain 60.09% to 69.29% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 43.39% to 46.33%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4Runner is less expensive to operate than the X5 because it costs $500 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 4Runner than the X5, including $152 less for a water pump, $1597 less for a muffler, $182 less for front brake pads, $118 less for a starter, $170 less for fuel injection, $25 less for a fuel pump, $441 less for front struts, $166 less for a timing belt/chain and $1796 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota 4Runner will be $28034 to $42209 less than for the BMW X5.

Recommendations

The TRD Pro was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2015 4x4 of the Year. The X5 has never been chosen.