Compare the2022 Toyota Rav4VS 2022 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 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 X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision System in the Rav4 as “Superior.” The X1 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The X1 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 (except LE/XLE) offers optional Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The X1 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Rav4 Limited/TRD Off-Road offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The X1 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Rav4’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X1 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Rav4’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X1 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Rav4 and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the BMW X1:

	Rav4	X1
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	328
Neck Injury Risk	29.3%	32%
Neck Stress	306 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	60 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	340/190 lbs.	309/268 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the BMW X1:

	Rav4	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	143
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	154 lbs.
Hip Force	246 lbs.	486 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	193
Spine Acceleration	49 G’s	65 G’s
Hip Force	508 lbs.	637 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X1 last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 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 Rav4’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the X1:

	Rav4	X1
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X1 (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18).

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the X1.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X1’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X1 (8.4 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited/Adventure/TRD Off-Road’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the X1 (8.6 vs. 7.2 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Rav4 Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X1 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the X1 xDrive28i:

	Rav4	X1
At idle	38 dB	40 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The Rav4 has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the X1.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X1 with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 27.1 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X1 with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 58.7 cubic feet).

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the X1’s in almost every dimension:

	Rav4	X1
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”	35.1”/69”
Max Width	59”	51.5”
Min Width	39.4”	39.5”
Height	36.6”	33”

Payload and Towing

The Rav4 has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The X1 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X1 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 has a higher standard payload capacity than the X1 (1100 vs. 924 lbs.).

The Rav4 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X1 (1230 vs. 926 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Rav4 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X1 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the X1’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Both the Rav4 and the X1 offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the X1.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 (except LE/XLE/Adventure) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 Adventure/TRD Off-Road 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 X1 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 will cost $50 to $800 less than the X1 over a five-year period.

The Rav4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 will retain 55.58% to 57.76% of its original price after five years, while the X1 only retains 47.15% to 47.35%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rav4 is less expensive to operate than the X1 because typical repairs cost much less on the Rav4 than the X1, including $469 less for a water pump, $786 less for a muffler, $58 less for front brake pads, $201 less for a starter, $264 less for fuel injection, $47 less for a fuel pump, $303 less for front struts, $225 less for a timing belt/chain and $762 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Rav4 will be $8509 to $13460 less than for the BMW X1.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance. The BMW X1 isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the BMW X1 by almost 25 to one during the 2021 model year.