Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4VS 2023 Lexus NX

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 NX 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.

Both the Rav4 and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lexus is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked second.

The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. ) than the NX 450h’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the Rav4 LE AWD/XLE/XLE Premium and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Rav4 LE AWD/XLE/XLE Premiums have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the NX:

The Rav4 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .84 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 Adventure executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the NX’s (36.1 feet vs. 38 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8.4 vs. 7.7 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 .9 inch higher than on the NX (8.6 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

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 NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the NX 350 AWD:

The Rav4 has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 easier. The Rav4’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX is only 2000 pounds. The Rav4 4WD offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the NX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 NX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lexus NX by over 8 to one during 2022.