Compare the2024 BMW iXVS 2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The iX’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the iX and Rav4 Prime have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The iX has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Rav4 Prime’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The iX’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the iX has standard Cross Traffic Warning with braking function with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Rav4 Prime XSE, and isn't offered on other Rav4 Prime models.

The iX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the iX and the Rav4 Prime have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 1359 to 1534 pounds more than the Toyota Rav4 Prime. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The iX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rav4 Prime’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The iX’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Rav4 Prime’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Rav4 Prime (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

Engine

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 214 more horsepower (516 vs. 302) than the Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 308 more horsepower (610 vs. 302) than the Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the BMW iX is faster than the Toyota Rav4 Prime:

	iX xDrive50	iX M60	Rav4 Prime
Zero to 30 MPH	2 sec	n/a	2.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	3.2 sec	6.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	2.3 sec	n/a	3.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	11.5 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	114 MPH	121.6 MPH	97 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The iX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 274 to 307 miles. The Rav4 Prime has to start its internal combustion engine after only 42 miles.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Rav4 Prime (7). This means the iX produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rav4 Prime every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The iX’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 60 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the iX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Prime:

	iX	Rav4 Prime
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.4 inches

The iX stops much shorter than the Rav4 Prime:

	iX	Rav4 Prime
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	155 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the iX has larger standard tires than the Rav4 Prime (235/60R20 vs. 225/60R18). The iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Prime (275/40R22 vs. 235/55R19).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Prime XSE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 Prime SE. The iX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Rav4 Prime XSE.

Suspension and Handling

The iX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Rav4 Prime’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The iX M60 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The iX has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 12.2 inches longer than on the Rav4 Prime (118.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Rav4 Prime.

The iX’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (48.2% to 51.8%) than the Rav4 Prime’s (56% to 44%). This gives the iX more stable handling and braking.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the Rav4 Prime XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Prime XSE (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 Prime SE (8.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The iX’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Rav4 Prime XSE (8.8 vs. 8.2 inches).

Passenger Space

The iX has 3.8 inches more front headroom, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rav4 Prime.

Cargo Capacity

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Rav4 Prime with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 33.5 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 Prime with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 69.8 cubic feet).

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

	iX	Rav4 Prime
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41”/75”	39.2”/73.4”
Max Width	43.8”	59”
Min Width	43.8”	39.4”
Height	31.6”	33.2”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The iX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4 Prime’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The iX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rav4 Prime’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Rav4 Prime’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

When the iX is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Rav4 Prime’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The iX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Rav4 Prime offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Rav4 Prime.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Rav4 Prime.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Rav4 Prime XSE offers wireless charging.

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW iX and the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Rav4 Prime isn’t in the top three in its category.

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