Compare the2024 BMW X3VS 2022 Lexus RX

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The X3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RX 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 X3 and the RX 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus RX:

	X3	RX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	102	194
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33.2%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	412 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	305
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	40.1%
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	183/114 lbs.	403/457 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus RX:

	X3	RX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	165
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	624 lbs.	685 lbs.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 44 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

Engine

The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 74 more horsepower (382 vs. 308) than the RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus RX:

	X3	RX 350	RX 450h
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	6.8 sec	7 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the RX:

			MPG
X3
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
RX
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the RX Hybrid.

Regardless of its engine, the X3’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RX 450h, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

Transmission

The X3 M40i’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3 M40i’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RX:

	X3	X3 M40i	RX
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.5 inches	13.3 inches

The X3 stops much shorter than the RX:

	X3	RX
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the RX (245/50R19 vs. 235/65R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s standard 65 series tires. The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the RX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RX. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the RX (112.8 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the RX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the RX 350 F Sport AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the RX 450h (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Chassis

The X3 is 6.6 inches shorter than the RX, making the X3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the X3 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the X3 M40i xDrive is quieter than the RX 350 F Sport AWD (40 vs. 42 dB).

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 16 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (4400 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

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 X3’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the RX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X3 is less expensive to operate than the RX because typical repairs cost much less on the X3 than the RX, including $275 less for a water pump, $946 less for a timing belt/chain and $605 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2022 issue and they ranked the BMW X3 M40i xDrive higher than the Lexus RX 350 F Sport AWD.

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