BMW X3 vs Toyota RAV4
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Level at 73: here's what splits them
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 10 Nov 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
BMW X3
21 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 no dataFrom
$86,100
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 140kW
- Economy
- 7.5 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 570L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Toyota RAV4
15 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 not offered · 5 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol Hybrid
- Power
- 143kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 705L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$86,100RRP
- with the Toyota RAV4's standard kit: $86,100 (nothing to add)
$45,990RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging and 3 more not offered
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X3: WLTP; Toyota RAV4: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Price and cost per week
BMW X3 20 xDrive
$86,100
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $375 a week in repayments ($86,100 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
$50,872 drive-away in VIC, as published by Toyota Australia Toyota Australia's price page
About $212 a week in repayments ($50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Toyota RAV4 starts $40,110 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X3Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Toyota RAV4 a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the BMW X3 and 7 on the Toyota RAV4.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW X3
- REC-006668 · published 16 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2025
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006539 · published 17 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2023
- 8 more on the model page.
Toyota RAV4
- REC-006390 · published 22 Jul 2025Due to a software programming issue, a memory device in the Combination Meter may deteriorate over time.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2025
- REC-005409 · published 26 Apr 2022Due to a software issue, if the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system is turned off, it may not default to the ON setting the next time the vehicle is started.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-001312 · published 9 Jun 2020Small cracks may form in the front lower suspension arms and with rapid acceleration and deceleration over the parts' lifetime, these cracks could spread and the suspension arm can eventually separate from the front wheel assembly.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2020
- 6 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The BMW X3 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Toyota RAV4 gets a 10.5-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW X3 stands out with wireless charging, heated front seats, power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio — features our data doesn't list for the Toyota RAV4. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW X3 gets merino leather upholstery while the Toyota RAV4 offers cloth. Climate control is 4-zone in the BMW X3 and 2-zone in the Toyota RAV4.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X3 uses a Petrol producing 140kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Toyota RAV4 responds with a Petrol Hybrid making 143kW, paired to a cvt (e-cvt) driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds.
The Toyota RAV4 has the clear power advantage at 143kW vs 140kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Toyota RAV4 is 0.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X3 measures 4,755mm long on a 2,865mm wheelbase, 155mm longer than the Toyota RAV4 at 4,600mm (2,690mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X3 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 570L in the BMW X3 and 705L in the Toyota RAV4, giving the Toyota RAV4 a 135L advantage.
For towing, the BMW X3 leads with a 2,400kg braked capacity vs 800kg. That 1,600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Toyota RAV4's turning circle is 0.7 m tighter, 11.4 m against 12.1 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X3 costs about $2,138 a year (7.5 L/100km) and fuel for the Toyota RAV4 about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X3) and 5 years / Unlimited (Toyota RAV4).
Where each one leads
The BMW X3: the higher braked towing limit (2,400kg against 800kg).
The Toyota RAV4: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $86,100), more power (143kW against 140kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (705L against 570L).
The Verdict
Level at 73: here's what splits them
The BMW X3 and Toyota RAV4 are level on the CarSorted Score at 73 each, so neither takes the overall call. What splits them: technology (BMW X3 ahead by 26 points), safety (BMW X3 ahead by 21 points). Boot space with the seats up: 570L in the BMW X3, 705L in the Toyota RAV4.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X3Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW X3 and Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV4 is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BMW X3 by $40,110.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BMW X3 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Toyota RAV4, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Toyota RAV4 has the largest boot at 705L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X3 has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,400kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Toyota RAV4 makes the most power at 143kW. The Toyota RAV4 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.4s.
Track the BMW X3 & Toyota RAV4
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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