Lexus NX vs Toyota RAV4
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Lexus NX scores higher, 79 vs 73
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
Lexus NX
22 of 27 standard · no option data · 5 no dataFrom
$71,700
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Hybrid
- Power
- 179kW
- Economy
- 5 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 520L
Top CarSorted Score, 79 vs 73, but the Toyota RAV4 is $25,710 cheaper
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.
$71,700RRP
- with the Toyota RAV4's standard kit: $71,700 (nothing to add)
$45,990RRP
- cannot be matched: Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging, Premium Audio 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.
Price and cost per week
Lexus NX NX350h Luxury
$71,700
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 25 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $309 a week in repayments ($71,700 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 $25,710 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 Lexus NXDriva 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 6 of 10 key systems on the Lexus NX 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
Lexus NX
- REC-006214 · published 13 Dec 2024Due to a programming issue, the Adaptive High Beam System (AHS) LED units (high beam) and AHS ECUs (Electronic Control Unit) may incorrectly detect the signals for switching from low beam to high beam.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005731 · published 20 Jul 2023Due to a manufacturing defect, the DC-DC converter that supports charging the 12V battery may short circuit and overheat resulting in a vehicle fire.Year range on the notice: 2021 - 2022
- REC-005525 · published 12 Sep 2022Due to a software issue, the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2021 - 2022
- 7 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 Lexus NX features a 9.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 8-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 Lexus NX stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, heated front seats, power tailgate, Mark Levinson audio and ambient lighting — 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 Lexus NX gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Toyota RAV4 offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Lexus NX uses a Hybrid producing 179kW and 239Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.7 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 Lexus NX has the clear power advantage at 179kW vs 143kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Lexus NX is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Lexus NX measures 4,660mm long on a 2,690mm wheelbase, 60mm longer than the Toyota RAV4 at 4,600mm (2,690mm wheelbase).
Boot space is 520L in the Lexus NX and 705L in the Toyota RAV4, giving the Toyota RAV4 a 185L advantage.
For towing, the Lexus NX leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 800kg. That 700kg 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); both turn in a 11.4 m circle, 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 Lexus NX costs about $1,425 a year (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. That is $142 a year less for the Toyota RAV4.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Lexus NX) and 5 years / Unlimited (Toyota RAV4). Capped-price servicing: 4 years (Lexus NX), no data (Toyota RAV4).
Where each one leads
The Lexus NX: more power (179kW against 143kW) and the higher braked towing limit (1,500kg against 800kg).
The Toyota RAV4: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $71,700), the bigger boot with the seats up (705L against 520L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $1,425).
The Verdict
Lexus NX scores higher, 79 vs 73
The Lexus NX scores 79 to the Toyota RAV4's 73 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Lexus NX ahead by 25 points), technology (Lexus NX ahead by 25 points), value (Toyota RAV4 ahead by 8 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Toyota RAV4 costs about $142 less (4.5 L/100km against 5 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 520L in the Lexus NX, 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 Lexus NXDriva 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, Lexus NX and Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV4 is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Lexus NX by $25,710.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Toyota RAV4 uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Lexus NX holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). 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 Lexus NX has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Lexus NX makes the most power at 179kW. The Lexus NX is quickest to 100km/h in 7.7s.
Track the Lexus NX & 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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