2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2021 BMW X5

In 2021, the BMW X5 maintained the high-quality craftsmanship typical of BMW vehicles, solidifying its place among BMW's true SUV range, which includes the odd-numbered SUVs—X1, X3, and X7. The even-numbered counterparts (X2, X4, and X6) veered more towards high-riding hatchbacks and crossovers. The X5 luxury SUV delivered on familiar BMW aesthetics, from its iconic kidney grille to its body shape, ensuring it remained unmistakably a BMW. However, this sameness could have its drawbacks, as the X5 could easily blend in with other BMW models in crowded parking lots.

BMW equipped the X5 with full adaptive LED headlights, enhancing its upscale appearance. Standard xLine models featured matte aluminum grilles, underbody protection, roof rails, and side window surrounds finished in satin aluminum. M Sport styling added a sporty edge, with wheel arch trim, bumper trim, rear underbody protection, and side skirts painted to match the body color, complemented by matte aluminum kidney grille bars and high-gloss black roof rails and window surrounds. Depending on the trim level, the X5 rode on wheels ranging from 19 to 22 inches.

Inside, the X5's interior shared much with other BMW models, featuring switches, dials, and displays from the brand's parts bin. Despite an abundance of dust-collecting black plastic, there was a substantial amount of leather and soft-touch materials. M Sport models boasted an even more aggressive interior styling with an M sports steering wheel, M-specific pedals, driver’s footrest, seat piping, and model-exclusive interior trim strips.

By contrast, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, heavily equipped with options, reached an MSRP of $42,083, including the destination charge. This higher price point was rare for a RAV4, and only the Prime plug-in hybrid could justify such a cost. Despite its price, the RAV4 Hybrid Limited didn't stand out drastically, looking much like the rental cars one would find at an airport.

The RAV4 Hybrid had a rugged look, although it would have benefitted from bolder wheels, replacing the undersized 18-inch ones. Adventurous buyers might have wished for an Adventure trim level for the Hybrid, like the non-hybrid version, but its electronic all-wheel drive (AWD) setup wasn't up for the challenge. Nevertheless, the RAV4 Hybrid had a tough appearance that could be styled softer or more upscale, as seen in the new 2021 Toyota Venza—a RAV4 Hybrid in a more refined package.

Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid was stylish and practical, blending impressive materials with some typical glossy hard plastics found in compact crossovers. A noticeable rattle from the license plate on the tailgate revealed some quality inconsistencies.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered numerous powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base models, X5 sDrive40i and xDrive40i, were equipped with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The "sDrive" denoted rear-wheel drive (RWD), while "xDrive" signified all-wheel drive (AWD). The base was the only model with RWD; all others had standard AWD.

The X5 M50i came with a beastly twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, the same as the BMW X7 M50i. The high-performance X5 M delivered 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. A new addition for 2021, the X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid, offered a combined output of 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, capable of up to 30 miles of all-electric range.

Despite the promise of power, the X5 xDrive45e’s steering couldn’t quite keep pace with its acceleration, exhibiting wobbliness when changing lanes quickly. At low speeds, the SUV felt like a full-size truck with considerable wheel play. High-speed dynamics were less connected and engaging compared to other BMW SUVs, feeling more akin to a Lincoln in its drive experience. However, the X5 provided a quiet cabin, absorbing road bumps well thanks to its suspension.

Charging the X5 xDrive45e was convenient, thanks to the charging port's location near the driver’s side A-pillar. Even without daily charging, the plug-in hybrid could reserve a few miles of all-electric power for emissions-free errands. It took five hours to charge on a Level 2 charger, with an EPA-estimated 400 miles of driving range when fully charged.

The X5 required premium gasoline, with the X5 M being the least fuel-efficient at 15 mpg combined. The X5 M50i achieved 18 mpg combined, while the base X5 xDrive models were more efficient at 23 mpg combined. The X5 xDrive45e offered 20 mpg combined on gasoline alone and 50 MPGe with electric power.

In comparison, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid paired a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with front and rear electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack under the back seat, providing standard AWD. The combined system output was 219 hp, which was 16 hp more than the standard RAV4 but 83 hp less than the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. The front electric motor produced 149 pound-feet of torque, and the rear motor contributed 89 lb-ft.

Various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV, added versatility to the RAV4 Hybrid. In EV mode, a whirring noise alerted pedestrians. The RAV4 Hybrid, weighing between 3,690 and 3,780 pounds depending on the trim, used the instant torque from the electric motors to deliver a lively acceleration. However, the four-cylinder engine's sound was unpleasant when revving. The EPA estimated 40 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged close at 39.7 mpg.

The RAV4 Hybrid’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) operated almost seamlessly without the typical droning. The regenerative braking system was equally agreeable, avoiding common pedal modulation flaws. Steering was responsive, and the wheel was easy to grip.

Toyota’s MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension design, and brake-based Active Cornering Assist system maximized ride and handling, but the test vehicle's P225/60R18 all-season tires lacked grip, squealing, and scrubbing in sharp corners. Despite this, the RAV4 Hybrid offered a flat cornering stance and favorable overall driving dynamics. On rough terrain, the Trail driving mode and 8.1 inches of ground clearance made light off-roading manageable when taken slowly.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space. Front cupholders were conveniently located, and the center console featured an array of buttons, knobs, and dials, albeit hard to read at night. The SUV's wireless phone charging pad kept technology out of the driver’s line of sight.

Seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, but the front seats felt hard after prolonged use. Heated seats and armrests functioned well. The rear seats comfortably accommodated children and two adults easily. An available third row wasn't tested in this review.

The climate controls were straightforward, with their placement reducing the issue of indistinguishable buttons. The split liftgate was easy to operate, and the height adjustment feature on the lower liftgate, operating via air suspension, facilitated loading heavy cargo.

Without the third row, the X5 offered ample cargo space. However, the X5 xDrive45e had slightly less room due to its battery, though the difference was minor for most buyers. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was challenging due to the relatively narrow door opening.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with a heated rim, and heated/ventilated front seats. The passenger seat didn’t adjust for height but remained comfortable.

Adults found decent rear-seat legroom, excellent foot space, and supportive rear cushions. The backrest reclined slightly, though the seat was a bit low. Rear passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents and heated seats in the tested vehicle.

The driver’s instruments were clear but colorful, changing with driving modes. Toyota arranged the dashboard logically. The oversized climate control and stereo knobs with rubber grip surfaces were easy to use. The infotainment system was user-friendly.

Storage was generous with useful dashboard shelves, center armrest cupholders, door panel bottle holders, and seatback pockets. The cargo area, behind the liftgate, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, with additional cubby areas. The test vehicle's subwoofer and all-weather mat compromised some cargo versatility. With the rear seats folded, the RAV4 Hybrid provided 69.8 cubic feet of space.

The 2021 BMW X5 came standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Other features included a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Issues with wireless Apple CarPlay often led it to take over musical playback without prompt, requiring the device and vehicle to “forget” each other to reset.

Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, wireless smartphone charging, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system had a learning curve but was intuitive with use.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen. All included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Safety Connect and WiFi Connect came standard with limited trial periods.

The top-tier infotainment system in the test vehicle featured an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, voice recognition with free updates, a 10-year subscription to Service Connect, and trial subscriptions to Remote Connect and Destination Assist. The 8-inch display had shortcut buttons, stereo knobs, and a home screen displaying multiple information simultaneously. Voice recognition worked well but couldn’t adjust climate settings. The JBL sound system was satisfactory.

Toyota also provided impressive camera technologies, including a 360-degree surround-view system and a rearview camera mirror.

The 2021 BMW X5 included standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera.

The BMW Driving Assistance Professional Package offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, operating up to 130 mph. However, testing showed it struggled with stopped traffic and lane-keeping in sunlight, leading to frequent disengagement for safety. The 2021 X5 received nearly all "Good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, featuring adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a road-sign recognition system. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. Rear automatic braking was exclusive to the Hybrid Limited.

TSS 2.0 generally performed well but had some issues, such as resisting manual steering inputs and leaving excessive gaps with adaptive cruise control. Crash tests by the NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, while the IIHS gave top marks except for the headlights, with only the Hybrid Limited's adaptive front headlights receiving a "Good" rating.