Compare the2025 BMW X5VS 2025 Lexus RX

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

Safety

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The X5’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 X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The RX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the BMW X5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus RX has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The RX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the X5 and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 X5 is safer than the Lexus RX:

	X5	RX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	342	472
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	114 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the X5 is much safer than the RX:

	X5	RX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 X5 is safer than the Lexus RX:

	X5	RX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	63
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	584 lbs.	640 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	308	317
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	796 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The BMW X5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The RX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 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 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X5’s warranty.

Engine

The X5 has more powerful engines than the RX:

	Horsepower	Torque
X5 s/xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	398 lbs.-ft.
X5 xDrive50e 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	483 HP	516 lbs.-ft.
X5 M60i xDrive 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
RX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	246 HP	233 lbs.-ft.
RX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
RX 450h+ Luxury 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	304 HP
RX 500h F Sport Performance 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW X5 is faster than the Lexus RX:

	X5 xDrive50e	X5 M60i xDrive	RX 450h+ Luxury	RX 500h F Sport Performance
Zero to 60 MPH	3.9 sec	3.6 sec	6 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	12.1 sec	14.6 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	110 MPH	113 MPH	95 MPH	97 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X5 xDrive40i running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the RX 350 AWD running its gasoline engine (23 city/27 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 39 miles. The RX 450h+ has to start its internal combustion engine after only 37 miles.

Both the X5 and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All X5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The X5 has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The X5 has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 17.8 gallons).

Transmission

The X5’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 X5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the RX:

	X5	RX
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.4 inches

The X5 stops much shorter than the RX:

	X5	RX
70 to 0 MPH	157 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the RX (275/45R20 vs. 235/60R19). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 235/60R19).

The X5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s standard 60 series tires. The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RX. The X5’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the RX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 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

The X5 M60i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The RX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the RX.

The X5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the RX (117.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RX.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.7% to 50.3%) than the RX’s (54.7% to 45.3%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

The X5 M60i xDrive handles at .86 G’s, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X5’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the RX 350h (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the X5 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.

Passenger Space

The X5 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

Cargo Capacity

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The X5’s cargo area is larger than the RX’s in almost every dimension:

	X5	RX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40.7”/70”	40”/76.2”
Max Width	49”	55.5”
Min Width	44”	42”
Height	31.5”	30”

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The RX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (5952 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RX is only 3500 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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