comparing expensive toyota to one of least expensive BMWs

If you had to buy one or the other, which would you choose? I realize most people would never spend that much money on a performance compact SUV. but if you had to choose.

Comparing Compact sport utility vehicle by sales 1QTR 2021
3,968 BMW X1
2,792 TOYOTA RAV4 Prime
14,988 BMW X3 (all types not just hybrid)


$35,400 2021 BMW X1 (Compact sport utility vehicle) Configurations sDrive28i
Dimensions: 176″ L x 72″ W x 63″ H
EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined
Horsepower: 228 hp
Towing capacity: 3,700 lbs
Cargo volume: 27.1 ft³, 58.7 ft³ with seat area
The car takes 6.45 seconds to reach 60 MPH from a standstill

$38,250 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime (Compact sport utility vehicle) Configuration SE
Dimensions: 181″ L x 73″ W x 67″ H (compared to BMW 5" longer, 1" wider, 4" higher)
EPA-estimated 40 city/36 hwy/ 42 miles battery-only
Horsepower: 302 hp
Towing capacity: 2,500 lbs
Cargo volume: 33.4 to 33.5 ft³, 63.1 to 63.2 ft³ with seat area
The car takes 5.2-5.7 seconds to reach 60 MPH from a standstill

$49,600 2021 BMW X3 (Sports Activity Vehicle®) Configuration xDrive30e
Dimensions: 186″ L x 74-75″ W x 66″ H (compared to RAV4 Prime 5" longer, 1"-2" wider, 1" shorter)
EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined city / 18 miles battery-only
Horsepower: 288 hp
Towing capacity: 4,400 lbs
Cargo volume:27.2 ft³, 59.4 ft³ with seat area
The car takes 5.9 seconds to reach 60 MPH from a standstill

If your neighbor looks in your driveway without any prior knowledge he is likely to mistake your BMW for one of the far more expensive models (BMW X5 M model is over $100K). On the other hand he might mistake your RAV4 Prime for a regular RAV4 which has MSRP under $24K.

I am a little surprised that the BMW X3 has poorer performance specs than the Toyota RAV4 Prime. It's $11K more and it only goes 18 miles on batteries, has lower horsepower, less cargo volume, and slower acceleration.

Above Towing capacity weak
I'd be in the market for a 7k towing capacity
My truck is 6 cy 2.7L turbo charged. Rated for 7k towing

My answer would definitely be none of the above.

But for the sake of the poll I picked the Toyota. I’m not a car person. I’ll take reliability over fancy overpriced models any day.

Quote: ams288

My answer would definitely be none of the above.

But for the sake of the poll I picked the Toyota. I’m not a car person. I’ll take reliability over fancy overpriced models any day.

My friend was raving about his new Mercedes SUV that it was unbeatable by any Japanese car.

$44,885 2021 GLC 300 SUV
Engine 2.0L inline-4 turbo
Automatic Transmission 9G-TRONIC 9-speed
Wheels 18-inch 5-spoke
Acceleration 6.1 sec
Passenger capacity 5
Cargo capacity 19.4-56.5 cu ft
Power 255 hp @ 5,800-6,100 rpm
City fuel economy 22 mpg
Highway fuel economy 29 mpg

I am surprised that the RAV4 Prime delivers more horsepower, faster acceleration, along with fuel efficiency at more than $6K less.

Quote: ams288

I’ll take reliability over fancy overpriced models any day.

I agree
For me its all about reliability and towing
For me, I only consider F150 or anything Toyota makes.

Quote: terapined

I agree
For me its all about reliability and towing
For me, I only consider F150 or anything Toyota makes.

For the passed 25 years or so I have been anti-American cars. I just didn't trust the quality. About 3 years ago I got a GM product and it has been perfect. I may even consider getting another one in a few months. I am probably just biased by the junk American cars of the 1980's and 1990's.

Quote: terapined

I agree
For me its all about reliability and towing
For me, I only consider F150 or anything Toyota makes.

Pickups are about 40% of the vehicles where I live. A large portion of them are forestry, ranch or construction work vehicles. For those that tow heavy loads for work or pull large 5th wheel rec vehicles the favorite vehicle is a Ram diesel. It amazes me but also shows the money they make but the loggers buy a fully decked out crew cab pickup for almost $100,000 Canadian and beat the shit out of it in the bush. None of the dealers in town even stock a 2 wheel drive pickup.

Quote: kenarman

Pickups are about 40% of the vehicles where I live. A large portion of them are forestry, ranch or construction work vehicles. For those that tow heavy loads for work or pull large 5th wheel rec vehicles the favorite vehicle is a Ram diesel. It amazes me but also shows the money they make but the loggers buy a fully decked out crew cab pickup for almost $100,000 Canadian and beat the shit out of it in the bush. None of the dealers in town even stock a 2 wheel drive pickup.

I know many people in Las Vegas that have $60k+ pickup trucks and would never take them off road or get them dirty. They baby them like a luxury car, personally I don't get it. To me a truck is for hauling things and who cares how it looks. For many years I have thought about getting a pick up but then I think about it and I would only utilize it probably once a year. I rarely haul or move anything and if I need to I have plenty of friends that would lend me their truck for a day.

Quote: DRich

I know many people in Las Vegas that have $60k+ pickup trucks and would never take them off road or get them dirty.

Urban cowboys

Quote: rxwine

Urban cowboys

One friend will not even put his golf clubs in the bed because it might scratch it. He rides with them in the passenger seat.

BTW, this friend also had to sell two of his four jets because the pandemic hit rich people too.