2026 Lexus NX vs Toyota RAV4: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 8–1 across 8 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($31,900 vs $44,175) and better 5-year value retention (63.7% vs 54.4%). Choose the NX if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (3.4% off MSRP vs 2.2% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Scorecard: NX 1 pts · RAV4 8 pts across 8 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 NX | 2026 RAV4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $44,175 | $31,900 | RAV4 |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.18 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 54.4% | 63.7% | RAV4 |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 40 mpg | 43 mpg | RAV4 |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 304 hp | 324 hp | RAV4 |
| Max towing (1) | 2,000 lb | 3,500 lb | RAV4 |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 22.7 cu ft | 37.8 cu ft | RAV4 |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 3.4% off MSRP | 2.2% off MSRP | NX |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | — | 5 | No data |
| Weighted points | 1 | 8 | RAV4 |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the RAV4 — 43 mpg vs 40 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the RAV4 — 37.8 cu ft vs 22.7 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the RAV4 — $31,900 vs $44,175 (starting MSRP).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the RAV4 — 63.7% vs 54.4% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the RAV4 — 3,500 lb vs 2,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The NX starts at $44,175 and tops out at $62,830; the RAV4 runs $31,900 to $48,500 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified NX buyers paid a median 3.4% off MSRP across 11 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 5.7% off. Verified RAV4 buyers paid a median 2.2% off MSRP across 70 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 4.2% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- NX: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- RAV4: 0.18 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 98th percentile among the SUVs we track).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 NX | 2026 RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $44,175 | $31,900 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $62,830 | $48,500 |
| Horsepower | 240–304 hp | 226–324 hp |
| Max torque | 317 lb-ft | 170 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 24–40 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 38–43 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 2,000 lb | 3,500 lb |
| Max payload | — | 1,340 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 22.7 cu ft | 37.8 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| NX | RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 183.5 in | 181 in |
| Width | 73.4 in | 73 in |
| Height | 66.1 in | 66.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 in | 105.9 in |
| Ground clearance | — | 8.1 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) NX lists for a median $28,998 — 54.4% of today's median new price of $53,276. A 5-year-old (2021) RAV4 lists for a median $26,414 — 63.7% of today's median new price of $41,446.
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More on the Lexus NX
More on the Toyota RAV4
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the NX better than the RAV4?
On our data, no — the RAV4 comes out ahead. Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 8–1 across 8 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($31,900 vs $44,175) and better 5-year value retention (63.7% vs 54.4%). Choose the NX if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (3.4% off MSRP vs 2.2% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Which is more reliable, the NX or the RAV4?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the NX or the RAV4?
The RAV4: a 5-year-old example lists for 63.7% of the new price, versus 54.4% for the NX, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the NX or the RAV4?
The RAV4 starts lower: $31,900 vs $44,175 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 3.4% off MSRP on the NX (11 deals) and 2.2% on the RAV4 (70 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the NX or the RAV4?
The RAV4: up to 43 mpg combined vs 40 mpg for the NX (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Lexus NX vs Toyota RAV4: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/lexus-nx-vs-toyota-rav4, updated November 8, 2026.