In the highly competitive world of midsize luxury SUVs, two leaders continue to face off: the Lexus RX and the BMW X5. Both five-passenger crossover SUVs provide appealing options for modern buyers seeking performance, comfort, technology, and prestige, but they take very different paths to achieve these goals.
The Lexus RX has long been a mainstay in the midsize premium SUV market, known for its broad appeal to luxury buyers and its refined execution. For 2025, Lexus enhances that reputation with a notably diverse range of powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The sporty hybrid RX 500h delivers an extra boost of horsepower, propelling the RX into the performance category while still providing the smooth ride for which the iconic crossover is celebrated.
Inside, the RX continues to prioritize comfort, craftsmanship, and user-friendly technology, featuring an infotainment system that feels intuitive and easy to use.
In its corner, the BMW X5 stays true to its brand's performance DNA. Although it starts at a significantly higher price than its Lexus rival, it justifies that premium with a chassis tuned for driving engagement, a richly appointed interior, and advanced technology integration. Its twin-screen infotainment system is sleek and powerful, and performance-focused trims like the M60i push the limits of what a luxury SUV can do without sacrificing everyday comfort.
On paper, both models check the same boxes: luxury, performance, utility, and tech. But the way they fill those boxes tells two different stories that are likely to appeal to two different buyers. One leans toward value and refined practicality, the other toward driving excitement and cutting-edge innovation. In this comparison, we explore how each brand interprets the luxury SUV formula and what that means for buyers trying to decide between them.
2025 Lexus RX 350 Premium
The 2025 Lexus RX lineup offers a wide range of trim levels. For those interested in traditional gasoline power, Lexus provides six versions: RX 350, RX 350 Premium, RX 350 Premium+, RX 350 Luxury, RX 350 F Sport Design, and RX 350 F Sport Handling AWD.
Hybrid buyers can choose from RX 350h AWD, RX 350h Premium AWD, RX 350h Premium+ AWD, RX 350h Luxury AWD, RX 350h F Sport Design AWD, RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD, and the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition. The RX 450h+ Luxury AWD is the only option for PHEV buyers.
The front wheel drive (FWD) RX 350 is the most affordable, with a suggested retail price of $50,575. At the top of the lineup, the PHEV RX 450h+ Luxury AWD starts at a suggested $72,710.
The 2025 Lexus RX provides complimentary roadside assistance for four years with no mileage restrictions, and LexusCare includes scheduled maintenance services through 10,000 miles. All 2025 RX SUVs come with a three-year trial of Lexus Safety Connect, which offers stolen-vehicle tracking, GPS-enabled roadside assistance, and automatic emergency response, along with 10 years of Service Connect that provides vehicle health reports. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also available with a 30-day or 3-gigabyte free trial.
For the 2026 model year, the BMW X5 comes in five different variants: sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive50e, M60i, and the high-performance X5 M Competition. The sDrive40i is the only rear wheel drive (RWD) version of the SUV, while all other trims come standard with all wheel drive (AWD). Starting prices range from $68,775 for the base sDrive40i to the X5 M Competition’s suggested price of $130,875.
BMW offers X5 buyers four years of complimentary roadside assistance, along with a free maintenance plan that covers the first three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The Connected Package Professional, offered free for four years, provides real-time traffic and parking information, music, weather updates, connected navigation, hazard previews, and a voice-activated Intelligent Personal Assistant that enables natural speech control of various functions.
Advantage: Lexus RX
Why? Because the RX is less expensive.
2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e
The Lexus RX ranks second in the Midsize Premium SUV segment in the JD Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership.
The RX also ranks second (in a tie) in its segment in the JD Power 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2025 Lexus RX comes with a standard warranty of four years or 50,000 miles, a powertrain warranty of six years or 70,000 miles, and an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty for the hybrid vehicle system.
The BMW X5 ranks second in the Upper Midsize Premium SUV segment in the 2025 VDS, but it does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the 2025 IQS. The 2026 X5 comes with a standard warranty of four years or 50,000 miles, along with an equally long powertrain warranty.
Advantage: Lexus RX
Why? The RX ranks higher in initial quality and offers a longer warranty.
2025 Lexus RX 350 Premium
For 2025, Lexus RX buyers can choose between conventional, hybrid, and PHEV powertrains. The non-hybrid model is equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 275 hp. The RX 350h models combine a pair of electric motors with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine to deliver 246 hp. The robust RX 500h hybrid turbocharges the 2.4-liter engine along with electric motors to generate 366 hp.
The PHEV RX 450h+ pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric drive motors, providing a combined 302 hp and offering an EPA-estimated 37 miles of electric driving range.
The turbocharged RX 350 has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 mpg combined, while the RX 350h hybrid achieves an estimated 36 mpg combined, and the RX 500h is rated at 27 mpg combined. As of this writing, the EPA has not released a rating for the PHEV RX 450h+. Although F Sport trims don't match the BMW X5 in handling precision, they offer a more comfortable ride than the BMW SUV.
The five-passenger Lexus RX offers 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which expands to 46.2 cubic feet when the 40/20/40 power-folding rear bench is folded flat. This flexible rear seat is also available with heating and ventilation. The RX’s power liftgate can be operated from the key fob, dashboard, or gate itself. Most 2025 RX SUVs are rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Both the BMW X5 sDrive40i and xDrive40i are equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 375 hp. The PHEV xDrive50e combines the same turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with an electric motor, delivering a total of 483 hp. BMW estimates that the xDrive50e can travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone. The X5 M60i is equipped with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 523 hp. A 617-hp twin-turbo V8 powers the X5 M Competition.
The EPA estimates that the base BMW sDrive40i and the AWD xDrive40i will deliver 25 mpg in combined driving. The M60i is rated at 19 mpg combined, and the X5 M Competition achieves 15 mpg. The fuel economy leader is the PHEV xDrive50e, which boasts a 58 MPGe rating.
The BMW X5 has a 5-inch longer wheelbase than the RX and is about 2 inches longer overall. It offers similar, quite comfortable seating for five and slightly more total cargo space than its Lexus competitor. The luggage capacity in the BMW X5 sDrive40i and xDrive40i measures 22.9 cubic feet, which increases to 66 cubic feet with the second row folded down. It is rated to tow up to 7,200 pounds. The PHEV xDrive50e has slightly less cargo space, with 17.6 cubic feet with the seats up and 60.7 cubic feet with the seats down.
Advantage: Neither
Why? These are two highly comfortable, well-finished crossover SUVs.
2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand new vehicle to come with the following safety features:
So, how do the RX and X5 stack up? Let's take a look.
All 2025 Lexus RX models are equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, a comprehensive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) suite. In addition to standard ADAS features, it offers several more advanced functions. Proactive Driving Assist provides braking and steering to help maintain safe distances from vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist—also known as automatic emergency steering—can help the driver avoid objects in the RX’s path. Left Turn Oncoming Vehicle Detection/Braking—otherwise known as intersection automatic emergency braking—alerts the driver and can automatically brake if it detects a hazardous left turn situation.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2025 Lexus RX a five-star overall rating, its highest safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the RX "Good" in two of three tested crashworthiness categories, but it did not earn a “Top Safety Pick” designation.
The 2026 BMW X5 comes with an ADAS suite called the Active Driving Assistant, which includes lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. For more advanced capabilities, the optional Driving Assistance Professional package adds Highway Assistant, a hands-free driving system for limited-access highways. It also includes Active Lane Change, where the driver can confirm suggested lane changes simply by checking the corresponding exterior side mirror.
While the NHTSA hasn’t published safety ratings for the 2026 BMW X5, the structurally similar 2025 X5 earned a four-star overall rating. Meanwhile, the IIHS named the 2025 X5 a “Top Safety Pick+,” its highest honor.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The RX earns a higher NHTSA rating but isn’t recognized as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, while the X5 is.
2025 Lexus RX 350 Premium
The 2025 Lexus RX features a standard 9.8-inch touchscreen, with an optional 14-inch display available on Premium trims and standard on Premium+ and higher versions. Developed in-house by Lexus and Toyota, the infotainment system is easy to use and packed with features, featuring intuitive menus similar to those found on smartphones. The screen displays clearly labeled icons and includes a physical on/off and volume knob at the lower center edge for added convenience. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported and work reliably.
All 2025 RX trims come with a three-year trial of Lexus Safety Connect, which offers stolen vehicle tracking, GPS-enabled roadside assistance, and automatic emergency response. In the event of a serious accident or emergency, the system can automatically notify a 24-hour response center to dispatch help to the vehicle's location. Service Connect, available via the Lexus app, provides up to 10 years of free access to vehicle health reports. Additionally, a Wi-Fi hotspot is available with a 30-day/3-gigabyte free trial.
The Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system, paired with the available 14-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, works seamlessly with Drive Connect’s cloud-based features, which include real-time traffic updates, current maps, and Google-sourced points of interest. The Intelligent Assistant not only allows drivers to use natural voice commands but also offers 24/7 access to live agents who can send points of interest directly to the vehicle’s navigation system.
The 2026 BMW X5 features the iDrive interface, powered by Operating System 8, with an optional upgrade to iDrive 8.5. The system uses two large displays: a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch center touchscreen, both integrated under a single glass panel. Drivers can interact with iDrive through touch, voice commands, or a rotary dial. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless smartphone charging are also included.
BMW equips the 2026 X5 with a comprehensive suite of connected and remote services, including BMW Remote Services, accessed via the My BMW app, which offers features such as remote climate control and vehicle recovery in the event of theft. It supports over-the-air software updates, wireless phone charging, and 5G connectivity through a personal eSIM. The Connected Package Professional, included for four years, provides real-time traffic updates, connected navigation, and voice-activated functions with the Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The available Parking Assistant Professional enables the BMW X5 to perform automated parking maneuvers after recording them once, with remote monitoring accessible via smartphone. The surround view camera, also included in the package, assists with manual parking, while the My BMW app allows users to check the vehicle’s surroundings through remotely captured images.
Advantage: BMW X5
Why? The X5 offers several advanced features, including a hands-off driving assistance system and automated parking assist.
2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e
The Lexus RX has been the “Big Daddy” in its segment for decades, and the brand plans to keep it that way. To achieve this, it offers buyers a wide range of powertrain options, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, a conventional hybrid, and a PHEV. All of the powertrains deliver the performance that RX buyers have traditionally sought.
Comfort and convenience are the RX’s main priorities. While the RX’s infotainment system isn’t as extensive as some European competitors, I believe this could be an advantage for buyers in this segment. The system is straightforward to operate, and the RX features dedicated buttons and knobs for essential functions, rather than relying solely on screens.
In some ways, this isn’t a fair fight because the entry level RX is over $15,000 cheaper than the least expensive BMW X5. While the Lexus highlights value, the BMW focuses on its dynamic performance, advanced technology, and century-old heritage. The X5 embodies “the ultimate driving machine" while also offering the space and utility that crossover SUV buyers seek. That’s a clever balance.
The enthusiast-focused M60i and X5 M Competition may be a bit too bold and extreme for mainstream luxury crossover buyers. Still, they excel at delivering both a smooth ride and exciting performance. The X5 also features impressive technology with its unified dual-screen display and advanced operating system. Your lease might expire before you fully understand everything it offers. In summary, the RX provides everything a midsize luxury SUV shopper needs, while the BMW offers the same with more flair.
Advantage: Neither
Why? Only you can decide who you are and what you want your vehicle to express. The RX is a solid choice; the X5 provides more excitement.
To learn more about these premium midsize SUVs, read our expert reviews of the Lexus RX, Lexus RX PHEV, BMW X5, BMW X5 PHEV, and the BMW X5 M. To see how consumers rate these models, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Additionally, please note that while the information in this article was accurate and current as of July 21, 2025, it may have changed since then. Always verify product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of MotorTrend, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other platforms.
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