If you’re in the market to buy a new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, you wouldn’t ordinarily cast a sideways glance at a used BMW X5. After all, your initial choice might be that default compact crossover if you’re chasing efficiency and dependability. The other vehicle is a mid-sized luxury SUV that has plenty of power. However, depreciation may come into the picture and erase some of that separation. And when you find that a four-year-old X5 costs virtually the same as a well-equipped new RAV4, you may have some additional thinking to do.
A 2022 BMW X5 Has Fallen Into RAV4 Money
2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i frontBMW
A quick search of the CarBuzz Marketplace shows you that the average 2022 BMW X5 sDrive40i costs around $38,000. Nicer or low-mileage examples can be up to $45,000, depending on condition, equipment, and history, which puts them squarely in the upper half of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 lineup. For example, Toyota prices the Woodland Hybrid grade at $39,900, the XSE Hybrid at $41,300, and the Limited AWD at $43,300 before additional fees.
Additional online checks suggest it’s possible to find lower-mileage or BMW-certified X5 examples in the $40,000 to $44,000 range as well. The situation means that a RAV4 Limited shopper could realistically cross-shop a used X5 without being restricted to neglected high-mileage outliers. When the X5 xDrive40i went on sale in 2022, it had a sticker price of $62,900, excluding destination fees and options – an approximately 40% decline relative to current value.
Shoppers may also find an attractively priced X5 example with upgraded leather, driver-assistance equipment, larger wheels, or even the M Sport package. And those upgrades may not add much to a specific vehicle’s price compared to a lesser-equipped example. After all, optional equipment rarely retains its original cost in the cut and thrust of the used market. So, while the original owner may have paid luxury-SUV money for their 2022 acquisition, they may now have absorbed about $25,000 in depreciation. This allows a subsequent owner to get plenty of X5 usability for RAV4 money.
The X5 xDrive40i Could Be The Version To Buy
2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i rear quarterBMW
BMW provided numerous options when it launched its 2022 X5. For this comparison, the xDrive40i represents the sweet spot. It has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, flowing through an eight-speed automatic transmission to propel all four wheels. The EPA ratings show 21 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The engine also features a 48-volt mild hybrid system, though it can’t propel the vehicle on electricity alone.
Elsewhere on the used market, shoppers may come across the alternative xDrive45e plug-in hybrid. The model also appears to be relatively affordable at close to $38,000 on some online portals. However, this vehicle also has an electric motor, high-voltage battery, charging hardware, and additional weight to haul, which makes it more complicated. Buyers should confirm the condition of the hybrid system and carry out some extra checks, so it’s not automatically a better used-vehicle purchase.
BMW also sold the V8-powered M50i in 2022. However, it has an average used price of around $46,000, which is already above the RAV4 Limited. Shoppers here would need to consider its higher fuel consumption, as well as the potential costs of performance tires, larger brakes, and a more complex powertrain.
Still, the X5 has many attractive qualities, with each one featuring a wide, quiet cabin finished with rich materials. Some examples on the market today will have a heads-up display, heated and ventilated multi-contour seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, surround view cameras, and adaptive cruise control. And because BMW had such an extensive options list at the time, shoppers today should carefully assess each candidate vehicle. After all, two side-by-side and similarly priced X5s could have dramatically different equipment.
Shoppers will also discover that the BMW operates in a different performance category from the Toyota altogether. The all-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid produces 236 combined hp, which comes from its 2.5-liter inline-four and three-motor hybrid system. While that’s probably enough for everyday family duty, it won’t have the same smooth power delivery, effortless acceleration, or highway-passing capability as BMW’s turbocharged inline-six.
The best all-round 2022 X5 may have roughly 30,000 to 50,000 miles on the clock, a consistent service record, and a clean history. There should be no signs of deferred maintenance and no unresolved warning lights on the dashboard. A Premium Package or Parking Assistance Package could add useful everyday features and be far more practical than some cosmetic M Sport upgrades.
The RAV4 Starts Winning Before Anything Breaks
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE front 3/4 angle in blue while parkedToyota
There’s plenty to love about the 2022 BMW X5, and it surely offers a lot of engine and cabin for the monetary outlay. However, the RAV4 comes with a full new-car warranty, which is a significant plus. Here, Toyota covers the 2026 RAV4 with a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid system components have 8 years or 100,000 miles of protection, and the hybrid battery itself has 10 years or 150,000 miles of protection from its original in-service date when new.
The 2022 X5 did come with BMW’s four-year, 50,000-mile new-vehicle warranty, as well as three years or 36,000 miles of scheduled maintenance coverage. But by mid-2026, most examples would surely have reached the end of any such coverage through age, mileage, or a combo of the two. It may be possible to find a vehicle that still has BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty, which adds one year of limited coverage with unlimited mileage after the original warranty expires. However, that protection was never as comprehensive as the original factory warranty.
Fuel, Tires And Brakes Change The Price Comparison
2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i interior frontBMW
As always, the original purchase price is only the first part of the story when buying a used vehicle. Typically, the first place to look when calculating monthly cost projections is overall fuel economy, and here, there’s quite a stark difference. The 2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i is rated at 23 mpg combined with premium gasoline. By comparison, the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited has an EPA-rated combined fuel economy of 41 mpg and can use regular fuel. This means the BMW might consume approximately 522 gallons per year, assuming an average of 12,000 miles on the clock, compared with the Toyota’s projected 293 gallons. With the price of premium as it is right now, that’s something to think about.
When it comes to maintenance and repairs, the gap may widen further. RepairPal suggests an average annual repair and maintenance cost of $1,166 for the BMW X5 across model years, which compares to $429 for the Toyota RAV4. While those are not specific figures for a particular 2022 BMW or a brand-new 2026 Toyota, they still indicate the kind of cost differences that surround the two vehicles.
Individual wear items could also be costly. Here, RepairPal estimates that replacing the brake pads on a 2022 X5 could cost between $711 and $768. Larger tires, adaptive suspension hardware, complex lighting, and extensive electronics could also start to accumulate significant expenses for the BMW owner.
The BMW Is A Bargain Only For The Right Buyer
2022 BMW X5 xDrive40i badgeBMW
For careful shoppers, the conclusion is that the 2022 X5 xDrive40i is a used luxury SUV that demands a luxury-SUV ownership budget. It may still be attractive to those who drive relatively few miles per year, have access to a trusted independent BMW specialist, or have a reasonable budget for maintenance or repairs. In this case, that buyer would get a vehicle that’s certainly faster, quieter, more substantial, and arguably more rewarding to drive than the RAV4. But they’d still need to be particularly careful with their pre-purchase inspection and insist on complete records. If there was any remaining warranty coverage, that might help to reduce the risk as well.
Meanwhile, the RAV4 is probably the better answer for those who don’t necessarily have a lot of budget left after they make their monthly payment. Those buyers would find that the RAV4 also offers far better fuel economy, comes with extensive standard equipment, and has a long hybrid battery warranty. This kind of vehicle could be the safer choice for a high-mileage commuter or someone who can’t afford to have their only vehicle up on axle stands while it waits for a costly repair.
While four years of depreciation may have made the BMW and the Toyota roughly the same cost to buy, that’s only part of the story. Crucially, the fact that these vehicles are in the same conversation doesn’t automatically make them cost the same to own going forward. So, for many, the RAV4 may still be the better financial decision, with the BMW only working if the buyer understands and accepts the full picture before signing the paperwork.
Sources: BMW, Toyota, RepairPal,
