Toyota RAV4 vs Lexus NX

The sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 comes with three distinct design themes, two powertrain and drivetrain options, and five trim levels. It has a hybrid drivetrain as standard offering fuel efficiency as low as 5.5 L/100 km combined along with more standard features, a quicker operating system, and improvements across the board to bolster its bestselling position.

Verdict: In the 2026 Toyota RAV4, the good gets better.

The NX is the compact crossover SUV of the Lexus lineup. It sits between the Lexus UX and Lexus RX in size and price, and it competes with small luxury crossovers like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Genesis GV70, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60. This second-generation version arrived for the 2022 model year and receives minimal updates for 2026. The previously offered NX 250 base model is gone, but Lexus made some changes to the lineup to make the hybrid and plug-in hybrid NX models more affordable. The Lexus NX is assembled in Canada at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario.

Verdict: The NX offers good value in hybrid form, but it otherwise doesn’t feel like a true luxury vehicle.