Compare the2025 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2025 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota 4Runner are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 4Runner are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 4Runner has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The X3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the 4Runner and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

The 4Runner’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The X3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4Runner and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the 4Runner 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4Runner’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 9th.

The 4Runner’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 23 more horsepower (278 vs. 255) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 295) than the X3 30 xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The 4Runner’s optional 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (465 vs. 428) than the X3 M50 xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X3 M50 xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The 4Runner has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (19 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the 4Runner’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X3:

For better traction, the 4Runner has larger tires than the X3 (265/70R17 vs. 245/50R19). The 4Runner SR5’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (265/70R17 vs. 255/40R21).

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X3 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X3; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The 4Runner Trailhunter/TRD Pro has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X3 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 4Runner is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

For better maneuverability, the 4Runner’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the X3’s (39.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner Trailhunter/TRD Pro has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 30 xDrive (10.1 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The 4Runner offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X3 can only carry 5.

The 4Runner has 1.6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the X3.

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The X3’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The 4Runner’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The 4Runner TRD/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The 4Runner is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Toyota 4Runner outsold the BMW X3 by 89% during 2023.