Nissan X-Trail vs Toyota RAV4: e-Power against hybrid
Updated Report an error By Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Nissan · 2020–present
X-Trail T33
- Power
- 157 kW213 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 7.0 s
- Top speed
- 180 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,924 kg
Toyota · 2018–2025
RAV4 XA50
- Power
- 163 kW222 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 8.1 s
- Top speed
- 180 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,795 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: X-Trail T33 0 RAV4 XA50 3
- Family RAV4 XA50 Boot: 580 l vs 560 l
- City RAV4 XA50 Consumption: 4.8 l/100 km vs 6.3 l/100 km
- Performance Too close to call Power per tonne: 82 kW/t vs 91 kW/t
- Running costs RAV4 XA50 Fuel per year: €1,260 vs €1,650 (estimated)
- Off-road Too close to call Drive and body: All-wheel drive · SUV vs All-wheel drive · SUV
Verdict Opinion
The X-Trail is the closer of the two to an electric car without a plug. Its engine never drives the wheels, the e-4ORCE is the quicker all-wheel-drive car of the two at 7.0 seconds, and it scored 95% for safety assist.
The RAV4 is the safer bet on breadth and track record. It has a slightly larger boot, a plug-in hybrid for buyers who can charge, and an enormous global sales base. The new XA60 adds an updated platform and software from 2026.
— Oleksandr Hnatiuk
The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV of all time, with more than 15 million sold worldwide by 2025, and the Nissan X-Trail is one of its oldest rivals. In Europe the fourth-generation X-Trail (T33) debuted in September 2022, built at Nissan Motor Kyushu in Japan after production left the United Kingdom. The fifth-generation RAV4 (XA50), unveiled at the New York show in March 2018 on Toyota's TNGA-K platform, was its direct rival until the sixth-generation RAV4 arrived in 2026.
In short: both are self-charging hybrids with all-wheel-drive options, but they work in opposite ways. In the X-Trail e-Power the petrol engine only generates electricity; in the RAV4 it also drives the wheels. Both are in our catalogue: Nissan X-Trail T33 and Toyota RAV4.
Nissan X-Trail vs Toyota RAV4: hybrids, performance and space
Series hybrid against power-split hybrid
The X-Trail offers a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with variable compression as a mild hybrid, and an e-Power series hybrid in which the same type of engine charges a battery and electric motors drive the wheels. The dual-motor e-4ORCE adds electric all-wheel drive. The RAV4 Hybrid combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with electric motors and a CVT; the AWD-i version adds a rear electric motor.
Power and acceleration
Our catalogue lists the X-Trail e-Power at 150 kW and 330 Nm with 8.0 seconds to 100 km/h, and the e-Power e-4ORCE at 157 kW with 7.0 seconds and 180 km/h. The mild-hybrid 1.5 VC-Turbo has 120 kW and 300 Nm and needs 9.6 seconds. The fifth-generation RAV4 2.5 Hybrid has 160 kW with front-wheel drive, 8.4 seconds and 180 km/h, and 163 kW as the AWD-i.
- X-Trail 1.5 VC-Turbo: 120 kW, 300 Nm, 9.6 s
- X-Trail e-Power: 150 kW, 330 Nm, 8.0 s
- X-Trail e-Power e-4ORCE: 157 kW, 7.0 s
- RAV4 2.5 Hybrid 2WD: 160 kW, 8.4 s
- RAV4 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i: 163 kW
Plug-in hybrid only at Toyota
The RAV4 also came as a plug-in hybrid with 225 kW, up to 306 PS in Europe after 2021, an 18.1 kWh battery and a claimed 75 km of electric range. Nissan offers no plug-in X-Trail; its sister model on the same platform with a plug-in is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Size and boot
The RAV4 XA50 is 4,600 mm long and 1,855 mm wide on a 2,690 mm wheelbase in our catalogue, with a 580-litre boot. The T33 X-Trail is 10 mm shorter, 20 mm wider and 15 mm taller than its predecessor on an unchanged wheelbase. Its boot holds 560 litres with the second row in place.
The new RAV4
The sixth-generation RAV4 (XA60) was revealed on 20–21 May 2025, with European deliveries in the first half of 2026. Its body dimensions are largely carried over. Our catalogue lists its European hybrid at 135 kW with front-wheel drive and 140 kW with all-wheel drive, below the fifth generation's figures.
Euro NCAP
The X-Trail e-Power e-4ORCE received five stars, rated under the 2021 protocol: 91% for adult occupants, 90% for children, 70% for vulnerable road users and 95% for safety assist. The fifth-generation RAV4 received five stars in 2019.
Race Stats side by side
Each figure is a 0–100 score from the catalog numbers, the same as on the 1CARS Race cards. PI is the overall performance index (100–999) and its class D–S.
| Stat | X-Trail T33 | RAV4 XA50 |
|---|---|---|
| PI | C · 486 | B · 504 |
| Power | 44 | 47 |
| Grip | 43 | 53 |
| Handling | 44 | 47 |
| Top speed | 31 | 31 |
| Launch | 49 | 42 |
Grip and handling are estimates from drive type, weight, height and body (hover a figure to see where it comes from). 1CARS Race
Who wins a race?
Quarter-mile (402 m) drag from a standing start, dry road, no reaction time — the 1CARS Race physics on the catalog figures of these versions.
- 1 X-Trail T33X-Trail T33 · e-POWER e-4ORCE · hybrid · 157 kW (213 PS) 15.13 sat 141 km/h
- 2 RAV4 XA50RAV4 XA50 · 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i · 163 kW (222 PS) 15.85 sat 134 km/h · +0.72 s
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| X-Trail T33 | RAV4 XA50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,680 mm184.3 in † | 4,600 mm181.1 in † −80 mm −3.1 in −1.7% |
| Width | 1,840 mm72.4 in † | 1,855 mm73.0 in † +15 mm +0.6 in +0.8% |
| Height | 1,720 mm67.7 in † | 1,685 mm66.3 in † −35 mm −1.4 in −2.0% |
| Wheelbase | 2,705 mm106.5 in † | 2,690 mm105.9 in † −15 mm −0.6 in −0.6% |
| Kerb weight | 1,924 kg4,242 lb | 1,795 kg3,957 lb −129 kg −284 lb −6.7% |
| Boot | 560 l19.8 cu ft | 580 l20.5 cu ft +20 l +0.7 cu ft +3.6% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Yes | Tight |
Difference vs X-Trail T33 (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors. † from another version of this generation.
Full specifications
| Nissan X-Trail | Toyota RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | X-Trail T33 · e-POWER e-4ORCE · hybrid · 157 kW (213 PS) | RAV4 XA50 · 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i · 163 kW (222 PS) |
| Production years | 2020–present | 2018–2025 |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Class | SUV / crossover | SUV / crossover |
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 157 kW (213 PS) 211 hp | 163 kW (222 PS) 219 hp Better |
| Power, all versions | 84–206 kW (114–280 PS) 113–276 hp | 91–225 kW (124–306 PS) 122–302 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 330 Nm 243 lb-ft | No data |
| 0–100 km/h Why it matters: A shorter 0–100 km/h time means quicker getaways and safer merging onto fast roads. | 7.0 s Better | 8.1 s |
| Top speed Why it matters: Top speed hints at how relaxed the car is at motorway speeds, even if you never reach it. | 180 km/h 112 mph | 180 km/h 112 mph |
| Power per tonne | 82 kW/t 99 hp/ton calculated | 91 kW/t 110 hp/ton calculated Better |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Engine | 1,500 cc 1.5 l | 2,487 cc · 4 cyl 2.5 l |
| Gearbox | 1-speed single-speed | CVT |
| Drive | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,680 mm 184.3 in † | 4,600 mm 181.1 in † |
| Width | 1,840 mm 72.4 in † | 1,855 mm 73.0 in † |
| Height | 1,720 mm 67.7 in † | 1,685 mm 66.3 in † |
| Wheelbase | 2,705 mm 106.5 in † | 2,690 mm 105.9 in † |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 1,924 kg 4,242 lb | 1,795 kg 3,957 lb Better |
| Boot Why it matters: A bigger boot fits more luggage, shopping or a pram. | 560 l 19.8 cu ft | 580 l 20.5 cu ft Better |
| Fuel tank Why it matters: A larger tank means more distance between fuel stops. | No data | 55 l 14.5 gal US |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | 6.3 l/100 km 37.3 mpg US | 4.8 l/100 km 49.0 mpg US Better |
| CO₂ | 143 g/km | 107 g/km Better |
| Fuel cost per year | €1,650/year estimated | €1,260/year estimated Better |
| Range on a full tank | No data | 1,146 km 712 mi estimated |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (6): Body, Class, Country, Top speed, Fuel, Drive.
Better marks the stronger figure — only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €1.75/l petrol. † from another version of this generation.
In plain words
Nissan X-Trail is quicker: 0–100 km/h in 7.0 s against 8.1 s for Toyota RAV4. Nissan X-Trail is 80 mm longer than Toyota RAV4 (4,680 mm vs 4,600 mm). Toyota RAV4 is lighter by 129 kg (1,795 kg vs 1,924 kg). Toyota RAV4 has the bigger boot: 580 l against 560 l. At 15,000 km a year, fuel would cost about €1,650 (Nissan X-Trail), €1,260 (Toyota RAV4) (estimated). Toyota RAV4 is the older design (from 1994); Nissan X-Trail arrived in 2000. On the catalog figures, the Toyota RAV4 is the pick for family, city and running costs.
Which one to choose
Choose the Nissan X-Trail if you want electric-motor drive at all times without charging or the quicker acceleration of the e-4ORCE.
Choose the Toyota RAV4 if you want the option of a plug-in hybrid, a slightly bigger boot or the most widely sold SUV in the world.
The RAV4 meets more rivals in Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between e-Power and the RAV4 hybrid?
In the X-Trail e-Power the 1.5-litre petrol engine only generates electricity and electric motors drive the wheels. In the RAV4 Hybrid the 2.5-litre engine and the electric motors drive the wheels together through a CVT.
Which is faster?
Our catalogue lists 7.0 seconds to 100 km/h for the X-Trail e-Power e-4ORCE and 8.4 seconds for the front-wheel-drive RAV4 2.5 Hybrid of the fifth generation.
Which has the bigger boot?
The RAV4, with 580 litres in our catalogue, against 560 litres for the X-Trail with the second row in place.
Is there a plug-in X-Trail?
No. Nissan offers mild-hybrid and e-Power versions. The RAV4 has a plug-in hybrid, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses the X-Trail's platform.
Are they five-star cars?
Yes. The X-Trail e-Power e-4ORCE was rated five stars under the 2021 protocol and the fifth-generation RAV4 received five stars in 2019.