Best Chinese SUV vs Japanese SUV: 2025 Real Comparison

June 25, 2025

Which is the best Chinese SUV, and which is the best Japanese SUV? Many car enthusiasts or those looking to buy an SUV recently likely have this question. However, there are many factors to consider, such as vehicle performance, sales volume, reliability, user reviews, and authoritative certifications. Overall, there is no absolute “best” SUV, as the optimal choice depends on individual needs.
Nevertheless, based on factors like sales, reputation, and rankings from automotive research websites, we present here Japanese and Chinese SUVs that have received high comprehensive evaluations. This comparison aims to help those less familiar with cars gain a deeper understanding, enabling them to meet their purchasing needs and find their ideal vehicle.

Best Japanese SUVs

Toyota RAV4

Sales:

Global SUV sales champion for 6 consecutive years, with cumulative sales exceeding 13 million units.

Excellent performance in the Chinese market: 2023 sales of 182,059 units (FAW Toyota share: 22.7%), January 2024 sales of 16,914 units, consistently ranking in the top 10 compact SUVs.

Authoritative Certifications:

Consistently featured in J.D. Power’s “Most Reliable SUV,” with North American user-reported failure rates below industry average.

Euro NCAP 5-Star Rating (2019).

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (2019).

J.D. Power China Vehicle Dependability Study Champion (2024).

Consumer Reports Most Fuel-Efficient SUV (2018).

Ward’s 10 Best Interiors Award (2019).

Japan Car of the Year Award (2019-2020).

in User Satisfaction for Compact SUVs (¥200k-300k) in China (2021, CACSI).

Brand Loyalty in the US: 28.5% of owners choose Toyota again (CarMax 2023 data).

Technical Advantages:

Hybrid Benchmark: 2.5L Hybrid version achieves WLTC fuel consumption as low as 5.1L/100km, balancing power and economy.

Smart Upgrade: 2023 model features a 10.25-inch touchscreen, supports CarPlay/Connectivity, and offers the North American Adventure off-road package for enhanced capability.

Fuel Consumption:

Gasoline: 6.27~6.9L/100km (WLTC)

Hybrid: 5.1~5.23L/100km (WLTC)

Price:

Post-discount starting price drops to ¥116,800 (Original: ¥240,000), offering outstanding value.

Honda CR-V

Sales:

Joint-venture compact SUV sales champion for 20 consecutive years (2004-2024), with global cumulative sales exceeding 15 million units and over 3.1 million in China.

May 2025 sales reached 17,987 units, a 56.97% year-on-year increase, leading Honda’s SUV lineup.

Authoritative Certifications:

Safety Pinnacle: First model to achieve C-NCAP 5-Star+ rating, featuring ACE body structure + 1500MPa hot-stamped steel, and achieving “All Excellent” in C-IASI crash tests.

Quality Leader: Ranked in J.D. Power Midsize Premium SUV Quality (2023) and in Compact SUV Quality Rankings (2024).

Resale Value Champion:

3-year resale value rate: 69.62% (J.D. Power), with 5-year residual value significantly higher than domestic competitors.

Segment resale value leader for 4 consecutive years (2009-2012).

Maintained segment resale value leadership throughout the electrification era (2018-2023).

Consumer Reports Top Score: CR-V Hybrid scored 83 points, ranking among compact SUVs in 2025.

Technical Advantages:

Hybrid System: 1.5T “e:HEV” + 2.0L “e:HEV”, fuel consumption as low as 4.3L/100km (Hybrid).

Smart Features: Honda SENSING (L2 ADAS), Honda CONNECT 3.0 (Real-time Navigation/Voice Control).

Fuel Consumption:

Gasoline: 7.3L/100km (WLTC)

Hybrid: 5.49L/100km (WLTC)

Price:

Starting from ¥130,900 (after ¥55,000 discount).

Lexus LX570

Market Performance:

High-end market share: ~7,000 units sold domestically in 2018 (mainly parallel imports), 126 units sold in Dec 2024, targeting collector-level users.

Strong Pricing: Starting price rose from ¥900k to ¥1.5 million (2018-2024), with residual value crushing German competitors.

Luxury & Reliability Benchmark:

Off-Road Flagship Status: Body-on-frame construction + Torsen differential lock, compatible with 92-octane gasoline, renowned as the “indestructible luxury SUV”.

Craftsmanship Certification: Embodies Lexus “Takumi” craftsmanship; interior received Ward’s 10 Best Interiors nomination (2018).

Power & Technology:

Large Displacement Naturally Aspirated Pinnacle: 5.7L V8 engine (380 HP / 535 Nm) + 8AT, optimized low-speed torque, top-tier off-road capability.

Limited Status: Restricted production at Japanese plant (only thousands supplied globally annually), scarcity drives high premiums, consistently sold above MSRP.

Fuel Consumption:

MIIT: 14.7L/100km

Real-world: 16~20L/100km

Price:

¥1.57~1.74 million

Specifications	Toyota RAV4	Honda CR-V	Lexus LX570
Sales Achievement	13M+ global, 2024 US sales champ (475k)	15M+ global, 3.1M+ domestic, 20-year champ	2,600 units/year (2024), scarce limited edition
Safety Certification	IIHS Top Safety Pick	C-NCAP 5-Star+, C-IASI All Excellent	Body-on-frame, off-road safety redundancy
Quality Ranking	J.D. Power Reliability Leader	J.D. Power Compact SUV Quality (2024)	“20 years unbreakable” reputation
Tech Highlights	2.5L Hybrid (5.1L/100km), TNGA platform	Honda SENSING, Hybrid 4.3L/100km	5.7L V8 + Full-time 4WD, Torsen diff lock
Resale Value	~65% after 3 years	69.62% after 3 years (J.D. Power champ)	5-year residual >70%, markups common
Price Range	From ¥116,800 (post-discount)	From ¥185,900	From ¥1.5M (after markup)

Best Chinese SUVs

Haval H6

Sales:

Historical sales king of Chinese SUVs, the only model with monthly sales exceeding 80,000 units.

Cumulative sales exceed 4 million units, ranking among the top 4 globally for single SUV model sales.

Sales champion for 69 cumulative months (Feb 2025 monthly sales: 25,728 units).

Authoritative Certifications:

C-NCAP 5-Star Rating; body uses 79% high-strength steel.

CACSI User Satisfaction Champion for 10 years (¥100k-150k segment).

User popularity score of 13.11 (WeiReDian statistics), surpassing German/Japanese models to rank first.

in Sales/After-sales Service among domestic brands (CACSI).

Technical Advantages:

Powertrain: Equipped with “China Heart” Top 10 Engine – 1.5GDIT (124kW/285Nm), 92 patents, CVVL technology reduces fuel consumption by 8.4%.

Smart Features: Haval Connect 3.0 system, 97% voice recognition rate, standard 9-inch screen + electronic gear shifter.

Fuel Consumption:

Approx. 7~8L/100km

Price:

Starting from ¥71,900 (limited-time fixed price).

BYD Song PLUS

Sales:

2024 family sales near 1 million units; Feb 2025 monthly sales: 89,650 units (domestic).

Song PLUS DM-i global cumulative sales exceed 1.3 million units.

Global PHEV SUV sales champion, ended joint venture monopoly.

Authoritative Certifications:

“All Excellent” in C-IASI crash tests; Blade Battery received German safety certification.

Top 3 in J.D. Power New Energy Vehicle Dependability.

User satisfaction in overseas markets (Europe/Southeast Asia) exceeds Tesla.

Technical Advantages:

Hybrid Tech: 5th Gen DM-i system with 46.06% thermal efficiency (world’s highest), fuel consumption when depleted: 3.8L/100km, range over 1400km.

Battery Safety: Blade Battery passed nail penetration, crushing tests, maintains 85% range at -35°C.

Smart Driving: DiPilot system ranked in J.D. Power In-Vehicle Information Satisfaction (¥150k-200k segment).

Fuel Consumption:

Fuel Consumption (Depleted): 3.9L/100km (NEDC)

Full Tank + Full Charge Range: 1500km

Price:

¥135,800 ~ ¥175,800

Geely Galaxy L7

Sales:

Sold over 110,000 units in 9 months after launch; Jan-Feb 2024 sales: 28,343 units.

Steadily in the first tier of ¥150k plug-in hybrid SUVs.

Authoritative Certifications:

Volvo-level cage body + integrated boron steel door ring; battery pack passed seawater immersion, drop tests.

Developed to NCAP 5-star standards, failure rate below industry average.

Technical Advantages:

Architecture Safety: e-CMA PHEV architecture + ShenShield Battery System, passed 100+ extreme tests, achieving “zero spontaneous combustion”.

Three-Electric Tech: Thor Hybrid 8848 system, thermal efficiency 44.26%, 3-speed variable-frequency electric drive with combined power of 287kW.

Fuel Consumption:

Fuel Consumption (Depleted): 3.79L/100km (CLTC)

Real-world Combined: 4.2L/100km

Price:

¥115,800 ~ ¥148,800

Specifications	Haval H6	BYD Song PLUS	Geely Galaxy L7
Sales Achievement	4M+ cumulative sales, top 4 global SUV model	Song PLUS DM-i global cumulative >1.3M 2024 family sales ~1M	Sold 110k+ units in 9 months
Technical Honors	1.5GDIT engine “China Heart Top 10”, CVVL tech reduces fuel 8.4%	5th Gen DM-i 46.06% thermal efficiency (world’s highest), depleted fuel 3.8L/100km Blade Battery -35°C range retention 85%	Thor Hybrid 8848 thermal efficiency 44.26%, 3-speed e-drive combined 287kW
Safety & Quality Cert.	C-NCAP 5-Star Rating 2024 CACSI “¥100k-150k Compact SUV” Joint (10 consecutive years)	Blade Battery German safety cert. J.D. Power NEV Reliability Top 3	Developed to C-NCAP 5-star standards
User Satisfaction	CACSI User Satisfaction Champion 10 years (¥100k-150k)	Overseas satisfaction (Europe/SEA) > Tesla	CCTV China Auto Awards “Annual Best SUV”

Core Specifications Comparison Table

	Powertrain	Engine	Drivetrain	Key Advantages	Fuel Consumption	Price (¥10k)
Toyota RAV4	Gasoline/HEV	2.0L Dynamic Force / 2.5L THS II	FWD/AWD	Global reliability, TNGA + L2 ADAS	Gas: 6.27~6.9L(WLTC) HEV: 5.1~5.23L(WLTC)	11.68(gas) 18.78(HEV)
Honda CR-V	Gasoline/HEV	1.5T Earth Dreams / 2.0L i-MMD	FWD/AWD	C-NCAP 5★+, Magic Seat design	Gas: 7.3L(WLTC) HEV: 5.49L(WLTC)	13.09(gas) ~20(HEV)
Lexus LX570	Gasoline	5.7L V8 NA	Full-time 4WD	Ladder frame + Torsen diff, off-road icon	Official: 14.7L Real: 16~20L	157~174
Haval H6	Gasoline	1.5GDIT Turbo	FWD	4M+ sales, CACSI top1 for 10 years	7~8L (no test data)	7.19(promo)
BYD Song PLUS DM-i	PHEV	1.5L Xiaoyun PHEV (Gen5 DM-i)	FWD/AWD	46.06% thermal efficiency, 1500km range	HEV mode: 3.9L(NEDC)	13.58~17.58
Geely Galaxy L7	PHEV	1.5T Leishen EM-i 8848	FWD	Shen Dun battery safety, 3-speed DHT	HEV mode: 3.79L(CLTC) Tested: 4.2L	11.58~14.88