The point is that a Toyota RAV4 (and anything else in the compact crossover segment) is, functionally speaking, much closer to a Corolla than it is to a Suburba

The point is that a Toyota RAV4 (and anything else in the compact crossover segment) is, functionally speaking, much closer to a Corolla than it is to a Suburban. You're getting 30 mpg (combined) vs. 33 mpg for a Corolla; curb weight is within a few hundred pounds; the RAV4 is actually shorter in length than the Corolla. It is basically a Corolla estate with a higher ride height and different body styling/packaging. More relevantly to the original comparison: a RAV4 is shorter, lighter, and gets better gas mileage than a BMW 5-series, in addition to having more rear-passenger legroom and easier child-seat fitting.