2020 Lexus RX vs 2019 Toyota RAV4

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 sported a bold, chunky design that drew inspiration from the Toyota Tacoma pickup, giving it an aggressive and futuristic appearance. Its sharp edges and chunky lines evoked a sense of strength, consistent with the side-profile styling and extending toward the back, where the taillights bore resemblance to those of Lexus models.

One design feature on the RAV4 was the character line breaking up the rear C-pillar. While common among new vehicles, it did not visually appeal in the RAV4’s design. With around fourteen color options, the RAV4 offered choices where half matched the body to the roof, while the other half had contrasting roof colors. Notably, two-tone options made sense, but the monotone schemes sometimes felt cluttered.

In contrast, the cabin was simpler and elegant, dominated by a floating touch screen and a well-packaged “pod” containing essential controls. The RAV4 trims ranged from LE to Limited, with each progressively offering more features such as alloy wheels, automatic high beams, power moonroof, and leatherette upholstery. The Limited trim went further upscale with amenities like chrome-finished alloy wheels, ambient lighting, and heated/ventilated front seats.

Lexus refreshed the RX for the 2020 model year with significant upgrades that allowed it to stand out in the competitive luxury SUV segment. The RX featured standard 18-inch wheels, distinctive slimmer headlights, and the company's signature grille. Additionally, two new paint colors, Moonbeam Beige Metallic and Nori Green Pearl, were introduced.

The RX's cabin continued to impress with a premium build featuring various color options and high-quality materials, including wood and aluminum trims. The F Sport appearance package enhanced its sporty look with unique interior and exterior elements, including aluminum pedals, bumpers, and 20-inch wheels. Overall, despite some outdated center stack elements, the RX maintained a luxurious and functional interior suitable for enduring family life.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine delivering 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, it offered a base AWD and a more advanced torque-vectoring AWD for the Adventure and Limited trims. The engine accelerated well on highways but struggled in stop-and-go traffic due to its lack of low-end power and increased noise levels.

The RAV4 provided reasonable ride quality but exhibited body roll and twitchy steering, making it less sporty compared to rivals like the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5. Despite its road handling limitations, the RAV4's AWD systems, especially the torque-vectoring, catered to those needing occasional off-road capabilities.

Fuel economy was notable with the front-wheel-drive RAV4 achieving 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the base AWD variant managed 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. The torque-vectoring AWD returned slightly lower figures at 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

The 2020 Lexus RX, on the other hand, was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque (290 hp and 263 lb-ft for the three-row RX 350L). The eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth operation, complemented by the hybrid RX 450h variant generating up to 308 horsepower with an electric motor assist.

The hybrid models employed a CVT and additional electric motors for enhanced power distribution. Despite a slower 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds, the RX excelled in providing ample power for everyday driving. Fuel economy for the RX 350 was 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h AWD achieved an impressive 30 mpg combined.

F Sport models added adaptive variable suspension and larger wheels for improved agility. Available drive modes, including Eco, Sport, and EV for hybrids, allowed drivers to customize their experience. The RX's insulation and structure ensured a quiet cabin, though its snow performance was hindered without torque-vectoring technology.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4’s interior was designed for practicality and elegance, with spacious seating and ample cargo space. The center stack featured a neat layout with climate controls, a large tray for small items, and the compact shifter. Additional storage included a deep center console bin and a passenger-side tray.

With the rear seats up, the RAV4 offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Although slightly less than in previous years, this capacity still surpassed rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee but fell short of the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, both offering around 75 cubic feet.

In the 2020 Lexus RX, the interior might not have matched the minimalism of its German counterparts, but it was functional and luxurious. The two-row RX comfortably seated four adults, while the three-row RX-L's third row was suitable only for small children. The cabin provided ample width and height, making ingress and egress easy, although the A-pillar slightly hindered visibility.

Cargo space in the RX 350 and RX 450h was limited compared to rivals, with the high load floor reducing available room. The RX 350L and RX 450hL offered even less cargo space, significantly trailing competitors like the Lincoln Aviator. A hands-free liftgate was standard on long-wheelbase versions, enhancing practicality.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 offered a tech-savvy experience with its standard 7-inch touchscreen running Toyota's latest Entune 3.0 infotainment system. The user-friendly interface included Apple CarPlay (though not Android Auto), Bluetooth, and a USB port. Higher trims like the XLE featured five USB ports and could upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen with an optional JBL premium stereo.

The infotainment layout was intuitive, with hard dials for primary functions such as volume and tuning—features increasingly rare in modern vehicles focusing more on touch controls. Despite its simplicity, the absence of Android Auto was a notable omission.

For the 2020 Lexus RX, the infotainment system had long been criticized for its complexity. The 2020 refresh brought the screens 5.5 inches closer to the driver, improving accessibility. Still, the system was challenging to navigate. The inclusion of Apple CarPlay overcame many of these issues by offering a more intuitive interface.

Additional compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, Google Assistant, and other apps provided alternative ways to use the system. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, while improved, still required acclimation. The RX also featured six USB ports, a standard 12-speaker audio system, and an optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a robust suite of safety features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. Additionally, traffic-sign detection and Lane-Tracing Assist were included, enhancing overall safety.

For the 2020 Lexus RX, Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 was standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Enhanced features for 2020 included daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, and road-sign assist. A three-year subscription to Enform Safety Connect and a 10-year subscription to Enform Service Connect were also included.

The RX received favorable safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA, consistent with its competitive safety features, although some newer models outperformed it in crash tests.