2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior followed the same restrained approach, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2022 Lexus RX continued its modern and sporty design from the 2020 facelift, standing out with aggressive styling among its competitors. The character lines were razor-sharp, and the angular features were eye-catching without being excessive. The F Sport trim added a performance-oriented look with 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and unique front fascia. The interior maintained a luxury appeal, with nearly a dozen color combinations available. The F Sport trim added sporty elements like Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather. However, the center stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim were less comfortable than expected.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided enough power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h offered a combined output of 308 horsepower. Both powertrains featured an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked sporty performance, with unimpressive acceleration and engine noise. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and other tuning bits, but the driving experience remained underwhelming. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, making it a good companion for long drives. The RX 350 returned 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, while the RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, interior storage options were limited.

The 2022 Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in the two-row version, comfortably fitting four adults. The three-row L models had a tight squeeze for anything but groceries. The RX 350L offered a 2/3/2 seating configuration with optional captain’s chairs. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The three-row version offered only 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, increasing to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot and adjustable-height cup holder.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. USB ports were standard for all rows, but wireless phone charging was only available on higher trims.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured an 8-inch touchscreen with a 12.3-inch option. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreen's position was ergonomically unfriendly. The touchpad controller was hypersensitive and unintuitive. The RX offered quality tech features like six USB ports, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa, a WiFi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided remote engine start and vehicle settings.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features being optional.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights and received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.