2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe made a bold statement with its appearance and sound. Aside from a "4xe" badge and blue accents, it looked like a regular Wrangler, with the only noticeable difference being the power port at the windshield's base. When the battery had enough charge, the SUV moved silently, except for the pedestrian notification system's whine, which turned heads as it cruised through Yosemite National Park. The Firecracker Red Rubicon trim test vehicle, priced at $66,690, included over $13,000 in options. Inside, it retained the classic Wrangler look with some added soft-touch materials and blue stitching, but it didn't offer luxury or refinement.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX continued to impress with its modern and sporty design, especially after its 2020 facelift. Available in base 350, F Sport, and L trims, the RX offered aggressive styling with sharp character lines and angular features. The F Sport trim, in particular, stood out with 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and unique front fascia. Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious appeal with various color combinations and high-quality materials. However, the center stack felt dated, and the F Sport seats lacked comfort, making it challenging to find an ideal driving position.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, two electric motors, and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This setup provided an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving and a combined efficiency rating of 49 MPGe. As a hybrid, it achieved 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe offered three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save, with a total output of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in six seconds.

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 added two electric motors for a combined 308 hp. Both models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The RX 450h came exclusively with AWD. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and hesitant acceleration. The F Sport trim included performance dampers and an adaptive variable suspension, but the driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Sport+) didn't significantly alter the driving experience. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, making it a pleasant companion for long drives.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's high door sills and lack of side steps made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter passengers. Once inside, the classic Wrangler driving position offered a clear view over the hood. The interior had limited storage space, with a small center console bin and glovebox. Rear-seat passengers had air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet, but the cargo area was less accommodating, with 27.7 cubic feet of space behind the back seat and 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Lexus RX provided 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in the two-row model, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L model offered a tight squeeze for anything but groceries. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The L model had 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, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon's technological advancements focused on its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system. It featured an 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system was intuitive but showed its age in load time and responsiveness. The Trip Summary data panel and charging indicator lights were helpful for monitoring the battery status.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the screen's positioning created access issues. The touchscreen was responsive, but the touchpad was frustrating to use. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided additional personalization options.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group packages. These included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic high beams. The Wrangler received a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection and a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety 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 and received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.