2023 Lexus RX vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a formidable first impression with its unapologetically massive structure. The grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were all scaled up, adding an imposing presence on the road. The vertical running lights and horizontal headlights made the front end resemble a diesel locomotive more than a traditional car, emphasizing the vehicle’s significant bulk. Despite its 22-inch wheels, they seemed diminutive compared to the sprawling sheet metal surrounding them.

The Escalade also offered varied trim options for "sport" and "luxury" models. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims sported bright exterior pieces, while the Sport trim featured darkened elements, including a mesh grille. Riding on the same body-on-frame architecture as its GM siblings such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, the Escalade's unique styling elements set it apart, though its design didn't feature a distinct thematic coherence seen in competitors like the Lincoln Navigator. The interior, while luxurious with leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, included some cheap-looking plastic bits which occasionally detracted from its opulent feel.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX offered a more modern and sleek aesthetic. It was shorter in height but broader and longer in wheelbase than its predecessor, providing more cargo space, although still less than some rivals. Its spindle-style grille integrated seamlessly into a modern mesh texture, flowing back into elevated hood lines. The RX 350's exterior included upswept body sides and a light-blade taillight design that continued its familiar yet refreshed look. The interior was modernized with fewer buttons and knobs, featuring a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen display and optional head-up display.

Quality was high, as expected from Lexus, with NuLuxe artificial leather as the standard offering and genuine leather available. This new RX model introduced textured black plastic, real wood, and aluminum dash trims, adding variety and luxury. The RX’s cabin was roomy yet modern with ambient lighting, soft-touch materials, and a sophisticated design.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade provided two powertrain choices. The standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. An alternative was the Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine, delivering 277 horsepower and the same 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and came with either rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations. We tested the diesel variant, which offered smooth power delivery despite its lower horsepower, thanks to its high torque available at just 1,500 rpm. The diesel engine contributed to comfortable driving dynamics despite an occasionally hard brake pedal. However, the gasoline engine had a slight advantage in towing, capable of pulling up to 8,200 pounds—surpassing the diesel’s 8,100 pounds.

The ride quality, however, was a weak point for the Escalade. Its suspension struggled to smooth out road imperfections, resulting in a less composed ride compared to its rivals like the Lincoln Navigator and BMW X7.

On the other hand, the 2023 Lexus RX featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While it produced less horsepower than the previous V6, it offered more torque and better performance at high altitudes, along with improved fuel economy. During our test drive, the RX 350 Luxury trim occasionally exhibited torque steer and body motion over uneven pavements. The F Sport Handling trim, however, felt more secure and planted, especially in Sport mode, thanks to its adaptive damping suspension and improved brakes.

The RX 350 reached 0-60 mph in around 7.5 seconds (FWD) and 7.2 seconds (AWD), offering respectable acceleration for its class. Fuel economy was also decent, with Lexus claiming 25 mpg combined for the FWD and 24 mpg for the AWD, although our tests revealed slightly lower numbers.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while its extended version, the Escalade ESV, was akin to the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL. The standard Escalade was 211.9 inches long, and the ESV version extended this to 227 inches. This size translated into a cavernous cabin with abundant first and third-row legroom, though second-row passengers had a bit less headroom compared to the Lincoln Navigator. The second-row captain’s chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench were standard, offering plenty of seating flexibility.

When it came to cargo space, the Escalade was a front-runner, boasting 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 63.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats down. However, the Escalade had a few ergonomic flaws, such as a raised center console lacking adequate storage space and front seats that felt less luxurious than competitors.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Lexus RX focused on comfort and practicality with its well-appointed interior. The RX 350 Luxury had semi-aniline leather, ten-way power seats for both the driver and front passenger, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel with power tilt and telescopic adjustment. The F Sport Handling trim added sporty elements like black NuLuxe simulated leather seats and Dark Graphite trim.

The back seat of the RX was supportive and mounted high for excellent leg support, though taller passengers might find headroom a bit tight. Cargo space was improved from previous models, measuring 29.6 cubic feet with the second row up and 46.2 cubic feet with it folded down. While this was more than before, it still didn't match up to some competitors in the segment.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured a highly advanced infotainment setup with a 38-inch curved OLED display split into three separate screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch control panel. This setup included Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. The screen was well-integrated into the dashboard, with physical toggles for climate control and other essential functions. However, certain features like the carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller felt awkward.

The Escalade's technology suite was extensive, boasting features like a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. A 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was standard but had difficulty tuning for optimal sound, especially with headrest-mounted speakers distorting audio for front occupants.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the Lexus Interface infotainment system, with 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and several connected service plans. Drive Connect, free for three years, included Intelligent Assistant voice recognition, which generally responded accurately although it had occasional lapses. User profiles could save personalized settings, and built-in Apple Music and Amazon Music streaming were available.

Both test RX 350s featured the 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, which required fine-tuning for best performance. The RX also came with a digital rearview mirror, digital key smartphone technology, and a color head-up display, though the latter was not visible with polarized sunglasses under certain conditions.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came well-equipped with standard driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Super Cruise—a semi-autonomous driving system. Super Cruise allowed hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, providing smooth and natural responses. However, the Escalade lacked published safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.

Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) was standard on every 2023 RX, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, including new features such as motorcycle detection and evasive steering assistance. Semi-autonomous technologies like Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist debuted for 2023, enhancing driver convenience and safety. However, the system had some operational quirks, such as issues with the HUD when using polarized sunglasses and less predictive curve-speed reduction.