2022 GMC Terrain vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. GMC equipped the AT4 with a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components, anticipating that some owners might test its off-road capabilities. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, blacked-out AT4 treatment, and a black leather interior. It was loaded with the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, a Skyscape panoramic sunroof, and a three-year subscription to OnStar services, bringing the MSRP to $41,810, including the $1,395 destination charge.

The 2022 Lexus RX continued to offer a modern and sporty design, having received a facelift in 2020. Available in base 350, F Sport, and L trim levels, the RX also had a hybrid model, the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L trim offered a three-row, 7-passenger option. The RX's exterior featured sharp character lines and angular features, resulting in an eye-catching design. The F Sport trim added performance-oriented styling with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trimming, and unique front and rear bumpers. The interior of the RX maintained a luxury appeal, with F Sport models adding sporty elements like Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather seats.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The engine's torque was available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, but there was a delay off the line as the engine revs built. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band once rolling. The Terrain AT4 could switch between FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system available. The AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance and had a four-wheel independent suspension. The Terrain AT4's ride was smooth on highways and city streets, but it struggled off-road, scraping the front end on uneven terrain. The EPA rated the Terrain AT4 at 26 mpg, and it achieved 26.2 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h added two high-torque electric motors for a combined output of 308 hp. All RX models had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The RX 450h came with AWD only. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked sporty performance, with a hum rather than a growl from the engine and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension, sport steering, and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and isolating road noise. The RX 350 had an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, with plenty of legroom and foot room. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2022 Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in the standard two-row model, comfortably fitting four adults. The three-row L models had a tight squeeze for anything but groceries. The RX 350L had a 2/3/2 seating configuration, with second-row captain’s chairs available. 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 down. The three-row models offered 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen added connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Tech Package added a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The Tire Fill Alert system and remote engine starting system were also useful features.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreens were moved closer to the driver in 2020 but still had ergonomic issues. The screen's positioning created access problems, and the touchpad was hypersensitive and unintuitive. The RX offered six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, dual- and tri-zone climate control, premium audio systems, navigation, and heated and ventilated seats. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start, vehicle settings, and service scheduling.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of review.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, including 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 with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the "plus" designation due to headlight ratings. The NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.