2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a top recommendation for families due to its practical design and features. Its sliding side doors made loading children into car seats a breeze, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers. The Odyssey also offered impressive cargo space, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded down or removed. Despite the minivan stigma, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and quality interior materials.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX boasted a modern and sporty design, particularly with its aggressive styling and sharp character lines. The RX 350 and F Sport models featured distinct exterior elements like 20-inch wheels and unique front fascias. Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious appeal with various color combinations and high-quality materials. However, the F Sport trim added a sporty vibe with specific badging and trim elements. Despite its dated center stack, the RX's interior remained comfortable and stylish, making it a strong contender in the luxury crossover segment.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive and an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg combined. While it lacked the hybrid options of its competitors, the Odyssey provided a fun driving experience with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to overheat on long descents, leading to pedal vibration and noise.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h added electric motors for a combined 308 hp. Both models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive available. The RX 450h came exclusively with AWD. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with lackluster acceleration and unremarkable driving dynamics. However, it excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, making it a pleasant companion for long drives. The RX 350 achieved an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h offered 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Elite trim featured quality leather seats, tri-zone climate control, and ample storage space. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for versatile configurations, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. With 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the seats removed, the Odyssey offered impressive cargo capacity.

The 2022 Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in the two-row model, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row RX 350L offered limited cargo space with only 7.45 cubic feet behind the third row. With the third row folded, cargo capacity increased to 23.03 cubic feet, and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both rear rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net, but the rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the load-in height was high.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added navigation, WiFi hotspot, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display, but the overall infotainment package felt outdated. The Elite trim also featured an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered an 8-inch touchscreen with an optional 12.3-inch display. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the screen's positioning was ergonomically unfriendly. The touchpad controller was frustrating to use, but the system was responsive. The RX included six USB ports, smartphone integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided additional connectivity and personalization options.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2022 Lexus RX was equipped with Lexus Safety System 2.0+, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with optional headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.