2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a practical choice for families, offering the convenience of sliding side doors that made loading children into car seats a breeze, even in tight parking spaces. Its spacious interior provided a comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpoolers with ease. The Odyssey's design, while adhering to the traditional minivan aesthetic, featured stylish elements such as kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels on the Elite trim. Despite its practicality, the Odyssey struggled with image issues, as many Americans preferred the look of crossover SUVs.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid presented a more modern and luxurious appearance. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models maintained a sleek design, with the latter featuring distinctive styling elements like a blacked-out grille and matte-black wheels. While the RX's design wasn't considered stunning, it offered a cleaner, minimalistic interior with contemporary textures and ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury trim boasted premium materials like Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance provided a sportier feel with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum accents.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a respectable EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 22.6 mpg. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration, but its brakes tended to overheat on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two distinct hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to achieve 36 mpg in combined driving, though testing showed an average of 32 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and Direct4 AWD system, delivered 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, it averaged only 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension and rear-wheel steering provided a dynamic driving experience, while the RX 350h offered a quieter, more fuel-efficient ride.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a tri-zone climate control system. Its Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid prioritized comfort with its ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone climate control in the RX 350h Luxury trim. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered sportier seats with larger bolsters. The hybrid's battery placement under the rear seat provided excellent leg support but limited headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, an improvement over the previous model.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims included navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk features. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities. The rear-seat entertainment system was also behind the times, relying on physical media.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system with a large touchscreen and connected services. The Lexus Interface offered cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant, though it required a subscription after the trial period. The system had some usability issues, such as limited screen views and reflections. The available head-up display and touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel added convenience but could be problematic with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or reacting too abruptly. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist and Traffic Jam Assist were also available. While the system generally operated with refinement, some features, like curve-speed reduction, were less effective. The RX's safety features were comprehensive, but the front cross-traffic alert system had limitations with polarized sunglasses.