2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a striking resemblance with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the front, due to their shared vehicle platform. This design choice gave the Passport a more rugged and assertive appearance, which was a departure from its previous styling. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Honda Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and featured unique styling elements. Honda's updated design was applied across all three trim levels: the base EX-L, the TrailSport, and the upscale Elite, each with new wheel designs. The TrailSport trim, in particular, aimed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts with its standard all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, and traction management driving modes, although it was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid presented a more refined and luxurious appearance. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models were visually similar to the standard RX 350, with subtle differences like badges and wheel designs. The RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out with its performance-tuned features, including a blacked-out grille and aggressive styling. The RX's design was not considered particularly beautiful, with a blunt-nosed front and a visually shortened rear end. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalistic approach with contemporary textures and ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury model featured premium materials like Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, with the latter being standard on the TrailSport and Elite trims. The Passport's V6 engine was praised for its smooth performance, and the SUV delivered a firm, communicative ride with athletic handling. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg. The Passport's i-VTM4 AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, enhancing its off-road capabilities, although it wasn't as capable as more rugged SUVs like the Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. The Passport excelled on paved roads, offering satisfying acceleration and a comfortable ride, but its brakes were a concern during mountain descents.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new hybrid powertrain for the RX 350h, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to achieve 36 mpg in combined driving, although the test vehicle averaged 32 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model boasted a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, delivering 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds but averaged only 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h featured an adaptive damping suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a dynamic driving experience. The RX 350h, with its lower center of gravity and electric motor assist, offered a secure and quiet ride, making it a preferred choice over the standard RX 350.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with its large doors and low step-in height. Inside, it featured spacious and comfortable seating with standard leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Passport's triple-zone automatic climate control system ensured comfort for all passengers, and the rear seating area provided ample room and a pleasant view through large side windows. The SUV boasted generous storage options, including a massive center console and various compartments. Cargo space was impressive, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid prioritized comfort and luxury. The RX 350h Luxury trim featured ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather and standard seat heating and ventilation. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The RX's battery placement under the rear seat slightly elevated the seat cushion, providing excellent leg support but limited rear headroom. The RX offered improved cargo space compared to its predecessor, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. While it fell short of some rivals in cargo capacity, it provided a comfortable and luxurious interior.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system met basic modern standards with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The system's interface included shortcut buttons and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. During testing, Apple CarPlay was preferred over the Passport's navigation system due to its clunky operation. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's technology was not considered advanced.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, offering a modern experience with connected services plans. The Lexus Interface allowed for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a cloud-based navigation system and an Intelligent Assistant. The system required setting up user profiles and activating trial subscriptions for optimal use. While the Intelligent Assistant generally performed well, there were occasional inaccuracies. The system's interface had some drawbacks, including limited simultaneous screen views and reflections on the display. The available head-up display and touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel added convenience but had usability issues with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some elements of Honda Sensing were less refined, with lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions drawing negative attention. The adaptive cruise control was not particularly smooth in heavy traffic. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included new features like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was available, automatically slowing the RX to maintain safe distances. While the system generally operated with refinement, there were some irritations, such as the front cross-traffic alert system's reliance on visual indicators and the curve-speed reduction tech's reactive nature. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, although these features were not tested.