2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a bold new design that was both longer and wider than its predecessor. It featured sharp, angular cues across the fascia and down its sides, making it unmistakable from the 2021 model. The grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a dramatic, futuristic look. The interior was open and airy, with a bulkier center console but an unobstructed view at eye level due to the integrated infotainment display and hoodless driver information display. The Limited trim added luxurious touches like a 64-color ambient lighting kit, heated and ventilated front seats, and a memory function for the driver’s seat.

The 2022 Lexus RX continued to impress with its modern and sporty design, especially in the F Sport trim, which featured 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, and a unique front fascia. The interior offered a luxurious appeal with nearly a dozen color combinations and high-quality materials. However, the center stack felt a bit dated due to the abundance of buttons. The RX provided a comfortable ride with plenty of soft-touch surfaces and high-quality hard plastics. The F Sport trim added a sporty vibe with model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim, pedals, and footrest.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid was powered by a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission managed the power well, and the suspension provided a balanced ride, soaking up road imperfections without feeling bouncy. The Tucson Hybrid delivered good fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even better efficiency with an 80 MPGe rating and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h added two electric motors for a combined 308 hp. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked sporty performance, with a hum rather than a growl from the engine and unimpressive acceleration. The adaptive variable suspension and Sport+ drive mode did little to enhance the driving experience. However, the RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, making it a pleasant companion for long drives. The RX 450h hybrid offered better fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space, with 38.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 74.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The dual-level cargo floor added versatility, and the interior provided great front and rear legroom, with over 41 inches each. The Tucson also featured thoughtful storage solutions, including angled bottle holders in the doors and multiple cupholders.

The 2022 Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in the two-row version, comfortably fitting four adults. The three-row L models offered limited cargo space, with only 7.45 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the high load-in height made loading cargo a bit challenging. However, the RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, but only utilized about 8 inches for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating to use, but the Tucson provided plenty of USB ports and a premium Bose stereo.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreens were moved closer to the driver but still had ergonomic issues due to the cove design. The touchpad controller was hypersensitive and unintuitive, making it difficult to use. However, the RX offered a long list of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and premium audio systems.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist, and unique features like the blind-spot view monitor and remote smart park assist. The Tucson Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, and a pre-collision system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed out on the top-tier “plus” designation. The NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall.