2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line package, presented a rugged and stylish appearance. The X-Line treatment added rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, a lifted suspension, and robust roof rails, giving the midsize SUV a serious presence. Our test vehicle, equipped with the X-Line package, featured all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, along with extra-cost Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, floor mats, and a cargo net, bringing the total MSRP to $45,310, including the $1,215 destination charge. Even without the X-Line package, the Sorento exuded quality, with leather upholstery and simulated wood trim on the dashboard, and a rock-solid cabin construction.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models, offered a more refined and luxurious look. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, with its Iridium (silver) paint and 21-inch wheels, looked identical to the standard RX 350, lacking any hybrid-specific badges. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with contemporary textures and detailing, featuring Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim in the RX 350h Luxury, and artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim in the RX 500h F Sport Performance.

The 2022 Kia Sorento offered a range of powertrains, starting with a standard 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which took almost 9.5 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph. However, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available from the EX trim, generated 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, significantly improving performance. With AWD, the turbo Sorento could reach 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. The Sorento's suspension, especially with the X-Line package, provided an excellent blend of compliance and composure, making it feel more like a sports sedan than an SUV. However, the fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 20.7 mpg during the test week.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a more efficient powertrain in the RX 350h, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and Direct4 AWD system, delivered 366 hp 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, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering provided a dynamic driving experience, while the RX 350h offered a quieter cabin and better fuel economy, averaging 32 mpg.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's interior felt luxurious, with Rust-colored leather seats and a 14-way power driver's seat in the SX Prestige trim. The second-row captain's chairs, standard from the EX trim, were comfortable and designed for kids, with cupholders, USB charging ports, and rear air conditioning vents. However, the third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable for adults. The Sorento offered 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable and luxurious interior, especially in the RX 350h Luxury trim, with ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The rear seats offered excellent leg support and good legroom, but headroom was tight due to the higher seat cushion and lower roofline. The RX provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, a significant improvement over the previous model.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, starting from the EX trim. However, the base LX trim had an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration. The infotainment system was intuitive but had a unique font style and color scheme. The SX Prestige X-Line trim included a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system and wireless smartphone charging.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, Lexus Interface, with connected services plans available after the complimentary trial subscriptions. The system included a cloud-based navigation system, Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the touchscreen could display only one menu at a time, and the screen suffered from reflections. The available head-up display and dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel were useful but had issues with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Kia Sorento came with Kia Drive Wise, a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The SX Prestige X-Line trim included features like a rear-seat reminder system, Junction Assist, Blind View Monitor, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Driving Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system. The Sorento received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), which included new motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, automatically slowing the RX when necessary. The RX offered Traffic Jam Assist for low-speed, hands-free driving and Advanced Park for semi-autonomous parking. However, some features, like the front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction, had issues.