2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured a design that was a mixed bag. While Kia's tiger-nose grille styling worked well on other models, it seemed out of place on the Sportage, giving it a somewhat awkward front-end appearance. However, the rest of the design elements were spot-on, with stylish details like the four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and a Volkswagen-style symmetry at the rear. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its planted stance, making it look well-proportioned.

Inside, the Sportage exuded a Germanic design ethos with a black dashboard accented by polished metallic elements. The instrumentation was straightforward, featuring plain white markings on a black background. The SX Turbo trim added metal pedal covers and offered a choice of black, gray, or beige interiors, enhancing the upscale feel. The controls were user-friendly, with buttons and knobs making it easy to adjust various settings, and the transmission shifter's solid operation added a sense of quality.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, redesigned for the new model year, was introduced in Santa Barbara, California. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions were the focus, with the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid arriving later. Visually, the RX 350h looked almost identical to the standard RX 350, with no hybrid-specific badges or design elements. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive styling.

The RX's design remained somewhat polarizing, with a blunt-nosed front end and a wheelbase stretch that made the rear overhang appear shorter. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalistic approach with fewer physical controls and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury trim featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier all-black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. The RX's interior was luxurious, but rear headroom was tight due to the higher seat cushion placement and lower roofline.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, which was competitive but unremarkable. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, featured a more robust 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided quick acceleration, especially beneficial for those living at higher elevations.

Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option of Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system, which included a locking center differential for better power distribution at low speeds. The SX Turbo's acceleration was impressive, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, giving it a lively personality in Sport mode. The suspension setup, featuring a MacPherson strut front and independent multi-link rear, provided a smooth and compliant ride, though there was some body roll and lateral rocking over uneven surfaces. The SX Turbo's upgraded brakes and 19-inch wheels added to its athletic feel, though it wasn't as refined as some competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid lineup included the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance. The RX 350h featured a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving and could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, on the other hand, employed a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission and an exclusive Direct4 AWD system. This setup delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, though it was expected to average only 27 mpg.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and a Dynamic Rear Steering system, making it more fun to drive. However, accessing the various drive modes required navigating through the infotainment system, which could be cumbersome. The RX 350h, while less powerful, offered better fuel economy and a more secure feel in curves, thanks to the added weight of the battery pack and the lower center of gravity.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching, ten-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard.

Rear seat comfort was also commendable, with generous legroom and air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. However, the back doors' design made it easy to accidentally hit oneself when opening them. Interior storage was ample, but the cargo space was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The Sportage's smart liftgate technology was a convenient feature, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a comfortable and luxurious interior, especially in the RX 350h Luxury trim, which featured 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. Both models had heated and ventilated front seats and effective climate control systems.

The hybrids' battery packs were located under the rear seat, raising the seat cushion and reducing rear headroom. However, leg support and legroom were excellent. The new RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded, a significant improvement over the previous model but still short of some competitors.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system was starting to show its age, lacking features like a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, which required activation of connected services plans for full functionality. The system included cloud-based navigation, an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Intelligent Assistant worked reasonably well, there were some issues with accuracy. The touchscreen's size was appreciated, but it could only display one menu at a time, and reflections were a problem in models with light-colored interiors. The head-up display and dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel were also sources of frustration, especially for those wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning. The SX Turbo also included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received good crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, making it an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included new motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, automatically slowing the RX when the accelerator was released. While the safety systems generally worked well, there were some irritations, such as the front cross-traffic alert system's beeping without visual indicators when wearing polarized sunglasses and the reactive nature of the curve-speed reduction tech. The driver monitoring system could also be triggered by certain driving positions.