2022 Acura RDX vs 2022 Lexus RX

In 2022, the Lexus RX offered a myriad of trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L for its gas powertrains, alongside a hybrid version known as the RX 450h. While the RX 350 and F Sport models catered to seating for five, the L designation indicated a three-row, seven-passenger setup. Following its 2020 facelift, the 2022 RX maintained a modern and sporty aesthetic, standing out among midsize luxury crossovers such as the Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE with an aggressive design language.

The RX's exterior boasted razor-sharp character lines and angular features reminiscent of a boomerang, which managed to stay eye-catching without crossing into excessiveness. The standard RX color palette in 2022 included new additions like Cloudburst Gray and Iridium, while F Sport models featured the exclusive Grecian Water. The F Sport trim stood apart with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trim, F Sport badging, and a distinct front fascia with larger air intakes.

Inside, the 2022 RX merged luxury with sportiness, especially highlighted in the F Sport models which introduced specific badging and Scored Aluminum for trimmings. Nice, soft-touch surfaces adorned the cabin, though the center stack’s abundance of buttons, which had remained largely unchanged for seven years, felt dated. Despite high-quality materials, the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport model left much to be desired in terms of comfort and lumbar support.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Acura RDX mimicked the styling cues of the larger MDX, incorporating subtle changes to its grille surround, bumpers, and adding new wheel designs and paint colors. It also brought back the exclusive, hand-built PMC Edition in Long Beach Blue Pearl paint. The RDX lineup included the base model and packages such as Technology, A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance, with prices starting from $42,300 up to $53,300.

In our tests, the RDX A-Spec Advance, priced at $53,645, showcased high-quality materials, solid build quality, and a quieter cabin, which corroborated with its MSRP. Though some exterior features like the new vertical air inlets were not universally appealing, the RDX generally scored well in terms of style and quality.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The RX 450h hybrid boosted its performance with two high-torque electric motors for a combined 308 hp. All RX models included an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on RX 350 and AWD as an option, while AWD was standard in the hybrid models.

Despite its promising specifications, the Lexus RX in real-world driving didn't live up to its sporty F Sport moniker. The engine note resembled a turbocharged four-cylinder rather than a V6, and acceleration was languid. While performance dampers and adaptive variable suspension were part of the F Sport Handling package, the RX failed to deliver noticeable improvements in driving dynamics across different drive modes.

However, the RX excelled in comfort and quietness. The vehicle’s ride absorbed road imperfections well, and its cabin remained serene, making it a favourable choice for long drives. In terms of fuel efficiency, the RX 350 returned an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, with the hybrid RX 450h achieving 31 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 30 combined.

By comparison, the 2022 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. With a swift turbo response, the RDX presented an enjoyable driving experience. Front-wheel drive was standard, but the game-changer was Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which could distribute up to 70 percent of power to a single rear wheel, enhancing handling and responsiveness.

The RDX’s Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) had been revised for 2022, offering more distinct differences between driving modes. Adaptive damping suspension in the Advance and A-Spec Advance packages delivered a smoother ride in Comfort mode, while Sport mode boosted responsiveness. The quieter ride, thanks to enhanced sound control and insulation, added to the overall driving appeal.

However, despite its dynamic qualities, the RDX fell short of qualifying for Acura’s Type S performance badge. It performed adequately in various driving conditions but wasn’t as exhilarating as some German rivals.

The two-row Lexus RX had a passenger volume of 99.8 cubic feet, comfortably accommodating four adults. Headroom stood at 39.4 inches in the front and 39.1 inches in the rear, with 44.1 inches of legroom up front and 38.0 inches in the back. The three-row L model shared the same wheelbase, making the third row cramped for anything but short trips or groceries.

The cargo space in the RX varied significantly between models. Two-row versions offered 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row or 32.6 cubic feet when folded. The three-row RX 350L had only 7.45 cubic feet with seats upright, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows flattened. However, the rear seats didn’t fold completely flat, and a high load-in height somewhat hindered usability.

The compact Acura RDX efficiently provided room for four adults under its standard panoramic sunroof. It emphasized a sporty driving position but had a learning curve for its transmission buttons and True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system. While the 12-way power-adjustable front seats were comfortable and supportive, the rear seats, designed to fold flat, lacked support for longer drives.

The RDX’s cargo space was generous for its class, with 29.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 58.9 cubic feet with them folded down. Hidden storage compartments beneath the load floor added practicality.

In 2022, the Lexus RX featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, upgradeable to a 12.3-inch screen. Despite the update in 2020, the touchscreens were ergonomically unfriendly, sitting atop the center stack, partly hidden by an architectural lip that made accessing icons tricky. Voice commands required precision, and the touchpad interface was overly sensitive and difficult to use. The drive mode selector’s placement led to confusion with the infotainment control.

However, the RX offered plentiful tech features: multiple USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa, a Wi-Fi hotspot, premium audio systems, navigation with cloud updates, and climate control options. The Lexus App added further personalization and remote features.

In contrast, Acura’s RDX adopted the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) with a 10.2-inch display. This paired touchpad required users to touch corresponding areas of both pad and screen, a setup that was complicated and distracting compared to traditional touchscreens. The RDX benefitted from Amazon Alexa Built-in with natural voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. Three premium sound systems were available, starting with a 9-speaker setup in the base trim and culminating in a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D system in higher trims.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping and lane-tracing assist, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and intelligent high beams. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect with GPS tracking.

While the RX scored high with the IIHS, achieving a Top Safety Pick rating, it missed the top-tier "Plus" designation due to headlight performance. The NHTSA awarded it four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests but four in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

For 2022, Acura enhanced the RDX’s safety with structural upgrades, additional standard features such as pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Technology package added front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. AcuraWatch’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems saw improvements but still lagged behind some competitors.

The NHTSA awarded the RDX a five-star overall crash-test rating, with four stars in frontal impacts and rollover resistance, and five stars in side impacts.