2022 Lexus RX vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Lexus RX, available in base 350, F Sport, and L trims for its gas powertrain, boasted a hybrid model named RX 450h. While the RX 350 and F Sport seated five, the L trim extended capacity to seven passengers. With a modern and sporty design refreshed in 2020, the RX was particularly notable for its aggressive styling among competitors such as the Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The vehicle’s exterior proudly showcased sharp character lines and angular features reminiscent of a boomerang that struck a balance between boldness and restraint, ensuring striking visual appeal without excess. The paint palette included seven options like Nebula Gray Pearl, Cloudburst Gray, and Grecian Water for the F Sport models.

The F Sport trim accentuated performance-oriented aesthetics with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trimmings, F Sport badging, and unique front fascia with larger air intakes. Both the front and rear bumpers of the F Sport models differed from the base and L variants, offering a subtly sporty edge.

Inside, the RX maintained luxury across all trims, supplemented by a sporty touch in the F Sport models with unique badging, Scored Aluminum trim, and NuLuxe synthetic leather seats in black or dark red. Other models could enjoy a mix of NuLuxe or semi-aniline leather seats paired with metal and wood trims. The cabin featured numerous soft-touch surfaces and high-quality plastics, though the abundant buttons on the center stack felt somewhat dated. In terms of comfort, the F Sport’s NuLuxe seats fell short, lacking sufficient cushioning and adjustable lumbar support, complicating the quest for an ideal driving position.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade made an instantly imposing impression, unapologetic about its gargantuan size. Its grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match, strongly recalling classic Cadillac designs. With its tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights, the Escalade’s front exuded a locomotive-like ruggedness. The vehicle’s distinct styling consistently emphasized its bulk, with 22-inch wheels appearing relatively minor against the expansive body.

The Escalade followed a pattern of distinct trim pieces for “sport” and “luxury” models. Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trims and wheels, while the Sport trim stood out with darkened trims and a mesh grille. Sharing a platform with other GM full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, the Escalade maintained its luxurious niche through top-tier materials, though cheaper-looking plastics still found their way inside. Despite lacking a cohesive design theme akin to the Lincoln Navigator’s midcentury-modern inspiration, the Escalade’s interior comfort came from features like leather upholstery, wood trims, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid RX 450h, powered by two high-torque electric motors alongside the V6, delivered a combined 308 horsepower. While FWD came standard for the RX 350, AWD was an option; the hybrid models came exclusively with AWD.

Despite the F Sport trim's promises of performance, the RX’s sporty exterior didn’t translate into real-world drive dynamics. The engine sounded more akin to a turbocharged four-cylinder than a V6, and acceleration was lackluster. Drive modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ alongside features from the F Sport Handling package, including adaptive variable suspension, didn’t deliver significant performance improvements. The RX shone best in terms of ride comfort and quietness, especially during long drives. EPA ratings for the RX 350 stood at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, with AWD reducing these numbers slightly. Efficiently, the hybrid RX 450h achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two engine options: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine that delivered 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available with RWD or 4WD. A high-performance 682-hp Escalade-V model was also available for 2023.

Testing the diesel engine revealed its smooth power delivery, benefiting from a lower torque peak of 1,500 rpm, aiding in effortless acceleration. The gasoline engine had a slight towing capacity edge at 8,200 pounds compared to the diesel’s 8,100 pounds. Notably, the Escalade’s body-on-frame construction and large wheels affected ride comfort, presenting a less refined experience than unibody rivals like the BMW X7 or Range Rover. Vibrations and an unsettled ride were evident, contrasting disappointingly against competitors like the Lincoln Navigator. Off-road enthusiasts found the Escalade lacking in rugged capability compared to GM’s other SUVs.

The two-row 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably accommodating four adults, with the possibility of five, although the rear middle seat was better suited for short trips. Front headroom measured at 39.4 inches, rear headroom at 39.1 inches, and ample legroom of 44.1 inches up front and 38.0 inches in the back. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The three-row L variant provided a snug 7.45 cubic feet with all seats up, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. Despite the spacious cargo area, the rear seats didn’t fold flat, and the high load-in height posed challenges for easy access.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade, sharing its body and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, featured a cavernous cabin. It held the lead in first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, although the Lincoln Navigator provided slightly more headroom for the second row. Standard seating included second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 split-folding third-row bench, which could be swapped for a power-folding 60/40 second-row bench as a no-cost option. Cargo capacity excelled with 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 63.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and an impressive 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

However, the Escalade presented some practical inconveniences. The raised center console offered limited storage, and the seats, despite 12-way power adjustments and massage functions, felt less premium than expected. Key details, such as dedicated seat heating and ventilation buttons, were noteworthy, though not entirely making up for the overall underwhelming seat comfort.

In 2022, the Lexus RX delivered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an optional 12.3-inch version. The position of these touchscreens, although improved in 2020, still posed ergonomic challenges, creating access issues with a cove design. The touchpad controller was particularly frustrating, making system navigation troublesome.

Nonetheless, the RX offered a robust set of in-car tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, dual- and tri-zone smog-sensing climate control, multiple premium audio systems, and heated and ventilated seats. The Lexus App enhanced connectivity with remote engine start, vehicle settings, and service scheduling functionalities.

Cadillac’s 2022 Escalade impressed with one of the most elaborate infotainment systems, featuring a 38-inch curved OLED display composed of three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto came standard. The display seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, providing an aesthetically pleasing and functional experience. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions added usability. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller were less intuitive.

A significant highlight of the Escalade was its high-resolution camera system, offering unparalleled visibility through multiple screens, including a rearview camera mirror. Advanced features like night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system (despite tuning challenges) rounded out the tech offerings.

The 2022 Lexus RX came equipped with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision system with cyclist and pedestrian detection, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect for GPS vehicle tracking. Achieving a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS (with optional headlights), the RX received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, minorly trailing its competitors.

In 2022, the Cadillac Escalade standard safety features comprised adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and Cadillac’s vibrating Safety Alert Seat. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and trailer blind-spot monitoring. The prominent Super Cruise, optional on most trims, offered sophisticated hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, ensuring driver vigilance via a camera system. Despite some occasional disengagements, Super Cruise provided smoother, more natural responses than other driver aids. However, crash safety data from the IIHS and NHTSA was not available for the Escalade, leaving some uncertainty.