2022 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX was available in several trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L for its gas powertrain, with a hybrid model known as the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L trim offered a three-row, 7-passenger configuration. The 2022 model continued the modern and sporty design introduced in its 2020 facelift, featuring a revised grille and other exterior enhancements. Competing with the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling. The character lines were razor-sharp, and the angular features, especially in the front and rear, were eye-catching without being excessive. The F Sport trim, in particular, added a performance-oriented look with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, and a unique front fascia.

Inside, the RX maintained its luxury appeal across all trims, with the F Sport adding a sporty touch. The cabin offered nearly a dozen color combinations, with the F Sport featuring model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. Non-F Sport models could be optioned with a mix of NuLuxe or semi-aniline leather seats and various metal and wood trims. The interior had plenty of soft-touch surfaces and high-quality hard plastics, though the center stack felt a bit dated. Comfort was a mixed bag, with the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport being less cushioned and lumbar support lacking height adjustment. Despite power-adjustable seats and steering wheel, finding an ideal driving position was challenging.

The 2022 Toyota Venza, reintroduced for the 2021 model year, rode on the Toyota New Global Architecture K (TGNA-K) platform, shared with models like the Avalon, Camry, Highlander, RAV4, and Sienna, as well as the Lexus ES, NX, and RX. Measuring 186.6 inches long, 73.0 inches wide, and 65.9 inches tall, with a 105.9-inch wheelbase, the Venza was on the shorter end of the midsize crossover SUV segment. Its modern exterior design featured a deeply scalloped body side and a prominent tailgate with a stripe of LED lighting. The nose had a significant overhang, making it more suited for urban environments than off-road adventures.

Inside, the Venza offered an elegant layout with high-quality materials. The layered dash and well-placed touchscreen display added to the cabin's appeal. The front seats were supportive and comfortable, while the rear seats could accommodate three adults. The interior featured numerous convenience elements, including an overhead console with LED map lights, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat on XLE and Limited models. The electric parking brake, sliding sun visors, and ample storage options added to the practicality. The Venza's lithium-ion battery pack, located beneath the second-row seats, had minimal impact on cargo capacity, offering 28.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 55.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Toyota also focused on making the cabin quiet, adding sound-blocking and absorbing materials throughout.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two high-torque electric motors for a total output of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive available. The hybrid RX came exclusively with AWD. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX's performance was underwhelming. The engine note was more akin to a turbocharged four-cylinder, and acceleration was sluggish. The F Sport Handling package, which included an adaptive variable suspension, sport steering, and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, failed to deliver significant improvements in driving dynamics.

The RX offered various drive modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the differences between Normal and Sport/Sport+ were negligible. The vehicle excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and isolating road noise effectively. Fuel efficiency for the RX 350 was estimated at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, with slight variations for AWD and three-row models. The RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined, with 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The 2022 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with three electric motors, producing a combined 219 horsepower. The hybrid system balanced electric and gas drive for optimal efficiency and performance. Drivers could choose from EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport modes, with regenerative braking helping recharge the lithium-ion battery. The Venza offered sprightly performance and agile handling, similar to the Camry, but its taller body and higher ground clearance discouraged aggressive cornering. The Venza delivered a comfortable ride and met expectations for a midsize family hauler.

The standard two-row Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably seating four adults, with room for five in a pinch. Front headroom measured 39.4 inches, with 39.1 inches in the rear. Front legroom was ample at 44.1 inches, while the rear offered 38.0 inches. The three-row L models, despite sharing the same wheelbase, had limited space for anything beyond groceries. The RX 350L featured a 2/3/2 seating configuration, with optional second-row captain’s chairs. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row models offered 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 folded. The rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the high load-in height could be inconvenient.

The 2022 Toyota Venza seated five in two rows, with good headroom and legroom in both. The second row had 45.2 inches of hip room, accommodating three adults comfortably. The cabin felt spacious, especially with the available Star Gaze fixed panoramic glass roof on the Limited trim. The interior featured numerous convenience elements, including an overhead console with LED map lights, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat on XLE and Limited models. The electric parking brake, sliding sun visors, and ample storage options added to the practicality. The Venza's lithium-ion battery pack, located beneath the second-row seats, had minimal impact on cargo capacity, offering 28.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 55.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Toyota also focused on making the cabin quiet, adding sound-blocking and absorbing materials throughout.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available as an option. Despite being moved 5.5 inches closer to the driver in the 2020 refresh, the touchscreens were still ergonomically unfriendly. The design created a lip in front of the screen, partially blocking icons and making it difficult to tap accurately. Alternatives included voice commands and a touchpad, the latter being particularly frustrating to use. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, and various premium audio systems. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start, vehicle settings, and service scheduling.

The 2022 Toyota Venza featured a hybrid powertrain that required no special attention, making it ideal for those without access to charging infrastructure. The Venza's hybrid system was transparent in operation, with a tank of gas yielding over 500 miles. The Predicted Efficient Drive (PED) program used navigation data to optimize battery charging. The LE and XLE models came with an eight-inch touchscreen, while the Limited added a nine-speaker JBL audio system and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Both setups included Toyota Connected Services, with features like Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote Connect, and WiFi Connect. An Advanced Technology Package for the Limited trim included a head-up display and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation due to headlight ratings. The NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

The 2022 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Star Safety System, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, smart stop technology, and a rearview camera. The Venza also had eight airbags, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, and LATCH anchors for child safety seats. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road-sign assist. The Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.