2022 Volkswagen Atlas 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 retained its modern and sporty design from the 2020 facelift, featuring a revised grille and other exterior enhancements. Competing in the midsize luxury crossover segment, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling, characterized by sharp character lines and angular features, particularly in the front and rear. The F Sport trim, in particular, added a performance-oriented look with 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and unique front fascia.

Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious appeal across all trims, with the F Sport adding sporty elements like model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. The cabin offered nearly a dozen color combinations, with the F Sport featuring NuLuxe synthetic leather in black or dark red. Despite the high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces, the center stack felt dated due to an abundance of buttons. Comfort was a mixed bag, with the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim lacking cushioning and lumbar support. The limited-edition Black Line trim added exclusive black-colored features and contrast gray stitching for a premium look.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor modifications from the previous year, simplifying its lineup to SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line trims. The SEL Premium R-Line trim featured 21-inch wheels with a machined finish, enhancing the SUV's upscale look. The Atlas's big and boxy design was appealing, though some wheel choices didn't match its bold styling. Inside, the Atlas displayed a simple yet premium design, but the use of low-cost materials and hard, shiny plastics was disappointing for an SUV in its price range. The storage areas needed linings to prevent noise and vibration.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two electric motors for a total of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The hybrid RX came exclusively with AWD. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport trim added performance dampers, an adaptive variable suspension, and a Sport+ drive mode, but the differences in driving dynamics were minimal.

The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and isolating road noise effectively. Fuel efficiency for the RX 350 was 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, with slight reductions for AWD and three-row models. The RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined, with 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD or AWD. The turbo-four's maximum towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, with fuel economy ratings of 22-23 mpg combined. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, the V6's acceleration was leisurely, and its fuel economy was 19-20 mpg combined.

The Atlas featured Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Active Control calibrations for AWD models. The 4Motion AWD system could decouple the rear wheels to maximize fuel economy. The Atlas's driving dynamics were mixed, with a busy ride on 21-inch wheels and noticeable body float on undulating pavement. The V6 engine's lack of power, efficiency, and refinement detracted from the overall driving experience.

The standard two-row Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably seating four adults, with a snug fit for five. Front headroom was 39.4 inches, and rear headroom was 39.1 inches. Front legroom measured 44.1 inches, with 38.0 inches in the rear. The three-row L models had limited cargo space, with 7.45 cubic feet behind the third row, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows folded. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space and comfort, seating seven people with ease, including adults in the third row. The step-in height was low, making entry and exit easy. The Atlas offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with the second row down. The interior featured numerous storage areas, though many were unlined, causing items to slide and create noise. Higher trims added features like tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreen's positioning was ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The touchpad controller was frustrating to use, and the drive mode selector's placement added to the confusion. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and premium audio systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas featured the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display expanding to 10.25 inches on higher trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with last-generation infotainment, while other trims had the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The user experience was hindered by slow loading times and a cumbersome process for tuning the radio. The navigation system's voice recognition was hit-and-miss, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto a better option.

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 with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation. The NHTSA gave the RX a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and Travel Assist. The SEL trim included brighter LED headlights and an adaptive front lighting system. The Atlas's safety features were generally effective, though Lane Assist had trouble with old construction markings and exit ramps. The Atlas received four-star ratings in frontal-impact tests from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.