2023 Honda Pilot vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX presented itself with a modern and sporty design that stood out among key competitors in the midsize luxury crossover segment. Lexus offered the RX in base 350, F Sport, and L trim levels for its gas powertrain, with a hybrid model distinguished as the RX 450h. The RX's exterior design, known for its aggressive styling, featured razor-sharp character lines and angular features that added a satisfying, eye-catching element. Base 350 and F Sport trims seated five, while the L trim extended to a three-row, seven-passenger configuration. The RX featured seven paint options, including new additions like Cloudburst Gray and Iridium, and specific to F Sport models, Grecian Water.

F Sport models were the performance-oriented variant with distinctive sporty enhancements like 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trimming, F Sport badging, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. The interior followed this sporty theme, with the F Sport trim featuring model-specific badging, Scored Aluminum trim, and NuLuxe synthetic leather seats available in black or dark red. Non-F Sport models offered a mix of NuLuxe or semi-aniline leather with various metal and wood trim pairings. Soft-touch surfaces and high-quality hard plastics pervaded the cabin, though the center stack felt dated due to its numerous buttons. Comfort was an issue, notably with the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim, which lacked a cushioned layer and adequate lumbar support. Adjusting the driver’s seat and steering wheel column was cumbersome, impacting overall driving comfort.

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a full redesign, adopting a rugged and substantial appearance that made it look and feel bigger. This new model was 3.4 inches longer, up to 1.5 inches wider, and 0.8 inches taller than its predecessor, perfectly aligning with the all-terrain-capable TrailSport model. The TrailSport trim, now boasting genuine off-road parts like a taller ride height, unique 18-inch wheels, and underbody skid plates, offered both aesthetic and functional improvements.

Inside, the Pilot took a conventional but highly functional and versatile styling route. The interior space emphasized practicality with an attractive layout. Materials quality met class expectations, and the cabin layout smartly prioritized function over form. This made the Pilot’s interior more utilitarian, a feature that many preferred over the previous generation’s design.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The RX 450h hybrid added two high-torque electric motors for a combined 308 horsepower. All RX models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive optional. For the hybrid, AWD was standard.

Despite its aggressive styling and the F Sport designation, the RX lacked genuine sporty performance. The V6 engine emitted a hum rather than a growl, creating a less than thrilling auditory experience. Acceleration was seen as sluggish, and the driving dynamics weren’t confidence-inspiring. F Sport models included enhancements like front and rear performance dampers, an adaptive variable suspension, and additional drive modes like Sport+; however, the changes between Normal and Sport/Sport+ were indistinguishable. The RX did excel in driving comfort and cabin quietness, offering a serene, compliant ride.

The 2023 Honda Pilot introduced an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It was mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on most trims and all-wheel drive available. The Elite and TrailSport trims came with standard AWD.

The Pilot’s initial acceleration was responsive with minimal delay, and the engine produced a pleasant hum and growl when pushed. The brake pedal was soft but provided good modulation for smooth stops. The Pilot’s cornering was confidence-inspiring, though it had noticeable body roll when turning. The steering was light, great for tight spaces, but felt vague on the highway. The TrailSport trim, with its elevated ground clearance and all-terrain tires, offered a slight pavement vibration but maintained on-road comfort.

For interior space, the standard two-row Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably fitting four adults with 39.4 inches of front headroom and 39.1 inches in the rear. Front legroom measured 44.1 inches, with 38 inches in the rear. The three-row L models shared the same wheelbase as the two-row variants, resulting in limited space. The RX 350L featured a standard 2/3/2 seating configuration, with captain’s chairs optional for the second row.

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 down. The three-row models had only 7.45 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats upright, which increased to 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 load-in height was high due to the large rear bumper.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Pilot offered a more conventional interior with functional and versatile features. The entry-level trims came with a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims boasted a nine-inch display. Storage solutions included a large rubberized shelf, accommodating max-sized phones, and a wireless charging pad. The front doors featured sizable pockets and large cupholders.

The Pilot’s standout feature was its stowable second-row center seat, which could be removed for easier access to the third row, especially useful with child seats installed. The second row was spacious enough for six-foot-tall adults, while the third row, though less comfortable, was suitable for average-sized adults on short trips. Cargo capacity was a significant advantage for the Pilot, offering 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 60.1 cubic feet with the second row folded, and a maximum of 114.3 cubic feet with all seats down—roughly 30% more than some competitors.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured standard infotainment with an 8-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to a 12.3-inch version. Despite moving the touchscreens closer to the driver during a 2020 refresh, positioning issues persisted, making the interface ergonomically challenging. The display sat within a cove atop the center stack, creating access issues and partial icon blockage. The touchscreen was responsive, but alternatives like voice commands required specific instructions, while the touchpad was frustratingly hypersensitive.

The Lexus RX offered various tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, premium audio systems, smog-sensing climate control, and heated/ventilated seats. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start and vehicle personalization.

For the 2023 Honda Pilot, higher trims like the EX-L provided a larger touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Advanced trims also included a multi-view camera system. The Elite trim added a head-up display and a fully digital instrument panel. The infotainment screen was user-friendly with quick responses and a logical layout. The graphics were basic but functional.

Other notable features included Honda’s CabinTalk, for in-vehicle communication, navigation, premium audio, remote monitoring, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The TrailSport and Elite trims featured the multi-view TrailWatch camera system for enhanced off-road awareness.

The 2022 Lexus RX came equipped 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, 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 earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights, missing the "plus" designation due to its headlight rating. It also received four stars overall from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests but four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but Honda anticipated top scores. It did secure a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard Honda Sensing safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, a traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking, parking sensors, and surround-view/multi-view camera systems.