2023 Nissan Pathfinder 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 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 outside mirrors, and unique front fascia.

Inside, the RX maintained a luxury 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 non-F Sport models featuring a mix of NuLuxe or semi-aniline leather seats and various metal and wood trims. Despite the high-quality materials, 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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over from its 2022 redesign with minimal changes, except for the new Rock Creek trim. The Pathfinder's design blended traditional elements with forward-thinking aesthetics, resulting in a modern SUV that remained relevant. The interior featured clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical. Trims included S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum, each offering progressively more features. The base S trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SV trim added heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SL trim included leather upholstery, a 9-inch touchscreen, and wireless device charging. The Rock Creek trim, designed for off-road enthusiasts, featured all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and a rugged interior with water-repellent upholstery. The top-tier Platinum trim offered upgraded leather, a hands-free power liftgate, and a fully digital instrument panel. Overall, the Pathfinder's interior was spacious and functional, with plenty of storage options and a user-friendly design.

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 added two high-torque electric motors to the V6 for a combined 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 its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming. The engine sounded more like a turbocharged four-cylinder than a V6, and acceleration was sluggish. The F Sport trim, with its performance dampers and adaptive variable suspension, failed to deliver a truly sporty driving experience.

Drive modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but the differences between Normal and Sport/Sport+ were negligible. 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 variations for AWD and three-row models. The RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined, with 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim featured a tuned version of the same engine, delivering 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was routed through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim added off-road capability with a taller suspension and off-road shocks. While the off-road tires provided a rougher ride on highways, they offered a more comfortable experience on trails. The Pathfinder's engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission was smooth and quiet.

The Pathfinder featured a rotary drive mode dial with options for Eco, Sport, Normal, Sand, Mud/Rut, Snow, and Towing, with an additional All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek trim. The Rock Creek also had a downhill crawl assist button for off-road driving. The Pathfinder's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds for most models, with the Rock Creek capable of towing up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models, with a 2/3/2 seating configuration, were less spacious, particularly in the third row. Cargo space in the two-row 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 provided only 7.45 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats upright, increasing to 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 dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it provided 45 cubic feet of cargo space, and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The first two rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. Optional second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easier. The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders, along with numerous cubbies and compartments for storage. The Rock Creek trim's roof rack could hold up to 220 pounds, though its proximity to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreens were ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip in front of the screen creating access issues. The touchpad controller was hypersensitive and unintuitive, making it 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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum trims came with a larger 9-inch touchscreen. While the graphics were not the highest quality, the system was easy to use with logical menu layouts and real buttons and dials. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. Higher trims added features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and additional USB ports. The Pathfinder's tech was functional and user-friendly, though not the most cutting-edge.

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 its headlight rating. 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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward and reverse collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim included front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Rock Creek trim featured front- and side-view cameras for off-road driving.