2023 Volvo XC40 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 Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling, characterized by razor-sharp character lines and angular features, particularly in the front and rear. The F Sport trim added a performance-oriented look with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, and a 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. Non-F Sport models could be optioned with 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, making it challenging to find an ideal driving position.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 retained its distinctive design, combining Volvo’s current design language with a flat-roofed profile. The exterior was clean and free of extraneous detailing, with hidden tailpipes on gasoline models to align with Volvo’s pro-electrification ethos. For 2023, updates included new pixelated “Thor’s Hammer” headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 Recharge featured a new sealed-off grille from the C40 Recharge, making it easier to identify.

The interior continued with a minimalist design, featuring thin air vents framing the central touchscreen and scalloped elements housing the door handles and speaker grilles. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard, with an optional air purifier. Leather upholstery was available, with vegan leather for Recharge models. The XC40 Ultimate test vehicle included a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, but the all-black interior felt utilitarian. Fit and finish were good, but the materials reminded us that the XC40 was Volvo’s entry-level model.

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 note resembled a turbocharged four-cylinder rather than a V6, and acceleration was sluggish. The F Sport trim included front and rear performance dampers and an F Sport Handling package with an adaptive variable suspension, sport steering, and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. However, the drive modes—Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport+—did not significantly alter the driving experience. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and isolating road noise effectively.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator to assist the gasoline engine. The base B4 powertrain combined the mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 197 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. The B5 model offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four rated at 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only.

The B5 model could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, while the B4 took 8.1 seconds. The XC40 handled corners with composure and absorbed bumps well, offering a refined driving experience. The XC40 Recharge, with its two electric motors producing 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and had an EPA-rated range of 223 miles. The Recharge also had a higher towing capacity of 4,409 pounds compared to the B5 AWD model’s 3,500 pounds.

The standard two-row Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably seating four adults. The front seats provided 39.4 inches of headroom and 44.1 inches of legroom, while the rear seats had 39.1 inches of headroom and 38.0 inches of legroom. The three-row L models, with a 2/3/2 seating configuration, were better suited for groceries than passengers due to the tight space. The RX 350L had 7.45 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats upright, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the high load-in height made loading cargo challenging. However, the RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while small, offered reasonable space for its class. It tied with the BMW X1 for most rear-seat headroom and was only slightly behind the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class in front-seat headroom. Legroom was average, but generous shoulder room contributed to a feeling of spaciousness. Volvo listed 20 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, less than the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. A power tailgate and keyless entry were standard on Plus and Ultimate models. The XC40 also offered good interior storage, with scalloped door panels creating flexible space for bottles or handbags, and a large center console storage bin and phone tray.

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 touchscreen’s positioning was still ergonomically unfriendly. The screen sat within a cove on top of the center stack, creating a lip that partially blocked icons and forced awkward tapping. 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.

For 2023, the Volvo XC40 adopted the Android-based infotainment system from the XC40 Recharge, using Google apps for navigation, voice recognition, and more. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 9-inch touchscreen were standard, with a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system available on the Ultimate trim. The infotainment system offered pleasing graphics, but users who preferred Apple might not find the Google features as satisfying. The minimalist design meant a lack of analog controls, with most functions controlled via the touchscreen, which could be cumbersome for some tasks.

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 standard 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 Volvo XC40 featured a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. Upgrading to the Plus trim added front parking sensors, while the Ultimate trim included side parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist. The IIHS gave the XC40 top “Good” ratings in most crash tests but rated it “Acceptable” in the updated side-impact test. The NHTSA awarded the gasoline XC40 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and a four-star rollover rating.