2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Volkswagen designed the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by eliminating the third row from the standard seven-passenger Atlas model, lowering the roofline by 2.3 inches for a sportier look, and shortening the SUV’s length by 5.2 inches. Despite these changes, the wheelbase remained the same, ensuring a spacious interior for five passengers. However, the reduced length and angled rear window decreased cargo space to 40.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seat and a maximum of 77.8 cubic feet. The SEL Premium R-Line trim, with its 21-inch machined-finish wheels, added a bold, upscale appearance, although other wheel options were less appealing. The interior featured various color combinations, but the use of hard, glossy plastic detracted from the overall quality impression.

Lexus introduced the redesigned 2023 RX models in Santa Barbara, California, focusing on the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, with its Iridium (silver) paint and 21-inch wheels, looked identical to the standard RX 350, lacking any hybrid-specific badges. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive styling. The 2023 RX models maintained a blunt-nosed appearance, with a wheelbase stretch that reduced the rear overhang, making the SUV look smaller despite its similar size to the outgoing model. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic design with contemporary textures and backlit ambient lighting.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 producing 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine, which did not require premium fuel, had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, compared to the turbo-four’s 2,000 pounds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW’s 4Motion AWD system available. The V6 engine felt more energetic in the two-row Cross Sport, but the drivetrain occasionally lacked refinement, and the ride quality was harsh on imperfect roads. The V6 4Motion powertrain returned 19.2 mpg during testing, slightly lower than the larger Atlas’s 19.6 mpg.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350h featured a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, with an expected average of 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, but with a lower fuel economy of 27 mpg. The RX 500h’s adaptive damping suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering system provided a more engaging driving experience, while the RX 350h offered better fuel efficiency and a quieter cabin. The RX 500h averaged 20.9 mpg during testing, while the RX 350h achieved 32 mpg, short of the estimated 36 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, offering ample space for five adults. The test vehicle featured 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, and the cargo area provided plenty of load-floor real estate, though the shorter length and lower roofline reduced cargo space compared to the seven-passenger model.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350h Luxury trim offered ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control, providing a comfortable experience. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The hybrids’ battery packs were located under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The new RX had increased cargo space, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, a significant improvement over the old model.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE came standard with Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, featuring an 8-inch display and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB-C ports. Higher trims had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity-sensing display, wireless smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM, wireless charging, and additional USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system offered access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, but the user experience could be frustrating. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was highly praised.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced a new infotainment system, requiring subscription plans for full functionality. The Lexus Interface included Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant. The system worked reasonably well during testing, but had some issues with accuracy and user experience. The touchscreen’s size was appreciated, but it could only display one menu at a time, and the lack of a tuning knob was inconvenient. The available head-up display had dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which could be problematic for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and an automatic post-collision braking system as standard. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and IQ Drive. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle featured a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree camera system. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were generally accurate but occasionally lacked refinement. The Atlas Cross Sport received favorable crash-test ratings but did not earn the highest accolades from IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus RX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist, which could be turned off, automatically slowed the RX to maintain a safe following distance. The front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed reduction tech had some issues, and the driver monitoring system could be problematic for one-handed drivers. The new Traffic Jam Assist system allowed low-speed, hands-free driving, and Advanced Park was available but not tested.