2023 Lexus RX vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Lexus RX presented a refined and modern exterior, with a shorter height, broader width, and longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor, while maintaining the same overall length. The design changes, including a reduced rear overhang and softer lines, contributed to a smaller appearance, enhanced by the floating roof effect created by the down-sloping black trim on the rear pillar. The front featured a well-integrated spindle-style grille with a modern mesh texture, leading into an elevated hood and upswept body sides reminiscent of the Lexus IS sedan. The rear showcased a light-blade taillight design, block lettering, and a sporty bumper. Inside, the RX offered a modern interior with fewer buttons, digital instrumentation, and a choice of touchscreen displays. High-quality materials, such as NuLuxe artificial leather and available genuine leather, added to the luxury feel.

The 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and the interior offered a mix of plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting. Despite this, the Escape provided a comfortable driving experience, with well-weighted steering and a soft suspension that handled rough roads well.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. During testing, the RX 350 Luxury trim displayed occasional torque steer and excess body motion over uneven surfaces, though it generally offered a smooth ride. The F Sport Handling trim, with its adaptive damping suspension, felt more secure and eliminated most unwanted motion. The RX 350 FWD accelerated to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, while the AWD version did so in 7.2 seconds. Fuel economy was expected to average 25 mpg for the FWD and 24 mpg for the AWD, though actual results were slightly lower.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered two engine options: a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter, available on higher trims, provided better acceleration and passing power. Despite its output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear changes. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 offered comfortable seating, with the Luxury trim featuring semi-aniline premium leather upholstery and ten-way power-adjustable front seats. The F Sport Handling trim had sportier seats with more bolstering. The back seat provided good leg support and legroom, though headroom was tight for taller passengers. Cargo space improved over the previous model, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46.2 cubic feet with them folded, though still not generous for the segment.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The front seats were supportive, and the steering wheel felt good to hold. The Escape offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with it folded, which was adequate for daily use but less than some competitors. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than rivals, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were designed to maximize space for rear passengers.

The 2023 Lexus RX featured the new Lexus Interface infotainment system with a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. The system allowed for user profiles and streaming music through embedded apps. The 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system required some adjustment for optimal sound. A color head-up display was available, though it was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Ford Escape came with Sync 4, featuring an 8-inch or optional 13.2-inch touchscreen display. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered easy navigation between features like Android Auto and native navigation. Sync 4 was generally intuitive, though it was occasionally slow to respond. The volume knob's placement was inconvenient, but overall, the system was user-friendly and well-organized.

The 2023 Lexus RX included Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. New features included Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. While generally impressive, some features, like curve-speed reduction, were less effective, and the HUD was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it scored Marginal in the IIHS side-impact test. Standard safety features included in Co-Pilot360 were forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology, enhancing the Escape's safety offerings.