2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Lexus RX

The new 2023 Lexus RX appeared shorter in height, broader in width, and longer in wheelbase compared to the previous model, yet it retained the same overall length. Despite offering more cargo space in the trunk than the 2022 model, it still lagged behind rivals. It looked smaller in photos and in person, largely due to the reduction in rear overhang, softer design lines, and the down-sloping black trim on the rear pillar, which created a floating roof effect but also a stubby look.

In the front, the famed spindle-style grille had been better integrated into the overall design, now featuring a modern mesh texture that flowed into a dramatically elevated hood sweeping back into the windshield pillars. The upswept body sides evoked the Lexus IS sedan while defining the flared rear fenders. The rear boasted a light-blade taillight design, block lettering for the Lexus name, and a sporty-looking bumper with simulated air vents.

The exterior styling maintained enough familiarity to be instantly recognizable as a Lexus RX without reading the badges, yet it looked fresh and comparatively conservative next to its sharply angled predecessor. Though the new RX shared design elements with the recently redesigned, smaller Lexus NX, it managed not to appear as a mere larger copy of the same, giving buyers justification to opt for the midsize model.

Inside, the RX featured digitally latched doors that opened to reveal a thoroughly modern interior with fewer buttons and knobs. Digital instrumentation and a touchscreen display, available in either 9.8-inch or 14-inch sizes, took center stage, and a head-up display was an available option. Natural voice-recognition technology facilitated easier use of the features, though Intelligent Assistant technology required a subscription after an initial complimentary three years.

Quality levels were predictably high, with NuLuxe artificial leather standard, genuine leather available, and simulated suede in some versions. The interior could also feature textured black plastic, real wood, and aluminum dashboard trims for added luxury.

When the 2023 Lexus RX hit the market at the end of 2022, it was available in several versions, including the RX 350, RX 350h (hybrid), and RX 500h (performance hybrid). An RX 450h+ (plug-in hybrid) was slated to follow later. The RX 350 was particularly notable, offered in Standard, Premium, Premium+, Luxury, and F Sport Handling trims, with pricing expected to remain close to the previous model's starting base price of just over $47,000.

In comparison, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 remained closely aligned with the design introduced in 2019. It was available in six trim levels, catering to a wide range of budgets from the sub-$30K RAV4 LE to the more luxurious Limited trim. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims retained a distinctive two-part face.

Testing the Adventure trim, the design shifted the Toyota badge downward closer to the center of a more aggressively styled grille, added blacked-out wheels, a faux skid plate, and beefier black cladding around the wheel arches. Despite these features providing a rugged appearance, the Adventure trim was more a visual statement rather than an actual off-road performer.

The interior of the Adventure trim featured orange accents, a stripe down the middle of the seats, contrast stitching, and orange plastic borders around the center console, injecting a touch of flair into an otherwise basic interior. A frameless rearview mirror added a sense of premium, but the interior generally leaned toward a more pedestrian feel in comparison to the Lexus RX.

Fabric seats were standard in LE and XLE trims, with XLE Premium upgrading to synthetic leather (SofTex) upholstery, and higher trim levels offering further adjustability for more comfortable seating options. Due to the comprehensive interior choice configurations, the RAV4 allowed considerable personalization for its buyers.

Clearly, the look and feel of the RX was geared towards a more luxurious, sophisticated aesthetic, while the RAV4 offered functional, rugged charm with some elements of sportiness, particularly in its higher trims.

During a Lexus ride-and-drive media event, two versions of the RX 350 were driven: one with AWD, Luxury trim, and 21-inch wheels, and the other with F Sport Handling trim and an adaptive damping suspension. Both models featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This turbo-four had less horsepower but more torque than the outgoing 3.5-liter V6, offering better performance at higher altitudes and slightly better fuel economy, though it lacked some of the V6's smoothness and refinement.

On a 20-mile testing loop that included city, highway, and winding country roads, the RX 350 Luxury revealed occasional hints of torque steer under hard acceleration and an excess of body motion over undulating pavement. It provided a mostly smooth, comfortable ride but struggled with swells, dips, and uneven pavement. In contrast, the RX 350 F Sport Handling felt more secure and sure-footed, especially in Sport driving mode—although selecting driving modes via the Lexus Interface was cumbersome. The F Sport's adaptive suspension eliminated much of the unwanted bouncing and rolling experienced in the Luxury model.

Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds for the RX 350 FWD and 7.2 seconds for the AWD version, though the vehicle felt quicker. Fuel economy was estimated at 25 mpg combined for the FWD and 24 mpg combined for the AWD, but real-world testing returned slightly lower figures of 22.5 mpg and 21.8 mpg, respectively.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with front-wheel drive, except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which featured AWD by default. All trims could be upgraded to AWD, which included a Snow Mode. Both the hybrid and Prime variants were offered exclusively with AWD.

The RAV4 had a single gas-only engine choice: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly quick, it was deemed unobjectionable. However, the engine's noise levels detracted somewhat from the overall experience, though it was quieter than the Subaru Forester’s boxer engine.

The Adventure trim of the RAV4 featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and the same suspension system found in other RAV4 models, making it less capable off-road compared to the TRD Off-Road. The latter sported 18-inch wheels with Falken all-terrain tires, a TRD-tuned suspension, and unique shocks and jounce bumpers for enhanced off-road performance.

When comparing performance, the RX leaned towards a more composed and comfortable drive, with the F Sport Handling adding a noticeable edge. The RAV4, meanwhile, offered a practical, if somewhat utilitarian, driving experience, with specific trims offering enhanced off-road capabilities.

Both of the RX 350 models tested provided comfort, though the sport seat bolsters in the F Sport Handling package might have hugged some a bit too tightly. However, they provided better support during spirited driving. The RX 350 Luxury model featured semi-aniline premium leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The Peppercorn interior color, along with suede door panel accents and black open-pore wood trim, added to the RX’s modern and sophisticated ambiance.

In comparison, the RX 350 F Sport Handling came with black NuLuxe simulated leather seats and Dark Graphite trim, with an option for Rioja Red NuLuxe. The test model had eight-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats.

Both models offered exceptional comfort, though the back seat was particularly noteworthy for its supportive seats, high positioning for good leg support, and adequate legroom. Taller passengers, however, might find the headroom a bit tight. The total cargo space included 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down—a decent but not overly generous space for the segment.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, designed to seat five, offered 37.7 inches of front headroom with the moonroof, 39.5 inches in the back seats, 41 inches of front legroom, and 37.8 inches in the second row. While it provided comparable front-row legroom, it fell short in rear legroom and overall width compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.

The RAV4 offered ample storage, with a practical layout that included a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and large door pockets. The center console had side-by-side cupholders, and the lever-style gear shifter was appreciated for its rugged appeal.

Cargo capacity in the RAV4 stood at 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with them folded—above average for the segment and superior to the RX’s cargo volume.

In terms of interior space and cargo, the RAV4 had a significant advantage over the RX, offering more versatile and generous cargo capacity.

The 2023 Lexus RX benefited from the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, available with either a 9.8-inch or a 14-inch touchscreen. The system included standard features such as wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, and several connected services plans with various complimentary trial periods. A notable aspect was Drive Connect, which was free for three years and included Intelligent Assistant natural voice recognition. However, this assistant sometimes provided imperfect results, such as showing a list of Taco Bells when asking for Chipotle directions.

Additionally, Lexus Interface allowed for user profiles, streamlining personalized settings and preferences across multiple vehicles. Embedded apps for Apple Music and Amazon Music streaming were a bonus. Despite the learning curve, this system marked an improvement over the previous version, though it lacked the ability to view multiple data panels simultaneously—a drawback compared to its predecessor.

Both test RX models had the 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, which performed well but required tone adjustments for optimal sound quality. The RX also offered digital instrumentation, Digital Latch door handles, a digital rearview mirror, digital key smartphone technology, and an optional color head-up display (HUD). However, the HUD visibility was compromised when wearing polarized sunglasses, posing a challenge in sunny conditions.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 introduced an updated infotainment system. An 8.0-inch touchscreen came standard, with a 10.5-inch screen available on the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims, backed by OTA updates and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Voice command functionality was also included.

The Adventure trim tested featured the upgraded system with the 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system, enhancing the auditory experience compared to the base six-speaker setup. The instrument cluster included a 7-inch driver-information display as standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims.

Technologically, both vehicles offered strong infotainment systems, though the RX stood out with its advanced features and personalization options. However, the learning curve and some visibility issues with the RX's HUD were potential drawbacks.

The 2023 Lexus RX came equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), which included a comprehensive suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance features expected in luxury vehicles. New features in LSS+ 3.0 included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and a curve speed-reduction function when using adaptive cruise control.

Three semi-autonomous driving technologies also debuted. Proactive Driving Assist was an opt-in feature that attempted to maintain a safe following distance by modulating the brakes when the driver lifted the accelerator pedal. Traffic Jam Assist allowed for low-speed hands-free driving in traffic, though it required constant driver attention. Advanced Park Assist took full control for parking but was slow.

During testing, LSS+ 3.0 was mostly impressive but faced some issues, such as the unmarked adaptive cruise controls in the HUD, which were not visible with polarized sunglasses. Curve-speed reduction technology was not predictive, resulting in awkward braking. Moreover, the driver monitoring system could be easily obstructed by an arm, leading to frequent alerts.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 included standard safety features such as lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The RAV4 upgraded to Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. This allowed the adaptive cruise control to function at speeds below 20 mph. The 2023 RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, indicating strong performance in various crash tests.

While both vehicles were equipped with comprehensive safety features, the RAV4's consistent safety awards and inclusion of higher-end driver-assistance features as standard gave it an edge in the safety category.