2024 Lexus RX vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, ranging from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with off-road-oriented trims like the Adventure and TRD Off-Road in between. The Adventure trim, which we tested, featured a more aggressive grille design, blacked-out wheels, and additional black cladding around the wheel arches. However, despite its rugged appearance, it was more of a style statement than a true off-roader. The interior of the Adventure trim included orange accents, contrast stitching, and a frameless rearview mirror, adding a touch of premium feel to an otherwise basic cabin.

In contrast, the 2024 Lexus RX, following a full redesign, presented a mixed bag in terms of styling. The front end was dominated by an oversized trapezoidal grille and large air inlets, which looked awkward, especially in lighter colors. The hood's design added to the bulky appearance, while the sides featured bulging body panels and a swooping chrome accent strip. The rear end, however, had a more cohesive design with a single light strip connecting the taillights. Inside, the RX's top Luxury trim offered a more inviting cabin with faux suede inserts, a large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, and premium leather upholstery, though some elements like the simulated woodgrain on the center console felt less convincing.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this setup was adequate, it lacked excitement and was somewhat noisy. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims came with all-wheel drive (AWD) by default, while other trims offered AWD as an option. The TRD Off-Road trim featured 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension, making it more capable off-road compared to the Adventure trim, which had 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and a standard suspension setup.

The 2024 Lexus RX offered four distinct models, starting with the base RX 350, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. The RX 350h hybrid version had a 2.5-liter engine with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard AWD. The RX 500h F Sport Performance combined a turbo 2.4-liter engine with a hybrid powertrain, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid offered 304 hp and an estimated 37 miles of electric-only range. While the RX 350 and RX 350h felt underpowered, the RX 450h+ was more responsive, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The RX's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in noticeable body roll and residual rebounds, but the F Sport Handling trim offered a sportier driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 37.7 inches of headroom in the front row and 39.5 inches in the back seats with the moonroof. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the second row. The RAV4 provided 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It featured convenient storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets.

The 2024 Lexus RX's front seats offered ample room and power adjustments, with heating standard on all models and ventilation on all but the base trim. The rear seats were spacious with good legroom and headroom, and manual sunshades provided privacy. The RX had 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the second row folded. The top Luxury trim featured one-touch power-folding buttons for the rear seats, and all trims came with a power liftgate, with hands-free operation available as an option.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 featured a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard and a 10.5-inch touchscreen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. Our RAV4 Adventure tester had the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Lexus RX's new infotainment system featured a touchscreen measuring 9.8 inches in lower trims and 14 inches in higher trims. The system had logical on-screen menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. It accepted natural speech commands and had multi-function pads on the steering wheel for easy control. All RX trims came with a cloud-based navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote monitoring via a smartphone app. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the available 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system provided excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also available. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 Lexus RX earned five stars in overall and side collision protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Standard safety features included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear passenger safe-exit system. Additional features included parking proximity sensors, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera system, and a semi-automated parking system.