Compare the2022 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Lexus RX Series

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RX Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the RX Series.

Both the Outback and the RX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Lexus RX Series:

	Outback	RX Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Lexus RX Series:

	Outback	RX Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	53
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	101 G’s	110 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	165
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	275
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	674 lbs.	685 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX Series is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the RX 450h 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid:

	Outback	RX Series
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	94.3 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The RX Series doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback XT/Wilderness XT CVT turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the RX 350 AWD (23 city/30 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Outback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RX Series Hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 450h requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX Series Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx Edition XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RX Series; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the RX Series’ (36.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX Series (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the RX Series (9.5 vs. 8.2 inches).

Chassis

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus RX Series.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RX Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has .7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the RX Series.

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX Series with its rear seat up (32.5 vs. 16 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX Series with its rear seat folded (75.7 vs. 32.7 cubic feet).

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX Series’ (2700 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX Series. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The RX Series doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RX Series’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $1390 to $5180 less than the RX Series over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 54.13% to 56.37% of its original price after five years, while the RX Series only retains 48.21% to 52.18%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the RX Series because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the RX Series, including $785 less for a water pump, $430 less for a muffler, $58 less for front brake pads, $300 less for a starter, $93 less for fuel injection, $28 less for a fuel pump, $1416 less for a timing belt/chain and $1829 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $15771 to $17258 less than for the Lexus RX Series.