Compare the2022 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2022 Lexus RX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/02

The Rav4 Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Hybrid. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the RX 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Lexus RX:

	Rav4 Hybrid	RX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	152	194
Neck Injury Risk	29.3%	33.2%
Neck Stress	306 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	400/388 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	284	305
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37.4%	40.1%
Neck Stress	258 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	340/190 lbs.	403/457 lbs.

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 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Lexus RX:

	Rav4 Hybrid	RX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Hip Force	508 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	44 G’s

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 116 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Hybrid for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Hybrid gets better mileage than the RX:

			MPG
Rav4 Hybrid
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/38 hwy
RX
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 V6 Hybrid	31 city/28 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 450h requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus RX (5 to 7). This means the Rav4 Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RX every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 Hybrid stops shorter than the RX:

	Rav4 Hybrid	RX
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE handles at .80 G’s, while the RX 450h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the RX’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 950 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The Rav4 Hybrid is 11.6 inches shorter than the RX, making the Rav4 Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Rav4 Hybrid 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Hybrid has .1 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more rear headroom than the RX.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 16 cubic feet). The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

Towing

The Rav4 Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (1750 vs. 0 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4 Hybrid, using the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RX.

Ergonomics

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 Rav4 Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the RX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Hybrid will cost $830 to $4535 less than the RX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid will be $13208 to $15216 less than for the Lexus RX.

Recommendations

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lexus RX by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.