Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4VS 2023 Lexus UX

The Rav4 Limited/TRD Off-Road offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Rav4 and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems 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 is safer than the Lexus UX:

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 is safer than the Lexus UX:

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (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’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lexus is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked second.

The Rav4’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (203 vs. 181) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. ) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Lexus UX:

Both the Rav4 LE AWD/XLE/XLE Premium and the UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Rav4 LE AWD/XLE/XLE Premiums have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Rav4 has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14.5 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 stops shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/55R19 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Rav4 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the UX (105.9 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .81 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Adventure executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The front grille of the Rav4 Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 has 8.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (98.9 vs. 90.4).

The Rav4 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (37.6 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Rav4 has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses 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. The UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 has a much higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1100 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Rav4 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (1230 vs. 890 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Both the Rav4 and the UX offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the UX.

The Rav4 Adventure/TRD Off-Road has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The UX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lexus UX by over 39 to one during 2022.