Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2022 Lexus RXL

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

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 Ascent are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

Both the Ascent and the RXL 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, around view monitors, 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 Ascent is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	Ascent	RXL
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	190	194
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33.2%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	305
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	40.1%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	Ascent	RXL
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	53
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	110 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	165
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	275
Hip Force	637 lbs.	685 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 Ascent’s warranty.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 263) than the RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

	Ascent	RXL
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	89.3 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The RXL doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the RXL:

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
RXL
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

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

The Ascent has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ascent’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RXL:

	Ascent	RXL
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.9 inches

The Ascent stops much shorter than the RXL:

	Ascent	RXL
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ascent has larger tires than the RXL (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Ascent’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the RXL (113.8 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the RXL’s (38 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the RXL can only carry 7.

The Ascent has 36.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RXL (153.2 vs. 117).

The Ascent has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 7.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row headroom, 8.2 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and 11.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ascent’s middle and third row seats recline. The RXL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Ascent is 2.8 inches lower than the RXL (17.7” vs. 20.5”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 2.7 inches lower than the RXL’s (18.1” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Ascent’s cargo area provides more volume than the RXL.

	Ascent	RXL
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	7.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	23 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.6 cubic feet	58.5 cubic feet

Towing

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The Ascent offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Ascent, using the Vehicle Dynamics 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 RXL.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RXL. 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 Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The RXL doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ascent’s power window and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Ascent’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $1775 to $4350 less than the RXL over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the RXL because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the RXL, including $690 less for a water pump, $383 less for a muffler, $45 less for front brake pads, $172 less for a starter, $87 less for fuel injection, $12 less for a fuel pump, $1748 less for a timing belt/chain and $1857 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $11765 to $13287 less than for the Lexus RXL.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the Lexus RXL, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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