Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2022 Lexus RX

The Rav4 Prime 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 Prime. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the Rav4 Prime 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Prime 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 Prime’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 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 7 more horsepower (302 vs. 295) than the RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Lexus RX:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the RX:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RX:

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions for 42 miles. The RX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

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

The Rav4 Prime SE’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 RX’s standard 65 series tires.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the RX 450h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Prime XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RX 450h (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the RX’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the RX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

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

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime 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.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 16 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime 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).

The Rav4 Prime’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (2500 vs. 0 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4 Prime, 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.

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

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

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lexus RX by over four to one during 2022.