Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2022 Lexus RX

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers an optional Post 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure 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 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is safer than the Lexus RX:

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 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is safer than the Lexus RX:

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

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s warranty.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (362 vs. 295) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 268) than the RX 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (362 vs. 308) than the RX 450h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is faster than the Lexus RX:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon gets better mileage than the RX:

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the RX 450h have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All E-Class All-Terrain Wagons have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 19.2 gallons).

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RX.

For better stopping power the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RX:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon stops much shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has larger tires than the RX (245/45R19 vs. 235/65R18).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s standard 65 series tires. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the RX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the RX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The RX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the RX (115.7 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the RX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon more stable handling and braking.

The E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain handles at .89 G’s, while the RX 350 F Sport AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the RX 450h (26.2 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is 8.8 inches shorter in height than the RX, making the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard seating for 7 passengers; the RX can only carry 5.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 2.4 inches more front hip room and 2.7 inches more rear hip room than the RX.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s cargo area provides more volume than the RX.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the RX, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RX.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Lexus RX isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is less expensive to operate than the RX because typical repairs cost much less on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon than the RX, including $378 less for a water pump, $44 less for front brake pads, $874 less for a timing belt/chain and $1089 less for a power steering pump.