Compare the2024 Lexus RXVS 2023 Porsche Macan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 RX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Macan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Macan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The RX has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RX’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The RX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Macan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RX and the Macan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 RX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 50 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Macan has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Macan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Macan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 25 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RX’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RX’s reliability 20 points higher than the Macan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Porsche is rated lower.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
RX
	FWD	350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	37 city/34 hwy
		500h 2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
Macan
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/25 hwy
		S 2.9 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
		GTS 2.9 turbo V6	17 city/22 hwy

The RX 450h+ can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Macan can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Macan.

The RX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Macan doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RX F Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Macan:

	RX F Sport	Macan	Macan GTS
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.6 inches	15.4 inches

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RX’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Macan (112.2 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

For better maneuverability, the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Macan’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet). The RX’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Macan’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RX 350 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Macan (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Lexus RX amounts to more than styling. The RX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is lower than the Macan (.35 to .37). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the RX get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

The RX has a much larger cargo volume than the Macan with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 17.2 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the RX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Macan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Porsche. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 18% lower rating, Porsche is ranked third.

Ergonomics

The RX has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Macan has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The RX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the RX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Macan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RX Luxury/500h F Sport offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Macan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RX has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the RX offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Macan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The RX Hybrid offers an optional 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 Macan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RX Premium+/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Macan’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Model Availability

The RX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Macan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus RX and the Porsche Macan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Macan isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Lexus RX outsold the Porsche Macan by over six to one during 2022.

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