2022 Lexus RX

The range kicks off with the base RX 350 at an MSRP of $45,570. Opting for the L increases the asking price to $48,400, while the F Sport retails for $49,050. The Black Line Special Edition in 350 guise starts at $49,700 while the 350 L Black Line is $53,055 MSRP. Going the AWD route adds $1,400 to the Lexus RX's price.

The hybrid models come standard with AWD. The RX 450h costs $48,270, increasing to $51,660 for the L model. A top-spec 450h F Sport retails for $51,750. The two Black Line special editions of the Lexus RX will cost $52,675 and $56,050 for the standard and extended body length, respectively. Pricing does not include the $1,075 destination charge. Our 2022 RX 450h F Sport tester came to a grand total of $62,450, including all the options and destination fee.

Despite the aggressive exterior styling, the RX is not particularly exciting to drive. Nor is it fast, unlike some of its rivals (which are also not always speed demons). The RX, no matter which powertrain it's equipped with, behaves like a more luxurious previous-generation Toyota Highlander. That's not necessarily a bad thing for many buyers, but can be disappointing for others who seek something more aggressive. Again, looks can be deceiving.

The RX is, however, an extremely comfortable daily driver whether you're just running a few errands or going for a long highway drive. The F Sport's stiffer suspension is certainly nice but doesn't really translate into an exciting ride. The RX's greatest strength in this realm, whether you opt for the F Sport package or not, is its smooth approach to driving. It's a wonderful cruiser with just a touch here and there of mild excitement.

It's literally impossible not to recommend the 2022 Lexus RX SUV - or any Lexus for that matter. They're simply outstanding luxury cars, but they're not always the best driver's cars, specifically the crossovers. Point being, if you want a spirited and fun-to-drive crossover, a BMW or Audi might be your best choice. But if you desire something extremely comfortable, reliable, well-built, packed with the right amount of luxury kit, and a sporty but not too sporty driving personality, then the RX is for you. Like any hybrid, the RX Hybrid will appeal to those looking to save some money at the pumps. We do recommend opting for the slightly pricier F Sport version available with the hybrid because of the included adaptive suspension. It makes driving a bit more fun in what would normally be mostly plain vanilla.

At first, we weren't wild about driving the RX Hybrid model, but it quickly grew on us. It manages to achieve an ideal balance of power, performance, and fuel efficiency. If you're able to swing the extra money, go for the F Sport, mainly because of the adaptive suspension. It manages to make 308 hp feel like more at times. The base naturally aspirated non-hybrid RX's 295 hp and 268 lb-ft is barely enough, plus you don't get the fuel savings from the hybrid.

It's also worth bearing in mind that you can get the extended-length RX L with the hybrid setup but, unfortunately, not with the F Sport goodies. If you need the third row, the L variant offers the added bonus that you get second-row captain's chairs in 450h L guise to feel even more posh.

The Highlander and the RX are essentially the same car if you're in the market for a three-row crossover. It uses the same naturally-aspirated V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The Highlander can also be had with a less powerful 243-hp hybrid powertrain, though. You'll even notice similarities on the center console if you look close enough. Toyota built the Highlander to be more affordable, so you lose out on some higher-quality materials, but the ride and refinement are essentially the same. With a base price of around $35,000, the Highlander is also a lot cheaper.

You can also tell the Highlander was meant to be a three-row crossover from the start. With three rows in place, it offers 16 cubes of space. Not mind-blowing, but at least enough to accommodate six kids and their school bags, which is the same amount of space the five-seater RX offers by comparison. If you can live without the upper-middle-class badge, the Highlander is the obvious choice, here.

The NX makes the RX look irrelevant. Yes, you can have an RX with three rows, but the third row in an RX hardly makes it a more practical car. In five-seat guise, the NX provides more cargo capacity than the RX. The NX has 22.7 cubes behind the second row, while the RX only has 16. On paper, the RX is more powerful. The NA V6 produces 295 hp, while the NX's available 2.4-liter turbocharged four-pot produces 275 lb-ft. But the NX has more torque (317 lb-ft) much lower down. This low-down torque gets the NX to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. If frugality is your thing, a hybrid is also available, which easily beats the RX's claimed figures. It's also a plug-in hybrid, which means you score a full 36 miles of EV-only range.

The interior of the NX is just as high-quality. The ergonomics are better, and the large infotainment screen is easy to operate. We do miss the old-school analog clock, but that's not enough of a reason to go for the RX. The NX is a much better all-around SUV.