2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a striking resemblance with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to both vehicles sharing a platform with the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and featured a more rugged design. Honda's updated styling aimed to give the Passport a tougher look, which was applied across all three trim levels: Sport, TrailSport, and Touring. The TrailSport trim, in particular, was designed to appeal to those interested in off-road adventures, although it was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid maintained a subtle exterior design, with the RX 350h and RX 350 appearing nearly identical except for the badge. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its performance-oriented styling, including a blacked-out grille and matte-black wheels. The RX models were not known for their beauty, with a design that carried much of its weight over the front wheels, giving it a somewhat unbalanced look. Inside, the RX adopted a minimalist approach with fewer controls and a new infotainment system, offering a modern and luxurious feel with options like Macadamia leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. The V6 was praised for its smooth performance, and the Passport's i-VTM4 AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport offered a firm ride and athletic handling, though its brakes were a concern during mountain descents, with a tendency to vibrate under pressure.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a combined output of 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, achieving 7.4 L/100 km in testing. The RX 500h F Sport Performance boasted a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine with 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, but averaged 11.3 L/100 km due to frequent use of Sport mode. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension and rear-wheel steering provided a dynamic driving experience, while the RX 350h was noted for its secure handling and quiet cabin.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. Inside, it featured spacious seating with leather upholstery and heated front seats. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport provided ample storage, including a large centre console and generous cargo space, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the seats folded.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid prioritized comfort with ten-way power-adjustable front seats in the RX 350h Luxury trim and eight-way adjustable seats in the RX 500h F Sport Performance. The RX housed its battery pack under the rear seat, offering good leg support but limited headroom. Cargo space was improved over the previous model, with 838 litres behind the rear seat and 1,308 litres with the seats folded, though it still lagged behind some competitors.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The TrailSport trim added satellite radio, while the Touring trim featured a navigation system and a premium audio setup. The system was functional but not advanced, with some users preferring to use Apple CarPlay for navigation.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system with connected services, requiring a subscription after the trial period. The system included cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant, though it had some usability issues, such as screen reflections and a lack of a tuning knob. The available head-up display added dual-function control pads on the steering wheel, which could be challenging to use with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with Honda Sensing, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. However, some features, like lane-departure warning, were less refined, leading drivers to disable them. The Passport received high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA in most categories and an Acceptable rating from the IIHS for front-passenger protection.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist was available, and the system generally operated with refinement, though some features, like curve-speed reduction, were less effective. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, though these were not tested.