2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a rugged take on the traditional Outback, offering a higher stance and a more adventurous design. With 23 centimetres of ground clearance, it was equipped with all-terrain tires and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The exterior featured a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, while the interior was dominated by dark grey and black tones with StarTex water-repellant upholstery. Despite its rugged enhancements, the Outback Wilderness maintained a station wagon feel, albeit with a more purposeful and distinctive personality.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid presented a more refined and luxurious appearance. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models shared a similar design to the standard RX 350, with subtle hybrid badging. The RX 500h stood out with its performance-oriented styling, including a blacked-out grille and matte-black wheels. Inside, the RX offered a cleaner, minimalistic design with contemporary textures and ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury trim featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier all-black interior with artificial suede and dark grey aluminum trim.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided ample power for its 3,896-pound weight and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. However, the CVT's droning and simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim featured all-wheel drive, 23 cm of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires, making it highly capable off-road. It also had improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, along with a dual-function X-Mode traction system.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to achieve 6.5 L/100 km in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 7.4 L/100 km. The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a Direct4 AWD system, delivering 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It was more performance-oriented, with adaptive damping suspension and rear-wheel steering, but averaged 11.3 L/100 km in testing.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but not ideal for hot weather. The front seats offered 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way manual adjustment for the passenger, with heated seats for both front and rear. The rear seat provided generous head and legroom, along with air conditioning vents and USB ports. The cargo area offered 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded, with waterproof materials and a robust roof rack for rooftop camping.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid prioritized comfort and luxury. The RX 350h Luxury trim had ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather and three-zone climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power seats with larger bolsters and standard leather. The rear seat offered good leg support but limited headroom due to the battery placement and lower roofline. Cargo space was 838 litres behind the rear seat and 1,308 litres with it folded, an improvement over the previous model but still less than some competitors.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrating climate control and offering physical knobs for volume and tuning. However, the voice recognition technology was limited, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. The lack of a premium sound system was a notable omission, given the target demographic.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring subscription services for full functionality. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some usability issues, such as limited screen views and reflections. The available head-up display with touch-sensing control pads was problematic for users with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. While crash-test results for the Wilderness were unavailable, the standard Outback received high safety ratings.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering advanced driver assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. It also included Proactive Driving Assist and a new Traffic Jam Assist system. However, some features, like the front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction, had limitations.