2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Acura ADX

The 2025 Acura ADX, despite sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with unique Acura styling. Its striking pentagonal grille, diamond-patterned mesh, and diminutive proportions gave it a distinct presence. Standard LED lighting, including headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, enhanced its modern look, while A-Spec models added LED fog lights for extra flair. The rear design featured sporty elements like vent-like creases, a hatch-top wing, and dual exhaust outlets. The ADX offered a range of exterior colours, with the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim unlocking vibrant options like Milano Red and Adriatic Sea Blue.

Inside, the ADX maintained Acura's premium feel. The A-Spec trim featured a red interior with leatherette and microsuede accents, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The red elements extended across the dash, door cards, and centre console, avoiding the cheap feel of limited coloured surfaces. While piano black plastic was present, it had a subtle texture that reduced glare and fingerprints. Overall, the ADX impressed with its premium look and feel, meeting the high expectations set by Acura SUVs.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h F Sport Black Line, was a $90,000 SUV that aimed to impress with its features. It sported an exclusive Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers, but its overall design was unremarkable. The RX's styling had always been a bit off, though the current generation was more palatable depending on the version and colour/wheel combination. The RX Hybrid lineup included three models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+. Each offered different power outputs and fuel efficiency, with the RX 500h being the most powerful but least efficient.

Inside, the RX Hybrid boasted a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting. The controls ranged from baffling to brilliant, with Lexus avoiding the common single curved display approach. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and Lexus's Direct4 AWD system. While it offered plenty of power and quick acceleration, it wasn't very fuel-efficient, averaging 13.5 L/100 km in testing. The RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked dynamic capability and communication between the driver and the road.

The 2025 Acura ADX came standard with all-wheel drive and a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. While not the most powerful in its class, it provided adequate performance for everyday tasks like merging onto highways and navigating twisty roads. The ADX offered four drive modes: Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim added an Individual mode for further customization. Visibility was excellent, and noise cancellation measures kept the cabin quiet. However, for those prioritizing fuel economy, a hybrid competitor might be more appealing.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three models with varying power outputs. The RX 350h, with 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, was the most efficient. The RX 450h+ PHEV delivered 304 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, produced 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. It featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and Direct4 AWD. While powerful, the RX 500h's fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 13.5 L/100 km. It excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked dynamic capability and communication with the driver.

The 2025 Acura ADX offered a premium interior with leatherette seating surfaces and microsuede accents. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard, with A-Spec trims adding front-seat ventilation and power adjustments for the front passenger. The ADX provided ample headroom and legroom, surpassing competitors like the Lexus UX, BMW X1, and Audi Q3. Cargo space measured 690 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,560 litres with them retracted. A power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and rear-seat vents were standard features.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h's heated and ventilated front seats felt snug due to enhanced bolstering, but the bottom cushions lacked comfort on long drives. The panoramic sunroof extended over the rear seat, which offered power-reclining, heated, and ventilated options. The RX provided ample room for adults in the back seat. Cargo space measured 838 litres, with hooks for grocery bags and a small storage area under the load floor. Folding down the second row created 1,308 litres of cargo volume, though it was limited for a midsize SUV.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a nine-inch centre infotainment screen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi hotspot, and a wireless phone charging pad were standard. A-Spec models added rear USB-C ports, while the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim included Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, HD Radio, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Bang & Olufsen system featured a "beosonic" app for adjusting sound by mood or ambiance, offering a user-friendly experience.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid met luxury expectations with digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The RX 500h featured a 14-inch touchscreen display with a volume knob and large climate control dials. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and cloud-based navigation. The RX 500h's optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system sounded great, but the steering wheel controls were distracting and potentially dangerous.

The 2025 Acura ADX came with nearly all safety and advanced driver-assistance features as standard, including adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot information, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The surround-view camera system was available on the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim. While the ADX hadn't been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, the Honda HR-V's success in these tests was promising.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency assistance button, and roadside assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX Hybrid also had blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The RX earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but received a Poor rating from the IIHS in a moderate overlap frontal-impact test.