2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate. Despite the initial disappointment, the vehicle's design, rooted in its military origins, remained appealing. The Wrangler offered a rugged charm with its ability to remove overhead panels and open the liftglass, making the colour less of a concern. In Canada, the Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, with prices ranging from $42,995 to $80,085. The Sport S model, with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $66,070. The interior focused on functionality, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and metallic accents, while maintaining a design meant to withstand dirt and mud.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h F Sport Black Line, was a $90,000 SUV that, despite its price, had an unremarkable appearance. The vehicle featured an exclusive Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers, but its design was not particularly striking. The RX Hybrid lineup included the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different power and efficiency levels. The RX 500h, with 366 horsepower, was the most powerful, while the RX 350h was the most efficient. The RX Hybrid models came with standard all-wheel drive and various package options, with prices ranging from $66,689 to $92,804. Inside, the RX offered a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting, though the controls varied in usability. The Lexus avoided the common single curved display approach, providing a unique interior experience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered two engine options: a standard 3.6-litre V6 with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering a slight advantage in torque over the V6. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, the Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 12.3 L/100 km. The vehicle's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable off-road, though its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with slow steering and sloppy handling traits, but the Wrangler's off-road capabilities were impressive.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three models with varying performance levels. The RX 350h, with 246 horsepower, was the least powerful but most efficient, while the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 304 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, produced 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and Lexus's Direct4 AWD system. Despite its power, the RX 500h's fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 13.5 L/100 km. The vehicle's drivetrain was rewarding, but the adaptive damping suspension and steering system filtered communication, making it less engaging to drive. The RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration but lacked dynamic capability and satisfaction.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. Inside, the front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. The Wrangler accommodated four passengers comfortably, though rear-seat legroom was limited. Storage space was minimal, with small bins and cupholders for small items. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h's front seats, though snug, offered heating and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with optional power-reclining and heating features. Interior storage was ample, with practical locations for small items. The RX Hybrid provided 838 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. The hands-free power liftgate facilitated easy access, though the cargo cover could obstruct loading larger items.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and passive entry features. Rear parking sensors were available in the Safety Group package, enhancing safety during reversing.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with advanced technology, including 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 the Lexus Interface infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included a conversational digital voice assistant and cloud-based navigation. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality, though the steering wheel controls were distracting and challenging to use.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard equipment, a significant safety upgrade. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Wrangler a Good rating for side-impact protection but a Marginal rating for small overlap frontal-impact tests.

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